Celebrating hard work

Our town has a few businesses that offer rewards for good grades - up through 8th grade.  If not for these businesses, we probably would not celebrate at all. We expect the kids to work hard and do their best without compensation. Last night we visited an ice cream shop to celebrate good report cards and hard work. While Wyatt and Julia were the only ones getting the free scoop, we have much to celebrate about Savannah.

You might remember that we piled stress upon stress on Savannah when we forced encouraged her to give up her Sunday afternoons and much of her free time to complete a PSAT prep course.  We finally got her scores a couple of weeks ago, and that work paid off.  Savannah landed in the 98th percentile in the nation (approximately 1.5 million test takers).  We had hoped for the 99th percentile which would put her in the running for National Merit Scholar, but the 98th percentile does assure us that she is a commended scholar which will help with scholarship applications.  The difference between the two is the workload.  National Merit semifinalists usually receive college money without much more effort. Commended scholars have to use their status and work through cumbersome applications and compete with others to get the money they need. God has gifted Savannah with an incredible mind and a very strong work ethic. 

Savannah did not get into the summer program for which she applied.  She has received a few offers for others, but they are expensive and too far away.  She is, however, genuinely happy for those who did get in and feels they all deserve it. That's her heart.  She takes the disappointments, processes them, then looks for the good and bounces back.  Savannah has had people in her life who have not been so nice when she has been acknowledged and rewarded, those who let their own bitterness about not getting the reward come out against her.  She remembers that and does not do that to others.

Lastly, she's a fighter. Savannah came home on Thursday night to lots of homework to prepare for tests and quizzes on Friday.  She left a brutal shift at work.  Corporate had been there, and if you've ever worked in a place where corporate drops in for audits, you know how that puts everyone on edge even when they are doing a good job. She dealt with being treated like a two-year-old and spending the night with nervous managers then faced down her school assignments.  Friday morning Savannah awoke to illness such that I felt she really needed to be at home.  She was not about to pile up make up work that included tests and quizzes to face after a long weekend, so she fought through the illness to put that stuff behind her.

 She is also humble. If she ever reads this post, she will be mad at me for sharing this.  We cannot be more blessed than getting to be called Mom and Dad by this girl.  She's not perfect, but I say it often that she is the easiest teenager to raise ever.  To God be the glory!