Zach Ewen my youngest son, is a Senior at JRHS.

Hey there! It’s Terrific Tuesday again– how’s everything in your neck of the woods?

Lord willing and the creek don’t rise– my oh, my I will get to walk across the soccer field tonight with my son Zach. It will be the only time to do it with four kids as none of the others played sports through the Senior  year and the baby is “arts girl.” Tonight is Senior night. I am so happy I cannot say how much I am delighted. Yet– the end is so close and I know what it brings. This is my third child to graduate. As the old rock song goes, “We shall never pass this way again.”

On Friday I spent the day with him in Washington, DC and it will always be a highlight of my life. He was such a wild little boy.  We used two gates to keep him in his room at night when he was a toddler. He could vault out of a baby bed. He was like a caged tiger pacing around in there shaking the gates at 2 a.m. saying, “Wet me outta here.”  Preschool was boring to him and well he got into a lot of  things.  Some even suggested he was hyperactive.  He had two brushes with death in hospitals and  I just hoped he’d survive to adult hood. Once he got to real school and he learned so fast, the edge came off and the acceleration began. He wanted me to explain how the engine of a car worked. I had no idea.

In middle school he began to get into a lot of stuff again. I worried, but stayed on him like a duck on a June Bug. Want to keep a tween in line? Make him or her spend the  entire weekend with you and your spouse. Sitting on the couch between you, eating dinner at the table with you, doing things with you. Things like cleaning out barns, cleaning up the house, no treats, no cell phone, no Facebook,  just being with his parents.  Sticking with the whole week end made an impact.  It cured him quickly.

He has grown into a fine young man. He, like his Momma and Granddaddy Jack,  inherited the gift of gab and good sense of humor. We are pretty funny, at least have always thought so!  None of us ever met a stranger. At least as long as any of us is in a great mood. If we are in a bad mood, we are stinkers.

He was a Congressional Page last summer for Rep. Bob Goodlatte. In the last page class in history as it was eliminated.   Zach came back a different person. Always of a good heart and kind to his fellow man, he came back wanting to make a difference. He says he wants to be a vet, but I think the Lord has more in store for him. He didn’t play football this year after three years–one JV, two on varsity. He scored 74 points with his foot in two years on varsity and I have all the box scores from the two years, too. No matter. He approached his senior year on his own terms whether I liked it or not. No senior night in football for Mom. His choice. Good choice, son. He went to Japan with the Dynex exchange instead. There he met Shizuru who came to the US and stayed with us. Another wonderful life event. Shizuru rocked! The world from a different point of view agreed with him.

Shizuru and Zach at the end of the trail.

I believe in the days of texting and non face time, his public speaking skills will make him shine. He will be an exception rather than a rule. Last Sunday  a week ago, he preached at church. Last night he called  one of the men he spoke about. I helped him search the fellow out. (I am still smug about locating the guy when when no one else could.)

Senior night for me will be the opportunity to walk with a little boy grown into a man. Oh, the places he will go. Tonight is the beginning of the journey. The last home soccer game, the last high school sport. His future awaits. My husband and  I get to walk with him tonight. My cup runneth over!

See ya next week!