Unbelievable Year that went by in a blink

We went from first day of Senior Year to graduation before I could even think.  I had meant to post through some of the special moments but I never did.  This was an amazing year from first day of school:

to National Semi Finalist:

to Homecoming Sweetheart:

to AP Honors

to Senior pictures:

to new car due to a hail storm:

to National Merit Finalist:

to selecting a college:

to prom:

to Governor's Scholar day:

to receiving National Honor Society cord:

to last day of school:

to Life Impact Award:

to Line 89

 

to graduation:

As you can tell, it was a very busy year and why I didn't get to post it as it was happening.

The day Emily was born, there was one thing that I wanted most in the world and that was for her to enjoy her childhood.  Looking back on this year now, I am very proud to say I think she did.  God tasked Marty and I with raising a baby into an adult.  I am honored to say that I think we did just that. She is an amazing daughter, a true friend, a child of God, and believer in justice and fairness for all.  Life is always changing and I am so looking forward to seeing what the next 18 years holds for this amazing woman and I count my blessings that I get to come along on the journey to watch.

     

National Merit Semifinalist

The semifinalist have been announced we are so proud to find that Emily and 8 others from Cabot Public School district are on the list.  Emily wasn't feeling good about her PSAT test last spring and was just sure that she would miss the cut off, but much hard work and prayer and she moves on.

Last night the school board recognized the semifinalist for this high achievement.  It was so awesome to see these girls receive such well deserved praise.  They are well on their way to great things.  So proud to have these girls in my life.

Arkansas Governor School = Opportunity to become more

Today we took and dropped Emily off at Arkansas Governor School.  This is such an exciting time in her life with so many changes beginning here.  She gets to experience college life with out all the freshman pressures. Instead she will have the opportunity to meet 400 bright students from around the state while exploring new avenues of communication, political and social views, and critical thinking.  She gets to see what living with roommate and community showers are like and to explore an amazing college campus.  

I am having a hard time putting into words my excitement for her and her friends.  On the day of her birth, I prayed for nothing but the best for her.  I prayed that she would take every opportunity and do anything she set her mind on.  All she does makes me smile with such pride because she is such an amazing well balanced, open minded, cool headed, loving young woman.  She makes me laugh and yes she even causes me to loose my cool in frustration at times.

This is going to be an exciting and amazing next 6 months leading to the next 5 years.  Thank you God for letting me be her mom.

Packed with her list in hand.

For when she needs her space!!!!!

Relaxing in her spot.

Total clowns

Don't blink!!!!!!

How can 17 years go by this fast?  I didn't think I blinked.

Only two more months of my sweet girl's junior year.  We have started looking at colleges and she has been job shadowing individuals to figure out what career interest her.  It has been a wild and crazy ride thus far and I know that her going off to college doesn't mean it's over just changing but I am having a hard time comprehending that the parental job of motherhood I started on 17 years ago is about to move from one of protector, schedule organizer, disciplinarian, cook, boo boo tender and taxi driver to simply adviser and observer.

Being a mom has been the most wonderful experience.  Nothing like I could have ever imagined.   I have enjoyed EVERY stage of my daughters' lives so far.

Training Run

Garmin Connect



I started the year off with a run on the first but until tonight haven't made it a priority.  I don't know why I let other things get in the way.  I really enjoy the time on run.  The weather was perfect and of course the company was great.  Maybe it was just the combination but I ran 3.1 minus a 0.08 breather completely.  I can't remember the last time I did that.  Ran not ran walk.  That makes me feel so good.  I want to run my first 10k not run walk it.



Do not get me wrong, there is NOTHING wrong with run walking anything.  It's just my goal to run all my 5ks and 10ks.  If I ever do actually sign up for a half or (crazy thought) a marathon then those will be where I run walk because my goal there is just to finish.



So my pace was 11 to 11.5 for the 3.1 so my next goal is to drop that to 10.5 to 11 for the 3.1 and then of course to get that 6.2 miles all running.



I'm going to get there.  May not be as soon as others, but I'm going to get there.