No More Excuses!!!

“Kids will be kids”, is an excuse used by adults who don’t want to address the real issues.  Adults are underestimating the potential in each one of these children as well.  Given the opportunity kids will rise to whatever standard you set for them.  They are eager to please and craving rules that help them feel safe and secure in a stressful situation.  Rules give them guidelines as to how to handle the world around them.  Rules provide security and strength.  Where is all this coming from you might ask?   Recently, Jeremy had the unique “opportunity” to experience this first hand.  In his regular school he found himself in a situation of weakness that resulted in completely uncharacteristic behavior which led to an out of school suspension.  As he said, “My fight or flight response kicked in.”  He had tried flight before and it didn’t work out so….   At every step along the way to this incident there were opportunities for the adults in charge to put a stop to the harassment and mounting frustrations of all involved; however, the fear, exhaustion and low morale that is running rampant in our public school system prevented any of them from stepping in.  I was initially very hurt and frustrated by the whole situation.  Although the administration listened to my concerns, I am confident that my concerns were not heard.  I kept getting the answer (excuse!) “Kids will be kids!”  I told them I was deeply troubled by that answer because if this was the expected behavior for the kids as teens I didn’t want to see what they would be like as adults.  By saying “Kids will be kids” they are in essence giving these kids permission to act as they please because it is “normal”.  I felt unsafe in this environment.  I can’t imagine what the kids who actually have to remain in this situation feel like all the time.  It was a feeling of hopelessness and weakness.  We were fortunate to get Jeremy into an off-site,, in-school suspension program so as to reduce the appearance of the severity of the suspension on his school records.  The school is in a lower-income area of the city.  The kids in the program with him are there because of drugs, pornography, fighting, etc.  It is a rough crowd, but, ironically, Jeremy feels safer there than he does at his own school.  The difference is the adults running the program.  The kids know these adults care about them,  but don’t put up with anything.  The adults take the time to learn something positive about each one of the kids and use this information frequently to remind them they are good kids who happen to have made a bad decision.  The rules are strict and if you don’t follow them you are removed from the program.  The kids behave because it is what is expected.  They have risen to the standards set by the adults in charge. Everyone is in a position of strength and they are happier for it.  

Although I am exhausted from dealing with administration and getting needed answers, I am grateful for this whole thing.  God does not just let things occur.  They happen for a purpose.  Jeremy is learning that words should never be used as a weapon to tear someone down  Words need to be used as tools to build people up and help them be better.  He is learning that less is more and that kind words go a lot farther in making friends than trying to impress peers with mean comments to prove how tough you are.  He is learning that rules are there to protect him and help him feel secure.  I am learning that it is okay to step in at the first sign of trouble.  Don't assume that the administration will handle it.  It is okay to be vocal when you don’t agree with how something is being handled.   Teachers appreciate parents who are involved in their kids’ education.  Teachers are not being heard by administration either and love it when parents are willing to listen to their concerns and give assistance when smoothing over issues involving their kids.  Most importantly we have all learned, as a family, that when the Lord gives you a direction to go and you decide not to listen, He will find a way to get your attention and refocus you on what is important.  I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who listens and hears us when we talk to Him.  He is there to help us with whatever our struggles might be at the time.  He is also there to celebrate with us when we are happy.  He is the ultimate example of unconditional love.  I am grateful He has set high standards for me.  I am happier when I stick to those standards and do not deviate from the goal - eternal life and the Celestial Kingdom.  I am placed in a position of strength knowing I am doing what He wants me to do and that is all that really matters in this life. 

Thanks for listening!  Now go out and take on today with the confidence that He is at the helm and everything is going to be okay.  No more excuses!  Be the best you you can be! 

Volunteer Brunch

Every year the staff at Highland Creek thanks those who have volunteered throughout the year with a brunch.   It is a lot of fun.  This year was especially exciting because Naomi's class has been working on a surprise for all the volunteers and they were practically bursting to tell me the secret every time I was in the classroom.  But they all made it - WHEW!!!  It was one of the best surprises I have received in a long time. You can hear by the laughter and cheering that it was a pleasant surprise for everyone in the room.  Check it out!  Naomi is in the bright pink dress in the middle.

Devil Child

Nick had been outside riding his bicycle all day.  He came in for a drink and to check in with me so I would know he was okay.  When he took off his helmet this is what we saw!

His hair had been poking up out of two of the holes in the helmet.  We got a good laugh over it and then he went right back to riding his bike.  Never a dull moment at our house!

A Job Where You Can Really Grow!

Ever since Jeremy was little he has told us he wanted to work at Christy's Nursery.  When he was ten he asked them when he could come and work there.  They told him he had to be sixteen to work for pay, but he could volunteer when he was fourteen.  The countdown began.  A couple of weeks ago Jeremy had a day off from school and we went over to the nursery to ask about volunteering.  Miss Rachel and Mr. Steve, the owners, are wonderful.  They took him on a tour of the place and asked him several questions about himself and his love of plants.  It was a very informal interview.  When it was over, Jeremy was "hired".  The first Saturday they had him show up at 8:00 a.m. and wanted him to stay until noon.  I wasn't sure how this was going to play out because he strongly dislikes getting out of bed in the morning and getting him to help in the yard is worse than pulling teeth.  I thought for sure he would be late and I would get a call after an hour saying he was bored and wanted to come home.  This was not the case.  He was out of bed and ready to go bright and early.  We got there with plenty of time to spare and he jumped right in helping unload a truck.  I jumped every time the phone rang, but it wasn't him.  At noon, I drove over to get him and he didn't want to leave.  When I got there he was helping a customer load pine straw into the back of her truck.  He was having a great time helping the customers find their plants and then loading them into the cars.  This has been going on for three weeks now and he is still loving it.  In fact, it is the one thing in his week to which he truly looks forward and helps him through the not so great times.    Everyone loves him and Miss Rachel has told him he has a job when he turns sixteen.  I am so grateful to these wonderful people for helping Jeremy realize he is a great kid with a real talent for plants and people.  His confidence in growing and that is a wonderful thing to watch.

