Education for Bean is almost constantly on my mind.

Today, a press release from our hometown University put a smile on my face.

We are a long way from the college years but it's so good to see programs like these taking root.

Hmmm, I think I feel a lesson coming on.

Lot's of reasons I have neglected Blog lately. Here is a brief update from our brood.

1. School is out. Spinner is looking toward first grade with the same enthusiasm he had for kindergarten. Only this time he is certain he will be spending a lot of time in the principles office because, "in first grade you don't get to talk at all. And they don't have a practice box like kindergarten for when you forget you can't talk so you go straight to the principles office. Man oh man, that is going to be hard for me because you know how much I love to talk?!" Yes, indeed.

*Brag alert *Even with all his talking, Spinner learned a lot in kindergarten. In fact he is reading like a champ and was acknowledged at the end of the year with a trophy for being tops in reading among 153 kindergarten students. *Brag over*

Bean charmed all his teachers/therapists until the bitter end as they walked him out to the car showering him with hugs and kisses. He has a great team around him at school and has worked hard for them. He has a few new words, his walking/balance is really improving, and he is seeking more independence. We are so proud of him and will be working hard this summer to build upon what he has learned this year.

Tank is glad to have his brothers home around the clock. Sort of.

2. Medical catch-up. I was on the phone with no less than four medical offices today (to get appts. scheduled), plus the hospital to discuss Bean's MRI tomorrow morning. They called to get the low-down, which they got two weeks ago when we went in for the scan that didn't happen. But no matter, they want to hear it all over again. "It" being Bean's whole story. "So, Bean was premature?" and "how long was he on the vent in NICU?" to "now, his heart surgery. . . " and so it goes. If I had a dollar for every time I had to repeat Beans whole story from delivery at 32 weeks to present we would be doing pretty well! As annoying as it can be sometimes, especially when all three punks are hanging around grabbing at my skirt, I am reminded as I walk through his history, just how far he has come and how fortunate we have been.

So, Tuesday morning we go in for his MRI and hopefully this will give us the definitive answers we have been waiting on for a year now.

3. On the market. There is nothing quite like having your house on the market with three small boys running around. It has posed a new challenge for us, keeping the house somewhat clean so that when we get a call that a potential buyer is coming over we can do a quick pick up and get out. So far our efforts are for naught. No bites or interest.

4. Church life. Wow, church planting is tough stuff. We have a wonderful core group of folks that are dedicated, encouraging, love the Lord and love this City. It is so good to be in this with them. We continue to raise support as we look toward a public launch in the fall and we continue to look for more permanent space but are grateful for the facility we are currently using. More on the plant later. . .


Next time, a post full of pictures for all you family and friends that want to see the troublesome trio in action.

One of my joys each day is taking Wil to school. Sometimes I gripe about the traffic or getting him (and Luke and Timothy) up, fed, and out the door by 7.30 but it is so worth it to see him light up when we walk into his classroom. Wil loves school. He loves to learn. He is curious. He is attentive, much more so than most three year olds his teacher's and therapist's brag. And he loves to socialize.

About once a week, while carrying him to his class, watching the elementary school students scurry the halls as they make their way to homeroom, I find myself choking back tears. Sometimes it is out of sheer exhaustion. Sometimes I feel Wil's vulnerability intensly. Sometimes it is an overwhelming sense of pride. Sometimes it is a sense of "making it" this far. When Wil was born we were given a big ole list of potential problems and told that there were a number of things we may not experience with him. There is something about walking the halls of Wil's school, more than anything else we do, that stirs those memories in me. I realize how wrong they were. Those lists, and the medical professionals who passed them on. We have experienced immeasurably more than we could have imagined.

Every morning when Wil arrives in his classroom he takes his folder out of his backpack, with some help, and carries it to his teachers desk.
And having the hint of OCD in him that he does he makes sure to push in disheveled chairs after the folder has been deposited on Mrs. Moore's desk. And then he is off to sign in.
After sign in, the kids get to choose their activity until class starts. Wil always goes to the computer. He pulls that chair out, positions himself and uses the touch screen to start his favorite music.

