Whew, she did it!

(I am not sure what the woman behind Markelle is doing...) But, isn't that a SWEET diploma!

It took a lot of last minute effort on her part, but Markelle took ownership of her high school career and she did it. It has been a rough ride for her this past year, which makes this accomplishment even more sweet for her...and for us. I am so very proud of her!

Isn't she the most gorgeous creation you have ever seen? I sure do love this girl, and I wish the very best for her in life. Take charge, Markelle, you have proved many times over that you CAN do hard things. And with style!

Frollagator!

Don't you just love the end of the school year, especially when the teacher assigns an in depth project the week before school lets out and due the day before your oldest daughters wedding? Not only was I out running around trying to find enough cute frames, ribbon, floor easels and tissue pom poms for the reception, but I also had to help Ashley find a reptile and an amphibian that we could put together for her "create a new species" project in science. Thank goodness for D.I.!

I think he turned out kinda cute!

A New Family

Last night, we stopped by the Cole's house to see how things were coming along with the tent that is being put up for the wedding reception tomorrow. The tent was HUGE. As we got out of the car, Covey welcomed us to the circus. It certainly looked like that was what they were getting ready for...bring on the clowns, elephants, and trick ponies!

Ahhh, what a great--yet surreal--event to have your first child get married. It feels like this union has been a long time in coming, and the fact that it is already here is a little unbelievable.

Steve and I wanted to do something special with just our little family, one last time while we were all Mordue's, so we took the girls out for what has been affectionately dubbed, "The Last Supper." Kelsey picked Mikado's, because she knows that it will probably be awhile until she and Covey can afford to go to a nice Sushi place. We sat in a private room, and talked, laughed, and ate good food. When we got home, we gathered around the computer to watch a slide show I had put together of pictures of our family growing up. We laughed some more, and remembered and saw all of the fun things we have done as a family over the years. We then all squished onto our couch, arms and legs touching and wrapped around each other, and that is when the tears started to flow. Steve bore his testimony of our Savior and the Atonement, the gospel and the power of sisters and families. The covenants and blessings of the temple are so incredible, and to witness one of our children participate is pure joy. I love my family of girls! We are so different from one another, but intensely loyal and forgiving. Our Father in Heaven knew exactly what he was doing when he made families. If we can't learn to be civil, caring, forgiving, tolerant, compassionate, ---and a whole host of other things--within a family, how can we ever expect to be able to be that way with our brothers and sisters of the whole human race?

As we were driving home from dinner, I expressed this thought out loud: I felt like I was at the very apex of a roller coaster right before it makes it's stomach churning drop. I anticipated this drop on the long slow right up to the top, and now all I can do is close my eyes, hang on and let gravity do it's work. And smile, scream, laugh and have the time of my life! (and then run and get back into the line so I can ride it again!)

Happy wedding day, Kelsey and Covey. A new family is born