Certainly eighteen is that.  And yet, as tremendous as this milestone is, it passed in a fashion fitting our Alannah.  It was peaceful, unassuming, simple, sweet.  

If you have yet to raise up a child to adulthood I can tell you this.  It is much like standing on the pier.  All your work, your prayers, your hopes and fears, all lead you to this place where together you bid farewell to shores of childhood and turn to gaze out upon this vast ocean that is their future in this big world. Sometimes this voyage begins in a storm of independence.  Sometimes it is more floating out to sea. Sometimes it involves a bit of ebbing and flowing for a bit, going out into deeper waters each time.  It just depends. 

This journey is as unique and individual as we all are.  I feel blessed to have watched it all unfold for a fourth time, my first with a daughter. 

I had not expected to be sick the day before her birthday.  There was a little scrambling the day of.  We cooked together.  Spinach salad, penne pasta with snap peas, perfectly marinated turkey breast. Recipe below though I will tell you she mostly humored us with the penne since she eschews most things with strong flavors.

Pasta and Sugar Snap Pea Salad

2 ounces penne pasta

3 ounces sugar snap peas (about 1 cup)

2 tsp soy sauce

2 tsp rice vinegar

1 tsp canola oil

¼ tsp grated gingerroot

¼ bell pepper. cut into short, thin strips

¼ small red onion, thinly sliced

1 tbsp snipped fresh cilantro