15 March 2016

Rachel is 18

 Rachel turned 18.  It happened very quietly and I didn't make a big deal out of it because she didn't want a big deal made out of it.  I'm not taking it as well as I thought I would.  I'm proud of her.  She's had a rough road sometimes - she's created a few messes only she could clean up and she's done an amazing job of overcoming and moving on.  She's funny; she's thoughtful; she's quick witted and honest to a fault.  And now she's an adult and she gets to vote in this presidential election.  She's so excited about that.  This picture is all of us - we went out for dessert to celebrate; the guy behind Samantha is Evan Haines.  Rachel's boyfriend.  He's a cook at a local restaurant and very sweet.  He sure seems to think the world of our Rachel.  Rachel is thrilled with him, too, but, not in any hurry to make the relationship too serious.  Whew.
She turned 18 on Monday and moved out on Tuesday.  She rented a two bedroom apartment with a co-worker.  It's a town about five minutes away by car.  So far she has electricity, but, still no water.

This is her refrigerator.  She says, I'm a work in progress.  You go girl.  And you can always take a shower at our house.  We already miss your face.
In Arkansas, your license expires on your birthday.  Rachel renewed hers on her 18th and under that yellow mark, she put her apartment's address....ah, the joys of raising independent kids.  You go girl!

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