Labor Day Weekend...

Labor day weekend was a blessing for us.

We were able to spend the weekend with our second oldest daughte, Cheyenne.

She loves the farm.

She kept telling me how peaceful it is out here.

After we had driven back into the big city and dropped her off, we came home and the hubs started working on his chainsaw.  You see, it is time to start cutting firewood for the winter.

The weather was perfect.

The light was beautiful...

just starting to set and everything seemed to have a beautiful glow.

We have a large hill made up of gravel that is used in places like... holes that come up in the driveway.

The kids love to play on this hill.

Everyone loves getting pulled around in the wagon.

When I was watching them take turns...

I wanted to take a turn...

but, I decided hanging on to the camera was a better way to go.

Sometimes, you've just got to stop and enjoy the view.

Ari hasn't been feeling her best lately.

The trip home was filled with 3 "getting sick" sessions...

YUCK.

Hopefully, she will feel better soon...

There is always more hill climbing and wagon riding to enjoy!

Hoped and Prayed For...

Today is a very special day.

Happy 19th birthday, Cheyenne!!!!!!!

This is a photo from our oldest daughters wedding.

It was interesting watching Chey interact with her newly married sister.

There has always been so much rivalry between the two... born less than 2 years apart.

You knew they loved each other, but the competition was intense.

Cheyenne has always felt the need to prove that she was as "good" as Cadi.

What she never realized, was that she always was exactly what she was intended to be...

The perfect Cheyenne she could possibly be.

19 years...

This is your last year as a teenager, baby.

I love you so very much!

I hope this year brings you everything you have hoped and prayed for.

That's just what I got on this very day... 19 years ago!

To a Tee...

Yes...

That is my second born...

Playing the crazy river woman at vbs.

It is funny how many people told me that the part fit her perfectly!

Ha ha...

She did a great job.

...and the part really did fit her to a tee.

Also, I just wanted to say that someone commented recently that they hope they are as excited as I am about their daughters wedding when the time comes...

I hope so too!  I have heard so many horror stories about families that just can't stomach their childs intended.  We are so blessed that we have loved him as long as Cadi has... even longer really!

11 Days Until the Big Wedding Event!

Picture To Prove It...

In case I forget that "the boyfriend" actually did attend church with grown daughter #2...

I have the picture to prove it!

Anniversary...

Today is the 3rd anniversary of the car crash that almost took the lives of my two oldest children. I decided not to retell the story since you can go to last years post for Aug 6th and read all about it.... but I did want to say that I thank God every day for what we were spared that day. His blessings never cease to amaze me!

So, if you want to read the story click on the link below...

http://friztime.blogspot.com/2008/08/so-very-grateful.html

No, no, no, no, no........

Cheyenne

...you are the second of my children to reach this milestone... 18!

I don't think I like this...

Wow...

It seems like I only turned away from that crazy 18 month old and turned back to find you all grown up.

You are a joy, pleasure, blessing... and pure gift from God!

Thank you for letting me be your mom... and God, thanks for giving her to me.

Chey visits...

Thanks, Chey!

You never visit anymore...

Your dear old mommy misses you and was so glad to see you...

Even if it was so you could do your laundry!

The Skies the Limit...

May 27, 2009

On this day, my second oldest daughter graduated from high school. Now, as many of you have read before, this wonderful young lady (and I mean that... she is amazing) has struggled BIG time with school. It did not come easy to her. She fought, HARD, for every single grade she received... even the grades that most people really are not proud of. About a year and a half ago, her dad and I sat down and discussed how we really didn't think graduation was possible. (maybe she could have graduated in a year or two but not now)

We talked about what our choices were and how we were really sad that this just might not take place. Something happened to this girl at the end of her junior year...

Suddenly, she could see the light at the end of the tunnel. She went to talk to her councelor... again... and started doing packets to make up for classes that she had failed. She worked hard. She didn't laze around over the summer break, but continued making up classes. She still struggled, but at least she was passing. Her senior year started, and this girl was determined to make it a great year. Her school councelor started wondering if she trusted him to do his job because she went in on a daily basis to check with him about her graduation status. She didn't want to get to the end of the year and find out she still had a class hanging out there that she hadn't made up.

