As May draws to a close it feels like summer has arrived. We are getting less rain and temperatures have climbed into the high 80s and low 90s already. Vicki observed the other day that with all the end of the school year activities our lives feel like a tornado zone.
TRAGEDY
This has been a very busy time with graduation with the end of school and Ben's graduation, but before I get to that I must share some news that has left our entire community stunned and heartbroken.
Last Thursday I was shopping at the auto parts store when Kenny called and told me that our beloved next door neighbor, Jimmie Pitt, had been found after taking his own life. I stood there in the aisle in disbelief, hearing but hardly comprehending what I had just been told.
Mr. Jimmie was 83, and while showing a few signs of age, was still very physically fit. His obituary notes that many called him the Ambassador of Cross Plains, and I would agree with that. He and Mrs. Susanne are the most wonderful neighbors to have next door, always doing what they can for everyone around them. Mr. Jimmie was always helping out with projects to benefit others. There's no telling how many ramps he's had a hand in building around here. There have been several times over the years when he stopped what he was doing to help me do something. Three big projects that come to mind are the times he helped me replace my water heater, when he helped me install the storm door on the front of Pauline's house, and when he helped me build a ramp for Pauline when she broke her foot. The night we moved Pauline here from Camden he was one of the people who came over at midnight to help us unload the truck so I could return it on time. I could go on.
Lately Mr. Jimmie had been struggling with the stresses on life, but he had been getting help. We all thought he was showing signs of improvement. Now we're going to his funeral this afternoon.
GRADUATION
Ben's graduation was a week ago Saturday. The only thing to mar the happy occasion was that Ben's best friend, Corbin, was sick with allergies and a viral infection. He was not contagious so he came, but the poor boy received his diploma while running a 102° fever.
I think where we were actually the most proud of our son was two days earlier at the last chapel service of the school year. This was a testimony chapel and Ben told us a couple of days before that he had signed up to give his testimony. Ben chose to talk about losing his friend, Ethan, exactly nine years earlier. Those of you who have been reading our family news for the last decade will recall that Ethan was diagnosed with a Stage IV brain tumor when the boys were in the second grade. It was so hard to watch as he underwent all the treatments only to lose his battle with cancer at the age of nine. Like losing Mr. Jimmie today, our entire community was devastated.
I can't say that I've ever heard Ben speak much about Ethan's death in the last nine years. I've known he struggled with it, you don't see your boy visiting the grave of his childhood friend and not know that, but he has chosen to hold those feeling close to his vest all these years. So Vicki and I were very proud of him when he spoke in chapel, telling about how he felt and offering encouragement to those who deal with loss.
The next night we went to East Robertson's graduation. While it was interesting to see the kids he would have graduated with had we not moved to DA, we were there because Ethan's parents, Farris and Robin, received an honorary diploma for their son. Ben and Wil sat with Ethan's family.
I must say that East Robertson really honored him well. They left an empty seat with a cap and gown on the front row where Ethan would have sat, several of the students who spoke mentioned Ethan, and all in attendance gave a long standing ovation when Mrs. Cook presented Ethan's diploma. Kenny and Lori hosted a get together for Ethan at their house afterward. I think the entire evening meant a lot to Farris and Robin.
THE USED CAR LOT
We have added another car to our driveway. We've been debating for quite a while about our transportation needs and what sort of vehicle to get. We have five drivers now and our schedules are diverging more and more. Up until now the boys have gone most places together so they've done fine in the Jeep, but now that Ben has graduated and no longer has cross country training over the summer he and Nate will be going their separate ways more and more. Jenna's car, while reliable still, is probably going to need to be traded by the time she graduates from Trevecca in December, moves back home, and begins commuting to Hendersonville for nursing school. So, my wheeling and dealing wife found a 2008 Ford Edge that checked out as reliable and snapped it up. Years ago I knew this day was coming.
Joe
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Sunday, May 12, 2019
Graduation Countdown
Happy Mother's Day! And to my mom, happy 91st birthday!
We spent time with her this afternoon enjoying one of her favorites,
strawberry shortcake. Tonight we are enjoying a meal that Jenna has made
for Vicki.
Ben's school days are coming to a close. His last day of classes turned out to be Tuesday due to AP exams on Wednesday and Friday and Senior Chapel on Thursday. I seem to be getting ahead of myself so let's take things in order.
PROM
The prom was two weeks ago Friday (the 26th). Ben decided to ask a girl to the prom this year rather than go stag. Actually, he and two of his best friends all had dates so the three couples went together as a group.
