After the Enhancement...

Later the week of the enhancement ceremony, when Ian's school (among others in the area) were collecting donations for Millington families, I talked to Anya about the situation. I explained what had happened, reminding her of the storms, and asked how she would feel if she had to leave her house during the storms and came back to find all of her things ruined or gone. Being the tender-hearted girl she is, she burst into tears and said, "No! Don't tell me that!" I then asked how she would feel if another little girl who had lots of nice things and a safe house gave her some new clothes and dry things. She was excited about the idea -- she even volunteered one of her favorite outfits -- and she and I went to Walmart where she picked an outfit for a girl about her age and picked the color of the bath towels and cloths that we bought. Then, bags in hand, she helped me deliver them to Ian's school. I hope she remembers the experience -- I was very proud of my little girl.

Make-a-Wish Enhancement Ceremony

(From Clayton's journal entry 5/16/2010)

Two weeks ago we had terrible thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding. Some eighteen people died in Western Tennessee, with more in surrounding states. We were in bed one night when the air raid sirens went off, so we checked the news, and sure enough it was a tornado warning. Six times over the next two days we dragged the kids into the wash room (the only room in the house without an outside wall) to wait it out, most of that in the middle of the night. By the end they didn’t even wake up, we’d haul them in and out of bed and they’d stay asleep. One night I drove over the Kroger for something, and Highway 70 was blocked off. I went around, and in the Kroger parking lot was a group of gawkers staring at the completely flooded highway and the gas station across the street that was underwater. It was surreal. We later found out that stretches of I40 were closed off and that Nashville received worse flooding than here. Millington, about fifteen minutes north of us, had to evacuate thousands of people from their homes.

That Tuesday (two days later) we went to Tipton Rosemark Academy for our “enhancement ceremony” to receive Ian’s wish from the Make a Wish Foundation. The school had conducted a fundraiser for Ian’s wish, and when we arrived they had decked the school out in an ocean theme. They ushered us into the gym where we sat in the center of the floor, the students populated the benches, and some upper classmen performed skits and sang, presented Ian with a treasure box of toys and games, and read him a giant Nemo book they had put together. It was very sweet of them, but I was struck by the irony that their community had been devastated by floods and they were sending us to Sea World. We were very appreciative, but I’m afraid it didn’t show. So next week we’ll be going to San Antonio for Ian’s wish.

(From me)
The enhancement ceremony was amazing. The students at the school had planned and carried it out entirely. The school is a private, non-denominational Christian K-12 school, not a huge student body -- they all fit on the bleachers on one side of the gym with only a class or two on the floor. When we walked into the school, I was overwhelmed. There was blue butcher paper running the length of the entry way with brilliantly colored, student painted fish completely covering it.

Walking into the gym, I actually choked up. There were streamers, more student art, and blue and white balloons everywhere. The students (largely student body officers or senior class, I think, were in charge) had gone to such work! They had a bucket of treats for us and had us sit in the middle of the gym. They had and entire assembly planned, complete with a dance contest.

We met "Dorrie", "Marlin", "Squirt", and "Bruce" (students dressed in costumes made out of cardboard) from Finding Nemo.

Then, two students read a BIG book (again, all student creation) about Dorrie and Marlin and Squirt trying to find treasure.

When the book ended, the story was continued by our costumed friends, acting out the search for the treasure. They were, of course, hamming it up and Ian thought it was pretty funny. In the end, they found a treasure chest (totally covered in sequins and sparkles and glitter) with Ian's name on it. They brought it over and we helped him open it. It was full of games and toys and books (and an Ariel Barbie and coloring book for Anya, as well) all centered around a water theme.

Then, three students sang a song and as they sang, a 7 or 8 students rippled a blue sheet beside them. As the song continued, more huge jewel and glitter clad fish popped up from behind the sheet -- each with a word written on it:

YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED.

I was, of course, in tears. It was amazing to think that these students, who didn't even know us, had gone to such work to make another child happy. They had given so much -- not just monetarily, but of their time and talents as well. Truly a gift of the heart. And when I considered that there are people in their own community who no longer have a house or any possessions whatsoever, I felt selfish and a bit embarrassed to be the recipient of such generosity. I hope they realize that Ian really does appreciate it, that he did enjoy the assembly, and that he was excited...even if he wasn't responding like a typical kid.

Anya's Graduation

(From Clayton's journal entry dated 5/16/2010)
On Wednesday Anya had her last day of school and her preschool graduation, which we all attended and I filmed. It was very cute, they were all dressed up in caps and gowns and sang songs and each of them told why they are ready for kindergarten (Anya said that she was ready because she can pour her own juice). She has many friends at preschool but none of them are going to Donelson next year. Erin says every day when she drops Anya off there are several kids waiting to play with her, and when I picked her up the other day a number of kids insisted on waving and saying goodbye to her. At graduation she went around hugging her teachers and her friends. She is very bright and cheerful most of the time, exuberant and imaginative.

(From me)
So, she did it! She made it through two years of preschool -- sharing and taking turns and swinging and Macy and everything. Singleton was a great experience for her. She made friends and had SO MUCH FUN! She's really learned and grown the last two years -- it's amazing to even look back at her drawing and coloring from the beginning of this school year (when her hand got to tired to color a complete picture) to now (when she draws and labels and colors 3 or 4 pictures for me almost every day). Her teachers last year (and this year for the Friday literature class -- the same teachers) were fabulous! They have been at the center for 17 or 18 years and you can tell they love what they're doing. They really loved Anya and really understood her, which I can't say with nearly as much certainty about this years' teachers (who a month or so into school sent the wrong girl out to me when I came to pick up Anya). We will definitely miss Miss Colleen and Miss Yvonne, and they said repeatedly and tearfully how much they'll miss Anya and our family. They always remembered details about Ian and asked about him and really understood how close Anya is to him. They knew our family and they knew Anya. At graduation, Miss Colleen asked that if we were ever just driving by that we stop in and say hi. I think they really will miss her -- bounciness and all. They were the perfect teachers for her.

What did I tell you...?

With my track record for family Christmas letters, etc., no one should be surprised by the 7 month lapse in blog posts. Part of my problem is the intimidation of trying to recap the last half a year of our lives before I catch up to the present. (I'm not going to attempt it, by the way!) Finally, I've enlisted Clayton's help and, with his journal entries, we'll do the current stuff and then move backwards if we can!