Hummmm...you may want to begin at the bottom of this post and read each day in reverse!
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Graduation Day!
Pic 6 of 6: From here through tonight, you have come a long ways, Holly Gayle Gillmore!
We are proud of you
To be continued = more pics later! Yay!
One day to G-Day = Graduation!
Pic 5.1 and 5.2 of 6: Holly is who she is because of her Friel heritage, a family full of faith. We are soooo thankful for the aunts and uncle on this side of the fam who love Holly unconditionally, who laugh with her, who encourage her, and who have prayed many prayers for The Girl. When I have needed prayers, the Three J's get a message...and I know the prayers are immediately sent. This is a blessing...beyond measure.
Because my parents raised "two sets of kids," I grew up with nieces and nephews who were more more like brothers and sisters...precious memories...then that extended into our kids being raised together. Thanks Leah and Mike and Melanie and Brian...who took Holly in and loved on her as one of theirs!
Two summers ago, we all shared more time together than we really wanted when Janet spent some time in the hospital...today, Janet is having surgery again, and I would ask that you join my family of faith and pray for her this morning and throughout the next few days. Janet's words to me last night, "I believe." What a testimony she now has...just ask her!
My anthem song through the years has been "Only Believe"...many with whom I grew up know this song. There's a line in that song about the doors being shut...I lived this one night in ICU with Holly when they shut our glass paneled walls...as our little neighbor eased into Heaven. He surrounded that family and mine...because we only have to believe. From there years ago to here today...because we believed.
The girls tell me dad "would have loved Holly," who she has yet to meet. I agree. She would have been one of his "pride and joys."
Tonight, is Vespers...the church service for our seniors. This is my favorite event of this week (yes, even more so than graduation), for tonight is REALLY what it is all about. Tonight...at 7:30 at First Baptist. Love seeing how they believe.
Two Days to G-Day = Graduation!
Pic 4 of 6: Today is all about the G. First, becoming a Gillmore...what a blessing and a gift in both our lives, changing us, empowering us, loving us
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Holly has also been blessed with other names also through the Gillmores...she became a sister, a cousin, a niece, a granddaughter, a sister-in-law...later an aunt to three. Yay!
Holly's life has been forever changed because of Gillmore Farm: she obtained a dad, another family, a home, hayrides, bonfires, shooting guns, deer hunting, and several dogs (and rabbits and horses...and few critters that The Man ensures I do not see!)
Second...Holly's middle name Gayle is spelled exactly like Gayle Ross for a reason...her namesake. Gayle, a friend, a strength, a mentor, a "focal point," just there, always giving to us, a gift from God when Holly and I so needed her...all the way through surgery four (well, she and Johnnie might have learned more about kidney stones on that trip...amongst other things!)
Holly and the G's...goodness all summed up...
Three days to G-Day...Graduation!
NOTE: this is such a fun week! Hope everyone is having as much fun as I am...this is how it should feel!
Pic 3 of 6: Holly has always been my sidekick (and Johnnie's) when it comes to school. Dressing up and trying out clubs and activities and attending events...that's just who we were and are.
This began long before she was ever in school...or even preschool. Holly spent her first Valentine's and St. Patrick's Day in ACH (that was our longest stay...six weeks to the day). Johnnie just thought she needed to celebrate...so she bought the outfit, and we dressed up her...as best as one can with tubes and such also being our friends.
Holly has run more errands, bought more Sonic drinks (thanks, Holly!), sat and waited on me "to finish" whatever I was working on, "volunteered" to help (or was firmly persuaded), adopted family and attended many baseball games watching "my little cousin," grew up, in part, at Keely's house with another teacher mom...then went to church and did this all over again...all because she was blessed to be a teacher's kid and live in that environment...often our home away from home.
To all who have had a part in the "fun" of being a student the last 13+ years...the trips, the events...the molding and shaping of the person living within...thank YOU!
Holly would not be The Holly we know...without YOU!
As for Holly's bangs, I like to think we got better with time. 
:) Maybe?
:) Maybe?
Four Days to G-Day = Graduation!
Pic 2 of 6: This one was taken a few days before Holly Gayle Gillmore had her fourth heart/lung surgery. Here on earth, I may never know all the answers to the "why?" Holly has gone through what she has...BUT as Jeremiah tell us, "He knows the plans..." I could share several of those answers, for He was and certainly has been with us every step, set-back, ride (ambulances), flight (ACH jet), and miracle along the way, ever increasing our faith because of the gift of His Faith and His Faithfulness. This was grounded into me by my parents...as we have attempted to ground faith into Holly. May we continue to have the grace to raise her up in His Ways.
To ALL...and there are so many...who have prayed for us, assisted us, laughed and cried with us...as part of Holly's Journey...thank YOU! To family who are blood...and to friends who became family along the way...thank YOU!
Now...as for those earrings...well, if you have ever raised kids...you know...sometimes, you pick your battles! :)
:)
Five days until G-Day (Graduation!)
Part 1 of 6 days of posts...so bear with me?
Picture 1: Even back then, maybe she knew that one day she would leave the baby phase of her life...enter 13 years of public education...to leave...to enter the next phase...to begin the phase of obtaining her degree in education...maybe?
To all of you who have had an impact on Holly Gayle Gillmore's education...we thank YOU!
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