AnnaClaire has been attending our local community college for the last few semesters. She's done well, but recently she's felt that God was calling her to attend a Bible college. Her heart has been challenged to go into missionary work since we studied Sonlight's countries around the world in her 10th grade. In homeschool the study of geography can lead your children to follow God's heart for their life!!
She has applied to a Bible College in our state and got her acceptance letter this week! She is super excited which is no small thing for her. AnnaClaire was in her early teens when she came to us and she was READY for security in her life. She held on tight to us and blossomed in the close relationships. She said many many times that she would never leave our house and we just smiled and hugged her. Now she's ready to go and live 4 hours from us. Which proves that Beatles's song..."All you need is love", and well - some Jesus and time and perseverance and that's all she needs .
AnnaClaire turned 19 this week and didn't like the feeling of being so solidly an adult. She's doing all the adult things - bought her own car, has a good job, going to college full time- but it's that growing up thing that scares her.
So, she ordered a "princess birthday" complete with crown and scepter and watched the movie Tangled with her brothers and sisters for the evening.
Who says kids are growing up too fast these days? Not around here!
My two babies are stepping out....into adulthood. Grace and AnnaClaire are now grown up and the next part of their life is just ahead around the corner. Anna is headed to college and Grace into the working world.
I've run out of time.
They know what we believe and this is when we watch them take everything we've taught and modeled and make it their own.
It's exciting and it surprises me that we're here. Didn't we just see Grace for the first time in that crib at Children's Hospital? Wasn't it just yesterday that Anna walked through our door a scared little girl?
These two daughters have brought me so much joy - they are part of my everything. I'm releasing them with just a little reluctance.
And they've nailed the look for their 80's party haven't they?!
Yesterday afternoon we visited Roanoke Island, famous as the birthplace of the first English child born in America - little Miss Virginia Dare. The history was almost as interesting as the window shopping where Grace, AnnaClaire and Emma found some big hats to try on. I bought a new book for beach reading and the boys were excited to find some "real shark fossils inside a mud egg and the teeth glow in the dark!" History at it's finest.
Today was amazing, inspiring and perfectly wonderful. We had 12 seniors in our homeschool community and today we had a full out graduation - complete with caps and gowns and "Pomp and Circumstance". Our guest speaker was Elizabeth Smith, wife of Mike Smith, President of H.S.L.D.A.
As each family came up and shared a little about their graduate, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that choosing homeschool was the best thing we could have done for our girls.
AnnaClaire and Grace - we are so proud of you!
AnnaClaire arrived here almost 4 years ago. Luckily we live far out in the country or she would have run away. She thought we were "strange" and certainly our family was nothing like what she was used to. I overheard her speaking to her mom and saying, "They won't even let me listen to hip-hop music!". But little by little God worked in her heart until the things that she thought were weird became her heart's desire as well.
Anna loves the Lord and that loves spills out to everyone around her. She is kind and thoughtful and always ready to serve others.
And not only has she been adopted into God's family, last week she became our legal daughter as well!
All but two of the ten of us has had the flu in the last couple of weeks. I have been picturing myself in a plastic bubble while administering to the sick and have avoided it.
We have gone through STACKS of tissues. We started using the jumbo pack at Wal-Mart and quickly moved on to the Kirkland humongo pack at Costco. We had to put a limit on how many the children were allowed to use in an hour. Steven with his extra large nose swore he needed to blow with 3 at once. We compromised at 2. Gabby with her tiny perky nose would take a tissue and daub at the tiniest stream of liquid barely discernible in her nostril and toss the tissue away. Someone was going to have to get a second job to pay for all these tissues.
Then AnnaClaire hit upon the perfect solution. Way to go Anna - and you look so good too.
AnnaClaire came down for church this morning dressed extra cute with a huge grin.
She said, "Mom!! It's 2!"
"Two what?"
"It's my 2 year anniversary."
(Still with no clue)
"Anniversary of what sweetie?"
"I've been here for two years today. I came at 3:15 in the afternoon and I wanted to go home so bad. But now I never have to leave and I'm so happy."
We let AnnaClaire pick where we went to eat after church to celebrate her anniversary.
I think she's the first kid to ever know the date they got here.
The only thing I know about that day is that I met my newest daughter and I've been blessed ever since.
Happy Anniversary AnneClaire.
