17!

Today marks the day that Savannah turns 17.  I have tried so very hard to hold onto every moment of raising my children, but try as I might, time is fleeting.  It can't possibly be 17 years since I held her as an infant!

In this past year, Savannah learned to drive, started her first job, and opened her first checking account.  She saves her earnings faithfully as she longs for a car of her own, but she is also very generous with her money.  In the past week we have been so encouraged. Savannah did not get into the summer program for which she spent hours on the application. We learned that a few months ago, but last week we learned that she did get into another summer program that will give her a three week experience on a college campus this summer where she will earn six hours of college credit.  Savannah received her ACT score in the mail this weekend, and we are very pleased.  She is one point away from full tuition potential for the two colleges at the top of her choice list.  We feel hopeful that she can get that one point as she has been strongly prepped for the test this year, and she did not have a watch and did not have a clock in the room for this last test so that she could pace herself.  That threw her off enough that we think she can have a better test experience if she tries again.

Savannah works so hard, complains very little, smiles often, and has a sweet spirit.  As we wrestle over how to afford school this coming year for Zach and Julia, we need the encouragement that a little respite might be just around the corner.  At the same time Savannah puts so much pressure on herself to be a successful student that we don't want to add pressure that will burn her out.

We are so blessed to be her parents.  Savannah is truly one in a million.

Because Zach attends college near St. Louis, and he will be transferring after this semester, we splurged on a weekend getaway and made that part of celebrating Savannah's birthday.  It was a truly fun trip, and you can see lots of pictures in my previous few posts, but here are a few in honor of Savannah's birthday.

Monet's Water Lilies at the St. Louis Art Museum.  I had no idea it was that big!

Savannah posed with a painting by her favorite artist - Van Gogh.

opening a gift at dinner

My instagram post went along with this picture today and reads: Happy Birthday to this sweet, kind and beautiful girl! Savannah, you inspire us all to be better people.  We love you bunches and bunches and bunches...and even more than that!

Savannah was bummed that her birthday fell the day she returned to school after spring break.  I do hope that her friends made that a little more palatable today.  Happy Birthday Savannah!