His lead teacher has just walked in and called his name, it is time to go to circle. This is Wil's look of resistance. But he does move on because he knows in circle there will singing. But first he reaches over to give me a big hug along with a wet kiss.

I just love taking Wil to school!

Luke is really loving kindergarten. So much that he demanded - uh, I mean asked -that we make a few changes at home. Here are a few.


1. Active Listening

I know. You thought this was the universal sign for "Loooserrr," made popular by Jim Carey's Ace Ventura. Not to kids at Lake Carolina Elementary. In Luke's class, when the teacher needs to regain some control and get every one's attention she makes the "L" above her head and everyone follows suit as they catch on. The big "L" means it is time to stop socializing and listen to the teacher. In other words, the big "L" means SHUT UP!

Luke has requested that when I need him to stop talking I use the active listening sign. "Like when you are on the phone," he said, "and you don't want me to interrupt you can give me the active listening sign." Okay, I like that. I guess what Luke is telling me is that he prefers this to my usual "Luke, Luke, Luke (it normally takes at least three name calls to get his attention) you NEED TO STOP TALKING NOW."

2. "Must do," "May do," and "May not do."

In Luke's class these three phrases guide and direct them in work and play. This was hard for Luke the first few days of school. But now? He is bringing it home and implementing it here.

When asked to do something it is not unusual to hear him ask, "Is that a 'must do' or a 'may do'?"

When told not to do something I am finding I must tell him it is a "may not do," otherwise he views my command as a suggestion.

3. Reading

This isn't new for us, we do lots of reading. Or we thought we did. The reading requirements for kindergarten, however, surpass what we had been doing. So we have ramped it up and Luke is doing much more reading on his own. When Wil and Timothy are around it is a little more challenging.

What with Wil pushing the book closed or pointing to the pictures making the appropriate sound. Or Timothy trying to turn the pages before we are ready or both boys deciding to stick their fingers in Luke's ear while he is trying to sound out the word "favorite." I figure in addition to reading he is learning some multi-tasking skills.

4. Life Skills

Luke's school is all about the "life skill's." So in addition to their traditional school work they have an ongoing conversation about things like compassion, courage, common sense, kindness, responsibility, integrity, honesty, etc. I like this. It is good for him to hear these things from folks other than mom and dad. On Wednesday's his "Life Skills" folder is sent home for us to write down a few of the life skills we have observed in Luke. The folder goes back the next day and the teacher reads the accolades to the class. They all love hearing their parents praises as their peers listen on.

Luke, being the boy that he is, struggles with some of his life skills. Except on Wednesday afternoon. On Wednesday he comes home from school and offers to take out the trash, get his clothes out for school the next day saying, "I think it would be good for me to be responsible for getting my school clothes ready, don't you mom?" He is extra patient with his brothers - and always points out his patience. All in all he is really agreeable, for he knows I will be pulling his folder out to write down his life skills. Too bad cleverness is not on the list.

So kindergarten? We are all loving it. I pray this enthusiasm for school will be long lasting!

I-am-still-waiting-on-my-computer.Another-10-days-or-so.In-the-meantime-I-am-having-blogger-withdrawal-so-I-thought-I-would-share-a-few-pictures-from-Luke's-first-day-of-kindergarten-and-burden-your-eyes-with-my-hyphenated-type.

Our-morning-started-with-pancakes-and-eggs.And-it-started-early!Oy-vey.Wil-is-also-preparing-to-go-back-to-school.He-finished-his-breakfast-and-is-off-to-dance-with-his-music-cube.

