Another Deaton Chapter closes Saturday!

As C.S. Lewis says, "You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream."  I'm not sure about you all, but by the time my Senior year rolled around, I was over school.  It sort of feels like this has happened with our two oldest as well.  Karson's Senior year was COVID filled so everything seemed ambivalent in a way.  You were happy it was over but sad you missed so many of the fun, exciting things about your Senior year.  However, now that Isaac's "normal" Senior year has come and gone, the theme is the same - ambivalent.  I guess that's part of growing up and launching into adulthood.  You leave the past behind and dream new dreams and have new goals.

Today, he and his classmates will have their Senior picnic and attend a mandatory graduation meeting.  Tomorrow, they will practice their actual walk which is scheduled at WKU on Saturday at Noon.  Thursday will also be special because all the graduates get to return to their feeder school for a Grad Walk.  It will be extra special for Isaac this year because our sweet little niece, Mae Kathryn, is a first grade Panther at Plano.

     

Rather, Vincent, Lasala, Victery, Kirk, Graupner...

    

and the late Mr. Coleman. All made such a positive impact on Isaac during those early, formidable years.  We're forever grateful to these educators along with many others including Ms. Stephanski, Mr. Frasier, Mr. Smith, and Ms. Vincent and his 212 teacher Ms. Sheffield.

 

We celebrated our Senior last Saturday with a brunch.  I've found brunches to be the easiest for us to host.  I like brunch food, and it's done early enough in the day to not conflict with much (which is nice).

Isaac is surrounded by many supporters and is very loved.  One of my favorite conversations on Saturday was with his English teacher Mr. Corbin.  He told me about their conversations and his respect for Isaac and his opinions.    I know (or hope) his teachers think fondly of him, but the way Mr. Corbin spoke about him made me feel very confident about Isaac's next chapter.  He also told me that Isaac could reach out to him anytime he needed him.  

 

 

I had ordered way too many supplies for Karson's graduation party but thankfully had hung onto them and was able to use them again.  AND, I still have enough for when Miles graduates in 2025.  Nothing like over planning.  I did, however, make notes this year to not over-buy for his (future) event.  No vero planning for me next time - third time is a charm, right?!?

Saturday morning brought pouring rain which literally made what happened next EXTRA fun!  I had pre-ordered Chick Fil A Minis from the new Nashville Road location because I had also pre-ordered donut holes from Krispy Kreme which is in close proximity.  I needed to make a quick, last minute run to Kroger and sent Matt to collect the other items.  This was all happening around 8:45, party scheduled to begin at 10.  After running into Kroger, grabbing a few quick things, and bolting back to the car, I had a missed call from Matt.  I called him back.  He had picked up the donuts but had concerns about Chick Fil A.  He asked me if it was open and then said the CFA parking lot was totally empty and there was a worker outside motioning to different cars.  He proceeded to tell me that the entire WKU parking lot (the old mall as we know it in Bowling Green) which houses the new CFA was completely packed and full of cars along with lines of traffic on Nashville Road and Campbell Lane.  He wasn't even sure he could get to CFA.  Fortunately, he got in touch with someone at the restaurant who told him that Tyson Foods was giving out 40,000 pounds of chicken to the first 1,000 people beginning at 8AM in that lot ON this day of all days.  She said no one could get into the restaurant, and they had already called law enforcement to attempt to do something about it.  Matt had to park across the street at a hotel and Frogger his way over to the restaurant without getting smooshed, proceeding to carry four big chicken mini trays back to the car in the rain.  In the meantime, I had called the other CFA as a back up plan in case the restaurant was closed or something had happened. It all worked out thankfully but was a crazy start to the day!

  

This black and white picture (above) made both Matt and I tear up.  Isaac is such a special young man.  As a toddler, he was super precocious and into everything - writing books, making up songs, filming movies, drawing non-stop - so creative.  He always had a smile on his face and still does - it's a teenage/young adult smile, but it's there and still a little smirky from time to time.

  

 

 Ms. Yeckering who Isaac had his freshman and junior years at South and

Mr. Corbin - Isaac's English teacher his Senior.  The difference between my two Seniors - I think Karson maybe invited one or two teachers, Isaac had a full list of teachers to invite.  Super sweet of these two to show up and support him. 

  

  

  

  

Isaac and his future roommate Jacob Swift holding their EKU cookies =)!

  

    

 

  

Got this text earlier in the week from Jack's (above right) mom (above left):

"So super sentimental these days…you probably don’t even remember…the week we moved here when Jack was in 9th grade, we made him go to the first football game. Isaac invited Jack and Luke back to hang out after the game at your house. It was an “eye spy” from God. Moving a high schooler is hard on a momma’s heart and I will always remember Isaac doing that!!!! He is a special kid. I am blown away by his gifts and talents and I cannot wait to see what his future holds!...Plus he still needs to give Jack guitar lessons."

Thankful to have a kind, compassionate son!

Speaking of sweet, these two cuties Evie and Indie (above with their dad), our neighbors,  LOVE Isaac and sometimes stalk our house just waiting for him to get home so they can hang out with him.  They drove their Cinderella carriage over that morning and had made him the sweetest cards ever.

I have lots of Eli and Isaac stories, but I don't want to embarrass them too much so I'll share the awards day pic for fun.  These two have been buds since kindergarten at Plano.  He and Isaac both received AP scholar recognition on Awards Day at South.  That morning before school, Isaac rolled down in a t-shirt and shorts which normally would've been fine (and he did look nice) but the letter to him stated that he should look "nice" for the ceremony.  To me nice, means dress pants.  That word "nice"  + teenage boy = subjective.  I said Isaac you probably need to put on some pants to which he replied, "I didn't know I needed to wear a tux to this thing."  Anyway, this is he and Eli on state with their awards.  Eli's mom (above right) was texting me saying, "look how happy they look up there."  To which I replied, "they look like they did at Plano Panther graduation."  Silly things!

 

    

Oh the places these young men will go!

 

With all these sweet cards and gifts, comes lot of thank you notes which he started on yesterday.  In his usual way, they are witty and clever - such a character.  

Isaac received an extra special card and gift from my late grandfather, Bill "Poppy" Hartwein.  When his time came, he knew it wouldn't be long and wanted to celebrate all his Senior great grand-children in a very special way.  It was an emotional moment for all of us, but we are thankful and felt his presence in that moment.

This week/weekend brings lots of graduation parties and graduations.  Love this 2023 class of Seniors!

A few other notable moments during April/May:

 

Our Cardinal finished up her first upper division semester with flying colors.  She landed a nice job in Louisville this summer and has made some of her best friends through nursing school.  Not sure what she'd do without them!

No Derby winners here, but we had lots of fun with silly hats and fellowship!

We had our first ever SWHS Boys Golf Team Pancake Breakfast at Rich Pond Market which turned out to be a very successful fundraiser for our team.

We celebrated Pap's birthday, and my sister in law Laura made the most beautiful (and tasty) chocolate cake.  The Deaton's sure know how to celebrate!!!

These two Swifties managed to wrangle a pair of tickets to see Taylor at Nissan Stadium which happened to land on the torrential down pour (Sunday) night of the Eras Tour.  They took their ponchos, waited out the storm, and didn't get home until well after 2 AM.  A fun memory but water-logged sort of night.

 

Love my bird watching golfers!  Golf season is upon us!!!

Stay tuned for a Graduation post coming soon!