Since 1993

An era has ended, I am no longer a parent at West End Elementary School. When Aaron started in the fall 0f 1993 I was pregnant with Carrie. Who knew that I would continue to take kids to the neighborhood school for 17 years.

The school is half mile from our house, and at the beginning and end of the school year I would walk the kids to school. The traffic is a nightmare when school starts, so we would walk. I pushed a stroller to West End for many years. It was hard (several hills), but a good time to enjoy the fresh air & get some exercise before the school day began. We didn't walk as frequently as kids' backpacks grew heavier & band instruments were in the mix. That is until KATE.

Kate changed our lives! Once all the other kids were out of elementary school Kate & I walked most days to school. It was my time with her and then the jaunt home was exercise & prayer time for me.

Over my years at West End I drove on many field trips, sent stuff for parties, helped at fall festival, baked cupcakes, sent money for various items, helped kids sell gift wrap, ate lunch with the kids, volunteered at the book fair, and on & on. I was never a room mother & never served on the PTO.

Kate at 6th grade graduation.

Kate with Mrs. Gentry, her homeroom teacher in 6th grade. Aaron, Alyssa & Carrie also had Mrs. Gentry at some point at West End.

Kate with the school counselor, Amy Morgan. Amy's time at West End was the same as Kate - kindergarten through 6th grade. She is leaving due to budget cuts in the system. Kate loved Mrs. Morgan!

Kate with Ms. Maxine the crossing guard. She was there every morning to get Kate safely across the street.

Last day of elementary school.

For 17 years I have made it a point to be at home at 3 pm when my kids got off the bus. Now hearing the bus pass the house will not be a big deal. There are bus stories in my past - like when one of the kids that didn't get off when they were supposed to!!

All my kids had the same kindergarten teacher, Jackie Mull. She is still at the school. Most other teachers have retired that were there when Aaron began in 1993. They have had great teaching at West End. The school is much larger and more diverse than when we began. It's been a good run, but my time there is over! Kate now moves to middle school & Randy's in charge. He could retire now, but promises to stay and see Kate through 7th & 8th grade at Rome Middle School.

Kate's new school - RMS!

Right now I'm rejoicing at the end of the era. I may feel differently when the school year rolls around & I don't have anyone at West End!

Mother's Day Weekend

Graduation at Berry was on the lawn south of Evans Hall. This was due to the storms that ravaged the campus a week earlier. There were over 500 trees that came down on campus. The fact graduation was held outside was remarkable. Typically graduation is sad for me, as I watch my "kids" leave Berry & Rome. This year we have several that have taken jobs in Rome!!

Rachel Stewart has been at Calvary since her first week at Berry. She has led DNow, helped Wednesday youth activities, accountability groups on Friday mornings at Chick-fil-A & played the piano for the choir. She is wonderful and we are glad she has a job teaching math at Model High School for next year. Her sister Rebecca is also at Berry, so we get two Stewart girls!!

The Nobles family with Rachel.

Mother's Day is another typical Sunday for us. Church, then I cook lunch. The thought of going to a restaurant and WAITING forever to be seated does not appeal. Randy's mom came for lunch and brought her wonderful deviled eggs (Randy hates them!), and a coconut cake. The Stewart girls also came for lunch since they are both in Rome for the summer.

Kate suggested we go to the strawberry farm that afternoon, which she told me we did last Mother's Day! The berries are plentiful, red and sweet. We picked for 10 minutes and had 3 buckets full!

Carrie sampling in the field!

Kate with her bucket of berries! It was a beautiful day.

My friend Loretta and her mom, who we call Mama came along to pick too. Loretta used to babysit Aaron & Alyssa when they were babies. She even kept them overnight when they were little so that Randy & I could go whitewater rafting with friends. Loretta moved to Kentucky the year Kate was born, but her mom lives in Rome. She was here for Mother's Day, and they weren't berry pickin' with us. The kids call Loretta their fairy godmother. She stills spoils them rotten!

Loretta & her mom, Faye.

The highlight of the strawberry farm is the ice cream they serve. I think its the only reason the kids will go & pick berries!

Resting after our ice cream treat!

Big surprise this Mother's Day. The kids got together (Aaron's idea!), and had pictures made. Dixi Burnett took the pictures at Winshape Retreat. You can see the pictures here. They are wonderful, and I was very surprised.

The card was a by product of the pictures. The grandparents & Ms. Loretta all got cards too.

Kate's 2nd Triathalon

Last year Kate participated in a tri-athalon. It was hard, and I didn't anticipate her doing it again. When the 'Tri for the Kids' info came out, she wanted to sign up. I told her she had to train. The swim leg is the easy part for her, she trains regularly with Three Rivers Swim Club. On distance days they often swim 5000 yards or more. She did more training this year, and felt better about her performance. I'm proud of her participating in such a feat.

Caroline, Kate & Sarah before the race. They are swim club friends.

Kate was the first one out of the pool (100 yards, no biggie for her) in her age group, so she was on the bike and ready to go. The bike ride was 5 miles.

Kate coming into the stadium after her mile run. She is still a slow runner, but improved her time from last year.

She has aspirations to do another in June. Way to go Kate!