Track Banquet - Let the Awards Continue

As I've already been blogging about this week, we've had a busy end of year attending banquets, awards dinners and the like. And, other than graduation, we've finally wrapped up all school events. Today was the track banquet, which saw even more awards brought home. As I've mentioned before, Rebecca absolutely loved track and was able to excel in it more than any other sport she has participated in. I give credit to the fact that she's a pretty fast runner and she had an amazing coach, Ron Abrams. I have secretly given him the "Best Coach at Grace Prep" Award.

Emma and Abigail with their awards

Bec with Alyx, who really mentored her this year

And now, in no particular order, the awards:

Outstanding Runner of 2010 Award
Girls Varsity 4 x 400 meter relay team

Most Dedicated Award
Coach A told the story about putting a freshman
(for the first time) into the 4x400 relay at the Texas Relays,
in front of 15,000 people and when she finished
the race, came off the track and said, "I loved that!"

All District Award

Varsity Letter in Track
(Letter Jacket to be ordered soon.)

Most Christ-Like Award

Junior High Team

Almost makes all those 5 hour track meets in blizzard conditions worth it....

Last Day of High School - May 14, 2010

College Shirt Day

Katherine's Final Class
One Week From Graduation

It's Not a Post As Much as a Confession

By now you are probably tired of reading about how Katherine did this, and Rebecca did that...well, unless you are Grandmother. It could be for the reason that we've attended 3, 127 banquets/award ceremonies this year. I mean, it's almost a hobby with us. We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves if we didn't have to dress up, go eat chicken and pick up a couple certificates. With that in mind, Abigail was invited to the "Junior High Awards Ceremony." Unlike every other event at GPA, the dress is casual and there is no rubber chicken.

Thinking back to a few years ago (nine to be exact) when Katherine received her first invitation to the Elementary Awards Day... we were so thrilled, honored, excited that OUR child would be given the respect she was due. We lauded her, we bought new clothes, we embraced every aspect of that day; and, she was rewarded and we beamed and snapped pictures. (Now that I think about it, we might have gone a little over the top. Maybe. It's been nine years, you know.)

Fast forward to 2010 -- Abigail's invitation comes in the mail. "Great," we think. "We'll have to sit through 2 hours of 1st through 6th grade awards before they even get to the 7th graders. Abigail, do you really want to go?" Shame. I know. I feel the shame just reading the words. My poor baby didn't even get a new shirt to wear to the ceremony. And, it was as nightmarish as I thought it would be. How many P.E. awards can there be? Must everyone be a "Presidential Physical Fitness" recipient?

Finally, finally we came to the Junior High portion of the night. Abigail, as expected was called up to receive the High Honor Roll Award. No surprise there. (2nd row, far right)

The surprise of the night came when she was awarded the Model Student in History. She hasn't received one of these awards since 4th grade, the biggest hindrance being that she doesn't like to participate/speak out in class. (a requirement for that award) I could tell she was pleased and I was so happy for her.

Abigail and friends showing their "High Honor Roll" Certificates
UPSIDE DOWN!
Before I took the picture they said, "Let's pretend we're not smart."
Teenagers!

All's well that ends well, I guess. I don't know why I said that except that I felt the need for some kind of closure and nothing else came to mind. While I still feel the need to do penance for my attitude towards my youngest child's awards day, I'm sure I will have another opportunity to put on my happy attitude at next year's ceremony, where I will have even longer to wait for the 8th grade awards.

Mother's Day - It Never Changes

This is the picture we took on Mother's Day. And yet I still try....

Softball Banquet

Tonight was another final for Katherine -- her last banquet of the school year. Every player received a participation award followed by a few individual awards from the coaches. Katherine received the "Most Christlike" Award. I was so blessed by what the coach said. He shared that everyone wants to be around her, that there was "just something about her quiet spirit." She was a leader on and off the field. The senior girls also received photos of senior night and a framed picture of the team, signed by the coaches and players.

Coach Gary sharing Katherine's wonderful qualities
(I don't think she likes that...)

Fun decorations

Photo op with friends

Katie Hall, a sweet girl who loves Katherine

Hooligans from the back of the room,
my two and the coach's kids

In Case You Were Wondering...