We reluctantly purchased her graduation invitations and ordered her cap and gown. It may sound bad, but we had seen this before and just didn't know if she would follow through. We had a mini celebration when she actually received her cap and gown, but we have seen other students who still didn't receive a diploma even at this point.

I held my emotions in... not wanting to be too disappointed if she needed to do a second "senior" year. Grandma and Bampa flew in for the ceremony... and Mark and I still weren't sure it was going to happen.

When we arrived at the event center for the ceremony, I felt really nervous. I was afraid she wouldn't walk out with the rest of the class... the first thing I did was check the program to see if her name was there. It was!!! Cheyenne Frisbee was there for all to see. Mark and I pointed it out to each other and reminded ourselves that something could still go wrong...

I was on pins and needles when the music began and the students began walking in. Everyone was standing and cheering for their students... but I still hadn't seen mine. Suddenly, I heard one of the kids say, "There she is!"

I looked up and saw my daughter... the one who had struggled and fought, walking into the events center in her cap and gown... on the arm of a fellow student.

I started to cheer and scream her name but instead... I started bawling like a big baby. I cried so hard! Mark and I hugged each other... we had made it. She had acheived her victory.

Suddenly, I was thinking back to two and half years ago... when she had been in a major car accident and very nearly lost her life. I thought about how this could have been a very different day for us. But, here we were... celebrating her acheivement. She glowed when she looked up at us. I don't think I have ever seen her look so amazing!

Above: There was a speaker at the graduation... some board of education member... who spoke forever!!! about coins and all of the words on a coin... BORING... we took a small nap... at least we felt like it.

Below: Chey is the one in the black hat. It says, "I DID IT!"

Below: Chey is waiting to have her name card handed to the announcers.... and then receive her diploma!!!!

OHHHH... the anticipation....

She may be freaking out a little right now...


And then... they announced it... the thing we had all been waiting for...

Cheyenne D. Frisbee

...ham it up, baby, it is your moment to shine!

One of our good friends and neighbors just happens to be on the school board. We were hoping that she would be able to give Cheyenne her diploma, but when it was Chey's turn the other gentleman was handing out diplomas... but...

Our friend pushed him aside and said this was her favorite student... so Yippee...

Then it was over...

Just like that...

So, it was picture time. Here is Chey with Bampa and Grandma.

... with mom and dad

...with mom

...with some of the sisters

We went home, had cake and icecream, opened presents (money, clothes, laptop, etc).

The next day, we noticed that Chey seemed to be in a different world. She really wasn't sure what to do with herself. This goal that she had been so focused on for such a long time had been met. She had done it.

Now what?

You know what I think?...

Watching how hard she had to work to get that diploma...

the skies the limit.

mini vacation...

We had a great couple of days this week.

Mark's parents flew in for Cheyenne's graduation. We kicked back and did very little. We sat in the back yard and watched the kids play. We played a little bocce ball. We took out our new camera and tried to figure it out. We lost a whole bunch of awesome pictures (one we didn't lose is above) which we lost when we tried to download the photos... ugggg! We ate out and in and RELAXED. Mark and I decided it was like a little mini vacation.

I haven't uploaded the graduation pictures yet... but I will in the next few days. Let me tell you, though, that I balled like a big old baby!!! I was absolutely fine until I saw her walking into the stadium in her cap and gown... with the rest of the class... and her name was IN the program... I think I just thought something would go wrong up until that point! And then... I LOST IT! I stood there clapping, while the family was cheering her on and I couldn't say anything because tears were running down my face and I felt like I couldn't catch my breath... She did it!

She Really did it!

Tomorrow...

Guess who graduates from high school tomorrow?!!

There were times when I really didn't believe this graduation would take place. Getting Cheyenne to this place was a struggle. School comes easy for some... not for her.


I am jumping for joy that she has accomplished this amazing goal!!
Smiling, smiling...