Prom-posals are big at Davidson Academy, so Ben had to do more than just pluck up the courage to ask the girl, he felt the need to do something a little special. Ben decided to ask fellow senior and cross country teammate, Mei Lin, to the prom. Mei Lin had her senior project this semester so Ben decided to give her flowers and ask her to the prom right after she finished her presentation. Mei Lin had a lot of big things due that day so this was a nice way to cap everything off for her.
Moving forward to prom day (which was the day after Mom's surgery), Ben picked Mei Lin up and headed over to Two Rivers Park for pictures. This was a pretty big deal with three couples and their parents all there. Ben and Mei Lin made a cute couple, as did the other two couples.
After the photo shoot we all went out to eat, parents separately from the couples. Then we , as parents of seniors, were invited to the prom to see all the seniors introduced as they arrived. We then left there to help Jenna move her furniture into storage. Ben spent the night with friends afterwards and they went to see the new Avengers movie the next day. All in all, a great prom experience for a senior.
MAN OF THE HOUR
Ben has done well in tennis given his lack of experience. He's won a few and lost a few this season, but he really came through when it counted the other day. It's tournament time and the top two players on our team lost their matches, but our three and four had won so Ben's match was the deciding factor. Everyone except Ben knew that he had to win his match if we were going to advance. He said later he thought it a little odd that everyone had stayed to watch him play and was so happy when he won. It was a nail biter because he lost first his set 2-6, won second set 6-4 which forced it to a tiebreaker which he won 11-9! Now the team will get to play in the state tournament in Memphis on Wednesday!
BACCALAUREATE
Our baccalaureate service was last Sunday afternoon. Each year the parent of a graduating senior is usually asked to speak. This year it was Kenny since Wil is among the seniors. What was a complete surprise to me was when we sat in our pew Vicki looked at the program and said to me, "When did they ask you to give the benediction?" As it turned out, they had put me on the program but forgotten to ask me. I prayed at the end and all turned out well, but this gave us something to laugh about behind the scenes.
Kenny did a great job. He spoke with his normal unconventional but humorous style and ended up speaking as Papa Noel. He spoke to how he had gotten a Santa suit several years ago and enjoyed making local appearances. Around the same time our church was getting involved with the orphanage in Haiti that Jenna and Ben have both visited. Kenny went on an early trip to Haiti and was struck by the comment of one child there who said, "Papa Noel doesn't come to Haiti because we are too bad in Haiti." There was a gasp all across the congregation when Kenny said that. He has been to Haiti every December as Papa Noel since hearing those words which has enabled him to visit hundreds of Haitian children the last four years to give them a reason to smile and hear that Jesus does truly love them. He explained that the magic of that Santa suit somehow makes him a better person.
Kenny went on to say to our graduates that life is going to throw all sorts of things at them, good and bad. What's most important is finding ways to serve God, to put on that thing that makes you a better person. I looked around as Kenny spoke and noticed that he held everyone's attention, especially the seniors. Afterwards I heard people say he was the best baccalaureate speaker they had ever heard. My opinion may be biased, but I agree.
SENIOR RECOGNITION BANQUET
One of the best things Davidson Academy does is the Senior Recognition Banquet. This is an event where accolades are written for each student by a teacher. I have never written one since I mostly have 8th graders, but we are offered the chance to choose the students we would like to write about. These accolades are then read aloud at the banquet to all present--seniors, family, and faculty--while the student is standing there to hear what may be among the most encouraging and inspiring words they will ever hear about themselves. I go home each year having thoroughly enjoyed the spirit of the evening.
Ben's cross country coach, Michelle Toney, chose to write about Ben and I would like to end by sharing what she wrote.
SENIOR CHAPEL
As I mentioned in my opening, our Senior Chapel was Thursday. This service amounts to a passing of the torch ceremony in which the seniors come silently on stage, mostly in pairs, carrying candles. They are met by juniors who take the candles from them and then remain as the seniors leave the stage. Ben and his future roommate, Ryan, got a chuckle when they did a chest bump before walking off stage. Add a song, a prayer by one of our parents, and a 30 minutes slide show of the seniors' DA experience and we have a really moving service.
So there you have it, all the fun things going on as Ben winds down his senior year. He has one more AP exam to go and then graduation is this coming Saturday. I will miss seeing his form lumbering down the hall of the school next year.
