Last night's closing ceremony for Camp Cadet was so moving.

To see all those state troopers and local police officers lined up and speaking the praises of the 52 cadets (boys and girls ages 11-14) for their tenacity and teamwork was just amazing.

Our 13 year-old daughter was chosen to carry one of the flags for her squad, so that was cool to see.

Throughout the week there were all kinds of competitions, and the three that earned awards tonight were for the wall climb, riflery, and softball.

There were six squads of about 10 cadets in each, and our daughter's squad won the trophy for the fastest wall climb (they had to get all the cadets in their squad up and over a 12-foot wooden wall based on their own plan) -- 1 minute and 14 seconds. Yay!

At the very end, the presiding officer had 1 girl and 1 boy from each of the six squads stand up as honor cadet for their respective squads, and our daughter was the girl chosen from her squad. Yay!

Then, the officer said that out of those 6 girls and 6 boys, just 1 girl and 1 boy would be named as the honor cadet for the entire camp. He also said that this year there was a tie for the girl's honor that wasn't able to be broken or resolved, so they'd be naming two girls for the award. When they said our daughter's name, I started to cry quietly. If I'd had buttons on, they would have been flying everywhere.

My ballerina bookworm, who has been telling us for four years that she wants a career in law enforcement but who was petrified the day we dropped her off at camp, will be going to the statewide Camp Cadet next summer for one week of really incredible programs (i.e. trip to Washington, D.C., and dinner at the governor's mansion).

I am so, so proud of her. We're all still riding high on the whole thing.

Right now she's soaking in a hot bubble bath, bless her heart. Then she'll plop in front of a the t.v. with some ice cream and watch a movie.

It's great to have her home again.

Wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!