22

 

this is zoe's tribe. her people. 

we gathered last week to celebrate her graduation. she is finishing school as she is about to turn 22- that magical age when high school finishes for kids in the special education world who need to stay longer than the typical age of 18. and it was a magical day. 

it was a graduation day just for zoe. zoe's day to shine. she dawned her cap and gown and paraded in to Madonna's "Hung up".

time goes by so slowly

i knew zoe had been working hard on this ceremony and that this was a big deal. i also know that sometimes big deals unravel her, so i was praying that all would go smoothly for her, especially on her insides. so far so good. she had a slideshow of her life, her years, her memories, it was lovely. then people got up and spoke about her growth, her progress, what they love about her, what they will miss.  her teachers, her classmates, friends, support staff. i was a mess. but then it was zoe's "time to shine" she took the mic, she said a few quick thank yous and then she sang. i had no idea she was going to sing but she did. she sang nancy griffiths, flyer. 

it was a song that we had listened to often with zoe when she was a girl. there wasn't anything particularly touching in the lyrics, but it is a beautiful song, sung by a her beautiful self so confidently, so boldly that i cried through it all. to see her singing, smiling, proud of herself, to see all those years, all those struggles and memories and seasons and questions and times i cried out to God wondering if we'd get to this moment- none of it was lost on me. from kindergarden bullying to fourth grade desk hiding, to homeschool necessity, to topping out at 8th grade math, to flying home from uganda urgently for a hospitalization, to this moment. 

time goes by so slowly

and yet. not. 

in a flash - here were are. my baby. little starfish hands. standing before us all singing in a cap and gown.

one day i watched my little blonde girl with her giant pink hello kitty backpack being swallowed by the clarendon JBBP elementary school front doors as she set off to start her life apart from us. and now years later, lifetimes later, on the other coast, after a decade abroad, she's grown and gowned and off again to start another chapter of life apart from us. what are these years? these days? these times that seem like forever but are gone in a moment really. this life really moves so fast. 

next week she will finish up at school and transition to a music program for young adults where she will continue to work on independence and self care and singing and piano and musical performance. she is so excited to start this new chapter and we couldn't be prouder of all her work and accomplishments.

Zoe you are our sunshine, you are finding your way!