Honors and Awards

The end of the school year always brings many honors ceremonies to represent the achievements of the past year.

The past 2 weeks we have attended these ceremonies.

Many kids=Many ceremonies 

First up was Sam's team winning the U13 Academy Cup for their division. TALENTED group of boys!

Next up were the sports awards at Julia's school.

Their team was honored in a grand way with music, balloons floating down, yellow roses for the team and LOTS of applause as they made school history as the first girls soccer team to win the State Title.

Julia received an All-Region award as well.

 The next day was Academic Honors Day for Julia where she received an English, Spanish and Art award.

Then the Littles:

Xin and Jaida both won Star Student awards for their class.

This was an award sponsored by Chick-fil-a where 1 child from each class was chosen. They were chosen on the characteristics Chick-fil-a looks for in their employees-character, kindness, dependability,hard-working, a good friend, etc. 

They had a ceremony and dinner at our local Chick-fil-a.

I was so proud of them for winning an award regarding character!

Today was Honors Day at their school.

Up first was the First Grade and Miss Jaida Ruth.

Jaida won Distinguished Scholar for all A's

Outstanding Conduct

Sign Language Club Member

Highest AR (accelerated reader) points in her class

IB Profile Learner-a character award that represents the character qualities the school strives for

Mr Xin and the 2nd Grade class went next.

Xin won Distinguished Scholar for all A's

and Outstanding Conduct

Not to leave little Miss Lulu out of this post....

She wins the award for the Best Adorned Head at bedtime!

Yes, I found her sound asleep like this.

Now, I think all of these awards are AWESOME!  I am oh so VERY proud of all my children for all their hard work and accomplishments!

BUT.....

These are earthy awards.

These really don't last through eternity.

It is the moments I see in my childrens' lives that don't hold a "prize" that I hold near and dear to my heart and I know God smiles down upon.

Moments like a brother sharing his last piece of candy with a little sister, kindness shown to a special needs child in class, a parent thanking me for my child's kindness to her child and what it means to them, my child helping up an opponent on the sports field, a big brother hugging and kissing his smallest sister for no reason other than he adores her- in front of his team, a daughter embracing an orphan, a son cleaning the kitchen and readying his siblings for bed without being asked- for a very tired Mama, tears shed over little people that have no families of their own, a thoughtful gesture towards a stranger, a door held for a lady by a very small boy without being asked, money given out of a piggy bank for a charity, cakes being baked to fund orphans' surgeries, and so many, many more little seemingly unimportant moments that garner no worldly recognition but yet mean so very much eternally. Small kindness that touch hearts and lives in small ways and big ways. But bear no certificate or trophy or medal. I hope my children one day realize and see just how much these things of the heart truly do matter.

The world may not give them an award but I know these things do not go unnoticed . 

My greatest goal as a mother is to teach my kids to change their little corner of the world, change it in a way that carries into eternity and is laid at the feet of their King when they get to heaven!

I hope I tell them enough. 

Tell them that I am so very proud of their hearts.

In a world that thrives on pushing our children to be ultra competitive, it is so easy to get caught up in the awards and honors.

I hope I tell them enough.

Tell them that I am so very,very proud of their hearts!