At this very moment, she is at the rehearsal for the graduation. She is learning where to stand and where to walk...

You earned this, baby!

Enjoy each and every moment.

The best is yet to come!




Dear God,
Keep Cheyenne in your hands. Help her to always look to you for guidance. Help her to always choose your way above all others. Bring amazing, Godly people into her life. Lead her as she embarks upon this new journey.

And thank you for believing I was worthy of being mom to such a special young lady.

Forgive ourselves... for growing up...

“Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves... for growing up.”

** The Wonder Years

In My Daughter's Eyes...

In my daughter's eyes,

I can see the future.

A reflection of who I am,

An' what will be.

An' though she'll grow an', some day, leave:

Maybe raise a family,

When I'm gone,

I hope you'll see,

How happy she made me,

For I'll be there,

in my daughter's eyes.

**Martina McBride

smile...

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.

It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.

story to write...

Sometimes when we are young and getting ready to start out on our own life's journey...

we may make some silly choices.

I mean who hasn't done it, right?

Haven't we all bought a car that was too expensive or quit a job before we had another one lined up?

These are tough times to be "starting out". The choices are a little bit different than they were a few years ago. You can't walk into any place of business and figure they are hiring.

There is one thing that I do know, though...

This girl... will be just fine.

She has a strong belief in God. She has a family that supports her and loves her oh so much.

This girl has fire and gumption. She will be okay in these precarious times.

She was telling me just the other day that a large number of seniors are suddenly dropping out. They have decided that they don't want to finish their last trimester of high school.

Now, let me set the record straight...

This particular girl was not a cake walk to raise. There were some huge mountains to climb. Those mountains had deep ravines and sharp cliffs. There were times when I thought we might stumble and lose it all.

But, here we stand...

at the last leg of her "childhood" journey.

Her life is beginning.

She has a story to write...

and the telling of the tale will be beautiful.

Finally getting serious????

My beloved Cheyenne...

This picture is a rare thing.

Why...

Because she is studying.

I know... pick yourself up off of the floor. She had to break out the smelling salts when I realized what she was doing, too.

She told me that she wished she had realized how important all of this "school" stuff was years ago. sniff. sniff.

I am so proud of how hard she is working this year. Her senior year.

Good girl, Chey. Good girl.

Do you Remember...

...when you were 17 and getting invited to the Valentine's Day Dance was so important?

Cheyenne came home all aglow today with roses and a bear that clearly says "I love you".

Hmmmmm....

The funniest part of the whole thing...

she doesn't know who this is from.

Apparantly, the young man doesn't want to be revealed yet.

This could be good... or really, really bad!

I truly thank God that I am not 17 anymore...

Lessons...

Time is quickly slipping through our fingers.

This child, born so small and fragile, is getting ready to step out on her own in a few months.

I keep asking myself if she is ready. Have I taught her all that she needs to know?

Will she succeed?

I won't lie, out of all of our children, she has been the hardest. As I write that, I can picture you all thinking she must be a bad kid, but she isn't. She is a great kid. She just dances to her own music. She has always followed her own path. That isn't always easy for a parent... me especially.

Where this daughter is concerned, I guess I will need to learn a few things as well.

I can't always rescue her.

That's a big one. She will have to learn to sink or swim. She will have to learn to do it on her own. Do what you ask...

Live...

No longer the Queen...

Cheyenne finished her role as the queen in "Cinderella and the Glass Slipper".

She did a marvelous job.

The practices were strenuous and exhausting for all of us.

We enjoyed watching her perform, but we are equally glad to see this time come to an end.

For me, it was really about watching this young lady start and finish something.

She has done this and she did it with style!

Great job, Cheyenne!

We are proud of you!!

A few senior pics I will share now... the rest next May...

"You don't love a young woman because she is beautiful,

but she is beautiful because you love her."

Drama Queen...

Guess who will be playing the queen in the high school production of

Cinderella's Glass Slipper

You guessed it...

Cheyenne found out yesterday that she had received the role.

She is very excited.

We can't wait to watch you shine, baby.

Love ya!