Our darling daughter: Courtney Elisabeth
The "pretty in pink" princess.
Do any of you remember the movie "Pretty in Pink" from the early 1980's?
I think I was still in college or just starting graduate work when that flick came out with Molly Ringwald.
It was a "teen flick" but I do remember many of us college kids enjoying it.
If ya liked sappy 80's movies that is.....
Well, my princess is definitely nothing like the character in that movie.
She would NEVER think of making her self a gown, although she certainly has the artistic talent to draw the design.
She could never tolerate the lifestyle of the character either.
Mainly because, for the most part, things have come fairly easy for our Princess.
And I am thankful. For the most part. Sometimes I wish she realized that paying for "things" is a privilege not a right. If you know what I mean. Actually, if you have a teenager, you already know what I mean! For the most part though, she works hard at her studies, always on the honor or high honor roll, and volunteers her time to meaningful clubs or church ministry. We are extremely proud of her.
She shone this night.
It was a bittersweet nite for me. On the one hand, it was one of the most exciting milestones to happen in a long time...other than when she got her permit last autumn. Age 16 is just full of great milestones.....this is one of the most fun ones: the junior prom!
I didn't go to a prom. In the school district where I grew up, in a small town in Central NYS, there was no junior prom. We only had a senior one. And if you didn't have a date, you didn't go. I didn't have a date.
Saturday nite, Courtney saw many of her friends and classmates with out a date. It didn't seem to matter. The teens all seemed to have a great time, no matter if they had a date or not! And that is progress compared to teen life in the 1970's!
When she walked down the stairs, I had a lump in my throat.....she was so pretty and excited. Gone was the gangly, thin pre-teen who preferred scuffed riding boots and horses to shiny pumps and fancy cars....from playing Bratz dolls to texting multiple friends at the same time....from dancing with daddy in the kitchen to dancing with a boy on a boat....WHERE does the time go???
The excitement reigned while the other couples (and a single gal) showed up in the front lawn, all eager to get the picture thing done and get going in the limo to the boat. (the junior prom at our high school is set on a tour boat down the Hudson River to just south of the city of Albany and back up to the city of Troy. Since we live just north of Albany and west of the Hudson, the limo ride takes about 20 minutes.)
Her date was Tyler, a junior from a different school district, whom she met at our church's youth group about 5 years ago. Dave and I have known his parents since the kids' preschool days. He is one of triplets and his other 2 brothers were in Courtney's preschool class for 2 years! Small world, huh? We all hooked back up again when Dave and I joined Grace Fellowship, 5 summers ago!
There were 4 couples in the limo plus her friend Hannah.
Here are a few highlights of the evening before they left for the prom:
Tyler and Courtney
June 5, 2010
Junior Prom!
from left to right:
Shauna in periwinkle (best friend from church/school)
Deanna in lime green(friend from Graphics Design class who attends our youth group but different church)
Hannah in classic black (friend from church/French class)
Karissa in cream(best friend since 4th grade/attends LIFE club with Courtney & is a Christian Catholic)
Courtney in pink
Shauna & Brad
Courtney & Tyler
Hannah
Karissa & Sean
Deanna & Dylan
ready to party!!
These 2 always have fun together!
They are good friends!
This was my fave pic from the entire night.
The beautiful smiles and infectious laugh.
Best friends.
Growing up......
lovin' the limo!
Joan, the chauffer, said not to worry...it's just water! :)
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
(from the song, "Sunrise, Sunset"
Fiddler on the Roof)
5 comments:
How fun! Courtney looks absolutely lovely all dressed up! And I see you survived the late night after party. LOL.
They sang that song at my wedding reception as per my Dad's request. I've always loved it and it always makes me cry, the words especially meaningful now as my kids are growing up!
What a special time for a special girl! :)
*Fanning self* I'm all teary... Courtney's so lovely. Don't girls glow when they're treated like young ladies???
Enjoy every single nano-second of the coming years, Faith. (I know you will.) They fly by SO so fast. Seems like our daughter's prom was yesterday... and now she's married and living way across the country (near you!).
Love that song from Fiddler. ღ
She looks GREAT!!!! I really like her hair.....and the dress is gorgeous. The color is stunning.....wow it looked like such a fun night!!! Yes, they grow up so fast!!! It's exciting, but does pull at those heartstrings doesn't it!
Thanks blogging friends! I'll tell Courtney what you've said. Sandy....yes! It IS a bittersweet time....I have no idea what I am gonna do next June watching her walk across the stage to receive her high school diploma and then dropping her off at her dorm! they just grow up so fast! and yes...I remember my own mother saying that too :)
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