Jeremy, in front of his happy place - Christy's Nursery

D.A.R.E. Graduation for Nicholas

 At Lake Norman Charter School the 5th graders take a 10-week course called D.A.R.E. run by the Huntersville Police Department.  D.A.R.E. stands for  Drug Awareness Resistance Education.  They teach the kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, how to avoid it and how to help others who struggle with problems.  Nicholas learned a lot about drugs and decided that even if he wasn't a Mormon he would not use drugs or alcohol because that is just a bad choice.  The kids were each given a D.A.R.E. t-shirt and a diploma for passing the class.  They had assignments that needed to be turned in on time, including an essay about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and what they had learned in the program.  It is something that Nick won't forget.  The graduation was especially fun for the kids as it added to the importance of the things learned during the program.

I Can See Clearly Now

Naomi got her glasses - FINALLY!!!  She was complaining of not being able to see things very clearly so I took her to the eye doctor and sure enough she is slightly near-sighted (thanks to genetics).  She was thrilled that she was getting glasses and had a great time picking them out.  The week-long wait until they came in was torture, but the wait was worth it!

Spring Break

The kids were all excited about going to Myrtle Beach for the weekend to go camping and then the forecast came back with cold and wet.  We had to change our plans at the last minute by moving our reservation to August for the beach.  It was freeze or fry and we chose fry.  I will let you know how that one turns out later this summer.  I am still excited.

Naomi's big news is that she moved up another size in bikes and this one has a hand break.  She feels like she is entering the world of big girl bikes.  The next step is gears.  She is growing way too fast. 

Although the weather was cold and slightly (okay, really) wet we took advantage of the time together and goofed off.  Steve already had the time scheduled off and we didn't want to waste that.  Nicholas and I really wanted to go to the Auto Fair at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.  We have wanted to go for years, but have always been busy on the weekend it was being held.  NOT THIS YEAR!!  We all packed ourselves up and headed to the speedway.  It was tons of fun and we saw some really great cars.  I wouldn't be surprised if Nicholas decides to go to a vocational college and learn how to be a race car mechanic.  He was out of his mind excited about getting to see all these great cars so close up.  Some of them were for sale and I could almost see him formulating a plan to save up the money so that when he turns sixteen (YIKES!)  he can bring his cash to the show and get himself a car.  We also got to see Elvis' Lincoln Continental.  That was really cool as well.  I can continue to describe it or I can just show you the pictures. 

There were cars everywhere.  Some of them were just there for show and others were for sale.  We had a great time looking under the hood and into the cars.  One of our favorites (which I don't have a picture of for some unknown reason) was a Corvette with the coolest paint job.  At first we thought it was a deep purple, but as we got closer it turned to a deep green.  It was waaaaay cool. 

 

We all entered the drawing to win the car behind Naomi.  It was filled with Matchbox cars and we had to guess how many there were. 

 

This car reminds me of my Grandma Hansen!

Naomi really liked Grandma's car as well.  She said it looked really cool.

 

Standing at the top of the speedway at turn 3.  It doesn't look as steep as it was. 

 

The view from the top of turn 3.

Nick loved getting into this car.  The gentleman who built it worked as a pit crew member for years and then decided to start building his own cars. He loves it and it pays the bills. Talking to this gentleman only made Nicholas more excited about building a car of his own. 

Naomi's turn. 

Jeremy's turn.

 

If this was the bus to school I don't think the kids would be complaining at all.

 

 



Easter Sunday

 

 

Easter Sunday was a lot of fun.  The Easter Bunny hid eggs for the kids.  We went to church in the afternoon and then came home to a ham dinner with all the fixins'.  You could say it was a huge hit.  I got to teach the lesson in primary and had a great time with the kids talking about all the wonderful things Heavenly Father has given us to remind us that we are loved by Him and Jesus.  At the end of the lesson I gave each of them an empty egg and told them that inside was the greatest gift Heavenly Father and Jesus had or ever will give us.  They were disappointed at first but then quickly understood that the empty tomb and Jesus' sacrifice on the cross so we could have eternal life was the greatest gift ever given.  I love these kids.  Their faces lit up when they got to tell their parents about the empty egg and the empty tomb and that is what Easter is really all about.  Kids are the best. 

 

Below are some highlights from the day.  

I think the kids found their Easter eggs in record time this year.  They are already in a sugar coma!!




All dressed up for church



Egg Head!!!!

 





Our bunny rolls were a hit. 

 

We also dyed Easter eggs.  We have never done this before because of allergies, but this year it was a must on Naomi's list. 

Nick Finally Gets to go Camping

Nicholas has been waiting for a year to be able to go camping with the Boy Scout Troop.  He got his wish shortly after crossing over to the troop.  We got him all packed up and ready to go and he had an absolute blast.  He loved the hiking and the camping and the cooking over a fire and everything about it except that it was too short of a time.  I guess that is a good thing.  He is already looking forward to the next troop campout which isn't for three or four months.  We will just have to do some family camping to help satisfy him until then.


















His pack is almost bigger than he is, but that did not deter him from getting to the campsite and having a wonderful weekend.