The "First" of Many "Lasts"

Jim class of 1981; Carolyn class of 1982

ok....so I ventured into the hallways of not only mine and Jim's  alma matter....but also the alma matter of my oldest children and the soon to be alma matter of my youngest child for our Last "Back to School Night".....
Needless to say, there were many emotions at play! At first I thought I would just be glad to be done with my upteenth "Back to School Night"....but as usual, I got there and loved seeing friends old and new...loved getting to see Miller's teachers and love, love, love getting to see who all is my child's class!!!

Holly and Brad class of 2005

Mitch and Britney class of 2002

Chad, Roy and Miller class of 2012

 How shallow!!! But...fun!!!
 You have to admit you do want to know who your child sits by in English or Math... or who he has Sr. Lounge with!!! You know what I mean....it's a glimpse into their life that you don't get unless you GOOOO to "Back to School Night"!! You get to see their teachers in their own element...and to me, that is fun! It is special! I'm always overwhelmed at the love they have not only for Briarwood as a school, but for the students and for the subjects that they teach! Tonight I learned that Mr. Carter also meets with Samford students on the side! Students that have no ties to Briarwood but basically need a "biblical world view!" That's exciting stuff...I don't care who you are!! The fact that I actually heard him say that he realized that our students are getting to their University of Choice and not knowing how to handle what a professor throws out there because they've only been in a Christian School environment! Hey...I like that!!! I wish I had had that at their age!!! Our kids need to know how to handle other views that will be thrown upon them on a daily basis next year...and the next!!! They need to know why they believe WHAT they believe!!! I was also struck by how much Mr. Carter had grown up!!! LOL!!! I think Mitch had him his first year of teaching...or close to it!! I was so glad he didn't remember me or the fact that I cried alot back in those days!!!

I was also so very glad to see Coach Matthews and get to tell him what a positive impact the Senior Retreat had on our students!!! No matter if they snuck out or not!! ( I know NOTHING!!) But our kids truly love him and he is going to be such a great leader along with all of the faculty at Briarwood!!!
As we entered the AP Calculus room....I sat on the back row!!!! I barely passed Consumer Math my Senior year at Briarwood so I was a bit overwhelmed!!!! Until sweet Mrs. Martin began talking...then I remembered all of the years of knowing her and saw for myself that maybe even I could've been taught Math under her!!! Ok...that might be a stretch but I know for a fact that Miller will do great with Mrs. Martin! I'm so thankful that he is in her class this year!

"Friends" Class of 2012

As we were leaving...and I was truly turned around in the building because so many things have changed in that school over the years....I was still struck by the overwhelming fact that God has blessed Briarwood Christian School tremendously! And that will never change as long as we are faithful to pray for and support the school and it's administration. I know we all have our gripes at times...and sometimes I think I'm "entitled" to them in a way since I have truly lived them. However, had it not been for the loving, nurturing environment of Briarwood....there is truthfully no telling where I would be today...So....although this was my "Last" Back to School Night....It's definitely not the end....it's just the beginning...the first of many to come with our grandchildren and hopefully great grandchildren! In fact...our oldest son Mitch went to their daughter's First Back to School Night with his good friend Cameron Hogan!!!! If you had told me this would be happening back in Mitch and Cameron's Senior year of high school....I probably would've laughed till I cried!!! But it DID happen!!! and it's BECAUSE of God's faithfulness!!! Nothing else!!! God's faithfulness to His people....God's faithfulness to a school that seeks to honor and serve Him above all else.

Layton with Poppy....past and future generations!

Layton, Class of 2025!!!

Who knows??? Maybe I will go sit in on some of Layton's future Back to School Nights!! Or, if God sees fit to bless in this manner...to help sweet Holly have another Back to School Night of her own!! My only regret is that I didn't help her with her first one!!! She was a very good teacher!!! A chip off the old block from all of the teaching she received from such a wonderful school!!!