The Graduate

Last Saturday, my sister Cerridwen graduated from law school at Otago University. I am so grateful that I was able to be a part such a momentous achievement in her life. The day was spent with family and was a day full of laughter, love, sun and food. I feel so blessed to have such an awesome family.

Cerridwen has tackled many hurdles over the past four years, these hurdles are her stories to tell, but what I can say is that she has navigated her way through these bumps in a non-wavering dedicated and studious manner, always keeping her morals intact. As a result she has blossomed in to one of the most beautiful and vibrant young women I know. I’m so full of gratitude to have her as one of my sisters!

There is 15 years age difference between Cerridwen and I (I’m the oldest and Cerridwen is the second youngest). When mum sat my sister Annie, our brother Toby and I down a year after she had remarried to tell us that her and John were planning to have a baby, well I was not impressed. There was going to be a screaming baby in the house. Not on my watch I said!

However, the day she was born, everything changed. We went from being a volatile blended family to all having a mutual love for this beautiful creature that had come into our lives. It was love at first sight and has been that way ever since.

Less than two years later our other sister Charlotte joined us and shortly after that I moved overseas and have never permanently returned. It broke my heart leaving them behind, and each time I came home, I had to grieve for the memory of how I remembered them and readjust to them in a new stage of their lives.

Life is a beautiful thing and it’s been such a pleasure for me to be able to watch Cerridwen grow from the moment she was born (yes I was present at her birth!), up till this present day, to see her graduate on Saturday, knowing how hard she has worked, was very exciting and emotional.

The future is bright and full of possibilities, and I am so excited about seeing how her future unfolds.

Until next time….

Love Lili x

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