Livin' In The Fast Lane....

This is a story to tell you (and for me to remember) what happened to us Thursday night.....

        About 10pm Thursday night (Troy had gone to be bed early..Steve was just getting home from a meeting)...I received a phone call from one of Troy's friends from KCTC (Kent Career Tech Center).  He introduced himself and said..."I know this is really short notice, but I was wondering if Troy could come with me to NEW YORK CITY for the week-end!!!"  I can't even described the flurry of thoughts that were rushing through my brain!!  Like......  is this legit?  Who is this kid? Would I really send my son with a mere stranger? Would they drive? Would they fly?

         As I questioned David, I soon realized this was for real and they would be leaving Friday at 7am...WHOA!  Would Steve let him go?  Should we even wake Troy up?  I'm pretty sure my words were all coming out of my mouth jumbled up as I described the phone conversation to Steve!! We woke Troy up and asked him what he knew about this...he said "am I dreaming??"....I know nothing about this!  By the details David gave me, I knew this was for real..Troy assured me ..this is real!!  Troy's friend, Tyler, was also invited to come along. These were the details we knew...they would fly out on a private corporate jet at 7am....they would be stopping by a college in MI and then off to a college in PA...then on to NYC by Friday night.  They would stay in Times Square and spend Saturday and part of the day Sunday sight seeing...and then fly home.

       After much thought, prayer and consideration (all before 11pm..yeah that's right, 1 whole hour!) we decide to let him go (are we insane???)  At that point, Steve called and talked to David's Dad who would be escorting them the whole way. (I left that detail out..kind of a crucial detail..oops!)  After that conversation Steve felt fully confident to let Troy go)  So between 11pm-12:30am we packed, found dress clothes, ironed clothes, got out suitcases, found the swimsuit...a flurry of activity was going on in the Buckner Household!  I think Steve, Troy and I were pretty much "hovering" around the house....we were all so excited...you would have thought we were all going to NYC!!!  Troy's emotions quickly turned from fear to excitement!  This was so surreal!  Just think...an all expense trip to NYC on a corporate jet!  Well, not every day we receive a phone call like that..at least we don't!!!

       Lest you think we are crazy irresponsible parents for letting our own flesh and blood go with a complete stranger..we thought we were too!  The news headlines flashed before my eyes..."parents let son fly to NYC with complete strangers!"  We pray often for Troy's safety and we pray we never have to read those headlines.  We also knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity....but we did not make our sole decision on that opportunity!  We pray for his safe return...constantly!

       Steve & I got up early Friday morning and made sure he had everything.  Steve left to pick up Troy's friend Tyler and headed to the airport.  They arrived at RapidAir terminal to be greeted by the pilot and a crew member.  They were able to go on the plane..a Falcon..(I don't know the number for you plane people).

        Steve felt even more confident after meeting David's Dad in person.  First stop, was Hillsdale College and then to a college in PA...

                                               Our text's from Troy...
*This is GREAT!!!!
*They made me a hamburg (he's on a GF diet)
*Landing in NY..helped land the plane!!!
*Going to a Lakers Game tonight
*In Times Square
*Went to bed at 2:30am
*Going to see a Broadway show... 'Spiderman'
*Going to the 'Today' show
*Bought a NY sweatshirt!
*Three 16 year olds roaming around NY
*JUST IN--Empire State Building
                --Wall Street
                --Ground Zero

....And we haven't even talked to him for a majority of today (he called us at 8am)

   This will be something that is forever etched in his memories...what fun memories to hold on to!  A dream come true for a couple of boys!

       I often feel like I wish we could go to fun places as a family..I always dream of going to big cities and sightseeing around.  Funds have just never allowed for that.  I think that it's cool how God works and how he provided this trip...better than we could have taken...for Troy to see a big city!  He answered the desire of this mom's heart!  What an Awesome GOD!  What's really neat is to think about how long this has been in the 'works'?  God so cares for us, that he cares about the details of our lives.  Feeling overly blessed this week-end! So excited for Troy and the fun he is having!  We are living vicariously through Troy's adventure!  Thank You God for Providing in amazing ways! Thank You for giving me a glimpse of how powerful you are!

