Tibi's Graduation

Let me just say that this was an emotional night for everyone. I don't know why for the others, but for me it was all about Tibi. I was not thinking about myself and that ten years ago I graduated. I was 12 or so when Tibi was born. I guess it is true that women tend their children like they would a garden. They take great care in it. And the harder you tend it and work it, the more you will produce. And it will be good, and you will take great pride in it. My older sisters and I took care of Tibi right along with my mother. We changed her, rocked her, held her, fed her, and played with her. I'm old enough to remember Tibi's 3 year old voice, and her cry. She had the same haircut for probably 3 or 4 years. I remember how fast she was as she ran through the house. I remember how high she could jump. She was so enthusiastic! I remember when she went down the stairs in her walker and how scared we were for her. I remember rocking her through her night time break downs. I remember carrying her into my mom when she'd wake up in the middle of the night. I remember filling up her little formula bottles.

I think I know why her graduation was so emotional for me. I felt like Tibi was my own child graduating because of all the things I did for her when she was younger. I felt like I was watching my own child graduate because I'd been old enough to watch her grow up from start to finish. We call Tibi and Landon "the babies" because they were babies together, but also because they were both all of our babies, not just mom's.

We sit on the bleachers and watch Landon a lot, with his sports, with his music. And I love that, but it was so special to sit there and watch Tibi, and celebrate and honor her for all the things she's done in High School. It was definitely her night. It was a big deal watching the first of "the babies" graduate. We missed Michaela and it hardly felt right without her just because of the relationship Michaela has with Tibi and Landon.

Tibi and friend, Alexa. Tibi and friend, Kaylee. Tibi and friend, Brandon. Tibi and Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Hardy. Tibi and family friend, Parker Chappell. I don't think anyone hugged more than Tibi and Landon on this night. They held on for dear life and broke my heart to pieces. Tibi and Colton, HS sweethearts... Tibi and best friend since birth, Mady. Me and Tibi! One thing that I wasn't sure about at first but quickly realized is that Graduation on the field is AWESOME! There are only 2 things that I thought weren't better than the way I graduated in the Gym. The band used to play the song live in the Gym. On the field they have a recorded song, but it sounds great and clear, so it really is good. The second thing is that we walked in together with the boys giving us an arm more than they did. We got to go up on the stage and walk down with a boy arm in arm. Tibi's class walked in front of the stage to collect their diplomas and didn't have much interaction with the boys. Overall, the field graduation was better though. I loved that everybody had an awesome seat. I also loved the space that we all had on the football field afterwards to take pictures and hug and talk. It was so fun that they played music on the big speakers after the ceremony was over, right after tha fight song! It made it feel complete and fun and gave it an exciting party atmosphere!

I'm so proud of Tibi and I'll miss her so much when she goes up to Idaho for College!