graduated!

 

Em with Nan and Pop.

Last Friday Emma received an Honors Diploma from Midview High School. I didn't cry but her aunt did. I was doubly glad I had snuck her in without a ticket. Blended families should get double the tickets. ;)

Under her gown she wore a beautiful white cotton dress from ICE. It was a lined and had an embroidered eyelet pattern. We picked it out together about a week ago and then shared Chipotle to celebrate. The dress fit her personality perfectly and matched her white leather peace sign thong sandals.

It looks way nicer on Em.  I'll fix this later.

Now to get ready for the party.

the decision

Emma will be graduating this June so we have been enduring the whole college selection process.  Initially she wanted to accept the full 2 year scholarship to Lorain County Community College that was offered to her, but Kevin and I encouraged her to consider a few 4 year colleges and universities. Her grades are really decent and so are her test scores so her options are wide open. 

Together, we have taken tours and feasted in the cafeterias of Baldwin Wallace, Mount Union, Case Western Reserve, John Carroll and Cleveland State University.  She has gone with friends to Ohio Northern and Bowling Green. 

She wants to stay in the area because of her deep affection for Cleveland that only other Cleveland Lover's can understand. 


Verdicts:

Ohio Northern: too small
Bowling Green: bad vibes
Cleveland State: too many commuters
Mount Union: too far away, application process too inconvenient
Baldwin Wallace: applied and accepted, 13K renewable academic scholarship
John Carroll: applied and accepted, 15K renewable academic scholarship
Case Western Reserve: applied and deferred

After all that she's decided to take the full 2 year scholarship at LCCC and enter their diagnostic medical sonography program.  After only 2 years of school and she can be making a desirable salary with a career that can be flexible enough to accommodate additional schooling if it's what she wants or possibly a family someday.

Congratulations on your decision Emma!  May you always shine like the stars. Phil 2:12-16a

legal

Emma turned 18 yesterday and celebrated by getting "Love is all you need" tattooed in script under her right arm, winning $10 on lottery tickets she purchased herself, and getting her ears pierced.

All things she can do on her own now that she is a "legal" adult. 

I repeatedly cautioned her about the tattoo.  Even to the point of her accepting that her hypothalamus will not be developed until she is 25.  She would not be dissuaded. 

Today she opened a checking account and that made her feel the weight of adulthood more than any tattoo, lottery ticket, or earrings ever could.

westward, ho

Emma is coming home tonight after being gone over a week.  Yes, you heard that correct.  I did allow my college bound daughter to take a 9 day vacation in the midst of her senior year.  It wasn't my idea but I went along with it.

This was her father's idea.  He tends to live in the moment and not focus so much on responsibilities and consequences.  Once upon a time, a (much) younger and (arguably) stupider me actually found that attractive.  The mature me would have said no immediately but the mature me also seeks input from my older, wiser husband who thought, if it was up to him, he would probably say "yes".

Her dad doesn't get to spend much time with her.  It started once she got a social life but now that she is working she rarely goes to his house.  With her leaving for college next fall, this is possibly the last good opportunity for them to spend some quality father-daughter time together.

Her adventure started the night before they left when she dropped her phone in the toilet.  Now I didn't have to worry that she would eat up all our minutes talking to her boyfriend of the moment.  The next morning they flew into Phoenix.

She called to tell me how big the cacti were.

She sent this when they reached Utah. 

And after long hours of this interesting scenery, stuffed in the cab of a U-Haul with her dad, his friend, and his son

they BOTH got out in Idaho.

Ah, the cooling pines of Oregon.

And now THIS is where she wants to go to school. 

It was a great experience and it's not something we would be able to do for her.  I'm thankful she got to go.  Now she had BETTER catch up on all her schoolwork.

academic m

Last night I had the honor of seeing my oldest daughter receive the most prestigious academic award our school district has to offer.  After 7 semesters of high school, she carries a 3.97 cumulative GPA and is ranked 11th in a class of almost 300 students.

Student who received the award had to pick  a teacher who has most influenced them.  Emma picked Señora Eastin who taught her Spanish II and Spanish III.  We had dinner together while waiting for the keynote speaker Bob Maxwell to begin.  I enjoyed being able to get to know her.

While learning Spanish, Emma has made up fantastic and colorful yarns about her own life for conversational projects and theme papers.  She expressed concern before hand that Sra. Eastin was going to see her made up fantasy life collide with reality.  So I found it incredibly funny when Sra. Eastin started talking about how she makes up outlandish tales (some which focus on her mother-in-law) to tell the class. I guess this keeps things interesting.   :)

Congratulations Emma and best wishes for a bright future!

Emma is driving!!!

She has been counting the days for what seems like years....at last, as she would tell you, her wallet is complete. She has a state issued temporary driving permit with her picture right on it.

Check out the videos HERE. (Give me a few hours and this link will actually work. I have a love hate relationship with my FlipVideo.)