Thursday, May 16, 2013

LEIYA!!!

A big milestone has been reached!  Leiya has graduated from college!!!!


You've all read the posts I've written before about how Leiya went to the States at 15, how she lived with a host family, how she struggled through American high school, how she gathered scholarships to attend an American college... and now after 5 years SHE HAS GRADUATED!!!!

I wonder if she knows how proud we are of her.  Tetsu and I are not great at expressing our gaiety and pride.  A simple..."That's great.  Good job!"  but we are happy and relieved and proud as all get out.   Just thinking about Leiya makes us smile.


For Mother's Day Leiya sent me a picture from one of our old albums.

"I'm all grown up now!"

She must have been about two when I took the picture and all dressed up in an old skirt and scarf of mine.  Quite a little dumpling at that age!


And now look at her!  That's quite a young lady there!

Well, Leiya's family didn't get to her graduation but her friends attended and they have been sending me pictures and the graduation program (Thank you Julie!) and Leiya has forwarded me Facebook pictures.


Excuse me if I boast.  My beautiful daughter with the sparkling smile.

Go out into the world and change it for the better Leiya!!

26 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

congratulations - she looks so happy

Callie Brady said...

Congratulations! Yes, you must be so proud and happy for her. You and Tetsu raised a wonderful lovely daughter.

Anonymous said...

Sparkling smile, etc. and persistence, fortitude and gumption..... many great traits that will serve her well in the years to come. Thank you for sharing some pictures. Well done Leiya, you rock!

Helen said...

Congratulations to your sweet daughter and to you...her parents. You were so brave to send her to the states and be so far away.

What an accomplishment!

Beth said...

Oh Taniya! She is SO pretty! And look at that happy face! I bet you wish you could have gone to see her walk...My DD is deployed, and Skype is a wonderful thing, but not the same! Congratulate her for me!

Michele Bilyeu said...

Wonderful, beautiful young woman! You deserve to be so very proud. You all sacrificed so much to get to this day and now you can see why. Just so wonderful for all of you!

Julie Fukuda said...

I'm so glad to see this expression of pride and joy. My own parents told me, "Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back"! It is so hard to send a child so far away and when they do well it is a happy day.

Mariel said...

Congratulations to Leiya! Her hard work and dedication have paid off! I know how proud you and Tetsu feel because, like you, I am celebrating my daughter's graduation this week also! Best wishes to Leiya as she pursues her new life as a college grad.

Sandra Coleman Clarke said...

Tanya, I know you and Tetsu are so proud and you should be. She is an attractive young lady. Congratulations!!!!

June said...

Congratulations! You have every right to be proud of her. So what's next? I'll be praying for you all.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Leiya!
The future is yours!
Best regards from Gail in Wa State

KQ Sue said...

How wonderful! Congrats! What a beautiful young lady Leiya is!

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

Of course you are proud, and for good reason! Such wonderful news!

Pat Heinbaugh said...

Oh Tanya, I'm ever so proud of Leiya graduating! Having spent a little time w/ her a few years ago gives me bragging rights. I remember that beautiful young lady...and I will never forget her...I hope she marches forward and changes the world, one day at a time....hugs, Pat in IN

pratima said...

Congratulations!! So happy for you :)

Sara said...

Congratulations to all of you!! What a wonderful achievement for Leiya. It is a real delight to watch your children take steps to be able achieve the future that they desire.

Go Leiya!!!!

Ida said...

Congratulations to Leiya and God's blessing and joy for today and every day!
I can fully understand that you are happy and proud over her.

Nancy J said...

Congrats!! Be proud, boast all you like, the huge sacrifice you both made, and Leiya's dedication to achieve this degree shows in her smile.Her life starts now, and with this in her hand, so much will happen. Waiting for the next installment . Greetings to all, Jean.

QuiltinLibraryLady said...

It's only right that you be proud of Leiya and her success. My congratulations to Leiya and her Mom & Dad, too.

judyjj said...

Beautiful and smart! A happy day. Congrats!

Marlene said...

Congratulations and a job well-done by 2 beautiful parents! I've already contacted Leiya on FB.

She is a beautiful person!

joe tulips said...

Congratulations Leiya!

AnnieO said...

Fantastic photos of your sparkling Leiya! Congratulations to all of you, and especially the hard working young lady :)

McIrish Annie said...

It is always a proud moment when one of mama's birds flies the nest so successfully. She is beautiful!
Congratulations on raising such a smart daughter.

Ann said...

You must be feeling oh sooo proud now! Congratulations to Leiya also!
I truly liked her picture aged two but she's a lovely lady now! ;-).
Is she planning to stay in the USA and search a job over there?
Kind greetings,
Ann

Cassandra said...

Congratulations!!!!!! How exciting!!!