Trentster.....

First day of 4th Grade!

Yes, that's right 4th grade!

did you notice the wound on the side of his face?  He did that in the U.P.

 We were hiking down to a waterfall and he wasn't watching and took a branch to the face....that doesn't affect his cuteness!!!! 

his locker 

His desk.  Surrounded by his buddies..Dolan Bair and Carson Snyder..teacher will probably be changing their seats soon! 

He has Mrs. Katie Coxon.  He has said he likes her and things are going good!  He will do great in her class!

FYI...in case you are wondering....Troy is still in our family.  He is attending KCTC 1st session in their IT (information technologies) program....so he has to be to the HS at 5:45 to catch the bus....so I didn't get a 1st day of school picture. ( I was up...but his friend was here and I didn't think he wanted me parading around in my pj's)  AND...he really won't let me take a picture of him..so when he wonders where all the pictures of him in HS....they will be in my mind and heart!!!  He is a Junior!

He's got it....

Troy has had his Drivers License for awhile now...

but just now got a picture of him with it!

He has picturephobia.

 Troy loves to drive...he wants to drive where ever we go.  

He is a great driver and I feel at easy with him behind the wheel.

He would love to have his own wheels to tool around town at his leisure.

So proud of you Troy!

a funny..

here is MI he has to take a drivers test with an outside agency (not school, anymore) a parent has to be present and can not 'coach' from the back seat.  Steve went with Tyler, so he thought it would only be fair if I went with Troy... because of our schedule, that was how it worked out! We went to the agency in Newaygo.  The man was a very nice older gentleman.  The way life would have it, he had to drive our F-150 not the van....the van had a crack in the window and you can't drive a vehicle with a cracked window....so he already had a strike against him...trying to maneuver a large truck around and parallel park it.....he did great!!!! So we started out for the driving part.  They are VERY strict about speeding..so that counts against you....and you can only make so many mistakes. He was on the home stretch when he sailed through a yellow/red light....I was screaming "STOP!!!!" on the inside..he didn't hear me!  If you break a violation like that, it's an immediate fail!..Bummer!!!  The next week we headed back to re-test and he passed with flying colors!  The tester even let him skip a huge part of it because he knew how capable he was!  As a matter of fact, he talked with me the whole way..I have his life story....He was a Teacher, Principal, Superintendent....he is married has 2 children....winters in Florida...shard with us some funny drivers ed stories.  Very entertaining!  We thought maybe we should go to dinner with him...his wife was gone visiting one of their kids...ha ha ha!

One of his drivers stories was when a girl lost control going around a corner and hit a telephone pole. The pole broke off and fell and split the car in two.  The dealership that 'loaned' it to them was not too happy.  Less happy, when they came to pick up the car the next day and someone had stole the 4 brand new tires/wheels off on it! They made the front of the local paper!

Great job Troy!

Ah Michigan.....

...this is why-  We.Love.You!

We love you for your beautiful beaches....your sparkling water and your pure sand!  

You are beautiful!

Summer seems to zingy by so fast these days!

We miss out on the lazy days of summer. 

So, I called up my friend Caryn and we set up a beach date!

Some sunny hi-lights!

digging in the sand 

Troy 

Troy burying Carson & Trent 

all buried... 

all seven kids..... Ben is in there, just behind Carson.  

Troy got out and then covered all six kids 

last picture to leave you with.... 

Trent and his rocks he collected! Apparently, he has a little of his Grandma Sharon in him!  

G-ma Sharon loved to collect rocks, I frequently recall hauling rocks home from vacations and beaches. 

 She loved beaches!  She loved the sun! She loved pictures of sunsets!  She loved driftwood!

She saw beauty in nature! 

Bragging....

Brag them up when you can!

Troy was recently honored for his efforts in a program for high school students.

 The program was developed by the Kent County Sheriff to bring awareness to distracted drivers.  22 schools participated in the program. There were 4 categories...merchandise, posters, audio & video. A total of 82 kids participated....

