High School Awards...

Now, you remember everything you just read about Roen? Imagine the complete opposite... that is Remi!

Remi's first year of high school was fabulous! He handled the workload like a champ, studied for tests, made sure projects were in tip-top before turning in, and was probably most of his teachers favorite student. He rarely had grades below a 98 and ended this year as #7 in his class with a 5.0. His favorite classes were Welding, Robotics and Geometry. He got asked to attend several welding competitions this year and absolutely loved the way his Geometry teacher taught! 

He is that student, when a teacher needs to know what really happened, he gets pulled because you can always count on him for an unbiased truth. You can't really call him a teacher's pet, because that's not him. He isn't trying to get on anyone's good side, he is just a boy who stays in his own lane, a rule follower with the expectation of everyone being held to the standard of right and wrong. You won't ever get 'fluff' from this boy, but you better believe, you gonna get a good "I'm disappointed in you" shake of the head if your not acting right... just ask Roen, he gets it daily!

He, too, did his fair share of oversleeping this year, but could be ready in about 5 minutes! Showered, dressed, dog fed, and in the car... fast as lightning if it meant just a few more minutes of sleep! Most days, Remi is easy peasy... a far cry from what this boy put us through in his younger years!

And now to his recognitions... he received the Robotics Award and A Honor Roll. Remi works extremely hard and these awards mean a lot to him! He came home and went straight up to this workshop most days after school, printing and tinkering with robotics parts. He is a researcher, a problem-solver and loves anything mathematical, electrical and mechanical. He has already been asked to be on the tractor team next year, and I have a feeling, he is going to love it (given an entire tractor and having a certain amount of time to figure out what is wrong with it, whether it be with the engine, something electrical, and so forth). He truly loves a teacher who takes the time to teach, because this boy loves to learn!

I think Remi's motto for this year was, "School is for learning, and ya'll acting like fools.... I'll pray for you... and can I do this group project solo?"

Middle School Awards...

In just a blink, my littlest (who really doesn't seem quite so little anymore) has finished middle school! It seems unbelievable that he will be joining Remi in high school next year!

8th grade was the year that Roen's little voice started changing! This was the year he got to deal with his first bout of (forehead) acne, tried about a dozen different deodorants to get his underarm sweating under control, and literally outgrew everything in his closet. His little boy legs turned into muscly thighs, and his personality exploded out of sweet glowing sunbeams, into a blaring, vibrant sunshine! Still my sunshine boy, just a little bit more of that Texas heat version. 

For so long, he went with the flow, made peace in all situations and giggled instead of using his words. This year, he was all the words and all the opinions! He doesn't take much serious, in fact, that makes the AB Honor Roll he earned all that much more of a grand achievement, because school and grades were the least of his worries this year. A test he forgot to study for, "don't worry, mom, I'll get an A"! A project due tomorrow (that he forgot to inform me about), no big deal, he could finish it in 1st period! Oversleep by 30 minutes, no worries, he would still take a hour on his hair and have not a worry in the world about making the rest of us late! He was gonna walk downstairs, hair blown-out, about 10 too many squires of Burberry cologne and yet another white tee paired with his Yeezy's. Oh, and don't forget shorts that hit mid-thigh, showing off those muscles.

Now, if he didn't have his favorite socks cleaned and in his drawer, that is where it would all come crashing down! The huffing and puffing and hollering.... yep, over socks! I think it's safe to say he finally came out of that shell! And not a slow, timid creeping, but like a blasting firecracker!

So, lets circle back around to what this post is really about! Roen received one award this year- the AB Honor Roll! He was very underwhelmed by it all and didn't want to even go, because lets be honest, anything that takes this boy off the course, is a big waste of time! But he did work hard, made good enough grades to stay in NJHS, and it's another year in the books! A really good year! Full of friends, golf, and golf with friends!

I think Roen's motto for the year was, No Worries... BUT, you better look good while your not worrying!

Middle School Awards Ceremony...

This was officially Remi's last Middle School Awards ceremony...ever!

It's all a bit bittersweet, but I am proud to say, he ended his middle school years on top! He works so hard and sets extremely high goals for himself, he is our perfectionist through and through. Knowing how hard it is for him, yet also knowing how extremely important it is, makes these little awards ceremonies something I wouldn't miss for the world. They are a direct reflection of what Remi conquers day in day out and serve as his little place to shine. I often think about how far this boy has come and it almost always brings me to tears. This journey isn't perfect and we still have our battles, but we are learning everyday how to create and maintain an environment that he can be successful in! And I just have to mention, the fact that his reading teacher chose him out of every other 8th grader to receive the reading award is just beyond incredible! Remi could sit in his chair every single day, slumped and defeated, as he is being asked to do what is near impossible, but instead, he listens, respects and never quits working hard for his teacher. Of all the things his dyslexia has molded in him, it's his grit that amazes me the most.

