Ready for the world

And her name - Meghan Anne.

How beautiful she was - her eyes, dark as night, with hair to match.

She was welcomed home by Jordan, who at the age of 2, showed he was still going to rule the roost and not let two girls in the family get in his way, and by Marissa, 1, who wanted nothing more than to kiss her new sister.

Meghan grew - how quickly the time went - sharing those first heart-warming smiles and soon showing she was ready to be a mover - from rolling to crawling to those first steps. She went on to riding bikes, and skinning her knees (and a concerned Marissa was always there to cry for her sister) to riding the horses she has loved since the age of 9 to driving a truck (bridges - watch out) at 15 with her school permit.

And talking - from a few words - "da da" - to an extended vocabulary she now uses when she is arguing her point - and when she writes - such a beautiful writer, with description beyond words.

She was always so silly as a little girl. "Meghan, are you funny?" I asked her one day. "Somedays me is, somedays me not," she replied. Humor and laughter continue to be a very important part of her life at home, at school, with family, with friends.

On Sunday, this beautiful baby girl, all grown up, will graduate from high school.

Aurelia has been home, a comforting home, a supportive home, for 18 years and she is ready to move on to Iowa State where some of her classes will be with as many students as her entire high school.

But that is Meghan - she thinks big and has huge dreams. Those who know her also know many of those dreams will be reality someday. She is so determined.

She is strong, she is stubborn, she is smart, she is loved by so many - all details that will help her reach those goals. (Yes, stubbornness can be a good thing.)

I am sure I will shed many tears Sunday as I watch her walk across the stage and accept her diploma - letting my third child go - but I am excited for her, too, to see what more she will become. We hope we have prepared her well - instilled good morals. Above all, she knows she is loved by us and that we will be there always, to apply "band aids" for all the hurts, big or small, along the way.

She is ready for the world outside of Aurelia and the world awaits her and all she has to offer. We are so proud of her.

I thank God each day for giving her to us - such a beautiful gift.