When one chapter ends, another one begins...Fly girl, soar!

It's hard to believe in October 2008, I started a new blog for you called Lily's Journey, A New Chapter Begins and now nearly 16 years later, you are about to begin a new chapter of your life as both a high school graduate and a legal adult.  

Your Daddy and I are so incredibly proud of the young woman you have become!  It has been an absolute joy to watch you grow and mature.  We pray that as you go out into the world, you will always know how much you are loved and cherished by God and your family.  

Isaiah 40:31 says "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

SOAR BABY, SOAR!

All my love,

Mom💗

Graduation Party and Graduation Whirlwind

This past weekend we celebrated with family and friends your graduation!  So many people came out to share their love and support for you!  I got pictures of almost everyone, sadly a few escaped my lens!  Lily may you always know how much you are loved by so many people! 

Everyone loves a Costco graduation cake!

Ms. Emily

Peter and Ashley Lancaster

Jody and Todd Sacks

The Goren family (Andrea, Todd, and Elani...missing Hannah)

Emily S, Marina K, and Emery C.

The Wildman Family

Elizabeth and Tia Colleen

Monica Rosen

Katie and Madison

The Conte family

The Mulholland family

The Taylor Family Part I

The Taylor Family Part II

The Trout family

Pop Pop

Pop Pop and Lily posing for the camera

Ms. Nanna

Austin

A shirt Lily made for Abuelita with her handprints many years ago!

A special scrapbook gift from Abuelita

Abuelita and Hombre Sin Nombre

Abuelita

The Bugash family

Lilianna Henry

The Henry Family

Pop Pop and Ms. Susan

Yolanda

Graduation day was yesterday and also filled with so much love!  Abulita, Hombre Sin Nombre, Pop Pop, and Yolanda joined Daddy and me for the celebration.  Lily graduated with a 4.0 GPA which allowed her to graduate with the highest honors.  She was so worried that she wouldn't be able to pull off the high grades in the fourth quarter as senioritis kicked in, but apparently, she pulled a few all-nighters and was successful! She's officially ready for college life!  Her graduation regalia included a yellow tassel for students who graduate with a 4.0 or higher.  A medal for her CTC program completion and a pin for her CTC participation.  We were so proud of her as she crossed the stage to receive her diploma!  We were instructed to keep quiet, but anyone who knows me knows that is near impossible!  Thankfully we weren't the only ones!  After graduation, many students went to the traditional Safe and Sane party where they were locked in the Knott Area for a night of music, food, games, prizes, and much more.  Daddy picked her up at Lingnaore HS at 6 a.m. this morning!  Needless to say, she's a little bit tired!

Pre-Graduation

Final High School Report Card

All dressed up and ready to go!

Admission Ticket to 2024 graduation

Commencement Program

The walk!

Receiving her diploma!

               

Family

The graduate!

Lastly, Lily had a moment of bittersweet closure, when Raymond's mom Ms. Deasy came over after graduation to tell Lily how much she adores her and how heartbroken she was that Raymond broke up with her. Mr. Windsor told me that Deasy had cried for three days straight after she learned about the break-up.  She even told her family in Indonesia that she felt like she lost a daughter.  Lily and Ms. Deasy had such a special bond.  I think Lily really appreciated Deasy reaching out, as losing her in the breakup was heartbreaking for Lily as well.  Ms. Deasy asked Lily if she would please keep in touch and of course, through tears Lily said she would love that.  I pity the poor girl who has to follow in Lily's footsteps as the Windsor boys' future girlfriends.  Lily's going to be a tough act to follow!

Not the last days we were hoping for

So Lily's last few days of school weren't quite what we all had imagined.  Usually much to my children's annoyance, I blast School's Out by Alice Cooper on the last day of school. It's a day I look forward to every year, and with Lily' last day being last Friday, May 10th, I was super excited!  However, a little respiratory illness got her good and laid her up in bed for her last two days of school, so no loud song blasted her last day of high school!  Hopefully, on graduation day I can blast it! 

Her prom coincided with her last day of school and she wasn't sure if she would be up for going.  However, she decided to suck it up and give it a try.  She looked absolutely beautiful. 

No school dance is official without a dog picture!

My Cinderella

Lily-Mommy Selfie

Telling me I am loser, or a Linganore Lancer...LOL

The beautiful back of her gown bustled

 Sadly prom did not go quite the way she had hoped.  Her boyfriend, Raymond was not very kind to her and basically ghosted her before breaking up with her the next day over text.  Not 5 stars.  I have to be honest I thought for sure she would be the one who would break up with him, I never imagined him breaking up with her.  I have been so angry with him, after over 2.5 years together she deserves better than that, but I am reminded that high school boys are stupid and immature.  I pray that she finds someone worthy of her amazing self!!!  She deserves the very best!

In exciting news, today she received a phone call from the Libertytown/Unionville Lions Club, informing her that she will be receiving another college scholarship!  I am so excited and proud of her!  I know it was a drag filling out all those applications, but thankfully there has been some payoff!