Roen has a very natural competitive nature and typically does his very best no matter what it is. So even though school isn't what he is most passionate about, he is a student who aims to please. He gets his work done on time, always being as efficient as possible and stays out of trouble. He ended the year with a handful of Bs and so many wonderful memories of his 7th grade year. If you were to ask him what his favorite class was, well, he would immediately tell you athletics!

REMI: A Honor Roll, Presidential Award, 8th Grade Reading Award, Perfect Attendance

ROEN: AB Honor Roll

2023 Awards Ceremony...

This year is officially winding down. We have had all the ceremonies and are down to a handful of final exams next week and only 6 days until summer is here! The boys worked hard this year and we are so proud of them!

Roen: 

Bronze A Honor Roll (two 6 weeks with a B)

Roen loved his first taste of middle school and continues to be our little mover and doer. He definitely has his own set of school struggles, but there isn't much that rocks his happy little boat! His favorite part of school is PE and socializing! I have a feeling watching him in school sports next year will be an absolute blast! 

Remi:

Top AR Points 7th Grade

A Honor Roll

Presidential Award

Remi conquered everything about 7th grade! He LOVED his science teacher and continues to soak up knowledge every chance he can. He is my guy that loves school because he loves learning- his socializing usually happens after school. 

These two boys couldn't be more different from one another, which keeps our days vibrant and colorful! As much fun as this school year has been, I think we are all ready for sunny days, life in swimsuits and sticky popsicle fingers!!

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

Awards Ceremony 2020..

Last week, the boys had their first semester Awards Ceremony.

I am so proud of these boys of mine. They work hard in school, the grades they receive don't necessarily come easy to either of them, but I often think, the best lessons come from the hardest of challenges. We may not like to read independently because it's hard and takes twice as long, math worksheets with lots of problems may make our minds a jumbled mess, practice STAAR reading tests may be absolute torture to our minds, but we do it.

We do it because meeting the expectations of those who believe in us is a reward all in itself. We do it because if we are not constantly stretching our limits, proving to ourselves that we can push just a little bit further, then we will fall further behind. We do it because being the best version of ourselves means doing the hard things with grit and persistence.

Both boys got perfect attendance- yay, for a healthy start to the year- and AB Honor Roll. In our home we celebrate hard work. Grades are numbers that I refuse to let define my boys as hard as that might be. The boy's Dyslexia teacher told me the other day, "It takes them so much longer to read because the first time they read, it is decoding and sounding out. They then have to go back and reread to understand what they actually read." Can you image reading a book this way? Can you image having to do this in a class full of distractions? It's hard- so very, very hard. We don't always get to bring home great grades, but when we do, I know it was not easy. Sometimes, our little minds have just had enough and our best was a 64 instead of an 88. I'm ok with that. I am proud of their AB Honor Roll, but I also know the day may come when they just couldn't quite get there. My focus tries to stay on their attitude and work ethic... their actual grades are not a true representation of knowledge, because, just like they aren't perfect, neither are our school systems.

Remi brought home several other awards. He got the Math Award and the Art Award. The older Remi gets, I see more and more that he is the most equal combination of Micah and I. These two awards attest to the fact he has his daddy's math mind and his momma's creative drive.

Remi also received a very special award.

For the first semester, he received the Wildcat Pride Award. I did not know he was getting this and as his teacher read these words out loud, I thought, 'what an amazing student about to receive this honor'! About halfway through the speech, she said Remi's name and it was instant tears. Hearing the encouraging, loving words of his teacher read aloud for all ears to hear, was surreal. I was floating, trying to hold in the tears before my emotions got out of control. Pure joy, pride, admiration... all bubbling to the brink, wanting to spill out. I could have stood up, ran to the stage, grabbed Remi with both arms and spun him around and around! I could have done a hundred cartwheels up and down the gym floor, I could have taken the microphone and given my own speech, telling his teacher that what she had just done, was SO MUCH BIGGER than just the piece of paper she handed Remi- but I didn't.

I sat there, tiny little tears spilling down my cheeks, my heart all but bursting out of my chest, and watched my Remi stand just a little bit taller in front of all of his peers, wearing the smile he reserves for only the happiest of times, and receive an award for his best being enough. I watched my little man, humbly accept this honor, soaking up every second of this little moment in time, where the spotlight was just for him!

And you know what, watching him in that moment, I was proud. So very proud, of every little thing about my boy... the good, the hard, the triumphs, the silent struggles, the tears... it is all a part of a journey that I am proud to get to be a part of!