Goodness! How we love this girl!
Graduating with honors and a smile.
Recipient of the NTHS, Jon H. Poteat national scholarship.
What a happy day for Bemmer-Bo! Her grandparents (Jonathan's folks), Marilyn and Adam, and her family were there to cheer her on (along with some friends).
Emily will always remember that these special people in her life were able to share this day with her. We are so very blessed.
Emily will really be missed at home. She is a joy!
Many things have brought tears to my eyes recently. Knowing that she is leaving for college has made me a little extra emotional.
While doing the laundry, I picked up her BYU t-shirt and began to cry. I can't explain just how quickly the tears well up in my eyes - and when they 'well' they have no where to go but out! I have cried at her awards nights, band banquet, and all of the graduation hoopla (and more).
One very sweet thing for Emily was a delivery from a family she babysits. They brought over some handmade gifts and cards that the kids had made for her. In the card from the parents, they told Emily that they had asked their oldest daughter if she had any heroes. Without any hesitation, she named Emily. They asked her why she felt that Emily was her hero and she responded that Emily is helpful, kind, happy, fun and always smiles.
When Emily takes care of children she engages with them. They play together, she reads to them, she feeds them, she brings new and fun activities for them to enjoy while she is there, she helps them clean up whatever mess they might have made while playing and she loves them! She genuinely enjoys children.
Emily has had a sweet influence on quite a few children already in her young life.
(Another reason to cry). The mind is a wonderfully, crazy thing...
the strangest thing happened as I dropped her off at the high school to be transported with the rest of her class of 540 kids to their graduation at the Dr. Pepper Stars Center.
She exited the vehicle as Emily the graduate, but as she walked toward the rest of her classmates (and the very long line-up of buses), I saw in my mind's eye a very, little Emi, the girl I dropped off at Kindergarten. I watched that sweet girl walk away from me and toward a fabulously exciting time in her life.
Oh, so happy for her, so sad for me.
And yet, I know she will continue to bring happiness home with every phone call, email, text and visit.
She will make the most of the years to come.
All that the future holds for her awaits her now and that's exciting!
SO exciting! Congrats Emily!
Posted by: Holly | June 09, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Just wonderful! The way you captured the moments and memopries in your blog is a real treat to read. Please give her our love and congratulations. Jay and Aunt Stacy
Posted by: Jay Marks | June 09, 2011 at 02:20 PM
She's one of my heroes, too. Love ya, Emily! Thanks for the wonderful influence you've had on our family and the love you've shown my kids. Borrowing you mother's words, I'm happy for you and all that your future holds but sad that BYU is so far away.
Posted by: Lori Tolbert | June 09, 2011 at 03:57 PM
We love you, Emily, and wish you very best in all that you do. Marilyn: The pictures are great. They bring joy to us because we are so grateful that we were able to share those special moments with all of you. Thanks for everything. It was perfect.
Posted by: Grandma Joan | June 10, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Emily, you are amazing! You are so smart and beautiful and I am so excited for you to go to college. Thanks for being you!!
Posted by: Marilyn | June 11, 2011 at 02:56 PM
Emily- I love you so much! Im going to miss you when you go to' college and its going to' be' wierd to' not have my big Sister there for me! Im going to' mis you! I love you!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Megan | June 11, 2011 at 03:36 PM
Marilyn tells the story of how she pretended that she was in Colorado when she left on her mission to Italy, so it wouldn't seem so far away.
I've been taking the same approach with Emily, if I pretend that she really isn't going away, it is easier for me. I'm having a hard time accepting this transition.
I am so blessed to have you as a daughter Emily, you inspire me and fill me with joy. Thank you for being who you are.
I love you,
Dad
Posted by: Jonathan | June 12, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Dear Emily,
What a fun time for you in your life now! I loved my freshman year at the Y, and I hope you do too!
And like everyone else, I can't believe that you are already graduating from high school. (Or at this point, that you have already graduated.) But I am so excited for you! So many awesome things await you, and I can't wait to watch them unfold.
Hope your first week as a college freshman was wonderful!
Love you!
Karen
Posted by: Karen | June 25, 2011 at 11:44 PM