Our Last Homeschool Graduate

 So, our Jessie, along with 2 of her best friends, Laena and Liz,  celebrated their high school graduation this past weekend.

We have homeschooled for 17+ years and are done now. 

I am sad this part of our lives is at an end, but look forward to what the future brings to my baby girl. 

Here are a few photos that capture the spirit of the day...   Some were taken by the other parents at the gathering (Thank you Rebecca and Brian, and Faeda and Mark) My son took a few, and I took a couple..  

Thank you to all who joined us for the girl's special day.  

Jessica's Junior Prom

Before the prom I took Jessica to get her hair and make up done at the salon..    They did a great job on her hair.. she has naturally curly hair, they made her natural curls, even more beautiful. 

Lots of curls..   

 After her hair, we had her make up done..   They did an amazing job accenting her natural beauty..   

My beautiful 17 year old

 Before prom one of her best friends came over for photos..   Liz and Jess both looked amazing. 

Then we drove to prom, and met up with another of their friends Emma, for more photos..    

Three very beautiful teens..  

Prom Shoes..

My baby girl and myself..    

Saying Goodbye.....

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

The words of "An Old Irish Blessing" say so much of how we feel. 

We are going to miss our friends. We had no idea when we became friends last spring how attached we would become to this family. The most awesome mom in the world, and four of the kindest, sweetest kids you could ever meet. 

Now they have moved on, Back home to Seattle, after a five year stay here in Texas. Back to their families, and their roots. But they leave so much of themselves here in North Texas, in our hearts. 

I didn't get many good photographs today, I don't know if it's operator error, or just the tears in my eyes, but these few tug at my heart..   

Geography Fair coming up...

Ok - so our Wednesday friends are having a Geography Fair the end of October. (10/23). So Jessy has decided to do Japan.. This happened because I saw some awesome bento box pages, and we want to mess around with them, so decided that exploring Japan for the Geography fair would be a good idea ..


I am kind of excited to 'play with our food' in the Bento Boxes..


And I am  terribly happy Jessy decided to do Japan for the fair. Last time we did Alaska, and prior to that, we did Spain.. So Japan is a nice change.


I think we are going to have to go visit World Market, and see if we can find some fun stuff to add to our exploration of Japan.  It's kind of fun going off on these massive learning experiences.. We are doing the Civil War for our History study beginning next week, And now Japan for Geography.. 

I do love being able to go where her interests take us...  The joys of homeschooling.

Sadness...

My darling girls are losing friends to distance this week..   They aren't losing the friendships, love, affection and joy these friends brought, but losing the physical presence of this family will be so very hard.


 I find myself so sad over the thought of not seeing them again. Knowing we won't see them on Fridays, that the boy's won't be able to come over, hang out and make me glad that my daughters have such fine, morally grounded young men as such good friends... If I had to hand pick boys for my girls to become friends with, I couldn't choose better young men. And their little sister has become my girls favorite little person (I think more so than their niece even!)


I wish we had more time with them. I wish we had the past 5 years to spend with them. I know that wouldn't make the parting any easier, but then we would have so many more good memories.

We have been trying to squeeze so many 'moments to remember' into such a short time.. 

Friday will be hard, our last gathering, last hugs, last time spent together.  But we can look forward to visits hopefully, Perhaps for the prom.

I am happy for their family, they are going home.. back to where their family is.

We love you, and will miss you Graves family..   probably much more than you know.

Great day Hanging out with best friends...

Great friends! 

The Zambeck, Graves, Gentry and Smith families.. 

We had SUCH a fun time today 

(The Herrell girls were missing from this photo, they left before I could get a group shot!)

 

Group shot up in the tree house

Herrell Girls, My girls , Zack, Quinn and Aidan

 

Eli way up in the tree :) About 5 feet above the treehouse!

Going to miss the guys

Zack, Aidan, and Eli (moving to Seattle this next week)
David and Quinn (we are blessed they live very close to us!)
and Becky
Lots of fun with these boys!