Awards and Rewards...

I left one thing out on my last posting--I have been teary eyed A LOT. Watching my kids, feeling so safe in their world, loved and supported so completely by their teachers, peers, and family, is truly moving. Niko's buddies all stood up when he played for them, giving him high-fives, not to mention, they hyped his impending performance all week long prior to his performance like he was giving the concert of the year! Afterward, MIles came up and asked me if he could touch Niko's drumsticks I was holding for him. Mitchell wanted him to autograph a pair. Too cool. And Lauren, every morning I hear her singing --it often sounds like backstage at a hit show on Broadway, the way she belts out a song as she prepares for the day. I was thinking about that last night and it reminded me of when she was five and we all took a trip to New York City. We saw, "The Lion King" and were able to get great seats down near the orchestra. Intermission came and my girl child, that has to use every bathroom in the country, said she was just fine and didn't want to get up for anything. I looked at her stunned. And then I saw what she was thinking-- I leaned over and whispered to Juan, "She is having such a grand time she is afraid if we get up we'll lose our seats." I knew then, this child will perform herself someday. Watch for her...

But this was supposed to be about the next two weeks wasn't it? I digressed. Oops.

Anyway, this is the time of year for class awards, and I for me, it is such a treat to see how each of these children are given the spotlight to highlight each of their special talents and gift. And every year I am truly amazed at how the teachers really know these kids. Niko was voted by his class, "Best 4th grade Musician" and Lauren, "Best 4th grade Writer". They had some funny ones too they gave out at the end--Lauren was voted, "Most Likely to be Governor" someday, and Niko said they told him he was the Funniest. The teacher awarded them each with a Christian Character Trait as well. This to me is the most important--without good character, we have nothing. Niko got two, "Because I saw both in him, I couldn't decide which one to give him, and I needed to go to bed." :> They were Obedience and Industriousness. "He gives 100%, 100% of the time no matter what is going on around him." Lauren 's was Humility, "Every time I told her she was a good writer, or she did a good job on something she always responded--It's all God." I didn't think I'd need a tissue this year, but I was wrong.

And then I got home and Juan said, "Mrs. Christian called. Lauren is being presented with an award in chapel next week but it is a surprise so she cannot tell us what it is." I smiled. I got this message the same time last year. Just to be sure though, I emailed her thinking, "Are you sure?" "YES! and Shhh!!" I couldn't believe it. Every year, the staff gets together and chooses one boy and one girl out of the entire school, that represent a life filled with the Grace of God and presents them with the Timothy Award. Last year it was our son, and this year it was our daughter. Lauren is a flower, a lovely warm smile on a sometimes not so easy day, always pleasant and selfless, and when they called her name, she bounced up to the principal with glee! Showered with pretty pink roses from Mrs. Chang, and a huge box of Skittles from Mrs. Gibson, and a bear hug from Daddy, she smiled from ear to ear. You know, when I was 10 I was a real orphan, with hopes and passions of my own. I told myself then, if I ever had children of my own, I would give them the life I would have wanted. Little did I know how truly rewarding it is to give to without expecting anything in return. Their awards --our rewards-- Great, I thought the tears were over, but here they come again....

Performers, they are...

It feel so good to be home. Our family has been running twice the speed of light for a month now. It's a treat to be able to take some down time and just chill. Niko is playing video games with his buddy, Logan, and Lauren has been reading a lot so she is giving her eyes a rest and hanging out in her room listening to songs she wants Daddy to download to her iPod. Me, I am updating a long overdo blog. :>

From Mother's Day to Father's Day, we always experience a "Whoosh!" of places we need to be, projects we need to complete, and all of those end of the year commitments, gifts, and ceremonies fill the calendar pushing all the regular stuff to the back. This is the good stuff of a life filled with rewards, but for a couple of these past few weeks, it felt like we were walking along down the street and then suddenly the sidewalk starting moving faster and faster, and it was all we could do to hang on!

Mother's Day began our adventure with a trip to Disneyland. It was a light day and we ate in my 2nd favorite restaurant, the Chicken Dinner place there on Main street (for the life of me, cannot remember the name. My favorite, The Blue Bayou, was fully booked). We each chose a couple of rides to go on, and before we knew it it was time to go. Time does really fly when you're having fun and I couldn't think of a better way to be spend mom's day than with my babies and hubby.

Along with final reports, final exams, tennis, dance, drums, and guitar, I don't know how we fit more in-and then "Annie" came. For one solid week, my 10 year old daughter, cast as an orphan in the show, had to arrive an hours drive away in Fullerton, for three nights of rehearsal from 4-9pm, and then thursday and Friday perform for the public schools two shows a day and then two more on Saturday for the public in general. We'd get out of school and rush over there. She'd do her homework in the car, and I'd get some food in her, give her five bucks for the dinner they provide, and for the first time ever, I left her to follow her dream. She didn't get the lead role but when they found out she and Claire could dance, they created a moment on stage where both girls got to move upstage with Tessie, and dance all by themselves. I told her, "The more you have to offer, in any area of your life, the more you will find doors opening up for you." My Dad flew in for the special occasion and said more than once, "That was the best time I've had in a long time!" It was really quite a professional show, and I must say, Daddy, Mommy and brother were all very proud of her too! (They wouldn't let us take pics of the show, but I have some on order that they took and will share once they get here.) The one I did take was outside the theatre--Dad smiled, on purpose (!) and Lauren will treasure this particular photo forever.

I think we all slept until noon the following Sunday and then we had to get up and drive Lauren to Ontario for her last dance competition. At this point, we were still on a natural high from such a great experience with "Annie" that the heavy cement that should have been running through our veins felt light and feathery. It hit hard Monday though, and I cannot even remember how we got through the next week, but we are here, so I guess we did.

We had one day off from anything other than the normal busyness of school and sports, and then Daddy loaded up Niko's drums for the Talent Show at school. Our Niko has been playing and performing since he was six but has never had the opportunity to perform with his teacher. This year was a treat--Freddy brought his electric guitar and amp, and together, they rocked my son's little humble school with "Paradise City"--to a standing ovation! It was awesome!! The coolest cherry on top though came after school--an older child from the Junior High across the parking lot had popped in to see the show and caught Niko as we were leaving and said real loud, "Hey, you that kid that played the drums?" Niko, intimidated by the fact that a TEENAGER was speaking to HIM, just nodded with apprehension, all big eyed and a bit worried, and then broke into a huge grin and I saw all tension leave his body as the tall boy finished with, "You rocked!" It made his day. :>

I wanted to share how Lauren's guitar recital went, but we'll never know. It wasn't at the school of music where she took her lessons, and directions weren't handed out. I did mapblast it and thought we were fine, but literally, we drove around for an hour, up and down the street looking for the address we were given and never found it. We were told it was close but all four of us, and my GPS system in the car too could not find it. I felt so bad. She just began the guitar, and caught on so quickly the teacher told me the class was too easy and she had to have Lauren sit aside so the rest of the class could catch up. She really enjoys playing and I know she would have shined. I apologized and then really felt bad when she said so sweetly and sincerely, "Well, thanks anyway for trying." I love that child.