Reese Graduates from Elementary School!

Reese, this is you on the day on your 4th Grade Commencement. You have skinned knees, the sweetest smile, a bun that took me 30 minutes to get just right for you, your favorite accessory (a pink wrist watch) on, and you're holding a cup of "dirt water" that you "cooked" on the island with Emma, Quincy, Corbin, and Connor. You are still so little and yet so grown up at the same time. You're right in the middle. And "middle" is where you are headed! Middle school!  You're done with elementary school. How can this be? Where is the tiny 5 year old who cried and cried and held onto my legs on the first day of kindergarten (and first grade), begging me not to leave her? You're an independent girl, now, doing new things, bravely, boldly, beautifully advancing from a place of comfort. You grew your love for learning at Cooper. You are a disciplined and dedicated student who works extremely hard for your good grades. You never give up. You study without being asked, and when hard subjects get you down, you scrap up more determination and use your strengths to achieve excellence. You make weak things strong. I love you. I am proud of you. I am excited and nervous with you for the years to come. Change isn't something you love, so I know the middle years, which are an entire scrapbook of change, will bring many challenges for you. You're going to get through them, and you're going to do great things with them. You know how to learn and grow from hard things better than many adults. You're going to be great! 

You received special recognition for music, performing arts/drama, economics, citizenship, and book club, this year. Wow! 

I love that you weren't too cool to have your little brother come sit in your lap during the slide show and awards part of the ceremony. 

You've had Mrs Tweedy for 2 years and she never had a bad thing to say about you. 

To celebrate the graduating class, the 4th graders took their "final walk" through the halls of Cooper, which were lines with all the students, applauding them in congratulations. 

Some of these girls have been together since preschool! Reese, I am happy to see you choose good friends to spend your time with. You are always surrounded by a group of nice girls. You are kind to everyone, and kindness gravitates back to you. This is one more gift that will be with you everywhere you go. "You're going great places, you're off on your way!"

Congratulations, Dolly. Mama loves you to pieces.