When  I had my first child I was so excited.  We were unseperable.  You see my husband worked and I stayed at home with my daughter.  My family lived about 8 hours away.  I had more children through the years and I have always felt close to all of them. 
My daughter was very smart.  When she was 5 years old, the summer before going to Kindergarten, we were in California with my husband on a job site.  We got together with some others that worked with my husband.   A nice lady came to me and said what a wonderful daughter I had.  The lady was amazed at how smart my daughter was.  She showed me how my daughter took a little book and could read the book to the lady.  I was surprised and then I had to laugh and explain what happened.  I had to explain to everyone at the gathering because the lady was so surprised she wanted to share this wonderful information.  My daughter was "reading" her little books to this nice lady.  The key word is "reading".  My daughter  had taken some of her little books with her to the get together.  She was sitting alone when the lady asked her about her books and my daughter offered to "read" to the lady.  The lady was quite amazed.  I was also until I realized what was happening.   Everyone got quiet and we had my daughter "read" her book.  I then giggled and explained that I had read the books so much to my daughter that she had "memorized" the stories.  It was easier to convince the lady that my daughter could "read"  instead of convincing her that my daughter memorized the books. My daughter was very smart knowing her numbers, colors, shapes, etc. but she didn't know how to "read" books at that age.
My oldest daughter went to public school until the end of  third grade.  At that point we started home schooling all our children.  It is sad but she never learned to read in the public school.  I was fooled thinking she could read also.  Since she was in the care of the public school for all those hours during the day, I made the mistake of thinking they taught her to read.  Instead they had her memorize what they wanted her to know.  When I started home schooling her I had to teach her and her sister at the Kindergarten level of the ABeka curriculum so she could learn to read.

During my daughters time in the public school system she had many problems.  She and I had always got along great.  We started having issues in which she would argue with me, be grumpy, have a belly ache and not want to go to school.  I took her to the doctor and found out the doctor put her on stomach ulcer medication and told me I needed to get her away from that school and the teachers who were causing her stomach problems.  I had often asked for prayer in our MOPS group about the school issue.  Many told me to homeschool so after a lot of prayer and talking to my husband and others we decided to homeschool and have continued ever since.

When my oldest daughter graduated high school it was such a wonderful feeling of immense pleasure.  She had struggled and overcome leaving the public school system to be home schooled.  She overcome her learning issues.  She did well being home schooled and graduated with honors in our state home school graduation.  

My oldest daughter has now achieved a higher level by graduating from college.  She has done well and achieved much during her time in college.  She has graduated from college with a degree in Business with a minor in Entrepenourship.  She is in the process of looking for a job relating to her field of study.  Only family was at her graduation but the following week we had a party for her.  We had friends and family.  Some of our family was as far away as Pennsylvania.  It really meant a lot for them to visit.  We had a graduation party and many of her friends and family friends were able to visit and offer their well wishes.  Some even stopped by before heading to a homeschool graduation.  It was really nice because two of the people who stopped by were the ones who encouraged me to homeschool in the first place so it had special meaning.

Northern Kentucky Graduation 2008

Grandma was able to travel from Pennsylvania to come to the graduation party.   She missed the graduation but wanted to be able to share the party and congratulations.

My oldest daughter is now working full time and is also looking for a job in her field of study.  She is also helping aournd the house as much as she can. 

When I look back at the pictures of her over the years there were many happy times.   They grow up so fast and even though it is sad in a way it is a joyous time also.  It is good to see them grow up and get started on the rest of their lives. 

When your child graduates from high school you see they have reached the goals you have set for them.  When they graduate from college you see they have reached the goals they have set for themselves.  Seeing your child grow up before your eyes and achieve successes you are happy to see them move on with their lives and be the people God wants them to be.