Crowned!

My girl actually became Homecoming Queen, and I still can't believe it! I wanted it to be true, but was OK if it wasn't true, and sure enough, it is true! It has been a whirlwind ever since. Congratulations from so many people to me {and my husband}, and of course to Madelynn. The community here is so wonderful and so happy for their Queen. It was such a defining moment for her, for all of us. We were all in the front row: myself, my mom, my dad, my step-mom, my sister, Madelynn's Dad, my husband, and my niece and nephew. It was exciting, fun, shocking, and we were all shaking like fools! I had to stop myself from fainting. We all shot up out of our seats and screamed and yelled when we saw where the crown fell!

I think when you have a child in the mid 90's and you raise her all alone for many years, you get something very very special. It might not appear that way at first, because of all the stress and and icky-ness that can surround being a young, un-wed, single mom.

But as I look back and think about how I raised her, I think about a time where there were no computers, a home that didn't have many toys {we could count the number of toys we had}, and a mom, {me} who didn't have much to offer, as far as the things money can by. So I knew these truths, these facts. And sure, they were against us in a lot of ways. But I couldn't let those factors work against us. So I gave my daughter all I had. I put everything I could give her, into her.

I gave her my fierce love for people, I gave her my impeccable manners, I gave her a kindness to all spirit, I gave her self expression so she'd be comfortable being herself no matter what. I gave her respect for her peers and for adults alike. I gave her encouragement non-stop. I told her I loved her all day long. I gave her hugs and kisses! I gave her a voice, and let her speak her mind and share her thoughts well with me. I gave her discipline that she later appreciated. I gave her culture, and she learned to love and accept other ethnicity's. I gave her quiet time and let her learn things on her own so she could understand the start of independence. I gave her a creative platform and music everyday so she could create and be who she wanted. I gave her a silly, light, fun spirited home where she knew peace and grace. She knew a thing or two or more about forgiveness, and mercy. And later a lot about God, how much He has loved her since day one. And how He is the keeper of her heart, and that it is wise to follow His will for her life. 

Most of these things I have given her haven't cost a penny. I think this is what made her a Homecoming Queen, and she can wear that crown proudly knowing that it has been earned.

I have no idea what's in the future for my girl, but I continue to hope and pray that she stays on a good path, and even with hard times, she will move through life independently and graceful, never forgetting why she won the crown.