Estevan

Meet Estevan-  

I can honestly say that Estevan is my #1 FAVORITE proctor child of all time.  I've worked for 4TheYouth for 4 years now, 3 of which have been spent as a proctor parent.  I have experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows with these kids.  There is nothing more heart breaking than to watch someone that you have cared for be sent home unprepared.  Or worse, knowing that they have made every possible preparation but  home is just not ready for them.  I'm so thankful that this is not the case with Estevan.  He is going home to a loving family and great support system.  I know he has all the keys he needs to be successful.

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Estevan instantly found a place in my heart.  I loved him almost immediately.  He is sweet, caring, clever and tender-hearted.  He became a big brother to Coleman and a part of our family

He put up with me, laughed at my jokes (regardless of whether or not they were funny), read to Coleman, played make-believe, attended church and befriended everyone he met.  There are few kids like him.

One of my favorite things about Estevan is that he quickly learned to agree with me.  No matter the situation, I knew if I were to say, "Am I right, Estevan?"  I would hear the soft reply, "yeah."  :)

This was our final good-bye.  My heart was full and I couldn't take it anymore. 

A quick hug in the parking lot, a few soft, "I love you"s and he was no longer mine.  

Sometimes being a proctor is stressful.  Sometimes I question, is this worth it?  But then I meet a young man like Estevan with such Divine potential and I am grateful to have the chance to know him.  

I hope to have touched his life in some way...

...because I know, without a shadow of a doubt, he has touched mine.

We love you buddy

The Mother-to-Be and her little Sweet Pea

Meet Diana:  Diana is one of my good friends and neighbors. 

We were able to throw Diana a small baby shower with some of our close friends.

Lily helped me pick the food up off the floor.... and eat it :) 

We mostly just sat and visited with our good friends.  

 Angelica, Me, Alana, Catherine (Sadie), Julie and Camille

Sweet Sadie-Lady:

 Warning:  Do NOT drink the water!!!

In projected Due-Date order: Alana, Catherine, Diana and Kassi

Alana and Diana 

I'm blessed.  I have some of the greatest friends a girl could ask for.

Kassi, Angelica, Alana, Diana, Julie, Catherine and myself.

Class of 2012

 Coleman graduated from Preschool this week.  I'm so glad I decided to send him this year, he loved it.  He'll be returning for another year at Wonderland Academy (MWF)  

Wonderland Academy

Class of 2012

Coleman and "Teacher" (Mrs. Heaps)

Me and the Graduate

Supporting our scholar together

Represent

Meet Abby-  She's my friend.

I love her.... despite her team.

One Direction's newest band member:

"Cause girl you light up my world like nobody else,

The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed.

But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell

You don't know (oh oh), You don't know you're beautiful.

That's what makes you beautiful!"

Someone call "US WEEKLY"

Let's find out "who wore it better"

This is my very good friend, Camille. She lives in my neighborhood. Today we showed up to church wearing the same dress (with a few minor differences). We had several people tease us about planning it. What can I say? The girl's got great taste :)

Giddy-Up

We went to our cousin Mark's house in Highland today. Mark has 5 horses on his property and was kind enough to let us go riding. I wasn't sure how Coleman would do. I tried to get him to ride a pony at Thanksgiving Point last summer and he wanted nothing to do with it. I was pleasantly surprised, he LOVED it.

Mark let Coleman feed the horses.

Then he helped prep the horses:

Saddle up!

My Cowboy

He was great!

After riding Mark took Coleman for a ride on his motorcycle.

Thanks Mark! We had a blast and can't wait to do it again.