Joe
Ben's school days are coming to a close. His last day of classes turned out to be Tuesday due to AP exams on Wednesday and Friday and Senior Chapel on Thursday. I seem to be getting ahead of myself so let's take things in order.
PROM
The prom was two weeks ago Friday (the 26th). Ben decided to ask a girl to the prom this year rather than go stag. Actually, he and two of his best friends all had dates so the three couples went together as a group.
Prom-posals are big at Davidson Academy, so Ben had to do more than just pluck up the courage to ask the girl, he felt the need to do something a little special. Ben decided to ask fellow senior and cross country teammate, Mei Lin, to the prom. Mei Lin had her senior project this semester so Ben decided to give her flowers and ask her to the prom right after she finished her presentation. Mei Lin had a lot of big things due that day so this was a nice way to cap everything off for her.
Moving forward to prom day (which was the day after Mom's surgery), Ben picked Mei Lin up and headed over to Two Rivers Park for pictures. This was a pretty big deal with three couples and their parents all there. Ben and Mei Lin made a cute couple, as did the other two couples.
After the photo shoot we all went out to eat, parents separately from the couples. Then we , as parents of seniors, were invited to the prom to see all the seniors introduced as they arrived. We then left there to help Jenna move her furniture into storage. Ben spent the night with friends afterwards and they went to see the new Avengers movie the next day. All in all, a great prom experience for a senior.
MAN OF THE HOUR
Ben has done well in tennis given his lack of experience. He's won a few and lost a few this season, but he really came through when it counted the other day. It's tournament time and the top two players on our team lost their matches, but our three and four had won so Ben's match was the deciding factor. Everyone except Ben knew that he had to win his match if we were going to advance. He said later he thought it a little odd that everyone had stayed to watch him play and was so happy when he won. It was a nail biter because he lost first his set 2-6, won second set 6-4 which forced it to a tiebreaker which he won 11-9! Now the team will get to play in the state tournament in Memphis on Wednesday!
BACCALAUREATE
Our baccalaureate service was last Sunday afternoon. Each year the parent of a graduating senior is usually asked to speak. This year it was Kenny since Wil is among the seniors. What was a complete surprise to me was when we sat in our pew Vicki looked at the program and said to me, "When did they ask you to give the benediction?" As it turned out, they had put me on the program but forgotten to ask me. I prayed at the end and all turned out well, but this gave us something to laugh about behind the scenes.
Kenny did a great job. He spoke with his normal unconventional but humorous style and ended up speaking as Papa Noel. He spoke to how he had gotten a Santa suit several years ago and enjoyed making local appearances. Around the same time our church was getting involved with the orphanage in Haiti that Jenna and Ben have both visited. Kenny went on an early trip to Haiti and was struck by the comment of one child there who said, "Papa Noel doesn't come to Haiti because we are too bad in Haiti." There was a gasp all across the congregation when Kenny said that. He has been to Haiti every December as Papa Noel since hearing those words which has enabled him to visit hundreds of Haitian children the last four years to give them a reason to smile and hear that Jesus does truly love them. He explained that the magic of that Santa suit somehow makes him a better person.
Kenny went on to say to our graduates that life is going to throw all sorts of things at them, good and bad. What's most important is finding ways to serve God, to put on that thing that makes you a better person. I looked around as Kenny spoke and noticed that he held everyone's attention, especially the seniors. Afterwards I heard people say he was the best baccalaureate speaker they had ever heard. My opinion may be biased, but I agree.
SENIOR RECOGNITION BANQUET
One of the best things Davidson Academy does is the Senior Recognition Banquet. This is an event where accolades are written for each student by a teacher. I have never written one since I mostly have 8th graders, but we are offered the chance to choose the students we would like to write about. These accolades are then read aloud at the banquet to all present--seniors, family, and faculty--while the student is standing there to hear what may be among the most encouraging and inspiring words they will ever hear about themselves. I go home each year having thoroughly enjoyed the spirit of the evening.
Ben's cross country coach, Michelle Toney, chose to write about Ben and I would like to end by sharing what she wrote.
I first met Ben when he came to the first day of cross-country conditioning nearly three years ago. Ben joined the team having never ran before, I am sure by the influence of his friends. Ben quickly surprised me by his work ethic. His ability to push past pain and accomplish his goal is inspiring. Ben always showed determination during practice and races. Ben impressed me most during speed workouts. His ability to hit his goal time every repeat was incredible. He was determined to not give up. He was determined to not give up. He set the mark for others on his team. Ben is a true leader by example through his attitude, work ethic, and devotion to his team.
