Skip to main content

My Oldest Daughter is Graduating...

My daughter Maria is graduating.  Let me give you some background on this.  When Maria was three she was determined to go to pre-school like her big brother Beau.  Back then I was following the herd. Today I think parents are crazy to rush our babies.  Anyway, she went.  Then came Catholic School that I yanked (yes I said yanked) them out of the school that neglected them and then told them they were neglected because I had more children.  We decided to homeschool them.  Beau graduated last year and is doing fantastic as a HVAC Controls Technician.  Maria is graduating and attending Penn State for Agriculture Business Management.

Maria has been my toughest child to raise because she is nothing like me.  She is better.  She doesn't have the rose colored glasses her mother tends to have.  She looks, she sees and she moves forward to what she believes is right.  A smart woman told me to let this girl bloom...get out of the way!  I did and we couldn't be prouder.  Then the mother in me started to remember this little child.  Her Daddy wanted her.  He had his son and now he wanted his little girl.  The day she was born her Daddy cried and held her and kissed her.  Now they love to tease each other but Maria will always be her Daddy's girl...always.

The word to describe her is determined.  There is a joke between my mother and I about the word determined meaning stubborn.  But in this case, we couldn't have asked for a better gift.  From a young age she was determined to find her way and do it her way!  She found her love through 4H.  The first year she decided to show pigs.  It was for sure a learning experience...she didn't do well in placing but learned much.  The second year she proceeded to win everything with pigs and lambs.  She never had to be told by us to take care of her animals.  She bathed them, fed them and cleaned up after them every single day.  She taught her younger sisters how to do shows and helped Trinity take Grand Champion Pig last year. She has been a grand champion and reserve winner for 3 years and recently at the Pennsylvania farm show took first in her class. 

Anyone that knows Maria identifies her with her love of 4H, but most may not know the spiritual side of Maria, that she has a great love for God and her family.  Katharine Mary (our Kate) was born with Down Syndrome and we almost lost her.  From the moment she learned about Kate's Down Syndrome, she just didn't consider this EVEN a problem.  Maria stayed strong for BJ and I, taking care of the siblings and the house.  The immediate attachment of all of us to Kate surpasses anything we could imagine.  Maria immediately jumped into big sister role with kisses and hugs and again determination.  Maria's determination has only been met with Kate's and Maria wins most of the time and it ends with snuggles of love.  BJ and I are deeply touched by how she became protector and teacher to Kate.  Special needs, special love.  

Today we thank God for this determined girl named Maria!  We thank you Maria for giving your Dad and I the opportunity to teach you, guide you and walk with you through the many roads that led her to God.  Maria, God Bless You and thanks for all your determination to do a good job and get the job done.  Congratulations on all your successes with more to come.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Don't Judge a Special Needs Family

Have you ever been misunderstood? Have you ever tried to do the right thing and have a whole bunch of wicked come hurling at you? What did you do? Did you start to endlessly explain your motives so it could be twisted by the few people that dislike you? Or did you stay silent? Staying silent is not my strong point, thus the blog.;) When I became pregnant with Looly (Kate), I noticed some big changes within myself. I had to fight to keep her alive because of a difficult pregnancy. Then at the end of my pregnancy I had to fight to keep us both alive. Then we were told Looly had Down Syndrome. At that time, we were grateful to God that she was alive and later we were thanking God that her heart was healthy and there was no neurological damage. She just has Down Syndrome. Just Down Syndrome. Say those words...just Down Syndrome. That is what I do, I simplify difficult things, then reflect and think I'm crazy. I was connected to this child at conception. I begged God to let me car...
Post a Comment
Read more

Finding Peace with Charlie Kirk

It sure has been a rough time this year.  I really thought this year was going to be spectacular and finally peace among us.  How naive I still am.  Or is it the Pollyanna in me. Seeing Charlie Kirk get assassinated shook me and many others to the core.  I loved Charlie and what he stood for and yet!  I am so surprised at exactly how many people he touched.  Behind the scenes he was such a testament of who we should be.  He was genuinely GOOD!  How many times from thousands of friends did they say how he checked in on them and the encouragement he shared with them.   Now Revivals are breaking out and the younger generation is praising God in millions.  Does it make you think about yourself and how you make a difference in people’s lives?  Do you realize that your kindness and friendship is so much more powerful than you think?   When we want to mourn and hide away, we are being called to action.  Action with Praise and Glo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mary My Mother

I knew a woman who got pregnant.  The "Father" refused to marry her.  She had a son...his son.  He married another and left his Catholic Faith.  He became "born again".  He was baptized again.  He pounded on his bible and on his family.  He said Catholics aren't Christian.  They worship idols.  He attacked and attacked.  He became obsessed to the point that his religion was based on hatred.  Hatred that he could NOT convince even the weakest Catholic to switch sides.  He sinned.  Some of the biggest sins.  He had no where to turn.  He had all the sacraments of the Holy Catholic Church.  He could walk into a confessional at any time.  But pride, ego, ego, pride, stop him.   The worst part of this prideful story is the undermining of the mother of his son.  She brought him up Catholic. This story is probably a very common story.  It interests me because when we are at a crossroads, what d...
Post a Comment
Read more