This Girl...

is a college graduate!

We got up at 3:30 two weeks ago to drive up for the occasion and cheer her across the stage. And yes, we're popping our buttons proud of her, but we always have been. She's a pretty neat kid. And now she's headed to grad school to do research in ruminant nutrition this fall. New school. New adventure, but first a trip to Florida with her best friend. The desert rat wanted to see a white sandy beach and soak up some ocean sun while surfing the waves.  When she got back, the job of packing began. I told her that she was going to be surprised at what she had accumulated and all week she has been sending me texts confirming that she is a pack rat. LOL. She posted this and it made me laugh:

I am a 21 year old college graduate and I have called my mother for her insight a sum total of 5 

times today dealing with everything from moving out of this apartment, looking for a new living 

situation, and making grad school decisions. I also apparently still need her to teach me how to 

clean an oven and to remind me to reapply sunscreen at the beach.

Ya'll... you will never not need your mommy. Just sayin.

It's nice to be needed.

This past weekend we hooked up the horse trailer and headed her way once again to haul 4 years worth of college necessities back to the ranch. Last year I had taken over her closet and installed heavy duty shelving in order to store my fabric stash. I  told her that proof of my love was evident in the fact that I had removed that and given her closet back to her. :)

We are tickled to have her home for a bit before she ventures out for grad school. She was offered a paid assistantship. That's a huge blessing and will be a nice change from being a poor college student who carries 18 hours and juggles an outside job.

The last 4 years were wonderful and the move was bittersweet for her, but this photo sums it up well. She captioned it:
                                                            Next Chapter