Ben Swann is a hard worker. He is determined, goal-oriented, and driven. Ben is a natural leader. Ben is built to be a leader due to his optimistic attitude and tenacious work ethic. He owned his responsibilities and has a tenacious attitude when it comes to personal success. He showed perseverance, dedication, and accountability that many others lack. Ben demonstrates leadership and responsibility in many ways. Ben never fails to fulfill his responsibilities, and he is always ready to work hard and give 100% of his effort. Ben carries himself with grace and shows others grace at all times. He is accepting, encouraging, supportive, and compassionate toward others, mainly due to his faith in Christ. Ben uses his faith in Christ to live out compassion, joy, and kindness daily. Ben has a servant's heart. Ben can be found helping others in many ways through acts of service. To know Ben is to see Christ. Ben is an inspiration and encouragement to those around him. There is no doubt that God has planned great things for him ahead.
SENIOR CHAPEL
As I mentioned in my opening, our Senior Chapel was Thursday. This service amounts to a passing of the torch ceremony in which the seniors come silently on stage, mostly in pairs, carrying candles. They are met by juniors who take the candles from them and then remain as the seniors leave the stage. Ben and his future roommate, Ryan, got a chuckle when they did a chest bump before walking off stage. Add a song, a prayer by one of our parents, and a 30 minutes slide show of the seniors' DA experience and we have a really moving service.
So there you have it, all the fun things going on as Ben winds down his senior year. He has one more AP exam to go and then graduation is this coming Saturday. I will miss seeing his form lumbering down the hall of the school next year.
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Broken Hip
I had meant to send this out sooner but life has been crazy on our end.
There is, of course, all the activities for graduating seniors in
addition to all the normal end of the school year busyness which has
kept us hopping. Jenna has moved back home from college as well. Sadly, I
must also report that Mom has broken her hip.
We got a call on Wednesday night a couple of weeks ago (the 24th) letting us know Mom had fallen and was being taken by ambulance to the hospital. Vicki and I met her in the ER. She wasn't in much pain then. The X-ray revealed that her right femur was broken just below the ball near the top of the bone. She had partial hip replacement surgery the next day.
Mom did well in surgery and the initial recovery, but the rebound since then has been slow. Last Monday (the 29th) she was moved to a local nursing home for therapy, and we suspect it's going to be a long, slow road from here.
As recently as Monday I was saying that Mom was not doing well. She really wasn't in a lot of pain, though I know she had some. Mostly, she was just weak and confused. She had been dealing with some confusion before this happened, but it appeared to us that the anesthesia had left her in a bit of a fog. We were getting very discouraged.
Tuesday, the fog seemed to be lifting. Since then she has been more like her old self. Sure, there's still a bit of confusion, but she is recalling and retaining more and able to keep track of what's going on better. This is good because she needs to be able to focus on her therapy goals for a chance of returning to her apartment.
So, we are far more encouraged about Mom's outlook than we were just a few days ago. Still, we would appreciate your prayers. And if you want to reply with some well wishes I will be glad to pass them along. Her 91st birthday is this Sunday.
I will follow up soon with a run down of all of Ben's senior events here in the last couple of weeks.
Joe
We got a call on Wednesday night a couple of weeks ago (the 24th) letting us know Mom had fallen and was being taken by ambulance to the hospital. Vicki and I met her in the ER. She wasn't in much pain then. The X-ray revealed that her right femur was broken just below the ball near the top of the bone. She had partial hip replacement surgery the next day.
Mom did well in surgery and the initial recovery, but the rebound since then has been slow. Last Monday (the 29th) she was moved to a local nursing home for therapy, and we suspect it's going to be a long, slow road from here.
As recently as Monday I was saying that Mom was not doing well. She really wasn't in a lot of pain, though I know she had some. Mostly, she was just weak and confused. She had been dealing with some confusion before this happened, but it appeared to us that the anesthesia had left her in a bit of a fog. We were getting very discouraged.
Tuesday, the fog seemed to be lifting. Since then she has been more like her old self. Sure, there's still a bit of confusion, but she is recalling and retaining more and able to keep track of what's going on better. This is good because she needs to be able to focus on her therapy goals for a chance of returning to her apartment.
So, we are far more encouraged about Mom's outlook than we were just a few days ago. Still, we would appreciate your prayers. And if you want to reply with some well wishes I will be glad to pass them along. Her 91st birthday is this Sunday.
I will follow up soon with a run down of all of Ben's senior events here in the last couple of weeks.
Joe
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