Today my little girls are graduating

Today is going to be an emotional day.

Today my two little girls are graduating from college.

And yes they are moving onto another college (one already has) but that doesn't lessen the fact that they have made it this far! They have accomplished what neither their dad nor I were able to - and done so in shining colors!

I am so proud of them, of their hard work and dedication and drive - traits they obviously got from Billy (although I always did love school.) My pride is not for anything I have done to make this happen but for them and the fact that they have done it in spite of me.

I love the people they have become. I love them for forgiving their very unperfect mother. I love them for knowing how much I love them no matter what choices I might have made that have affected their lives. I love them for respecting their father, who very much deserves it even though we love making fun of him sometimes. I love them because I know that the mistakes I've made have made them stronger instead of angry and resentful. I love them because they love their family, because they realize how important Grandma and Granddaddy and Nana are to our family.

Tonight I will be trying to take pictures of them walking across the stage, first Amanda, then Amy, and I know that the photos are going to be blurry because I know how they turn out when I am crying. They will be tears of happiness and proudness and hopefulness and I welcome the puffy face that comes with them!

Congratulations Amanda and Amy! You have made your mama and daddy very happy!