Graduation 2013

We survived graduation but what a mad house. I am thankful that I wont have to do that again for a long time. Getting pictures was a nightmare and on top of it all as the graduates were walking out the lights failed. Transformer blew at exactly 9 pm. It is pitch black out there on the fairgrounds property. Thankfully most people have a flashlight APP on the their phones and lit up the area but we lost Erin and took us forever to find her. She was upset by then and it took a lot of the joy out of her big day. No family pictures of the happy graduate which sucks but what do you do.

Dinner was a rushed affair at Archie's, the kitchen closed at 10 pm and we put in a last minute order of wings and smack and beer!!! Not what I had planned for dinner but by then we were all starving.

We survived graduation and my baby has her diploma and is headed to college this fall. I am so very proud of her!

I love you Baby!

Change

It has been a very rough year and this month has been the worst, thankfully this past weekend has been awesome and I predict this week will pass quickly and my beautiful daughter will graduate from high school without a hitch.

 (Knock on wood!!)

But even if something unfortunate happens this week to dampen our joy, I know that we will get through it as a family and survive whatever life has to throw at us.

I have discovered just how strong I am over the past year and a half and that I am not to old to change for the better.

I have found so much joy and love in my life that I never could have imagined and all I did was change one thing.

I changed my attitude.

I can not believe that something so simple has had such an enormous effect on my life.

I made a simple choice.

I choose to be happy.

I choose to be flexible.

I choose love and patience and tolerance.

I have learned to let go and have freed myself from anxiety and stress but i have also learned to be more disciplined and found structure and security.

I found my morality hidden under layers of cynicism and indifference.

I have found me again or a better me I should say.

An older wiser and more experienced me who can still love and learn and laugh and make my world a better place for me and the ones that I love!

I will miss you!

Tuesday afternoon our family suffered a great lose, my father-in-law Fred Pate Jr. passed away from cancer. I am blessed to have been able to spend some time with him while he was still up and clear of mind. I am also blessed to have witness the great love that his wife and children have for this man. I will miss the stories that man used to tell with a twinkle in his eye. I will miss his smile and sense of humor. I will miss his deep gruff voice and his laugh. I too love him dearly and will miss him.