graduation is tonight.
at the risk of sounding completely cliche, i can't believe it's here.
often times i look at her & wonder how she can be 18 years old
when i often feel 18 years old myself.
last night while savannah was out with friends,
i placed a card on her pillow for her to find when she returned home.
one of those annoying cards that plays music,
but it's the Dr. Seuss Oh the Places You'll Go card.
she is a voracious reader
& always loved Seuss,
so it seemed perfect.
as i read what each of her sisters wrote, it filled my heart.
things like "i want to be just like you when i grow up"
"i'm so proud to be your sister"
"i'll miss you"
& "i love you"
i climbed into bed and told dan i needed to have my game face on tonight.
i work all three days of the holiday weekend
& simply can not be emotional while trying to function in my job.
might hold off on reading that card again until tuesday!
"So be sure when you step,
Step with care and great tact.
And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed)
Kid, you'll move mountains."
Dr. Seuss
yesterday i had a little end of the school year gift waiting for each of the girls.
with savannah heading off to college i wanted to start a little tradtion~
giving the girls each a piece of jewelry before they go
that i also have a matching piece to match.
nothing expensive or fancy just something that we both like.
when i saw the Dream Big leather cuff on jeanne's site
i knew i had found the perfect piece for savannah.
she's a super smart girl, independent and confident.
yesterday as she opened her presents i reminded her
that no matter what she chooses in this life
i know she'll be successful
&
while i'm super sad that she's leaving our little nest
i am filled with joy that she's wrapped up this chapter in her life
so very well
&
i can't wait to see what the Lord has for her future!!
"You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!"
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!"
Dr. Seuss
(print by piedpiperphoto available here )
you've got me teary first thing in the morning. beautiful words to your beautiful daughter. such an exciting time. she will soar. i just know it. i got a "blessed" cuff from jeanne. love it.
ReplyDeleteBe sure to take a very big towel to the graduation...I cried buckets, pretty sure you will too!
ReplyDeleteWow this is beautiful, and perfect.
ReplyDeleteI know Savannah will cherish this time.
I also wish to state that....
I so appreciate watching you walk out being a
Mom to her. Not just her friend, but her Mom too, an example on how to walk with and trust in God.
You too have done an amazing job and have
accomplished this walk well too in giving Savannah and all your girls so many tools to succeed in this life and become just beautiful women not just on the outside but in their souls and intellect too.
So, congratulations to both of you.
You are beautiful, you are blessed
and I smile to see how her life has unfolded
and look forward to hearing about her future days.
I love that card! Perfect!
I hope tonight for you is full of smiles as you watch your little girl fly!
Love you my friends...much!
xo
Perfect!!!! One of our missionary lady friends at my former church had her children spread out all over the country going to different school and has one that lives in the South Pacific where they served when the kids were younger. I asked her how she did it. How did she let those sweet kids go and have them serving and living everywhere. She told me that she knew they were exactly where the Lord wanted them and that made everything ok. I clung to that the next few years and made it through.
ReplyDeleteNow, this MOM is in heaven and this sweet family knows she is exactly where the Lord wants her.
I remember the day of graduation with my oldest daughter (now 20). I swear I was sad her whole Senior year. It was sooo hard letting her go, but now I see how she has spread her wings and I am one proud Mama! Savannah I know will be a huge success at whatever she chooses to do with her life and I send you both a hug during this mixed emotional evening!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous post! Tears are okay my friend. So happy for you and your sweet girl and all she's accomplished! Oh the Place's You'll Go is one of my favorite books of all time. xo
ReplyDeleteI'm crying AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove this post Paige, you inspire me so much with your posts about your girls. And I have LOVED seeing Savannah's parties and photos recently.....she is one accomplished, beautiful and special young lady. I know you are so proud of her and rightly so....the world surely has special things in store for her.
Enjoy the graduation, I can't wait to see photos....I will have tissues at the ready :) xx
PS Am very happy to see that the poster is from an Etsy seller in London....woo hoo!! Will be ordering one ASAP :)
ReplyDeleteSavannah is so beautiful! I love the idea of matching jewelry....one for you and one for your special girl. My little granddaughter Taylor "graduated" to 2nd grade with all A's and while that's a long way from being 18 and leaving for college, the time has still gone too quickly and I know that in a blink of an eye she, too, will be out of her mama and daddy's nest. I remember all too well how I felt when mine left home.
ReplyDeleteThis will be the beginning of a new chapter in the life of your daughter as well as yourself. I know both of you will pass with flying colors!
