Jerika 17th Birthday Week

Her Birthday last year was the sweet 16, but didn't turn out to be that sweet.  She wasn't going for a party, so nothing really happened.
This year was a no party year, but it ended up to be better than last and simple.

After school she went golfing with Tab and did really well.  Her golf score is keeping low and improving.  Great news!  We took her to dinner.  Texas Roadhouse where Grandma and Grandpa Phillips joined us.
Super great food and fun.
She received a bowl of icecream and got to sit on the saddle while they all yelled yeehaa.  Fun stuff.
It was family night so all the kids got balloon animals and Jerika got a cowgirl hat to wear.  Love it!
She is such a cute girl.

Later on in the evening friends started to show up.  I had enough cake and icecream for everyone, so they all ate and chatted.  There is a big swing outside in the front and they all of course took turns.

They hung around until 11:30.  I think it was a great evening for her and them.

The next day she had the opportunity to ride along and be golf partners with the principal of Davis High School.  Dee Burton.


He and she hit it off apparently and had a fantastic game and time together with the rest of their team.  They ended up winning....and having a great time.
That evening she came home and told me about her experience and said she was really nervous about going and golfing with him, but really had a great time.  She had asked him questions about him growing up, why he was the principle...and such.  I love that my kids aren't afraid of speaking with adults for the most part and can carry on a fairly normal conversation with others.
I listened and was impressed and then that was the end.
The next day, I recieved a phone call from the school.  It was Mr. Burton.  He had taken time out from his schedule {it's graduation week} to give me a call and let me know how special she was.  He said he had so much fun getting to know her and golfing with her.  That he hadn't had that much fun in a long time golfing and that she was just a joy.
He mentioned that she was a delight and someone special a few times and was impressed with who she was and how she handled things, behaved and her overall as a person.  He was very glad that he had the opportunity to meet her and had to let me know. He also mentioned that he had spoken with Mrs. Salvo {her golf coach and gym teacher} about the same things and that she had agreed with him.

He was kind of emotional about it....thinking now, that he is leaving the school this year and will not be the principle any longer.  I think this was a tender mercy for him to end on a very positive note, that he had something to do with the environment that she was in at school and that the kids turn out all right.
She mentioned that she asked him questions about his growing up and found out he had gone to Davis High and he told her a few stories which she really enjoyed.  I am not sure how many students actually take the time to find out about thier teachers or principals for that matter.  He probably doesn't get an opportunity that often to share his story and find someone that is interested in him alone and not ...what can I get out of or a roll of eyes, or cross words.  I am impressed that she listened to whatever was guiding her to ask, and that she did it, and was genuionly interested in what he had to say and who he was.

Jerika is a little sad that he will not be there next year, because she had a little connection with him.
She has an assignment to interview someone and she choose to go speak with him today to see if he would participate.  I really hope it happens...and she asked if it would be weird if she told him to call her if he ever needed someone to fill a spot in a golf group.

This was one of those proud parents moment.  Someone took time to make sure I knew something special about her.  I really was touched by his kindness and expressed my appreciation to him for calling.  It is interesting that we need that sometimes to know that all we are doing is good....and so good that others notice and take the time to report.
How lucky for us that we get our time with her and help her become better as a person and make a difference in others lives.
I maybe need to make note of others and when the time comes return the favor by reporting to someone else on their qualities I am impressed with.