Why were we on time to church today?

Because our ward runs at the same time as another (combining Sunday Schools), we start at 8:50am. Normally, Sacrament Meeting starts and ends on the hour. Our ward in DC sometimes started on the half-hour. But 10 minutes early is just a hard concept to remember.

Perhaps Evan thinks it is me using one of my oft-used ploys to get us on time by saying we need to leave earlier than we really do. Perhaps my brother just wants to sleep in more. He wishfully asks when we are going to switch meeting times, like we've done in the past, but the Boston YSA wards do not rotate every year. Evan, normally a punctual man, seems to forget that we really do start at 8:50 and not 9am. We leave home closer to 8:40 or 8:45 and even though there is no traffic, there is no chance of us getting there on time.

As a result, we have arrived early to church twice since we moved here in September. One of those days was today. And the reason was Institute.

Evan loves Institute. It is a key part of his Wednesday schedule. He has been attending it since he went to BYU and he loves being able to choose his teachers and the subjects. Evan comes more prepared than any other student - he has his physical scriptures, the student manual for the course, and a notebook to take notes.

After institute a month ago, I saw Evan talking with his instructor. The brother asked for the make-up lessons and Evan gave them to him. I didn't know Evan needed to do so; I didn't know why he needed to do so. Turns out, Evan has attended enough institute classes that he qualified from a diploma, if he passed this most recent class. With his own initiative to complete the work, he made this achievement.

And today was the day for the diploma to be presented in Sacrament Meeting. So we were not late to church. The Bishop called Evan to the front, said a few words, and the boy was pleased as punch.

I didn't take a picture in the chapel. The boy could not stop smirking. He was very proud. I took a quick pic before Priesthood and he was still smiling.