So here we are nine months later. Mason is no longer on academic probation and hasn't been since December. We made it to every single therapy appointment except for one day when the traffic was so bad that I couldn't make it over the bridge in time and the day after Ellie broke her arm. Mason just this afternoon completed his fourth and final book report project. And this one he did all by himself with hardly any help at all from me. He benchmarked on DIBELS during the mid-year. We have seen tremendous improvement in his reading fluency, comprehension, phoneme awareness and re-tell. He can even read a chapter book by himself now. And next week he will graduate out of Occupational Therapy and no longer needs skilled OT services!
Yesterday afternoon I watched with pride as my boy's name was called out as a Silver Scholar for this school year, and he walked across that stage to receive his award. He maintained a 3.00-3.54 GPA all year long. Who would've thought?! Not that school administrator apparently. It just makes me want to say, "I TOLD YOU SO." And a few other things.
Because let me tell you. I might've spent all those hours in the evenings doing homework and projects and book reports. I might've spent all those hours driving him to and from private therapy. I might've drove his teacher nuts with all of my emails and random visits to class. And I might've won the fight to have him evaluated and given 504 accommodations at school.
But this award? He did this! This is all him! He did not give up. He kept on and on and on. Even when he was tired. Even in the face of discouragement and sometimes defeat. But he did not give up. He studied and worked and kept on day after day after day. There's no other kid who deserves this award more than Mason does. And I'll tell you this, too. Mason isn't awarded for the amount of effort it takes for him to do what he does. Because if he was, there wouldn't be an award big enough!
I am proud. That's an understatement. I don't even have the words. This kid is going places. And I can't wait to see where he goes. Because it's going to be good. All good. I wish I could give him the world. I wish I could make him see just how special he is and just how awesome his accomplishments are. He told his teacher yesterday that he wanted to do better than the Silver Scholar. I didn't have tears in my eyes until the moment she told me that. But just you wait. Because I know we haven't seen nothing yet! It's only going to get even better!
I talk about Jeremiah 29:11 a lot, and I'm always telling my children that God has a special plan for their lives and that they just need to trust and follow Him. A few weeks ago, the conversation went something like this:
Mason: Mama, I know why you came to Louisiana. You came because it was God's plan so you could meet Daddy. Huh, Mama?
Me: Yep. That was all part of God's plan.
Mason (after a moment in thought): And God has a plan for me, too, doesn't He, Mama?
Me: Yep. He sure does, Buddy.
Mason, the plan is good. It's all good! And your future is bright. It's so bright! I could never be more proud to call you my son than I am right now. You are special. You are a gift from God. You just keep trusting Him and doing what He wants you to do. Because something tells me He's going to take you on the ride of your life! I love you! ~Mama
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11