Our grad!

She did it!  (Or should we say "we did it!")  While it wasn't easy for Jack and I to live apart for years so Sage could stay in Florida to row and graduate with the friends she had come to love since middle school, seeing how much she thrived here really did make it feel like it was worth it. And being that she finished high school in the top 7-8% of her graduating class I can't say it was a bad choice.  We are so proud of her and her accomplishments. Not only did she take heavy loads, including ten AP courses, she was active with student government, spent hours a day rowing, and graduated from seminary.  She continues to impress us with her ability to be so disciplined and responsible.

With approx. 900 students graduating from Windermere high school this was no small gathering and far from quick. It was held at the Kia center downtown and boy, it was quite the show with everything from a bagpiper to fireworks.  After sitting for hours we watched Sage cross the stage in a matter of seconds. The jury is out on if an in-person graduation was better than the virtual one we experienced with the boys but I was very happy to at least get to see one of our kids cross a stage in person!  

I spy Sage...

Sage and some of her best friends she has known since middle school!

Well done smarty pants! :)

Sorry, your childhood has expired! Happy 18th!

Between senior year end of school activities, rowing championships, graduation, and a move to Utah, squeezing in a birthday/grad party for Sage wasn't going to be easy.  With a limited amount of dates open while also trying to pick one that worked best for the majority of her friends, I was starting to worry about how things would work out.  She was down to the final couple weeks of living in Florida and would soon, like within a day of graduating, be on a flight to Utah where she would spend her summer working before starting her freshman year at BYU.  Thankfully it all worked out!

How sweet it was that so many others besides her school/rowing friends dropped in to wish her well including the sweet Irizarry family who she loved babysitting for and some of the sweet parents of her dear friends who wanted to say last goodbyes!  With it being an open house style I missed capturing some of her friends but here are a few I did manage to grab!

A bittersweet time.  All three kids technically adults! Happy Birthday Sage. We love you.

Retiring the oars...

She did it! And what a run she had at it.  Rowing has been such a big part of Sage's life during our time in Florida.  It's been a blessing and a curse, filled with both laughter and tears, but Sage wouldn't have it any other way. From life lessons to life long friends, rowing will forever be a part of what has defined her for for these past 5 years.  It's been such a joy to watch her and while we won't miss the early morning drives to Sarasota...and I mean early... for those weekend regattas, we will definitely miss cheering on our sweet girl and her team mates even if there were times I accidentally was cheering for the wrong boat. And while it was almost impossible to get any decent shots of her on the water I was happy to at least have these from her final senior year as a rower with OARS.

Our girl!

October 14, 2023:  Fall sprints in Jacksonville

Nov. 4, 2023: Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, TN 

April 13, 2024:  State Skulling Championships

And one happy Nova who was always so excited when he saw us packing up the ice chest, chairs and water bottles.  A sure sign we were on our way to a regatta where he would get to mingle with many other dogs!

April 25, 2024:  

April 27-28 2024: State Sweeps Championships

May 11-12, 2024:  Southeast Champsionships

May 2024: Senior Saturday at the Boat House.  One of the fun end of year events for seniors is getting to pick a spot to sign their name on the boat house.  It's a longstanding tradition and something the seniors look forward to. The boathouse was almost like a second home for Sage when you consider all the hours she spent her over the past five years.

Banquet!  Of course this has to be the highlight of the year...  A reason to get dressed up! And a special year because Sage was giving her senior speech.  And who doesn't love to be celebrated?!? 

On to the next chapter!