A-little-father/son-pre-kindergarten-talk.Luke-is-always-very-curious-about-how-we-experienced-things-when-we-were-his-age.I'm-not-exactly-sure-what-James-is-telling-Luke-here.Maybe-he-is-telling-him-that-he-is-beginning-at-least-16-years-of-education.Maybe-he-is-telling-him-that-the-freedom-he-has-come-to-know-at-home,like-catching-flies(it's-true),playing-his-leapster,and-building-forts,all-whenever-he-wants-to,will-not-be-had-at-school.Or-maybe-he-is-telling-him-that-he-really-should-leave-that-top-button-open.I-dunno,but-Luke-was-absorbing-every-word.All-ready-to-go!And-that-top-button,it's-staying-fastened.I-love-that-he-has-a-touch-of-nerd-in-him.After-getting-Wil-on-his-bus(sorry-no-pictures,I-was-busy-questioning-the-driver-about-lack-of-restraints-and-expressing-my-concern-for-his-safety.In-other-words-I-was-too-busy-annoying-the-driver-to-take-pictures.)we-are-off.Along-with-the-dozens-upon-dozens-of-other-kids-from-our-neigborhood. I-think-someone-is-getting-a-tad-nervous.Coming-from-Gainesville,Florida,home-of-the-real-Gators,to-Gamecock-country,we-are-happy-to-take-on-the-Gator-name-at-Lake-Carolina.Entering-his-classroom-and-oh-so-excited.This-is-the-second-time-he-has-seen-Mrs.Mattox;he-greeted-her-with-the-great-enthusiasm-both-times.Sorry-this-is-blurry,I-was-all-jittery-with-emotion,which-came-as-a-complete-shock-to-me-I-might-add.

And-now-with-Wil-back-to-the-class-he-loves-at-Sandlapper-Elementary-and-Luke-beginning-his-school-career-at-Lake-Carolina-Elementary-I-begin-dreaming-of-all-I-will-do-in-my-spare-time.Learn-to-sew,get-re-organized-in-my-very-disorganized-house,begin-that-exercise-routine,perhaps-catch-up-on-some-sleep.And-then-I-remember....
there-is-still-another-one-at-home!And-he-has-other-plans-for-me.

For the last month Wil has been attending Speech Camp for three hours every weekday morning. It functions a lot like pre-school with an emphasize on speech and language development. The University of South Carolina runs the camp and staffs it with students earning a Master's in Speech/Language Pathology. Apart from $25 for materials there's no charge for the camp. So the USC students get their intern hours and the kids get some extended speech therapy over the summer.



In the picture below you may notice him tapping beneath his chin. This is his sign for "Nonnie," whom he had just spotted in the crowd.And here he is signing "pop, pop, pop" (both hands palm out moving in a circular motion) as they sing a popcorn song. This was clearly his favorite of all the songs.
He was so delighted with himself! And he was by far the most enthusiastic clapper!After their performance the teachers began handing out completion certificates to each of the kids. But Wil, finding this part a bit too boring, decided he was done. So he got up and walked away. He made a beeline for his Papa. And then continued his applause.

We were applauding too, grinning big for our boy, as this simple program reminded us of the important moments in life.

Luke was happy to sit next to his buddy, P, during the ceremony. P has been his best pal all year. They share bathroom humor (unfortunately) tall tales (like werewolves visiting them at night), girlfriends (that's right they are becoming smitten with the girls), and a love of Pirates. It was very nice of the teachers to allow them to sit next to one another. Because during class? They have been "split up" for some time now. Evidently, P is just as chatty as Luke and the two of them together made the teachers head spin.

And now Luke has turned to give us a smile after his teacher had to give him and P the ole' "cut it out" pat on the shoulder. Note his teacher's arm over the pew. It pretty much stayed there the whole time.

Receiving of the Diploma. We now have a kindergartner.

Luke and J. J is evidently talking marriage. Luke, however, tells me that J is "too silly to be in love with." O (no pics of her), however, is much more the marrying kind and Luke reports that he loves her. When asked what he loves about her he says, "I like the way she looks." Turns out it is the green hair ribbon she adorns that really pulls him in.

Luke is so ready for his next phase. Me? Not so much.