Saturday, June 13, 2009

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

49 comments:

Jennie said...

What a beautiful post! Congrats to your daughter and to you for raising such a driven, accomplished, and beautiful daughter :o)

Cindy Haffner said...

Congrats to Alexis, she is a beautiful young women!!!

Linda Fleming said...

Wow, you have every right to be proud of Alexis. She has worked hard to accomplish so much in her life. She was a beautiful girl at the age of 4, and she is still beautiful as she graduates from high school. Good luck in your future, Alexis. I know you will continue to do well. And I'm with you, who wants to share a bathroom so many people? There is no place like home.

Sue from Oregon said...

oh how fast they grow! Wonderful pics. I know my family from Hawaai always send leis for my children when they graduated and they looked so special!

Kyoko said...

Oh Maria, you must be so proud of Alexis! She is so pretty and you both look like SISTERS! I really enjoyed reading your post and I know that you have come a long way and look at the AWESOME outcome.

Your husband is such a great man and I'm sure him being around had so much influence on what your daughter has become.

CONGRATS to you all!

Becky said...

What a beautiful post Maria. What a blessing to have a daughter that has a spirit of love, joy and purpose.

Islander Girl said...

Oh Congratulations Alexis!!!! What a beautiful and gifted child! I'm so happy for her and I know how proud you are! She's definitely the apple of your eye!!! What a great tribute!!

Sending her a lot of Aloha from your home!!!

Aloha!

Little C's Creations said...

Congratulations Lexi!!! Wooo Hooooo U did it, girl!!! 40 minutes ain't that bad, besides - you gotta have to come home on the weekends for your balcony bbq's, right?!

Big Big Hugs,
Jen

michelle said...

Congratulations on graduating, and best of luck!


Michelle
Graduation Stoles

SemSee said...

Awww! Many congrats Alexis. And congrats to you Maria for obviously being an awesome mommy to raise such a wonderful daughter! I loved reading all about it and seeing the piccies - thanks so much for sharing! Hugs, Sem x

Unknown said...

Wow Maria, you've had be blubbing here! You are one wonderful family, whose achievements have been obtained by each of you supporting the other. You should ALL be proud! Wonderful, wonderful story. TFS.
Viv xx

Beth Norman said...

Congratulations. It is an exciting time for everyone. I'm sorry to hear about your ex-husband. All the best to Alexis.

Rihani said...

Oh what a proud mum you are Maria!! :) Congratulations to Alexis on graduating and best of luck to her on her future!! I am sure she is destined to do great things! You have both come a long way, CONGRATULATIONS again!!!

Nikki Fairbairn said...

Wow Maria, you must be so proud, love the pictures they are so beautiful. Hope you have a great Sunday. Hugs Nikki x

Karen W said...

Beautiful girl and congratulations to all of you, it's a family effort!!

marijke said...

what a great pics you have placed in this blog and I say congratulations to your daughter from me to her and to all of you, you really are a prud mom

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to read so many wonderful things that your daughter has done. Congratulations to Alexis and to your whole family for supporting and encouraging her. She is going to do well in the future.
Linda Peterson

Chrisd said...

Congrats to your Alexis. She will go far in life. Thank you so sharing the beautiful photos and touching story about the family. Kudos to you and your husband for raising a terrific young woman.

Debbie Fisher (debbiedee) said...

What a beautiful daughter!

Congratulations Alexis!!

Dawn said...

How wonderful! Congrats to you both!

de said...

Congrats Alexis!

Wow Maria, I can see why you are so proud! What a wonderful tribute! You are a very lucky lady and Alexis is very lucky too to have a mom and "dad" like you and your husband.

She's a beautiful, intelligent girl and it sounds like she will do great things in the world!

Congrats to your family!

Tracy.H said...

Congrats to Alexis!! What a beautiful family and such a beautiful tribute to your daughter. :0)

CreativeMish said...

Congratulations! You should be very proud. She is such a pretty young lady!

Sherry said...

Maria, your post brought tears to my eyes. It is so beautifully written. Your daughter is a real beauty...inside and out. You have raised not only a daughter you can be proud of but an adult with a great heart. I hope she continues to use her talents to do good for her community. It is so needed.

Give me Congratulations to her!

Sherry

Danni said...

What a wonderful post!! Congrats to your daughter...

Sheri Gilson said...

Congratulations Alexis!!!

Christine said...

Maria, I so enjoyed reading your post today. Your daughter has accomplished so much. You are a very lucky Mom though I am sure that you had a little something to do with her success. :) Please tell her congratulations and that I wish her the best of luck. What a wonderful day for you and your family.
xoxo, Christine

Eva said...

