SJCS Kicks Against Cancer

This was being painted during Noah's last soccer game of this season. Two members of our family that our children never met, are on the board. May their legacies forever live on.

The Boy With The Long Neck

Owen has shared each day of Kindergarten at home. We are thankful that he is a sharing kind of kid, as we love to hear the classroom stories. The funniest one yet, was around day four of school. This is how the conversation went:

Beth: "O, did you have some free time today to explore Mrs. Evans toys and talk to some new friends?"

Owen: "Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you! I made friends with the boy with the long neck!"

First Day of School - 2010

Owen waiting with much anticipation, fighting back the tears for his first day of Kindergarten. Noah, going with the flow, looking cool, and way older than 11 for his first day of middle school.

The kindergartener and the middle schooler.

The Wright Street Gang. Our friends, The Blevins' have helped get Noah off to school since 3rd grade. This year, we are driving Mr. Zach and Mr. Ryan to school with Owen and Sam in tow. Noah is riding to school with Mrs. Blevins since she works in the same building. It is nice to have this time every morning with the school aged kids. They are so funny to listen to. They talk about their classrooms, their teachers, what's for lunch, hockey, baseball, what they did the night before, what happens on the bus on the way home, who gets in trouble, they sing, they dance, they raise the roof...oh my goodness...I never new you could have so much fun at 7:15 am.

The three amigos on their way through the Mannsville doors. The first day Owen went off with the two other boys without looking back. I cried all the way home with Sam asking me if I was okay. The next two weeks were not so easy for Owen. He cried, he screamed, he had me by the pants and would not let go. This was torture for both of us. My heart hurt leaving him every day like this. He tried to tell me that he could learn at home, he was sick, that two minutes away from me was to many...but, with the help of the Blevins' boys and the school staff, we turned the corner, and surprise, no more tears. I will never forget those weeks, and how he still wanted his Mommy. I couldn't tell him, but I wanted him to stay with me just as bad.

This first day of school felt like five days to me watching the clock, Sam asking when the boys would be home, and the dog following me since his buddies were gone. It all ended well, with the best moment I could witness with two brothers sharing their day while meeting up in the driveway. These minutes as a mom, visualizing the love, make my throat close with emotion.

And, then there was this...Owen removed his jacket with a huge smile as he proudly displayed the chocolate milk he was covered in for half a day. BOYS!!

This is Noah in September 2004 on his way to Mannsville for his first day of Kindergarten. Owen was born the following February. It is crazy how life changes and you are given exactly what you pray for.