So she made it....
through her first year of college and now Samantha will be heading off to Maine for seven weeks to do her field period for school. I have her home just for a few day's, long enough to dump off her stuff and re-pack. She sure has changed, this more mature version of my daughter makes me stop and contemplate. What? you may ask..... well, a lot.... everything from the start to here.

Yes, Yes.... I think to much..... much to much....

when she was about 4, she went with me to what they call a "pearl party" you pick and pay for an oyster and you see if you get a pearl and if you do you can have it made into jewelry. So she picked one and I had the pearl made into a necklace, over the years I have thought of several different occasions to give it to her but didn't. Last night felt right, the end of her first year of college.... just to let her know how special she really is....
She is like that pearl, after all of the irritations, trials and growing pains, here is this beautiful, shining young woman in the end....