Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Commencements

Commencements on Wednesday! Our youngest, Mac, will be an official high school graduate. How can that be? Time has flown. We are so proud of him and amazed that this is our kid! So here's a little bio.
In 1989 I was in a car accident. Six month old Jay and my mom were in the car too. At the hospital they wanted to do x-rays because I had hit my head. But beforehand they wanted to be sure I wasn't pregnant. And guess what? My mom told us we needed to watch more television. My kids would be fifteen months apart. Oy-vey.
Along came Mac on October 2. He was rather an ugly newborn. But he got cute fast. And he also got bad fast. He got beaten in every restaurant restroom from Northern Michigan to Alabama. It got to the point that when we'd ask him if he needed to go to the bathroom, he'd start crying.
He was not a good student in the early years being that he simply did not do his work. In first grade when I arrived for parent teacher conferences I held out my hand and said, "Hi, I'm Mac's mom." The teacher replied, "I wouldn't brag about that if I were you." True. I hated that woman.
Mac got written up for saying "Sandwich" to his teacher once. He explained he said "sandwich" because he wasn't allowed to swear. Apparently, the intent was clear anyway.
Mac got written up for picking up a peer and carrying them in the lunch line.
Mac got written up for throwing food at lunch.
Mac got written up for watching a fight and cheering on the fighters.
Mac tunneled into a snow drift and I got a call from the school to bring him all new clothing because he was soaked.
Mac erased answering machine messages from his school but forgot to erase the caller id.
Mac knocked over the Christmas tree as a toddler and then in an escape attempt; ran over top of the tree slicing his foot open. Had to be strapped to a backboard for stitches.
Mac climbed out of his car seat whilst in motion and fell backwards resulting in a "pinpoint puncture wound." He had to have his entire head wrapped like a Civil War hero.
Mac tried to open the back car door and jump out because he was mad at me.
Mac put on his brother's coat, unlocked the front door and walked out of the house while his Aunt Kathy and I watched in amazement. He was not quite two.
Mac had his own pronunciation of the English language that required an interpreter...
Puc=cup. Girdl=girl. Squirdl=squirrel. Tee Tee=Aunt Kathy. Boo=Aunt Amy. Jorn=Jordan. Etc.
Mac had a long talk with Jesus in middle school. After that...
Mac was on the honor roll and eventually became a member of the National Honor Society.
Mac played varsity football for two years, quitting when the coach told him to choose between football and a mission trip.
Mac was named a Scholar Athlete for outstanding performance both on the field and academically.
Mac was the youngest person to become a junior high ministry leader and has been a Fuel leader for two years.
Mac has been on mission trips to Thailand, Appalachia and Chicago.
Mac is one of the top ten graduating students in his high school. Look for him the the News Herald June 9.
Mac has been accepted to Albion College and Eastern Michigan University. He was offered a scholarship to play football at Albion despite not having played his senior year. He will attend Eastern and major in mathematics. He wants to be a middle school math teacher.
Mac will graduate as a member of the National Honor Society and listed among the Who's Who of American High School Students.
Not too shabby for an unplanned bad little boy, huh?

Psalm 25:12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

12 comments:

Margie said...

YOU didn't plan him, sister. But he was planned. ANd I am misty

Loveyou to both of you!!

Sara said...

now are you misty because of mac or because of your saturday clean-up gig? we love you to..

tina fabulous said...

i'm beginning to think he may have caused the car accident...

Sara said...

i think you're on to something there...

Pat said...

Someone get grandpa some kleenex - quick!

Margie said...

Sara, I don't clean up dog poop at my own house, I'll send Phyllis...

Amber Land said...

He was he cutest kid! Not that he's bad now, I remember him looking just like that.

John Cowart said...

Hi Sara,
Thanks for your kind comment on my site yesterday.

I know you're proud of Mac; they do fool us, don't they.

My father's name was Mac too. He was a master molder and some castings he made for NASA were left by astronauts on the surface of the moon. They are still there. Tell your Mac to aim high.

Jada's Gigi said...

What a cutie! and me thinks he favors his momma...I agree with margie..obviously Someone planned him...congratulations to you all..

MSU gal said...

Is that first pic from the pinpoint puncture wound? hey remember the time Mac knocked your Christmas tree down and then stepped on a glass ornament before anyone could get to him? Didn't he have to get stitches?

What about the time at the pool in Frankenmuth when I was at one end of the pool watching you take little Mac's life jacket off as you two were getting out and he turned and jumped right back in the water...over his head...long before he knew how to swim...I'll never forget you yelling "GET HIM!" which in mommy code means "save his life before I have a meltdown". I am really glad YOU made it through those early years.

Congratulations Mac. We love you and are very proud of you.

Sara said...

yes indeed; that is the post pinpoint puncture wound triage. i had almost forgotten the lifejacketless jump into the pool. this is why we don't have three children.

Mrs. Mac said...

Hi rises up from the ashes and sets his goals towards heaven! Amazing transformation!