I Started this blog in 2008. This young woman was in 1st grade, people!
And now, look at her!
A young woman!
What can I say about her that hasn't been said already?
She's the baby in the family. She owns it. Her older sisters have loved her so well,
and she has learned much from them and their examples to her.
My little Arianna Hope is a product of alot of us--
she's had the advantage of older parents (read: patient and broken-in. See also: tired.)
and siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews since she was in 3rd grade.
She likes the outdoors, vinyl records, book series, travelling, odd memes, llamas,
sloths, pugs (She will own a pug one day named Carl), making gluten-free treats,
and a number of other things that make her unique.
Camping/Hiking at Rocky Mtn National Park is a favorite place for her.
We went even while I was pregnant with her; she has favorite trails there too.
She and her dad have a strong, funny relationship: he calls her "Woodsen/Woody/Elwood and she calls him "Consuela or Connie".
Halloween, 2006
Meridian, Idaho
Deckers, Colorado
2012
Halloween 2014
Colorado Springs, CO
"Mama, notice the resemblance?"
Her sense of humor is unparalleled in our family.
Her wit is surprising, candid, smart and quick!
She is a fierce defender of the Under Dog.
If she is your friend,
you have a friend for Life.
Arianna has many nicknames in our family,
the most common is "Bee", but others include: The Beeps, Beebo,
Ari, Beef, Beebopanonymous, and Arianna Soap.
It might just be us, but everyone in our family has nicknames
given to them by their siblings.
She is a batman fangirl; wears batman onesies to school on Superhero day.
She's played piano for years, and just this Christmas began learning the guitar.
She is also a nutter about our dogs, Kota, our 10 yo black lab
And Zuri, our 5 yr old golden retriever that she likes to dress up on occasion.
Sass. Pure Sass this one.
Her siblings are her best friends.
These youngest two are almost always together, since they're the last 2 at home.
They are snarky, hilarious, and all else that goes on between brother and sister.
And this is their last year at home together.
He is leaving for a mission this year and she will be off to college.
I try to imagine what this season would look like--
when the last of the seven children would be flying out of the nest.
It's surreal.
It went faster than I can explain.
*
She struggled the last 2 years in Colorado Springs with grief and anxiety,
as several classmates took their own lives her freshman and sophomore years.
Moving to Oregon has been healthy for her--
new friendships have grown into strong friendships
that she didn't expect
but truly needed and appreciates.
All of these beautiful young people are her "squad"--
they are together whenever possible
at school, church and play.
Speaking from a purely Mom POV,
the healthiest, happiest thing to witness is seeing your child be accepted by her peers,
and in turn accept herself.
When we think back on our Oregon Adventure--
the first thing that will come to mind is that this was a blessing for our daughter.
We came for her.
She is graduating high school next week!
I can't even believe it!
I'm so excited for her. (And sad for me!)
I'm so excited for her. (And sad for me!)
She has done well in school here--
her favorite classes have been history, government and Pre-Law.
She is heading to Brigham Young University-Idaho--
for her first degree.
She has declared Health Sciences as her major,
planning to get her degree in Public Health and go onto becoming a
Cardiovascular Surgery Technician or Radiologist.
*
She asked me to create and paint her graduation announcements;
after a few mock-ups
this is the one she chose--
those emerald evergreens of Oregon.
A new season is here, my people.
I have so much more to say.
But we're on the cusp of a new adventure.
