The Shadow Who Is About To Shine

She carries a journal around to capture her thoughts — and they fly off the page, sending her down roads and alleys she never expected to travel. She’s also quite savvy on Pinterest — she has the kind of eye that doesn’t need much vision, just the tools and the props, and she’s off and running to create something beautiful.

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She shadowed me in the crazy weeks leading up to the frenzied graduation party and ceremony. Then, a couple of days later, she was brave kind enough to come back and help me organize the photos, make the banners, pick the flowers and make it all perfect.

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We started with the banner, printing out the letters of his old Algebra papers, which he hated, so we had to switch to old pages from maps.

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I thought I had all the photos I needed on the big board — but then,

graduation decor290 there was this blank wooden fence staring at us that

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graduation decor292 graduation decor289 graduation decor291suddenly transformed into a wall… So we got busy with a few nails and push pins.

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The perfect place for the kid art mosaic, and a few other choice items.

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While his brothers dug through the house to find art, graduation decor296projects, crafts and toys, graduation decor294the graduate was at the river rowing — getting ready for his trip to the finals in California.

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I urged her to start a blog. Now. Sweet as she is, she simply said, I don’t want to be so self serving. graduation decorb286Then, I explained to her that the blog isn’t so much about you as it is about your experience — and your willingness to give your insight, to help others make sense of what they’re feeling. And writing everyday, for publication — does change who you are.

 

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