I can't thank all of you enough who took the time to write in and leave comments about Sabrina's surgery. How nice it is to know that people are thinking about us and praying. Thank you!

It was a long day at the hospital, and Sophie was looking forward to getting up early and going with us; however, I do believe the wait got to be a bit too uneventful for her…

Sabrina is recovering well, and we got the news yesterday that the growth in her throat was a benign polyp. Thank the Lord! We're loving the sound of her new voice, and even her friends are amazed at the difference. (Sabrina has sounded sick and stuffy for the past 1-2 years, so that we never got to hear what she was supposed to sound like.) And because the polyp was taking up so much of her airway, she had a difficult time breathing – especially at night.  She said she still can't get over how much air she gets now in just one small breath!

The things I take for granted.

Thank You, Lord, for knowing all along that my girl was just fine. I love You.

Mike made a third and final trek to Kansas this past week to bring home the remainder of his parents' belongings. Among all of the boxes and totes crammed inside the Uhaul was a container full of lawn ornaments that I'd specifically stated he did not have to bring home.

However, Mike has never been one to throw anything away, and if he had his way, Hoarders would be asking him to sign on the dotted line so they could give him the 15 minutes of fame he longs for.

When Mike toted into the kitchen the box full of faded, chipped, and downright unsightly ornaments, he asked me where I'd like them put. I simply said, "The Good Will is fine," and he replied, "But don't you think they'd be pretty all sitting out in the yard?" I stared at him, and with a resigned "Okay," he walked back outside with the box.

We grilled out that evening, and while the steaks browned I sat on the wicker loveseat and looked around, marveling at how green and full everything had gotten with all the rain we've had lately.

And that's when I spied something odd among the spirea…

Through squinted eyes, I took a closer look…

You've got to be kidding me, I thought…

MIKE STEWART!

I shuddered.

I growled.

This was right up there with that time he took the Yorkie statue – also from his parents' house – and put it under my pillow with a note that said, "I love you, Paulette, and I'm so glad I came to live with you."

I took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself, when I was faced with yet another shock:

All I could do was stand there and stare, mouth agape.

What would you do? Pray tell, what do you DO with a man such as this?

And why does a scene like the following not surprise me?

(Did I mention downright unsightly?)

My girl graduated from high school this past weekend. She wasn't feeling very well, but was glad to walk that aisle and receive her diploma nonetheless.

It was very difficult finding good seating in the auditorium, and I ended up in the very back, hoping I could get a few somewhat decent shots of Sabrina. When she got to her seat, I saw her looking around, trying to find all of us; with the hundreds of faces looking downward at their class, she couldn't spot us, which made me sad. I kept wanting to shout out, "We're here, Sabrina! Here we are!"

About 3/4 of the way through the ceremony, they finally came to the "S" surnames, and Sabrina's row walked to the front…

At last, I'd maneuvered myself to get a great photo of her receiving her diploma! I was poised and eager, holding my breath, and my shutter finger was ready to capture the shot of the day…

"Sabrina .. Stewart," the administrator called…

(There she is! My baby girl! My little strawberry-haired baby girl!)

CLICK.

Wha…???????????

WHAT THE POMP JUST HAPPENED?

I couldn't believe it. This was the one photo I was waiting for, and it was disastrous. I kept asking myself, "Will someone please remind me why I secretly sold Mike's left kidney so I could buy this lens?" over and over again. It wasn't until a few moments later that I realized it wasn't my lens, but another culprit:

The onstage flash and camera rig. What timing. Ugh. 

I then recalled that last year the school sent out photos of the graduates to each family, and I was happy again. I'm sure they got a much better shot than I could have anyway.

So I continued on with watching my darling girl head back off the stage, diploma in hand, and back to her seat…

Congratulations, class of 2011!

Sitting in the back of the auditorium, I watched my Sabrina walk toward the exit…

Again, she started to look around (she had actually seen her proud dad earlier, but I was sitting in a different spot than he was), and I believe she was just about to give up spotting me, when suddenly – finally…

…My girl smiled at me. It was then that I started to cry. I put my camera down and held my hand to my heart and told her I loved her. She answered by putting her hand to her heart and told me she loved me too, and out into the sunshiny day she went, waiting for us to come find her.

I am so proud of Sabrina.

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Once outside, amid the sea of green gowns, we tried our best to spot her. Finally, Sophie had the idea of standing up on a concrete block to yell out, "Sabrina!!"

It worked. 🙂

(Her dad gives the best, warmest hugs.)

Pops was so proud…

In front of the courthouse…

(We'll be here again for Joonbug in 2018! I need to remember to take another picture exactly like this one when she's wearing her cap and gown.)

And yes, I'll take another of this one as well…

Sabrina, your dad and I are so very proud of all you've accomplished. You're a delight to us, and we love you with all our hearts. I know I speak for your Meems and Pops as well, and as dad said in your card, "Grandma and Grandpa are in Heaven, clapping and cheering the loudest."

Congratulations, my girl.

My girl is home for the summer, which makes me one very happy mom…

The only problem with this, however, is that she'll be expecting me to go to the gym with her.

(When does school start again?)