I guess I'll start with back to school. This should probably have it's own post, but honestly, past the kids posing by the tree for a picture on Day One, going back to school has been pretty low-key for everyone except for William. He started kindergarten this year. And he was super excited to go to Jack's school..... until it was actually time for him to go. Allie and Jack both had friends to head to school with on the first day of school. We also had our Neighborhood Breakfast.... but I didn't get any great pictures.
In addition to the opening social behind the school, Will had a kindergarten open house where he did a scavenger hunt around the school. And then he had his assessment.... where his teacher meets with him one on one to see what he knows and where he should be placed. And then.... no more school for the rest of the week for William.
Fast forward to the next Monday and it was time to go to school. Mrs. Guest (Will's teacher) emphasized that the kids were not to line up more than 10 minutes ahead of time. As we walked down the hallway, I noticed that the lights in the classroom were off; not a good sign. We went through the kindergarten cloak room and went to get in line in back of the school. This is where we separate the old from the new parents. Folks like me, only got out and walked their kid back because it's the first day. We are looking forward to three blissful childfree hours. We've got stuff to do! Then there were the noobs. Mom, Dad and younger siblings.... even grandparents. And they were snapping pictures and taking video. After a few minutes, the kids started to line up against the wall and the documenting continued. After what seemed like an eternity, the teacher and her aide came out to greet the kids. She had name tags for all of them and quite the production was made about issuing them to the children. At this point, Will was nervous and was talking about not wanting to go to class. And then, we had to have a welcome speech. By the time the kids were marching in, Will was sobbing and had to be pried off of me. Obviously, we have different strategies when it comes to "ripping the band-aid off." Needless to say, we had a few tense days, but I think Will has finally got going to school down.
Now, let's talk about school dances. Actually, we won't really talk about them because they haven't happened yet.... but Erin was asked to TWO different Homecoming dances, by TWO different boys, on the SAME DAY. This is a new thing for me.... I went to some school dances, but certainly never had multiple offers. Of course, that meant TWO dresses and TWO pairs of shoes. Now I just have to order TWO boutonnieres, and we'll be in business.
Tessa gets to come and play at our house again this year. She will be here on Tuesdays and Thursdays.... which is so fun for Will and almost just as fun for me. She's my little sidekick and is always up for an adventure. Right before school started, we finally got the chance to do lunch and Build-a-Bear that we had planned for the last week of school before she was sick. She and William had a fantastic time.
So glad we get to have this little ray of sunshine keep coming to our house. Tomorrow is her birthday and we're going to welcome "5" in a big way!
And now, Pax. Our favorite black dog is not doing so well. His arthritis is getting the better of him and he is in pain most of the time. He whines and wimpers. He struggles to get down the stairs and out the door. He's not eating as much as he should and it makes all of us sad. Plus, he's started having accidents in the house.... which is never fun. I don't think he'll probably be with us too much longer.
Speaking of accidents in the house, we have had an episode as of late that we have been blaming on the dogs. Specifically, Matt called while I was in St. George to let me know that Millie (our Yorkie) had been peeing under Will's bed. That the floor was soaked with urine. Okay, Millie pees like a teaspoon, but it could happen I suppose. As the night went on and Matt began to shampoo the carpets, it came out that it was, in fact, Will peeing on the carpet.... because he didn't want to walk down the hall. And then.... it came out that there were a few occasions where both of my boys decided that urinating from the top bunk would be acceptable. Ughhhhh.... I would seriously be better with them peeing in my front yard. This is killing me! So, in Matt's words, "the boys' bedroom smells like a latrine." Thank goodness for Scentsy and that wonderful clean breeze scent wafting down my hallway.
Biker Gangs.... bear with me. When I was in St. George with my friends last weekend, there was a lot of discussion about motorcycles. Every single one of my friends husbands have a motorcycle. They kept saying, "Matt should get a bike and then they can all go ride together." Maybe at some point in the past, Matt would have considered it.... but not now. He is too practical. Well.... it's a good thing I'm not. Saturday afternoon, as I was doing my grocery shopping, I saw a FB post advertising Shirley. My neighbor down the street was getting rid of her. How could I not jump on that one?
