This is probably the last "mom entry" in the blog.  Elly will be able to update it herself soon. I wanted to add a few things while we are in Texas. We arrived at Lackland Air Force base on Thursday morning just in time to see the airmen do the "Airmen's Run". (We had talked to Elly on Wednesday for a few minutes so she knew we made it safely.) She saw us in the crowd and we were so glad. She kept her military face on but it was fun to see her eyes light up! Afterwards we went to a special area for the Coining Ceremony. We were surprised and especially proud to find that she earned the title of Honor Graduate. The top 10% of the airmen earned this distinction. The Honor Grads marched in first and got a special coin. She also has a special bar on her shirt to represent this honor. Families of the Honor Graduates sat behind the flag pole so we got an excellent view of her. Afterwards she went over to play with the band. She got another coin at that time for completing BMT. After the ceremony she returned her cymbals.Then I got to get a HUG!!! (The first of many!!) We spent the day on the base. Here is a picture of Elly and her proud parents.

The Graduation Ceremony was on Friday.  Both ceremonies - Thursday and Friday - made us proud to be Americans and so proud of our daughter. Celebrating with Elly, besides her parents, are both sets of her grandparents, her brother and Jen, a good friend of Elly's.