Our Graduate Nathan

Our kindergartner, Nathan, is a graduate! I truly feel like this year went by in a blink and am sad that it’s over! Nathan had an incredibly marvelous, mind-blowing school year. He learned so much from his amazing teacher, Lauren Zavisch, and made some remarkable bonds of friendship with some truly wonderful kids.

So tonight the celebration began on stage, a week before the school year comes to a close. The kids entertained us beyond measure with their songs and movements, speaking parts, poetry, and heartfelt photo slide show. I couldn’t help but tear up many times and also praise God for the courage and confidence he gave Nathan during his performance. Just two years beforehand, I vividly remember Nathan being in tears out of stage fright. Now look at him! We’ve witnessed a total transformation!

After the graduation performance we headed to Organ Stop Pizza for dinner. Nana, Papa D, Grandma Sally, Aunt Linda, Uncle Jimmy, Cousin Laura, Kaydon, and Kasey all joined the party (which made it even more special)! The organist even played a set just for Kaydon and Nathan full of Star Wars and Indiana Jones music. They thought that was so cool! And the night wasn't complete without going for dessert to Bahama Bucks!
(Nana and Papa D)

(Grandma Sally)

(Aunt Linda and Uncle Jimmy)

(Our family...Nathan's biggest cheerleaders!)

Kindergarten is the most precious school year of a child’s life. Don’t you agree?

One on One Time, Celebrating Mothers Day 2009

Baylee’s class held a Mother’s Day tea today. They performed (sign language) to “What a Wonderful World”, wrote poems to share, and much more. It was a very dear, touching time to be one on one with my precious daughter, Baylee Rose Kempiak. She made me feel so special. Oh Lord, thank you for giving me the ability to be a mother!
(We're each holding tea cups we brought from home. The pink one I am holding was my Great Grandmothers who got that at her wedding from her husband, my Great Grandfather. The birdy cup Baylee is holding is precious to me too! It was my grandmother's and she'd let me use it everytime I was at her house, growing up.)

June 5th

Today would have been my brother’s 44th birthday. It’s a sad day. I’ve felt up in the air of what to do; how to celebrate, what traditions to create, and how to morn. Tonight the kids and I went to Cosmo’s dog park, just minutes from my home, a place he’d take my kids to every day! We had a quiet picnic (Mexican style since that was Johnny’s favorite) then sent off his homemade birthday cards to heaven with the help of some helium birthday balloons. He’s greatly missed. I wonder what birthdays are like in heaven.




Here's some photos from last year's 43rd birthday party at my house...

Introducing Jill and Micah Parker

Tonight I witnessed the beautiful wedding ceremony of Jill and Micah, a very sweet young couple that is so in love. Jill was a former student of mine, a total sweetheart. Her family means the world to me, so much that we’ve stayed in touch since she and her sister Jackie’s fourth grade year with me. Now both are married and one is a mommy!

Jill and Micah’s ceremony was in Gilbert at Villa Siena, an absolute gorgeous place to celebrate any wedding with a Tuscan Villa theme (you have to look at the site). It’s the best place around with fountains, green gardens, cobblestoned walk paths and columns, and a roaring’ fireplace as a backdrop. I’d get married there in a heartbeat!

I got very emotional watching this union. It only seemed like yesterday when Jill was in my class. I watched thinking how close (2 years) Baylee is from being in 4th grade, which is the year I had Jill. From Jill being in my class to now standing up to get married…wow, it’s like a flash! How can time go so quickly? Also, watching Jill and Tom, her dad dance got me to thinking of my niece Amanda and how she won’t have her daddy to dance with at her wedding, nor walk her down the isle. Ugh…the tears were flowing!

Sadly, my camera was dropped early on, leaving me with one two snapshots of the day and a mangled lense. The one of them saying their vows is real blurry. It was a distance shot that I cropped to see them.

To Jill and Micah, I know you two are going to have a fantastic marriage. Between the love you have for one another and for the Lord’s marriage covenant, nothing can separate you. I love you Jill and can’t wait to grow in love with your hubby! I am sad to see you move so far away but am excited how close this will bring you to one another.

Out of the Mouth's of Babes!

I went to bed last night with a heavy heart which then flowed into my morning. At various times I was in tears before 9AM, asking God to help me out of the "fog". Shortly after, my friend Suzi called and just prayed for me over the phone, not even calling for that specific reason. I regained composure from her sweet spirit then something else happened that caused me to fall back into the’ heavy heart syndrome’. Then, out of the mouth's of babes, Baylee came to me with a verse she had been working on in church (that I didn't know about) and read it to me. It stopped me dead in my tracks and it's a verse I keep repeating and finding comfort in all day! If you're having one of those days, as we all do from time to time, focus on these words that my seven year old sweetie ministered to me with...

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is not seen."
2 Corinthians 4:17

…enough said!

Thank you Baylee. I'm so in awe of how the Holy Spirit gave you that perfect verse for that exact moment. Keep listening and obeying Him!

The Difference a Year Makes

I'm awake and just feeling, "here", kind of "Eyoreish" today (that's for you Tina;)). One year ago today marks the day my brother moved in with us for the last time. I remember it vividly and think of all the plans/dreams we made together and the super time we had with him in our home, watching him play with the kids and make us all laugh. I'm not even sure why I am writing any of this today. I don't want people to feel sorry for me or even call/write. I guess I'm just finding a way to "vent" my overwhelming emotions and putting it out there so others can understand maybe what my state of mind/emotions are right now. Hopefully I will not hurt/offend anyone during this time of sadness. I’ll be back to “normal” shortly, I’m sure.
So...today seems to be the start of the countdown towards his ever-to-early death in July 2007.

Nathan is Growing Up!

Yesterday I registered my sweet boy, Nathan, for kindergarten. I can't believe it! Where is the time going? As we walked hand in hand into Edu-Prize's doors my eyes filled with tears but with his warm smile and total enthuiasm for the upcoming school experience, my emotions quickly changed. Nathan proudly signed his "student agreement" and boldly took it over to the Registrar patiently waiting. The only upcoming concern he had..."Where are the kindergarten bathrooms?" :)
Wow...in 5 months, I'll be walking him into those same doors but having to "leave him behind" (now that's the days the tears won't be able to be stopped). Nathan is growing up!