Last Week of the 2013/2014 School Year

With all the year end testing completed, the last week of school was mostly filled with fun and parties.  Field Day was held on Tuesday of that week followed by a party at an exclusive country club pool.  It was a special treat to experience this pool, but I would not want to have to keep track of my kids at that massive pool complex on a regular basis.  Our new pool and tennis club are more than enough luxury for me.  I spent much of my time there looking for my children...except when I rode down the enormous water slide (getting stuck a few times was a bit embarrassing, though).

When the first grade girls who were in my son's class realized I was up there with them in line, they were shocked.  I think they were talking about my boy (the girls tend to swoon over him already), so they were embarrassed that I may have overheard.  They said I was the only mother they had ever seen up there.  Now I guess I know where I need to hang out and try to blend in when I want to hear the latest school gossip.

The views from the top of the water slide were really nice!

I did get a chance to talk with the other mothers and felt like I made some new friends.  My son wanted me to meet his best friend Paul's mom so we could schedule play dates this summer, and his best girl's mom.  I spent time chatting with some of the teachers and left feeling better about our school choice as I found like minded mothers there.  I also realized how much our kids have been transplanted from being big fish in a small pond to tiny fish in an enormous pond.  The number of ivy league degrees represented in the parent population at that school would be intimidating if we did not share the same worldview and Biblical values.  Despite the strict rules at this school, the atmosphere is so loving, and the priorities are definitely more on training the heart than on training the mind although the mental training is rigorous, too. (Gift #620)

Technically, the party was for the 4th graders, but since so many of the 4th graders had siblings in first grade, it ended up being a party for both classes.  Our daughter made so many great friends this year.  Even though she still begs to be home schooled (and homeschooling may become a necessity if she continues to advance in gymnastics), I think she would really miss all her friends from school.

Awards assemblies were held on the last day of school. My husband took off from work that day so he could attend, but it was rather boring in a selfish sense because our son did not qualify for any of the awards since he had only been there half a school year.  And our daughter, who is so accustomed to winning everything, had a humbling year of making C's in penmanship, so even though she aced her other subjects, she did not qualify for honor roll.   Still, she grew leaps and bounds in her character, and her penmanship improved tremendously, so even though she did not receive an award on stage that day, I think she received a crown in Heaven for the way she rejoiced over her friends' accomplishments instead of coveting that recognition for herself.  I am so proud of her for the way she has grown spiritually, emotionally, physically, and academically this year.  (Gift #621) She did make the A/B honor roll the last quarter, and I have a feeling she'll make A honor roll all next year now that she understands how high the standard is set at this school.  She set a goal for herself of achieving A honor roll, and I know she can do it.  At this honor's school, I'm discovering that a B or perhaps even a C is like an A in typical schools, so the bar is high, but she has seen God equip her to do all things through Christ who gives her strength as she was a newcomer to competitive gymnastics this past year, so she is trusting Him to help her with this next goal.

After the awards celebrations, we all went to Preston Village Playground. It's the largest playground I have ever seen, and it was all funded solely by community homeowners!  The kids enjoyed a nice lunch, cake, jump rope, playground fun, and feeding the animals in or by the lake.   It was a great time for everyone and another wonderful opportunity for me to meet the other moms.  I met another engineering mom who had a hugely successful career with IBM managing employees in several continents who recently gave up her career to stay home with the kids.  Having been where she is now over ten years ago myself, though not as far along in my career, I was able to encourage her a little.  It's nice to keep meetings moms at this school who I can connect with in a way that I have not been able to connect with other moms at previous schools.  More and more I am being convinced that we are finally in the right place and especially as ministry opportunities continue to present themselves.  Thank you, Lord, for finally leading us here. (Gift #622)

 

 

Our daughter did not want to tag along for this party, but I think she enjoyed herself.