First Day of...Kindergarten?

BEFORE

Okay. So she is too old to be sending off to Kindergarten, but I never did send her off into the big bad world alone to fight all by herself. This is a first. But, I did it. We of course had to do the prayer for protection and Godly influence as well as pictures and 'mo-om' (drawn out in a whiny voice as only an impatient, slightly embarrased teenager can do.) She opened the door, got out, and stayed in that building without my supervision until I came to get her 4 hours later.

Okay. She is 15 1/2 and this was her first day in the real workplace. Yes, my 15 yr old now has a part-time summer job that will probably extend through the school year next year (thanks to the flexible schedule homeschooling provides.) She did well, and was a big hit with the owner and the clients. (Like that is any surprise considering her happy sanguine personality.)

Okay. So she doesn't look much different in the 'after' picture, but this was another big step. She has now officially taken one more step toward independance. I am proud of her. She is a beautiful young lady inside and out, and I am proud to be introduced as her mom.

AFTER

Mother's Day

Wow, did I ever feel cherished and pampered on this Mother's Day. Our day started with a beautiful service at church to which I wore a new suit (tailored by yours truly). When we got home from church, I lay down for a nap and the next thing I knew, Tiffani was waking me up with "dinner's on the table, mom."
She had made a huge sushi dinner all by herself, and I got a double portion thoughtfully set on the red plate.
It truly was the best meal I had enjoyed in a very long time! Bethani had a beautiful assortment of decorated packages and gifts for me to open which I did between delicious bites of sushi. After dinner, Craig washed the dishes, Tiffani made me a large goblet of banana milk, and Bethani gave me a foot massage. (Tiffani took over after a while using Amanda's Magnasagger.)
Our pastor had sent me 18 Roses and Tiffani had already told Craig that he was going to have to work hard to 'one up' the pastor. So, Craig bought me a climbing rose bush so I will have roses all summer long. (He even told me it comes with free labor!) I truly feel like a blessed woman!

The Mound

Since Grammy came and started our mound, it has been in the front of our mind to work on it. Craig has added the defining trim giving it perameters. Because of the almost constant rain (for which we are very thankful) I have not weeded the grass yet. I am waiting for the seeds I have planted to sprout. This is the Texas blue bonnet (right) and lavender (below) that we planted. (I was playing with the new feature on my camera.)