Gracie's Accomplishments

"Did that just happen?" Should be the title of this picture. Gracie was playing in her last softball game with Mimi and Pop Pop in town watching her game. She was playing 2nd base, a big promotion from right field. And they were winning - yeah! But then out of the blue a girl hit a grounder that bounced into Gracie's glove, then out, then in again! She had this look of, "oh crap what do I do?!?" on her face, but then she sprang into action and got the runner out at second. She did great! She was trying to get me to guess this morning if she had finished her milk by covering up her cup and was amazed that I could always tell. I told her, "honey it is all over your face, I don't have to look at the cup." She cannot disguise her feelings at all - and why should she? But that day on the softball field it was clear to all that she was amazed with her ability! It was the first time all season she had made any kind of play, much less what the coach called, "the best play of the season!" Go girl!

I am really behind with this, but I wanted to let you all know all the wonderful things Gracie has to be proud of as her 3rd grade year has come to a close. She did ok in school and is still not madly in love with school. But she made honor roll all year none the less and we are praying that she will find something that will excite her about school. This year was the first year that you had to be invited to the awards ceremony. Her teacher forgot to send home the invitations, but did send the note that said, "award ceremony invitations were sent home today. If you did not get one, you will stay in the classroom with me." So we thought Gracie wasn't invited and had a talk about reality and that you won't always be recognized. But the next day she came home with the invite.

At the ceremony she got certificates for honor roll and AR points etc. But she really wanted the art award. Every year she wants it. From talking to some other parents, I think this is the most coveted award. Well, this year she won it! It was precious to look at her face when they called her name. I wanted to cry because I knew how happy she was. This is her face when they called her name:

But I was most proud when we went back to the classroom. Her teacher had made awards for every child based on their personality. Some were funny like the Drama Queen and King, and the Comedian, and some were academic like Book Worm, Future Historian or Future Librarian. They were all very accurate and she had clearly put some serious thought into them. So I was curious to see what Gracie would be identified as. I could have agreed that she was the Drama Queen, or the Social Butterfly, or the Chatty Cathy, but she was given the Most Compassionate! I did cry at that one! She really is compassionate, but to be recognized for something so important I was so proud. We hung her art award on the wall in our "kitchen art gallery" and hung her AR medal there with it and she has a trophy for softball and a ribbon for dance, but that yellow paper is more valuable to me than all of them. We told her of all the awards that were given in all the end of year festivities, that is the one we would most desire for her to be given. I would much rather have the most compassionate child than the valedictorian any day. (of course, the valedictorian could be compassionate too...)

We went camping after school got out at Cascade Lake in NC with Mom, Dad and Stephanie. It was a rainy trip, but fun anyway. On Saturday nights at Cascade Lake they have a beach party complete with kareoke. Well, Gracie had decided she wanted to do it. And her Aunt Stephanie, who has spent some time where there is plenty of kareoke, kept saying, "it is NEVER a good idea to sing kareoke Gracie. I promise you!" Well, she was determined and wanted me to stand with her. Of course, she may be compassionate, but she is NOT patient. She went to the selection book and found nothing she liked except Tina Turner, Better Be Good to Me (that's my girl!). I thought, ok whatever. So we went. Oh it was horindous! I never realized how many words are in that song. I always knew Tina was a genius, but jeez, that is a hard song! She was mortified and cried and cried after. She really did bomb. The ever compassionate Aunt Stephanie quickly reminded her that this is a valuable lesson learned and thank God it was only in front of the Cascade Lake crowd and not in front of her classmates, "kareoke is NEVER a good idea." Lesson learned. The sad thing is after she finished several little girls sang Taylor Swift and Hannah Montana. She just didn't take the time to really look through the selections. God love her! Here is her moment in the Cascade Lake spotlight:

Just this last weekend she had her dance recital. She has really enjoyed her little jazz class. Gracie really loves music. Her iPod is her favorite "toy" and she will spend hours in her room just dancing and singing. So dance is a perfect fit for her. Until you throw the giant audience in the picture! She is a shy one! I know it is hard to believe, but she is not comfortable on stage. She did really well. This is the video. I am not sure if you can make it bigger, it is hard to see her in the tiny one. She is in the middle group, second row in green.