Remi Graduates 5th Grade....

Friday afternoon, Remi finally said good-bye to 5th Grade. 

This day was pretty emotional for this momma. You have no idea what this year has been like for my Remi. What started off at rock bottom, our lowest of lows, ended up being the year that Remi took his struggles and proved to everyone that he could and would do it! This was the year that he not only made it up his personal Everest, but he dominated that mountain! I think back to the letter I wrote to the principals and his teachers at the beginning of the year, when they wanted to test him for SPED...

"His journey will have many rocks in the road, but what you will eventually come to know, is that while some of us may hop over the rocks, some may go around them, Remi will dig them up and build something incredible with them!

Thank you all for being on this journey with us! It may not be easy, but it will be great!"

You know what Remi did with all those rocks in his road? 

Remi was the kid that was pulled from class with the GT kids to participate and assist classmates on circuit projects. Remi was the kid who raised his hand in Science class explaining questions to the class over the solar system or electronics when the teacher didn't know the answer.  Remi was the kid that was five Bs from making straight A's all year long- despite reading at a 1st grade level. He was the kid that dug deep and was able to pull out incredible STAAR scores, not only meeting, but only 1 question away from mastering his Reading and one question away from a perfect math score.  He was the kid doing junior/senior level Algebra on his own, during free time at school. He was the kid that fell in love with Gary Paulsen this year and 'read' book after book, finally gaining a love for reading for the first time in his life. He was the boy that had almost 200 Reading Counts books, aced math and science tests left and right, learned what it meant to want it, and do everything in his power to attain it. This is the boy that got signed off for AP math and science next year. This is the boy who took everyone's preconceptions and proved that he will not be defined by his limitations. This is the year that Remi fought and battled with a deep-rooted determination and decided, he was and will be one of the 'smart kids'. He took what everyone said he couldn't do and not only did it, but did it with every ounce of drive he had.... and when that wasn't enough, he dug a little deeper and found a strength that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. 

Remi clothes himself in a layer of humility- knowing the path his dyslexia sets before him,  a pile of invisible burdens that may knock him down, but never keeps him down, a layer of deep compassion, knowing what a fragile thing the heart truly is, and on top of all these layers, Remi marches through the doors of his school, day after day with an armor of prayer, somedays only getting through with his silent conversations to God. 

Remi shares with me often in the dark safety of bedtime, moments before he drifts off to sleep, how it is his fervent prayers that give him comfort and strength at school. Every morning during the Moment of Silence, Remi tells me he prays for classmates that have hard home lives. Remi's dyslexia has given him the deepest awareness of others and the most beautiful empathetic perspective I have ever seen. This boy has something amazing flourishing in him, and the things he will do will be both incredible and miraculous. 

My prayer as Remi enters junior high is that he never loses his focus on doing what is right. I pray he continues to be assertive in his beliefs and pray his sense of leadership that allows him to stand comfortably alone when needed, keeps growing within him.

Keep digging deep, Remi. It's there, always has been and always will be. When you face the dark days and storms that will no doubt dot your path, you will need that humility and grit, but never forget, it will be your lifeline of prayer that will set you on higher ground!

This year, Remi walked away with AB Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance and the Science Award. His math teacher shared with me, that had he not already been selected for the Science Award, he was her top pick for the Math Award. If you think I'm proud of this boy, check out the smiles on his face...

Helping with hot dog griling

Remi's Math teacher

Remi's Science teacher