Inspiring Excellence

More B-day Stories

Two great stories that helped make me birthday special...

I think my grandpa is one of the coolest and funniest guys around.  He's 86 and getting ready to celebrate his 65th wedding anniversary.  We laughed a lot over birthday dinner the other night.  They got ready to leave and he joked about needing to get home before dark since he didn't know where the lights were in his new car.  He traded in his pick-up about a month ago for a year-old PT Cruiser about the same color as this one...p.s. Grandma called a little after 8:30.  They made it home safe.

The second story is for those of you with middle children (or at least ones that are quick-witted).  After everyone left the party, Blake-13, Logan-10, and I were sitting out on the patio.  I asked what they thought they would be doing on their 40th birthday.  Without hesitation Logan responds, "blowing my nose with $100 bills."  So I turn to Blake and ask him.  Once again Logan chimes in before Blake can begin to answer, "begging me for a box of tissue."  Not sure whether I have a big dreamer or a what....everyone thought Einstein was a little off.

Most of all, I'm thankful that Grandpa McCool is still around and I get to be Logan's dad.

Summertime Treat

The small maple in our front yard is not even as tall as the house yet.  You might hardly notice it except as it adds a splash of color in the fall.

Yesterday, however, LeAnn and the kids found a treat inside.  A mommy bird made a nest low enough for us all to get a good look at the contents without disturbing it.  With any movement of the branch at all, you can get three babies to open wide up.

Just a normal looking tree with a surprise inside.  I wonder how many times in life we miss lots of the beauty in others by failing to take a little extra time and peek inside?

Simple Truths Revisited

A little less than a month ago, I was introduced to a website called Simple Truths.  I don't often subscribe to things like this so that my inbox stays as empty as possible, but this one was has been worth it.  Please take 3 minutes and view their latest movie, especially if your a dad.

Here it is: view movie.

Summertime Family Fun

First full week out of school and LeAnn and I are already having the discussions about how much time the kids should get in with electronics.  It's easy for me to suggest that be a low number because I am not at home during the day.

We have added something that I am having as much fun with as the kids.  We picked a classic, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, to read this Summer as a family.  We have four copies so that all of us that read can read a chapter a night.  A couple of nights this week we have had the chance to read out loud together.

We might even throw in a book-on-cd for the trip to Florida in a couple of weeks.  I believe we are creating memories that a Playstation or TV station can't touch.

Beating the Heat

Not a bad way to spend an hour before bedtime with the kids....the cool kid behind the goggles is my 5-year old.  No, she doesn't own the pool, but don't tell her.

Final Graduation Thoughts

My last two posts have been thoughts from Thursday's graduation in which my two oldest participated.  Tonight was the high school graduation.  The picture is of the library where their art projects were on display.

Cedar Hall graduated 3 this year (when you only have 15 or so in high school, you don't have many seniors).  I did get to spend some special time this year with the high school students talking about goal setting on a couple of different occasions, so I knew them a little better than normal.

They are a special group.  Congrats to Erica, Bart, and Becky!!  It was quite an evening with those of us in attendance got to hear great stories and the unique characteristics of what makes each one of these young people special.

Following a reception, the seniors wanted to dance the night away.  As you can see from Annalee's face(as she dances with one of the seniors-Becky, we didn't make it too late).

Surprise Special Moment

Graduation day - that means that all 35 of the 3rd through 8th graders at Cedar Hall School participate on moving on to the next grade.  Included in the days festivities were recitations of poetry from each of the children.  So I began my day listening to Shakespeare, Whitman, Dickinson, and some original works by the students.

Following the poems, we heard of some great accomplishments from the year and then the most important part each year:  One by one, the students were called up.  Their teachers put their arms around them and shared about their year, their uniqueness, their character traits, and special memories.  We ended the day with a picnic under the shade trees.

A special moment for this parent came with the announcement of my oldest being announced as one of two recipients of the Rachel Farris Memorial Scholarship.  It is an award given each year to a student or two that is voted on by their peers and faculty.  It is given to students that exemplify excellence in the way they act toward their education and others.  Pictured are Mr. and Mrs. Gordon (the headmasters) with this year's winners: Blake George and Erin Griffin.

I can't think of much better way to spend a sunny Thursday morning.