Happy 10th Birthday Will!

Happy 10th Birthday Will. Wow! It seems like forever ago that we brought you home but then again, time sure has flown by. This past year has been especially crazy. With only about 30% of your support, we moved to Texas. I say 30% because there were parts of moving that interested you like having an upstairs and getting your own bedroom but the other 70% of you was pretty happy back in NWA. Although it was actually the second place you lived, Cincinnati being your first, NWA was the place you called your home. It was what you knew and where you loved. Your dad and I both know you well so we knew that moving would cause a few bruises but we just really felt like right now, Dallas is where we should be.
So in the past year, you have been busy. You had Mrs. Powell for 3rd grade and you loved her. She was a wonderful teacher who really made you feel comfortable to just be you. Your writing improved tremendously from 2nd grade maybe not because you gained so many new mechanics in her class but possibly because she encouraged and loved on your just in the right way to bring out the best and most creative parts of you. So, thank you to Mrs. Powell.
Now you have Mrs. Theos. She had an uphill battle with you when the year began because 1) you were in a new school, a totally new environment where you weren’t quite certain of yourself and 2) she wasn’t Mrs. Powell. Well, you are about 2 months in and although those first weeks were rough, you are rounding a corner and I think your path is looking clearer to you. Mrs. Theos is not Mrs. Powell. She is not as cuddly or lovey but she is going to be a teacher that challenges you and really develops you in ways no other teacher has. She is a no nonsense kind of teacher. Right now, you don’t exactly appreciate that but as your mother, I do. She is going to make you expect things from yourself. She is going to help make you great!
This summer you chose to take a break from soccer and try baseball. Unfortunately, it has been one of the hottest summers on record so the practices have been brutal. And honestly, although you can do anything you want to do Will Chism, athletics are just something that at this point, you have to work a little harder at because they are not quite as natural as academics or social types of activities. So you are not totally loving baseball because it is hot, time consuming, and quite frankly, hard for you. The first few weeks and even first couple of games, it was pretty apparent that you weren’t digging it but I think you are feeling more comfortable in a lot of areas of your life now and that is bleeding onto the baseball field. You are still learning every single game but you are playing ball now and seeming to enjoy it more and more each game:).
Will, this move has been the toughest on you. But we predicted that before we even committed to moving. We knew it would be hard on you but we also knew that you would find a way to work through it and be a stronger and more compassionate kid for it. And, you are beginning to do that. Three months in, your attitude is improving tremendously and therefore, your schoolwork is too. Your teacher is not always the enemy anymore, sometimes mommy is;). Your steps are lighter now. Your heart is open again. Your smile is genuine. I think you are beginning to understand that as long as you have your God and your family, you have your home. And that is the most important lesson you could have gained from this experience. It is also exactly what Daddy and I have been praying for you. We love you Will Chism, and cannot wait to see what other plans He has for you. Happy Birthday big guy!

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