Troy and his friend Tyler drew up a prototype of a trinket with a saying on it to spur you on to not be distracted while you are driving...mainly texting!  They didn't get first but they did receive a 2nd.  Great job guys! 

here is a group shot 

two other girls from Kent City also attended 

Troy and his award! 

Here he is with the Kent County Under Sheriff! 

On the way out, they tried out the back seat of the cruiser..they better never be back there again!!! 

I tried to get the officer to close the door.

Great job Troy & Tyler so proud of you!

Homecoming 2010

With Homecoming, comes Homecoming games....and boy was it loud and fun! I have never been up to the High School during games till now! There was a lot of energy in that gym. And how much fun for these kids, to have a day to bond together and work together as a team, to win for their grade! They all purchase class shirts and get all decked out in red/black/white. So much fun!These kids are watching the lip sync competition. 1 group competes, from each class that lasts a max of 4 minutes. They were all good and you could tell the kids put numerous hours in after school practicing...but the Seniors sync was outstanding....the best!Seniors pulling in the tug-o-war..always a favorite! (Tyler is not in there)Tyler participating in the wheelbarrow races.He's the barrow here....Tyler doing the three legged raceTroy watching his class compete. That's Jordan, his cousin, to the left of him. Jordan is a big boy and Troy is little for his class....lol!Troy in a hula hoop raceThe football players on a KC fire truck in the Homecoming parade! We love this about our small town.....we can shut the town down for an hour to run a parade through main street! Yes! What a great place to live! Oh....and did I mention they won!

Up next...Homecoming Dance pictures!

Another Extreme Makeover 2010

Now it's Troys turn.....
When he sat down to get a 'trim' he said he wanted it cut short...what?...are you sure?

The before shot...with a pink clippiewith the bangs...he's a girl!Mullet...The finished look...wow..doesn't that look great!side view with glasses!

I kind of miss his long hair! Tyler went through the long hair stage..and now he wear's his short. I'm sure Trent will go through this stage too. Don't sweat the small things in adolescents!!

A proud moment.....

Troy received his Academic Achievement Award on Monday Night, at the School Board Meeting.

He has worked really hard at improving his grades and keeping up with school work. We are so proud of his accomplishments. He is a delightful young man! Troy, dude...keep it up!

Before & After

Troy was long over due for a haircut!!

Don't you agree!??
He likes his hair longer...We allow them to...as long as they keep it clean!
He gets up every morning and washes it and even blows it dry!

I'll have to admit, it has been a bit over due, but I've been busy!! I

started cutting it and he said..."can you make it a little shorter!"...seriously!!

This is one battle we have chosen not to fight about. This could be a real point of contention between teens and parents...my advice...don't make it one!

Tyler also wanted his hair grown out at this age....now he wears it short...go figure!

This is all I got!

Happy Birthday Troy.....

Here we are eating at Bostons Pizza and Sportsbar. We were overjoyed to find out that Bostons serves Gluten Free Pizza! Troy said "It was great pizza!"
What a fun dinner, when you don't have to worry about what to order! Neil & Bonnie and Dad & Linda were able to join us, so that made it extra special! They forgot a pizza topping so they went ahead and gave the kids this one and then brought out a whole other pizza...I'm thinking...lunch!

Here he is opening some of his presents

a machete

Happy Birthday Troy! You have brought us so much joy over the last 14 years. Your sweet smile and cute laugh. We always thought you looked like a Precious Moment figurine! You have blessed our life in so many ways. We are so so lucky God blessed us with you! Our little Troy-Boy!

Troy....Your the Man!

To the untrained eye this might not look like anything special! But to the Gluten Free eye this is something special! Troy made homemade gluten free cake donuts on Monday. Our first batch didn't work so good. We re-evaluated what went wrong and Troy willing mixed up another batch....I only helped with the frying. We had a lot more success the second time around! I told him......that's just how cooking goes! They were actually really good!!

Troy does pretty good with mixing the ingredients, I just have to watch, sometimes he gets big 'T' and little 't' mixed up! I was so proud of him for trying and trying again! He is going to make a great husband someday!