graduation

wow- what a great weekend we had....

Alex graduated from High School on Friday evening. Yeah Alex....

We had spent quite a bit of time looking at old pictures and collecting his memorabila... and as I sat in the bleachers and watched his class assemble, as I found his face in the crowd- those pictures seemed to tumble through my mind....

He has been strong willed from the time he was born- and it seems that God knew what he was doing when He gave Alex that strong will- because he certainly has had alot to overcome. I remember all the years of elementary school, when we coped with a son who could not read- but was bright enough to fool all his teachers until 3rd grade. That year, the work became less verbal and more written. Until then it seemed that I was the only one concerned.... "he's such a nice boy" "he'll be ok, MOM" I'm sure they thought I was nuts. Thank God for Mrs Samsa- his third grade teacher- who recognized not just his difficulties but his strengths...... Thank God for her example- her patience- her tutoring summer after endless summer. Thank God for Amy Harris who finally diagnosed his disorder and tutored him so patiently- thank God for Dr Grant and vision therapy. When the diagnosis of juvenile diabetes came just before his 4th grade year, it seemed overwhelming- to much- something we could never get through. I was so full of fears- afraid to let him go off by himself, constantly afraid of what might happen. Thank God for the wonderful people around us who reminded me that I had to cut the cord- had to let him make his own mistakes- had to let him find his own way- had to trust that God would watch out for him. It took everything I had in me to let him go off on a field trip on his own! and I thought those years would never end.....


But they did- and Alex- who is an overcomer- managed to survive middle school and find a place where he could not only survive but thrive. I am so proud of him for actually planning to go off to school next year. He has always had an instinct for what he needs and what he wants to do.

It's been a rough ride- but it feels so good to have made it....

His party felt like such a celebration.... We held it in the Dover First Moravian Church. There was a time when Alex declared he would never set foot in that church again - as a freshman in high school. We set him free- told him to find his own church- and he did. He found New Pointe. What a blessing both churches have been. I think he found himself at New Pointe- found a way to worship and connect to God. The High School Ministries have been such a blessing- the mission trips- the sports events- the worship.... And now, here we are back full circle...... Our wonderful friends at the Moravian Church circled around us, taking all the stress of a party off of us. The food was wonderful, the decorations were great- and best of all were the people- all the family and friends who came and stayed and celebrated with us..... Alex was relaxed and happy - had a great time..... and oddly enough has offered to usher and work in the nursery at the Moravian church this summer.

Isn't it funny how life circles around and around- and often times, you end up right back where you started- only fuller, richer and with more understanding than when you left....

I can't wait to see where life takes my strong willed son...... I thank God now for his strength.... and I hope that where ever he goes- where ever life takes him- that he ends up right where he belongs.....

habits- or lack thereof

Haven't blogged in quite a while- I stopped in to catch up on Becki Reiser's life- wow girl! you have alot going on....

anyway- decided I'd better post just to get back in the habit...

amazing how quickly things slip away if we don't keep up on them...

I'm delighted to say that I have nothing to say! Dan is home (again) after a brief stay in the hospital and feeling well.... boys are great.... graduation is next week (so I'm sobbing) and I'm just trying to catch up on email and life in general....

Now that I have re- established myself as a blogger- I'll be back soon....