Happy 18th to Savannah!

"God is within her; she shall not be moved." Psalms 45:6 This was Savannah's quote in the yearbook and it is so true! I am so proud of the woman our Savannah has become. She's beautiful inside and out and keeps us laughing every day. She's smart, hard working, sassy, strong, independent, and faithful. What a tremendous blessing she has been in our lives. Happy 18th to our beautiful girl!

One of my all time favorite pictures of Savannah though she doesn't like it because of her lighter hair.

She darkened her hair and got retakes. Always beautiful whatever the hair color.

A tasty birhtday dinner.

Seminary graduation via zoom this year.

Time for presents!

Some favorites this year!

A girl and her cheesecake.

It's hard to believe our girl is 18!!

Senior Farewell Celebration

On Saturday, June 13th, family, and friends of Edgewood High School seniors came out to celebrate them by doing a drive by. Cars were decorated with red and black streamers and balloons and we all honked, waved, and cheered as we drove by the students who were lined up behind their senior signs along Willoughby Beach Road. It was so wonderful to support these seniors!!

After we did our drive by I insisted that we park the car and get out to take pictures. This gave me an opportunity to say goodbye to some of my favorite students as well. I've been subbing for these kids all four of their high school years and I'm truly going to miss them. They are definitely a special group!

All of a sudden the kids all decided to take a huge group picture in front of the school. I'm sure there were some not too happy about the lack of social distancing but I thought it was a fabulous idea!

Time for more pictures!

Some of my favorites who called me over to be in the picture with them, ha ha!

Ayomi and Subi - these two were quite the pair in class!

I'm so grateful we had this final celebration! It was a great way to end Savannah's high school years!

Graduation 2020!

As Covid restrictions took more and more away from us, Savannah started getting extremely nervous about graduation. She said that she didn't care about losing prom but she would be really upset if she didn't get a graduation ceremony. Schools started scrambling, trying to figure out what they could do while still adhering to all the restrictions still in place. I have to say that I was so pleased with what Edgewood High School came up with and, most importantly, so was Savannah. At the appointed time we had to drop her off on one side of the school, drive to the other side and wait in our car until we were notified it was time to come in. Once inside the school we were directed to wait outside the auditorium until it was Savannah's turn. We were the only ones in the auditorium along with Savannah and a few administrators. They announced her name and, while everyone clapped and cheered for her, she walked up to the stage, received her diploma, moved her tassle, and posed for several minutes for pictures. It was so personal and I loved it! No waiting in line to get in, no miniscule pictures of my daughter walking across the far away stage, no having to listen to boring speeches. In my mind it was the perfect graduation ceremony because it was all about my daughter for those five minutes.

They had the percfect photo op set up as we exited so we took advantage of that.

We then wandered around the school taking those final shots of Savannah at Edgewood.

Donations from the community had come in to purchase senior signs for all the students and they were lined up all along the road in front of the school. It looked so cool!

My graduate!

Some restaurants were allowing outdoor seating so we took advantage of it and had breakfast at IHOP. It was super muggy but the rain stayed away.

Then it was back home for a few more pictures...

and opening gifts and cards.

Dinner was at The Greene Turtle where we actually got to eat inside!

Some more graduation love...

and even Savannah's Chick-fil-A gave a shout out to their graduates!