Sliding Day...

Cooper has spent the week at baseball camp at Millsaps, which he LOVES...but what he may love the most is the sliding.  Such a fun afternoon for these little guys...and a miserable afternoon for us parents (it was SO hot)!!!  But according to Coach Page, the two best days of the year are Christmas day and sliding day.  Not sure I totally agree with him, but after seeing the smiles on these faces today, he may be right.

Jesus Is In Her Heart...

We love Anna Lauren dearly, but she has her moments and is not always the easiest child to parent.  About 6 months ago, I was beginning to get to a breaking point with her and decided I just really needed to pray for God to work in her little heart.  Some of the struggles we were having begin to get easier and a couple weeks ago she asked Jesus into her heart during Vacation Bible School.  This morning she walked down the aisle and made her public profession of faith and will be baptized.  More than anything I want her to be as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside.  I think that "pretty on the inside" starts with having Jesus in your heart, and I look forward to watching her grow as a Christian. Today Matt and I are not only proud of our Anna Lauren, but we are thankful that He heard the prayers and did indeed work in her little heart.  God is good!!!

In our opinion, the most important decision our children will ever make.  We are proud, and we are so thankful she now has Jesus in her heart!!!

These sweet friends of hers have been right by her side...so much that Emmy was the only one that knew she had accepted Jesus into her heart during Bible School and neither of them said a word for several days (those stinkers)...

What a wonderful day celebrating her decision, and we look forward to her baptism...

Sam's White Coat Ceremony...

I flew to Miami last Friday to spend a few days with our favorite big girl.  I went in total "mom" mode so it wasn't the trip you may expect when you hear Miami.  Not sure I even saw the beach while I was there...ha ha!  It was like a said, a mom trip...we grocery shopped, I cooked enough food to hopefully get her through these last few weeks of school, did a little laundry, got her a new car, and a dress for her white coat ceremony.  Speaking of white coat, that was the main reason for me to go...

On Monday night, she had her white coat ceremony...

Jokingly (maybe), I told her I deserved at least one sleeve of this white coat.  Being her biggest cheerleader can be pretty hard and especially when you are cheering from 14 hours away.  But all jokes aside, I could not be more proud of Sam.  She has worked so hard the past year and a half...

Sam with her two roommates...Joey and Michelle...

So so glad I was able to be there with her on this special night...

Sam with her brother and mom...

When we were in Miami in December we met Nicole, but for whatever reason, I don't think I took any pictures the night we met her.  She and Sam have become good friends in PT school and Nicole may just send me a text from time to time to tattle on Sam...ha ha!  These girls are both so smart and determined to always do their best, and I am proud of both of them!

Sam with her "moms"...yes, this is somewhat of an unusual situation.  But...it seems to work for all of us.  I truly feel God had a plan when I told him I was done having children, and He said no you are not...you have a "mom" role to play in Sam's life.  And now that I have "accepted" that role I cannot imagine not having Sam in our family.

Cannot believe she is half way to being Dr. Perez...

I think what I loved the most about this night was finally being able to put faces with names.  She talks about her classmates all the time...I feel like I know many of them, but I was glad to finally see some names and faces.

Wish it wasn't blurred, but I still think a cool picture of them walking in with their coats over their arms.

Almost their turn...love seeing the smiles, the laughs, the friendships...

Your "big" coats you...their "big" is someone in the class ahead of them that mentors them throughout their 3 years of PT school.

Sam's big, Sam, and Dr. Drevyn...

Sam loves this professor so much, and I'm a big fan of her too as she is helping Sam work out a contract with UMMC so she can do a clinical here in Jackson with us!

I hear about this boy, Nikhil, often...because of their last names, they are often grouped together as lab partners.  I'm pretty sure he keeps her laughing...there is a always a "story" when she has been with Nikhil.

The two pretty Perez girls...

University of Miami PT Class of 2018

Pretty sure Dr. A may just be their most favorite professor...if I have heard her name once, I have heard it 10,000 times...

Sam and her friend, Davide...

So thankful she has this sweet big who has "mentored" her along the way...there is nothing easy about PT school and any little bit of help/advice goes a long way.

Sam and Steven...like I said, so fun to put a face with these names I hear all the time.

And now Sam has a "little".  After the ceremony we went to check on her because she had an anatomy test that day and was anxiously awaiting her grade.

As bad as I missed Matt, Anna Lauren, and Cooper, it is never easy to leave Sam or watch her leave us.  But...she is doing great, and we coulnd't be more proud of her!!!  I'm not going to lie though...we are hoping in the end, she is NOT 14 hours away!