how can it be that she is graduating

Stephanie the apple of her daddy's eye the day she was born. I will remember the first time he held her in his arms forever. Here we sat working hard to make a living and now we had been entrusted with the blessing of raising a baby girl. She has always been very aware of those around her wanting nothing more then happiness for all. She would grow into a very opinionated toddler at age 4 but very aware of the rules and the first to remind you if you forgot what you said you were going to do. At the age of 4 she stepped into the role of a junior mom as she assisted me in taking care of her twin baby sisters. She was a natural and very good at feeding them, changing them and getting them to fall asleep. She learned early the art of "allowing" Alex to clean her room for which he felt was a great priveledge. She hated PE and sweating so much she learned in Kindergarten you could go to the clinic if you said your tummy hurt and soon figured out how to get out of PE. We caught on and she was to endure PE until she came home to be schooled in 4th grade. She remained home until she decided it was time to go back to public school in 9th grade. I had a hard time letting her go but trusted God had her back. She has had tremendous strength as she has watched her father go through cancer not once but twice in the past 8 years. She is mature beyond her years in many ways which I think is an advantage and disadvantage. The advantage is she deals with stress and emergencies in stride the disadvantage is she can seem so very serious and closed. I pray that she will feel God's hand as she continues to grow into an amazingly Godly woman. As I look at her I want for her to enjoy life but to be mindful of the path God has for her; to look toward Him, learn His truths for herself and live those out boldly and without fear of hypocracy. Going to those that are more mature in the faith for guidence and wisdom without apprehension. When she came to know Christ personally at the age of 8 she looked to her father and I and said I can now go to Africa to be a missionary. Her path may not actually lead her to Africa but I pray that she will still live life to glorify God and show others his love and gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. So, my serious junior mom is now moving to a phase that will start her on her journey into adulthood. In June she will graduate from high school when I feel like she was just potty trained. Who knew that something so wonderful could also be so heart breaking. You may ask, why heart breaking? It is heart breaking to see that you are not as needed as you were when she was 4. I know I will always be here mom but I may not always be the one she needs. I am excited to see her grow up but surprised that graduation is here already. I could not ask for a better daughter and will be full of tears I fear until well past her graduation day.