To My Daughter On Her Graduation Day

Wow......I am still walking around in a daze....wondering where the time has gone...what happened to my little girl who ran around with her blonde hair up in pigtails? I remember it was hard to get you to wear skirts once you hit about 4 years old...I would tell you that they made you run faster...it worked for a while....Just like the 'music truck'....how many years did I get out of paying those sky high prices by telling you it was a music truck going by, not the ice cream truck. That worked much longer than I thought it would...if it hadn't been for Aaron blowing it! Shoot, hardly got to even use that excuse for Jakey...Michael and Jordan filled him in right away...damn it! It's not that I didn't want you to have ice cream, nor did I think you didn't deserve it, it's just so frickin expensive on that stupid truck when you can buy a whole box on sale for less than one at their prices! You know that now, right? Of course you do...because you go grocery shopping and Gordon's is your favorite place...and I have taught you well.

I can never express how truly proud you have made me, Ashley. I am blessed to be your mother. I am blessed to have you in my life. You mean the world to me. And I know that you will succeed in anything that you attempt. I know that you will be the best that you can be and do the best that you can do in anything at all in this world. You are an amazing daughter. And you have brightened my life more than I could ever thank you for.

I love you baby girl. Be proud. We may have had a tough life at times and I know you have seen me struggle over the years...in relationships, financially, and in many other ways...but just know that you have always been my strength...the reason behind so many decisions...and all of them have made us who we are today. When you walk up there and get that diploma hold your head high and know that you have accomplished a very important goal in life...and it is a stepping stone to your future...one that I know will be bright and successful. I know that Grandpa would be so proud of you too....I wish he were here to see his first grandchild graduate. He will be watching, no doubt about that, but I wish he were still alive to celebrate where you are and where you are heading.....he would've been overcome with pride...just like I am.

Love you........

Mom

How can she be graduating already?

It seems like just yesterday that I was bringing my daughter, Ashley to her first day of kindergarten. I remember seeing the 08 shirts for the first time thinking that it was so far away. And here it is. A blink, it seems. God, how time flies. So many memories filling it up but yet it speeds away right before our eyes.
I was thinking about her graduation ceremony. They give us 5 tickets to invite people to attend. I wish my Dad could be there. And I wonder if her dad will be there. Or her paternal grandparents. They wouldn't be there for her but Ashley has a cousin that attends the same school. I don't like to think about the fact that her grandparents have not been involved in her life. When I think about how close my Dad was to me, it makes me sad to know that my daughter was never given the same opportunity. Not by her biological father anyway, nor by his parents. I remember one of the last times I saw them when she was small. Her grandfather referred to her as 'the girl'...I honestly don't think he even remembered her name. She was about 5 I think. She was their 13th grandchild. She was my mom and dad's first. A blessing, either way, in my eyes and one not to be taken for granted or forgotten...but life throws curves and we have surmounted them all.
Ashley is one of the strongest people I have ever known. I have to take some credit for that...for the most part, I have raised her alone. She is smart, caring, giving, responsible, athletic, beautiful and amazing in every way. She is the daughter every mother would wish for. A straight A student, defies the pressures of the teenage years and remains true to her own beliefs. She has integrity and passion. She is everything I had ever hoped for her to be and more. And on her graduation day, I couldn't be more proud. She makes me proud every single day. She and Jake are my sunshine, my breath, my life. How did I ever get so lucky? I don't know....but I truly am grateful.
Congratulations, Ashley. I love you forever....you will always be my baby girl...the girl that started my life over when before you, I thought it would end. Thank you for being my reason to be strong and caring and true to my own beliefs, too...I love you.