Highlights From Higher Ground

Graduated...FINALLY!

May is the usual ‘graduation’ time in this part of the country, but as usual, our family seems to be always marching to the beat of a different drum. It is now the end of August and we are gearing up for Joshua’s graduation party! In April and May Joshua was taking a break from the lessons *we* had planned for him, and God was teaching him some ‘other’ lessons. So, between that difficult time and him working, he is just now graduating!

Along with his core subjects, Joshua has been working in the construction field with his Dad since he was 15, and in the electrical field the past year.

This is Dad and Josh bowling last year for Father's Day!

Helping Dad remodel the bathroom (doing the plumbing).

Helping Dad on a job site last winter.
Helping Dad lay new carpet pad at Grandma's after a water leak.

Presently, he is apprenticing to be an electrician, which takes 4000 hours, he has already accomplished over 1000 hours of that. His hope is to finish the remaining hours, become licensed and begin his own electrical business by age 21, if the Lord is willing.

Last winter working on an electrical job.

We are thankful to God for His mercy and wisdom. We are thankful that He gave us Joshua to raise, to train, to teach and to love 24/7! We are thankful that we were able to walk with him all day, everyday.

Educating our children is our responsibility (Deut. 6), and above that, our privilege. We have been able to allow Josh to pursue his interest and his God given talents to help him become the man God intends for him to be. As his parents, we know that God is faithful to finish the good work He has begun in Joshua! (Philippians 1:6)

Josh and Matthew Rushton last spring at an entrepreneur conference.

Success is not determined by a degree or a dollar. A well educated child is one who knows and loves the Lord their God, and loves their neighbor as themselves. A well educated child has a wide range of skills and knowledge. Their ‘profession’ is simply a means to carry out their mission here on earth. If a person is seeking only material gain or notoriety, they will never know peace. Intelligence without character is dangerous. Life without Jesus is misery. We are here for a purpose. Once that is understood we are on our way to being truly educated.

Josh with Grandma and Great Grandma!

This is Josh gearing up to go on a fire call.
He has been a Jr. Fireman for 2 years
and was so excited to be
old enough to run calls as of April of this year (18)!

We would like to invite you, our family and friends, to come celebrate with us Joshua’s commencement, not from ‘school’, but from one phase of learning into the next. We would appreciate a note of encouragement to him, perhaps some advice as he dives into his adult life. He will be traveling a lot over the next 3 years with his apprenticeship, so we also covet any prayers for him.