Congratulations Jillian ~ Graduation Day!

Well, isn't this the day that all parents look forward to, wish for, wait for, push their kids towards.... High School Graduation!  Oh yeah... it is 'the' day of the 2nd decade, for sure.  So,... I am happy to report that Jillian's Big Day has now come and gone, and a great time was had by all.  Tears,... yes, and a lump in my throat as I listened to that familiar music, and watched my beautiful girl in her cap and gown, walk across the stage to receive her diploma.  I listened to the speaker quote her favorite Bible verse, and watched as she embraced a huge hug from the Head Master.  Then, it hit me!  The very next steps she took on that stage,...were into her future and it was bitter sweet for Leslie and for me.   She is growing away and we can't stop this train, nor would we even want to.  She is one of my eight points of pride and joy on this earth, with an added touch of an above average 'thankful heart' where this girl is concerned.   God is good, and we know that if not for His miracles and plans, we might never have seen this happy day.  (For our new friends, we almost lost our Jilly nearly 2 yrs. ago in a terrible accident. It was only the Hand of God that changed the course of that day.  We thank Him for the medical team that saved her life. I thank Jesus for her every single day for her smile.) 


So, Leslie and I arrive at the ceremony, find a suitable place for the family to witness this event, and settle the tot crew into i-pods and gum.  My parents drove all the way from Al to see Jill graduate, and a few other friends joined us for the event. The sounds of the music quickly take you back to your own graduation, and the flurry of grads all in white bring you to a place of reverence in the church.  Of course, we were also glancing at the program to see 'how many' speakers, songs, and speeches we would have to sit through until the big exit.  Lucky for us, it was a short program, and we actually enjoyed every minute of it,... it was not a bamboo under the fingernails sort of day, thank goodness!  The sweetest part was a slide show of all the grads as babes... and let me tell you, they were cute!  You know we thought  SHE was the absolute cutest of them all~


After the ceremony, they all tossed their caps into the air, and headed straight for the door... they were done!  yea!  We took lots of great pics, and gave her all the hugs we could, and then headed out to a fun dinner with the entire crew, then home for more wonderful  'graduation' food my mom prepared, gave her her meaningful gifts and cards that she better keep for~evah!  and sent her out to celebrate, (with a curfew, of course!)  She was a beauty all day long... she took my breath away. 

Lastly, Leslie and I do know that most parents left that graduation probably feeling 'home free',... on to another season of their lives now that the 'kid' was out of school and off to college soon.  Well, not Leslie and me,... we have a whopping 5 more kids to go!!  We only had a temporary pass for the afternoon and knew that we would have to head back to the castle for at least 15 more years of hard labor, before we could actually drive away from Emily Belle's graduation and say that we were now.... 'home free'!  haha.... it's ok,... we knew this when we said 'yes' to that last little pink dress!!   She's a big girl ' 3 ' and growing... we'll get there!  : )    But,... so far, our parenting experience tells us that, really,...they will never leave us,.... they will be with us for ever... and THAT is the part we LOVE~

many pictures from the day ~ to come~


betsy