One final event that I want to post about is Colton. Colton Hadley lived down the street from us. His parents and siblings are some of the best people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Brooklyn and Erin have been fast friends since we moved here ten years ago and Brooklyn's older brothers have been great examples to my kids. Heck, Ty took it upon himself to make sure my attention-challenged daughter made it home from school every day in the first grade. Well in January, tragedy struck their family and Colton passed away from an accidental overdose. He had been fighting drug demons for a while and was looking like he had turned a corner. But then, that's always the way of it, it seems. Every time I hear a story on the news about opioid addiction, I think about Colton and the sadness that his passing has imparted on our neighborhood.
As I listened to the stories told about him immediately after his death, and mourned with so many at his funeral, I was reminded how grateful I am for the knowledge that I have about eternal families. I am so thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and that because of Him, we too can overcome death. I am grateful for the simple knowledge I have that I am a child of God and that this divine designation allows for me to grow and learn on this earth. I know that Colton was a child of God; and that he was known and loved by his Heavenly Father.
Colton's funeral was one that touched the depths of my soul. Despite the sadness and despair that I know was felt by everyone in attendance, it was so clear that Rock and Elizabeth (Colton's parents) had absolutely modeled Christlike love in their home. I was so touched by the idea that goodbye is not forever; but more than that, that Colton knew he was loved, by so many. Colton's passing served as a reminder of the fickle and fleeting nature of life. Life is too short.... tell those you love most how you feel.
There were several thoughts given at Colton's funeral that were so perfect in describing his quest in life and the impact his short life had on those around him. One of my favorites is from a song in the musical "Wicked". Colton is truly with us, "like a handprint on our hearts." And the program referenced it as well when is said "because we know you, we have been changed for the better." Life is definitely not without struggles, but it is important to remember to honor the good while mourning the sad.
The program also featured the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
Colton's obituary also featured a line from the J.R.R. Tolkien "The Lord of the Rings" series. I especially loved this one.
"All that is gold does not glitter,
not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
Friday, September 9 would have been Colton's 22nd birthday. There was a challenge in our neighborhood to try and find ways to honor Colton's memory and to hopefully show support to his family; that they would know that they are not forgotten and that he is not forgotten. Rock and Elizabeth never hesitate to give and serve those around them. So several of us decided that we would try and find ways to honor Colton's memory and to show the rest of the Hadley's how much we love them.
There were lots of fun service projects that I heard about; roses for widows in the neighborhood, pet toys for the animal shelter. There were several others that I didn't hear about, but I know were done.
Our family chose to honor Colton in a couple of different ways. First, we bought doughnuts to deliver to some of our first responders; the firefighters and police officers that all sped down and gathered on our street that cold January morning. Our neighbor, and SDMF Chief Jeff Bassett came tearing down our street that morning and leaving his car parked at crazy angle and the engine running, stayed with the Hadley family for three hours that morning.
So we took doughnuts to two of the fire stations that sent responders. We are so grateful to live in a community where people truly enjoy serving each other.
The baked good yumminess is right there in that there box.
The next thing we did to honor Colton's memory was to donate a complete set of J.R.R. Tolkien's books to the homeless shelter. Not a super huge gesture, but hopefully meaningful to those who will read the books.
And then, just because I thought it would make some mom's day, we went to our local gas station and paid for drinks for ten people. The clerks gave the recipients a copy of our Colton card, and Allie found out that her friend's neighbor was one of the lucky ones who had their drink paid for. Hopefully, they'll pay it forward.
On Friday morning, we took a bunch of small stones that we'd painted with hearts and "C's" and spread them around at the trail head that Colton improved as part of his Eagle Scout project.
And then, the last gift that came from our household was a portrait of Colton drawn by Erin. I hope they know it was a labor of love and that their family is never far from our thoughts.
The final thought on the program for Colton's funeral was:
"In honor of Colton, please leave footprints of love and kindness wherever you go."
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