First Day of School

I posted late yesterday and without words. The little video spoof of the country song, Jesus Take The Wheel, just did not need any of my insignificant input. I admit, this kind of humor just thrills me and I really, really enjoy Tim Hawkins - a former All-American baseball player, father of four, married to a wife battling breast cancer. I stumbled into him years ago and you can be sure that I will post his humorous offerings from time to time. He's talented, so funny, musically gifted, does a million voices and his humor is clean - something our kids can enjoy along with us. Rare these days and much appreciated. I'm so excited to be going to see him live and in person tonight, at our terrific church. He's playing tonight for volunteers and tomorrow night for whomever wants to pay $5 to see him. It will certainly be worth the money!

We've had a lot of phone calls, texts and prayers about our girls' first day at their new school. Wade and I took them together and they went with brave, courageous, beautiful spirits. They wore the stricter dress code apparel like royalty and walked onto campus with their heads held high. Just as we were entering the office, Sierra gasped and pointed to her thigh. Her new khaki capris had a large black smear that covered her entire upper leg - she had obviously rubbed against the tire of the car when we arrived. Her worst nightmare, the new girl with dirty clothes. I hunkered down and took the long sleeve of my shirt, using it like a Magic Eraser wiping most of the black away. We cracked heads as I stood up and poor Sierra began her day like a wounded trooper. Audra managed to find the one girl on campus that she knew from elementary school and ran off with a new group of friends. 

We walked Sierra to her 6th grade classroom where her sweet, sweet little teacher greeted her as if she were the Queen of England. She welcomed Sierra with open arms, a big smile and a loving heart. As the kids filed into the room, a little girl named Chelsea came over and said, "Hi. I'm kind of new, too. I've only been here for a month so I know how you feel, Sierra."  Wow, empathy from the sweet heart of a little girl. Sierra did her best to be pleasant, but she was not thrilled. As we left the bustle of the morning classroom routine, Sierra smiled a brave smile with wet eyes brimming full. It felt like the first day of kindergarten all over again and my heart physically hurt. We managed to say our goodbyes and stepped outside the room before my own eyes overflowed. Wade reminded me, as he does on the first day of every school year, that he comes as the designated driver. He knows I'm rarely in any condition to drive.

After school, Wade picked Sierra up by herself, as Audra stayed after school trying out for the softball team. The two of them stopped for some one-on-one time and talked about the day. By the time she made it home to me, she reminded me again that she wanted to go back to her old school with her friends. I hugged her close and promised that each day would get better.  Audra came home from try-outs with her dad and she must have hugged and kissed me for fifteen minutes. I have not gotten a greeting like that from our 13 year old since she was about six. Later, before bed, she wrote me a note and left it on the counter......I love you. Thanks for signing me up at NCS. You are a great mom. Love, Audie :) 

So, we have daughters on both ends of the spectrum, but that is also how their personalities go. Sierra is a tough nut to crack and unless something is her idea, she wants no part of it.  I'm confident that she will open up her heart to the people who are working so hard to make her experience positive.  She's a wonderful, strong-willed, exceptional child who is so fun to go through life with, as tender hearted as she is tough.

Sierra's amazing Sunday School teacher, Randall, shared a wonderful story with Sierra at her small group Bible study. It touched her in such a meaningful way that she posted it on her blog.  Check it out under the Young Bloggers heading on the top of this page when you finish this post.

Finally, for my friend Kelly, who is in Emmitsburg, Maryland, close to Washington, DC, doing some training at the National Fire Academy, away from his beloved family for two long weeks and battling the flu. Here's something to cheer you up, my friend.  To everyone else who checks in, thanks for reading. Love you!

Comments

[KC]

Thanks, Sheila. Glad to see you writing again. CC is so much like Carson! Give her a month or two and you won't be able to remove her from that school, she'll love it. Thanks for the video, he is talented and pretty darn funny. Everything is going to work out great, I've no doubt. Have a great week, KC