It's finally here. I get to see my girl graduate. I'm so proud of this kid. As you have read she is my stepdaughter. We are tight. She is just as important to me as my own own son. I love this strong, smart, steadfast girl to my soul. Being able to go to her graduation was a blessing. I was blessed to have her boyfriends mom and his sister in law come as well. You only get whose on the list so if you think extra family is coming in because they show up it won't happen. They walk you to chapel and then you are released to leave the building. I watched 4 people get denied entrance and it broke my heart. AND THEN OUR STORY HAPPENED...

BE PREPARED FOR MISTAKES...

we took a taxi and got dropped off right at the entrance. Please take the taxi. It is easier.

We took a picture outside. Once you pass the gate no pictures are allowed until you get inside. Trust me...I was informed...

As you walk to the graduation hall. Look around. It's quite a place. I felt really proud and glad I brought Kleenex because the gravity of the choice my daughter made to dedicate her next 4 years to this country was emotional overload. Bring Kleenex.

Now, things can go wrong. Your recruit can break bones, get in trouble and all kinds of things befor graduation. My girl is not graceful and breaking a bone an hour before graduation would not surprise me..she didn't but remember the title of this blog... Mistakes happen.... Crossed out lines are not happy moments...

We walk into the corridor of the Graduation hall (GH) and proceed to follow other excited families to tables to check in and get stamped.

My daughters name has been crossed out. A large big black line through her name and ours...PANIC SETS IN. WHAT HAPPENED?

We are sent to another table where Morales (who is a bad ass. Looks just like Michael Strahan and is hilarious, loved him). Morales says her name is crossed off and he had no idea why. Then he says "Now sometimes these things happen. We don't know the circumstances can she swim? ". I said " honey I know she passed BS21 caused she called don't be messing with me." He says " I ain't messing with nobodies mama trust me you all are mean when your babies are in trouble, but I'm not messing with you. He name is crossed out and you'll need to go back to the front doors to the help desk and see what's going on, but you come right back here if it's all good".

My heart sank. What could have happened? I get tears going. I'm more scared she's hurt than anything and she'd be devastated if something went wrong. I also was chanting in my head how grounded shE would be... Lol

So we get to the front desk and they start to make calls and cannot find any reason my girls name was crossed out... Did she win an award, is she at the infirmary, is she in trouble. Twenty minutes later...IT WAS JUST A MISTAKE....

WE GOT STAMPED AND WERE ON OUR WAY.

Graduation was great. She was right in the front and we could see her perfect. When you read that you should sit at an angle in the div section, do it. Sitting straight on loses sight of your child.

The bands the gun performance, the speeches and the room was amazing. Their marching in, their cadence and thEir overall presence was so awesome.

I'll post the after graduation in a moment.

Congratulations Naval Seaman Krueger!!! I'm a proud mama!!!