WOW....this is such a beautiful post...you brought tears to my eyes. She sure turned out to be one amazing young woman, I can see how proud you are of her. Good luck to her in her future endeavors! Hugs, Eva

Monika/Buzsy said...

Cogratulations to Alexis and to you! Great job raising your daughter... it takes a lot to be a parent these days. :o) Good luck to her!

Chriserendipity said...

Maria,
Congratulations on Alexis' graduation! Thanks for sharing the photos of your beautiful daughter...and all the best to her for her future!

Chris in Calgary, AB Canada

Gram E. Bear said...

Congratulation to the graduate and the parents who have raised her to be such an accomplished young lady. I did not realize you lived in Hawaii. The flowers made me homesick for my chilhood. I was born in Honolulu and have so very many fond memories of the islands. Love the culture, the music! Miss the Mary Monarch Hula Festival. Thanks for sharing the celebration. {{{hugs}}}

Cami said...

This is a beautiful "journal" of both your daughter Alexis and you of life as the years went by. Congratulations to Alexis for all the accomplishments she's made in so few years and many more to come. To you, Maria, you've been a wonderful mom with a gentle guiding hand, and to your husband for being the best step dad! Hugs to you all! Cami

Risa said...

Congratulations Alexis!
Just reading your post moved me to tears...I can feel so much love and pride within! I'm so proud of Alexis as you are...she's a beautiful young lady!
hugs
Risa:)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photo you shared with all of us. Your family is very lucky and blessed. Stella

2 Worlds said...

Congratulations Maria, it seems you prepared a responsable ladie for the world, this is what parents are for lead a good way for when the kids begin their own life.

Lin said...

What a beautiful daughter. No wonder you are proud of her. Congratulations and love to you both.

Anonymous said...

Congrats to Alexis and wish her a bright future in new life. Being a proud Mom, there is nothing more to express your happiness :P

Denise said...

Congratulations Maria on your daughters accomplishments! It takes good parents to raise such a wonderful child as Alexis.

Ddmac58 said...

Congratulations to Alexis!! WOW, how wonderful and accomplished she is. You have every reason to be proud and to brag. I loved the Lei on her, I missed that when my family moved from Hawaii when I was a little girl. My Dad was in the Air Force and we lived at Hickam for three years.

Renata van Miltenburg said...

What a beautifull daughter you have, she looks a lot like you. Love the flowers in her hair. This is how I think Hawaii looks like ;) Have to visit once in my live!! Love the cards on your blog also, you're very talented!

Sunny regards from The Netherlands,

Renata

Rita said...

Congrats Alexis! Oh Maria I'm so happy for you & your family, your daughter has made you proud & it is such a great feeling isn't it! You & your husband have done a wonderful job raising such a beautiful girl, inside as well as outside & I'm sure she feels so much love for you both...she is one lucky girl to have such great parents! Good luck with your future endeavers Alexis! I'm sure you will succeed at whatever you choose to do!

Hugs Rita

Cathy said...

Congrats to Alexis!! She is really beautiful and my eyes are tearing up right now!! I know you are so proud of her. Your family picture is so nice!! Congrats to you mom for raising a wonderful daughter!! Gotta get a tissue!! Hugs, Cathy

Kristine said...

She is absolutely GORGEOUS! All the pretty lei on her is so beautiful too. My girls saw all her pictures and my 10 year old just beamed at everything from the palm trees and the lei to hearing about all the community service she got awards for. My daughter even at such a young age has gotten some award and participating in community service as well. So thrives for that kind of thing, and seeing your daughter graduate with high honors ----it's priceless!! Thank you for posting!! :)

Linda said...

Thanks for sharing a portion of your lives. It is wonderful to read of such a caring person as your daughter. I can tell how proud you are of her and rightly so. Best wishes to Alexis and on to bigger and better accomplishments. Linda Gray

Elena said...

Congratulations to your daughter Alexis! Oh, she is so beautiful! I am very happy for you and your family, Maria!
Sorry I am late with this comment...

Ida said...

Congratulations to your daughter on her graduation. She is a beautiful girl (inside and out) and you have every right to be proud of her and your husband. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful pictures and a part of your personal life.

kathleenh said...

Awww, what a great tribute to your daughter! You have good reason to be so proud of her! You and your husband have done a great job raising her. Congrats to all of you!

Teri said...

Congratulations Alexis! Your daughter is beautiful and you must be so proud of her!! You guys look liks sisters! With the haku's on, looks like you are in Hawaii!!

Sandra said...

Maria such beautiful photos, I can tell you are a very proud mom!! Congrats to Alexis, she is beautiful...just like her Mom!!
Sandy

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