My new blog template is a theme that will be capturing the next two weeks of our lives. Yes, indeed, the time has come. The day that we thought would take years to appear will indeed arrive in exactly 14 days. KATHERINE'S GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL. You cannot know how tempted I am to say, "It seems like just yesterday..." Nope. Not going to do that in this post either.

So, are we ready for graduation day? The checklist has been getting smaller every day.

1. Invitations mailed. Check.
2. Dress bought. Check.
3. Pictures mailed to church for senior night. Check.
4. Graduation board/scrapbook completed. Almost check.
5. Graduation party planned. Check. Not having one.
6. Senior Skip Day. Check.
7. Cap and Gown picked up. Check.
8. Kleenex purchased. Check.

Where did the time go????

Oh, Summer....I Knew You Were Almost Here

I found this little gem of a photograph on my computer today. I instantly felt the need for a cherry snowcone. My mouth is watering just looking at it now. Temperatures have almost been in the 90's this week. School is almost out. The pool is almost ready for swimmers. Almost, almost, almost....

Summer. I love you.

Photo Courtesy of Katherine Holmes

Katherine's Surprising Birthday

Katherine is 18 years old! And, what would be the point of saying the tired old phrase, "Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday that she..." Anyway, before the tears begin I'll move on. My baby is 18 and a beautiful young woman. It hardly seems possible. (Oh, wait...I wasn't going to do that.)

Her first surprise came the morning of her birthday when she went outside to get in her car for school. Her boyfriend, Ryan, had tagged her car. Then in between classes, Sharon put a gigantic balloon on it. Little did she know that we had planned a surprise party for her later in the day.

Grandmother sent her a fabulous pair of purple Converse.

Ice Cream Cake

And, the fabulous group of friends who helped me surprise her: Sharon, Travis, Ryan, Tanner, Jessica, Arianna, Erika, Erinn, Michele and Megan. We ate Chinese food and the kids watched the movie, "Avatar." Although the surprise was "not cool," Katherine had a great day!

Wedgwood Baptist Church - 50th Birthday Celebration

On May 1st and 2nd, our church celebrated 50 years of ministry. It was an exhausting, but wonderful time of sharing, reunions and worship. We began the weekend with our WILD Worship Children's Choir musical, "Praise Rocks." The kids did a great job of reminding the congregation to praise God or the rocks would cry out in their place.

Sunday morning was a two-hour worship service with lots of music, testimonies and videos of the church's history. If you look closely in the bottom right of this picture, that's me on the piano! We also had a reunion choir of children's choir members from the early 1990's to our current choir. They sang three songs in the service and did a wonderful job. Barb Isbell, our former director, returned to lead the kids. It was a meaningful service and it was great to see how God has moved and worked in our church over these years.

After the service, we went downtown to a luncheon hosted at Will Rogers Center. After lunch, former staff members came on stage and were recognized. We were able to visit with many former friends that we hadn't seen in years. A blessed weekend.

We're Finished Tracking

Another sports season has come and gone and we hardly know what to do with ourselves. Well, not really...we are breathing a sigh of relief to have a little more time in our days that is free. Track was a great season for the girls, with the exception of an early sprained wrist for Abigail. She was extremely versatile this year, trying hurdles, the one mile, 800 meter, shotput and discus. She thinks next year she will just concentrate on the 800 meter along with shot and discus. Here are a couple photos of her in action.

Rebecca had a fantastic year running track. She ran many events including 100 meter, 200 meter, 4 X 100 meter relay and 4 x 400 meter relay. She ran both Jr. Varsity and Varsity. The 4 X 400 meter relay team made it all the way to the regional meet where they posted a personal best time of 4:20. Rebecca injured her leg during the race, yet finished with a personal best time of 69 seconds. She definitely finished strong and is excited to have earned her Grace Prep letter jacket as a freshman. Pictures of Rebecca in action are extremely hard to get because she's running fast!

Regional meet, getting instructions before the start
(Bec is to the left of the girl in the black pants)

Waiting for the 2nd leg to finish and get on the track

Of course there's a year-end banquet, so hope to have more picture to post from that.