A "Gold Medal" Day

This week we got to attend the awards ceremony for Nate's Reading Olympics Program at school. He participated last year (in Kindergarten) and got a silver medal, but this year he went for, and got the gold. He was really great about reminding us that we needed extra reading time. He would come home from school and ask to read instead of asking to watch TV. Although it was challenging for us time wise it was very rewarding to get to spend extra time, often one on one, reading books he had chosen. We had to read 1200 minutes in 4 weeks to get the gold medal, and while Nate is learning to read, the books he likes best are often above his reading level, so this meant mom & dad had to commit to Nate's goal too. One of the greatest things, I think, about all of this is that when it was all said and done, Nate asked us one last special favor... could we come see him get his award. How can you say no to that? Dan took the day off work (but actually just ended up working from home - he never seems to get a real day off anymore) and I had an unusually hectic Friday but when the time came, we grabbed the camera and off we went! Nate was so happy to see us there & so proud of his accomplishment. The school mascot was there (Nate LOVES Whiskers), his teacher read of the names of the medal winners, they got to shake the principal's hand, walk through a tunnel, shake Whisker's hand and get their medal. It was his first "Gold Medal" and he was as happy as we were proud. We feel very blessed to to have such a great little boy to be our son!

Today I am grateful to have a son, and even more grateful that Nate the Great is my son. He's the best big brother, and a joy to our family. You'd be hard pressed to find a boy with a more caring, gentle heart. I love him for all that he is!