Congratulations On Your Graduation Alexis!!

***disclaimer. . .lots of photos" LOL!

This is a photo of Alexis at age 4. . .she still looks the same, huh!

Hi Friends!! Yesterday my daughter graduated from high school so I wanted to dedicate a post to her!

Gosh, where do I begin . .. .

My daughter have always been the brightest light in my life, the sunshine that brightened my day, the light at the end of a dark tunnel, the happiness on a gloomy day. . . .

I recall when she was little, the first thing she would say to me when I woke up in the morning was "GOOD MORNING, MOMMY!". . .in her loudest, most cheery voice and for that reason, it was a good morning.

I divorced her dad when she was 4 1/2 years old and a year later, my ex-husband passed away unexpectedly (murdered). It was a very gloomy time and

it worried me that such a traumatic experience would alter her life in a negative way. . .something in which she would not be able to handle well as she grew older.

All my fears were laid to rest as she graduated yesterday. She turned out to be generous, loving, and giving.

Since middle school, she had decided that she wanted to be active in helping out the community by volunteering countless hours of her time during her lunch hours and weekends.

During the Senior Awards Night, she was recognized for her community service efforts by receiving a certificate of recognition by her school. She also was awarded the "Kiwani's Scholarship" (a non-profit community organization) and the "PTSA Scholarship" as well as receiving a thank you letter from our city's community service organizer. As the Key Club President, Alexis worked closely with our city's community service organizers and the President of the organization came down personally to her school to give her the letter.

Alexis was honored with 3 stoles this year along with other distinguished students. They were acknowledged during the Senior Awards Night and during the graduation ceremony. Here she is in her graduation gown wearing her 3 stoles from the National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, and Key Club.

Gosh, I can't tell you how proud I am of her. Alexis was also in other clubs such as the Environmental club, Soles for Africa, and the Year Book Club.

I want to acknowledge my husband. . .as Alexis' step-father. . .he has been the most supportive and loving father a daughter could ask for. He filled the void that would have been an empty part of her life and made things better for her. He made her life as happy and comfortable as he possibly could. He dedicated endless hours helping her with her homework, supporting all her endeavors, and just giving her the best life a child could ever ask for. Thank you sweetheart for being the best husband and father. I couldn't ask for more!!

During the graduation ceremony, the honor students were asked to stand up as an acknowledgement of their accomplishments. In this photo, she and 14 other students from the National Honor Society stood up as the Principal acknowledged them.

Here she is accepting her diploma. I took this photo with a 300mm zoom lens. Thank goodness for those zoom lens, huh! LOL!

Alexis will be attending University of California in the fall. Yay! I was hoping she could stay in state and attend one of the best public universities in the nation.

To those who've asked me . . .the UC campus that she will be attending is only 40 minutes away. My daughter chose this campus because it's closest to home so she can commute rather than dorm. So . .no, she will not leave home for college! She didn't want to dorm. . .she said she didn't want to share a room with another student or share a bathroom with 8 other people! LOL! So no dorming for Alexis!

Here is Alexis with a few of her classmates! Note all the lei on her. In Hawaii, it's customary for graduates to receive a lot of lei.

My family in Hawaii sent her a bunch of lei and haku for her head. They wanted her to feel the "aloha spirit" when she graduated. She definitely felt the aloha spirit. . .she was so happy walking around with all the lei on her.

Here in California. . .it's not customary to receive a lei; hence, no lei on her friends. It's too bad because look how pretty all the lei on Alexis! LOL! Very colorful, huh?

Here is me and Alexis during dinner after the graduation ceremony.

I decided to use her other haku. Having two of them on my daughter's looked strange so I used the other one. I didn't want it to go to waste. LOL!

Here's a photo of Alexis, me and my husband.

Congratulations my dear child. . .I am the most happiest mom ever! You have done well for yourself and I know you will continue to do so. You have been the best child a mom could have and I am extremely proud of all your accomplishments!!

I love you!! Mom