May 26, 2007 my little girl had walked across the stage that welcomed her into what is now truly considered adulthood. She's no longer a child in high school. She's graduated. Its been such an incredible experience to be her mother. Not that my job is anywhere near over, I'll always be mom.. but I don't think anyone will ever truly grasp just how much I have been blessed.
My amazing, blonde blue-eyed lil girl is no longer a lil girl. BUT.. BUT, she'll ALWAYS ALWAYS be a mommy's girl. I've watched this exquisite creature grow from just a happy baby into a beautiful, funny, gifted, completely out of control and yet so disciplined young woman.
And believe you me, she has no qualms with telling anyone just how great and amazing she is. She knows.
I've cried a thousands tears today. From the moment I sat behind her to straighten hair and thought, "Wow.. its the last time I'll have to wake up at 5am to hot iron this kids hair before school." Then again when I had to get out of the truck and zip up her graduation robe before she had to be in the school and I thought, "I won't see her again for a couple hours. How's it going to be when I don't see her for a couple of days." As she made the processional walk to her seat and family and friends are all around us screaming, my hands were shaking as I tearily tried to take pictures. She came out of the arena and everyone hugged her then they all moved back so we could have our moment and I didn't shed a single tear. It was done. Though as her dad and I drove to the restaurant alone, I sat reading her diploma and broke down once more. My baby girl has truly graduated and I couldn't be more proud of her than I am at this very moment. Not because of what she has done, but because she did it and was an inspiration to those that worked with her every single day. Because she stopped to smell the roses along the way. Because she remembered where she'd been and knows where she is going.
