Mom’s Retirement Surprise

Last Thursday was the last day of school for the keeedos. We were SUPER bummed not to get to stay and play all day…Miss Janie and Miss Ana had some cool activities planned.

(Ben, Ana, Drew, Janie, Sav, Ethan)

 

 

The kids were able to decorate some cookies before we had to hit the road…

 

 

We were headed to Waco to surprise Granna at school! They weren’t excited or anything… (love this picture)

 

 

 

I was just driving along and saw this in my rearview. Andrew had taken out the shaded lenses from his sunglasses and was just chillin’ like this:

The kid KILLS me. Cracks me up every day.

 

 

Old friends and family gathered at Texas Christian Academy (the home of my former school) to wait in hiding. Auntie JuJu was keeping the chitlins entertained with her phone. Thank God for modern technology.

 

 

Yep, I had Biology, Calculus, Science, etc in this room. So weird to be “back at school”. LOL

 

 

Joe took off work to join the surprise celebration

 

 

…Annnnnnnnnnnd, we are reaching our breaking point. I swear the kids were jumping off the walls. I don’t know how in the world Granna didn’t hear us.

 

 

We snuck in the back of chapel and waited quietly for the presentation.

 

 

Miss Jackie (Mom’s dear friend & fellow teacher) read from a book that she put together (you can see Mom losing it on the bottom left). I had various former students and friends message me with kind words and blessings for Mom. They had compiled a slideshow with pics of Mom throughout the years. It was very sweet.

 

 

2 of Mom’s best teacher buddies. Jackie & Sarah. Such great women.

 

 

Mom’s BFF and my 2nd mother~ Mrs. El

 

 

My Dad’s BFF, Mr. Litton…also known as Wild Bill.

 

 

The Tidmores! Such a sweet loving family. I think Mom taught every single one of their kids throughout the years.

 

 

Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. Wilson (who just happened to teach me English and Latin! Another close friend of the fam)

 

 

You pulled off the surprise, Daddy…now breathe! Dad and his youngins.

 

 

Ohhhhh, my little fashionista. You are just too cool for school.

 

 

My bro and his beautiful bride…

 

 

…they make the most beautiful offspring! They just CAN’T stop at 2! It would be a cryin’ shame to the human race! (no pressure, Ash..ha). Beautiful, sweet baby Sawyer cackling.

 

 

My bro’s BFF, Bobby, came to love on Mom as well.

 

 

Mom and her proud daughters: Sav, Ashley, and Me

 

 

And the most special guests of all~ my cousin Martha and my Mom’s identical twin sis, Judy. They drove all the way from South Texas to surprise Mom. LOVE THEM! So special.

 

 

Mom posing with just a handful of the hundreds of students that she has taught over the years. What a legacy!

 

 

I love you, Mom. I am so proud of the woman that you are. You have blessed the lives of countless children with your caring heart, beautiful mind, and love for teaching. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for you and your new adventure of retirement. The world is a better place because you are in it. I love you with all my heart…

 

 

Why God Made Teachers
By Kevin William Huff

When God created teachers,
He gave us special friends
To help us understand His world
And truly comprehend
The beauty and the wonder
Of everything we see,
And become a better person
With each discovery.

When God created teachers,
He gave us special guides
To show us ways in which to grow
So we can all decide
How to live and how to do
What's right instead of wrong,
To lead us so that we can lead
And learn how to be strong.

Why God created teachers,
In His wisdom and His grace,
Was to help us learn to make our world
A better, wiser place.