XOXO!
Judy
what a wonderful tradition!! congrats savannah, i know you will move mountains, she is so lucky to have a mom like you cheering her on:)
ReplyDeleteOh Paige...
ReplyDeleteIf you could see the smile on my face right now! My mom gave me the SAME book when I graduated high school...I still have it...have read it myself throughout the years...and have read it to my 2 boys (ages 7 and 9). She will always remember.
And Paige, I really want you to know how much I cherish all the ways you bring joy to your family. Really. You do such an amazing job creating memories that they will forever draw from on their journey...all the little things will mean so much to them when they look back on their childhood. It truly inspires me to bring those moments to my family. So I thank you.
Have a wonderful day...enjoy graduation...
Jen xo
I felt a tear
ReplyDeletejust seeing the
title of your post
on Twitter....Hang
tough, sweet friend!
Love your new tradition.
BIG CONGRATS all around.
Know your whole family
is so proud and S's
daddy in heaven, as well.
xx Suzanne
Dear Paige,
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful and touching.
Wonderful gifts and tributes.
I'm so proud of you for letting
Savannah spread her wings and for
instilling in her confidence that
she can do it on her own(and trust her decisions).
Best,
Coastal Blue Ocean
Oh my -- what a sweet post! Exciting to have her off to college, but a little sad too. It will be wonderful! Have fun at graduation!
ReplyDeleteJanet
What a great idea...love the cuff...so cute!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for your sweet Savannah...I know it's big!
Love me some Dr. Seuss! :-)
Happy Graduation Savannah!!!
Beautiful Post! What a wonderful way to celebrate your wonderful daughter. May your strength be from the Lord as you enjoy graduation. Thank you for inspiring each of us to be better mothers. :)
ReplyDeleteYesp, tears in my eyes for sure. We were so sad when our oldest went off to college. We cried and didn't speak for three days. We knew it would just hurt too bad if we talked about it. The after she was gone less than two weeks she called to say she was coming home. It is so much fun having adult children. Wish I would have know that then. Enjoy and hope you can hold back on the tears.
ReplyDeleteYou are a dream mom..truly! You are sending her out into the world knowing how greatly she is loved by you, your whole family and her heavenly father! Thank you again for including me in your gift giving:-)
ReplyDeletewhat a sweet post Paige...i love that book.
ReplyDeletedon't worry though...i haven't been waiting for you to return my call.
no...
no worries.
Congratulations!!!!! Enjoy every moment of graduation!!!
ReplyDeleteawww. I love the traditions you are creating - the bracelet and the card are perfect - as is the poster. love that "youer than you" . . . . could we ever be more than that?!
ReplyDeleteenjoy this season.
xo ellie
A time you will always cherish! Have fun:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect card, I love dr. seuss. I know how time seems to slip by so fast. I just said the other day as I looked at a preschool picture of our daughter, Beka. I said how did she get to be 13 so fast, it seems like yesterday, I walked her into her first day of preschool.
ReplyDeleteI love the new tradition, what a great one and then to have the same piece of jewelry too; Perfect!
I am sure Savannah will do great in what ever she chooses to persue. She has a wonderful family behind her!
I hope you did well tonight, I can't imagine how weepy I am going to be when that times come for me! But I bet you were SO proud!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Jodi
What a beautiful post about your daughter and I love the braclets..What a great idea..Have a great weekend and don't work too hard..
ReplyDeleteJanet
Oh Happy Graduation!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSavannah is beautiful inside and out and she will do great things in life!!!! You have raised her well. That is obvious!!!
One of my friend's sons graduated this week and I asked he if she is sad and if she had the tissues ready and she said...I'll be sad in August but when he walks across that stage I want to focus on how BLESSED we are to have made it and that he is accepted to a good college and that we can afford it (college) and that he is a good kid), I thought that was a great perspective. I am sure you are so proud. Hope you have a good weekend (even though you are working). Wish you lived here...we could have used a friendly face at the hospital last night:)
hugs,
Kim
A love of letting go and supporting is emotional and powerful. A sweet post today. I like your idea of a thoughtful and fun little gift to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteWell my sweetest friend you have made this time for Savannah so very special. What a an absolutely gorgeous girl !!!! love c xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful idea of buying a matching gift for your graduate.
ReplyDeleteI also love the end of year gift.
I still have a few years until I can actually put something like that into action, but I feel that this is a tradition I may need to borrow from you!
How absolutely special you must make your girls feel!
You are my inspiration on how to raise a beautiful, talented, smart daughter!
Biz