Aggieland Looks Good On You!

 

Welcome to Aggieland! As I passed the water tower sign a thousand times heading into College Station, I always hoped you would feel embraced in a college town that I had grown to love when I was there. Your first couple of days I know you felt somewhat alone and were missing the comforts of home. I prayed nightly that God would help you find your peace and your people. He more than answered. I am so proud of you for getting involved. It wasn't always easy. It took time applying to many FLOs, joining intramural teams that weren't quite the teams you expected ;), and meeting new people. Joining your FLO with FOUR was a true blessing and where you met some of your best friends. Having met several of them myself, I can say that you are amongst an amazing group! I have enjoyed getting to know them better over conversations at dinner and parent's weekend. Value how lucky you guys are to have created and formed these lasting friendships. Don't ever take them for granted. Thank you for sharing pictures throughout your first year of college. It has allowed me to catch a glimpse into all of the fun you are having there from game days to date events .The genuine smile on your face says it all! 

As you continue your journey at Texas A&M, I leave you with these words. Continue to stay involved. Being active brings new friends, new life experiences, and new opportunities for growth. So join organizations, continue to play intramural sports, attend the sporting events, cheer on the Aggies, enjoy nights out with friends, and throw in some studying too! Your college years will fly by, so don't cheat yourself of any opportunities.

Heading into summer, this is what I want you to know. I believe in you always. You have already proven that you can and will accomplish everything you set out to do. Work hard now so you can play hard later. Keep in touch with your friends near and far. A road trip is always a good excuse to see other parts of the world. You can do anything that you put your mind to in life. Don't ever let fear keep you from exploring or trying.

Lastly I end with this, I am so very proud of you! You are smart, you are kind, you are more than enough, and you make my heart happy!  Thank you for reminding me that you always know where home is, and that it isn't necessarily a physical place. Continue to share your smile and heart with the world and live life to the fullest. You have found your place in College Station. Aggieland looks good on you! Whoop--you can't say that just yet so-- A!A!A!A!A! ;)

My Hope For You

Griffin Zachary Thomas, GT, my Grinning Griff! Where do I begin? The night before you were born I sat at the kitchen table with Mamoo and Netta looking through a baby name book trying to come up with the perfect name for you. It would be a name that would follow you through life and be a part of your identity so I wanted it to be perfect. Dad and I chose not to find out your gender until you were born which added to the element of surprise for everyone. It also added to my stress level since we went through countless girl names, never finding the perfect one. I knew if you were a boy that your name would be Griffin, and I thought your middle name would be Matthew after dad. Last minute in the delivery room when they announced that you were a boy I decided that Matthew didn't fit you and asked dad what he thought about using Zachary. We both agreed Griffin Zachary was a perfect fit for you. The name has fit you since day one. You have always had the brightest smile and smiled with your whole face. That is where the nickname Grinning Griff came from. People started calling you that before your first birthday. My hope for you is that you never let anyone or anything dim your light or take away your smile. It is one of your greatest attributes and brightens my day whenever I see you.

As your graduation day quickly approaches, I am savoring every minute together and wondering how I can slow down time. I will always treasure our memories made together at Jersey Village. What a gift this has been to me! It has allowed me to watch you grow and learn, face challenges and obstacles with dignity and grace, be a leader to your peers on and off the field, and soar beyond any horizon I ever imagined for you. My heart swells with pride when your teachers and administrators brag to me on what a great kid you are. I am so happy that they recognize and see you for the person that I have always known: a young man full of respect, pride, love for family, dog whisperer, a devoted friend, and a faithful follower of Christ. Don't ever let any situation or person change these qualities about you. 

You have provided me with so much joy and happiness. I will miss having you stop by after 2nd period, watching you play baseball, watching our shows together, watching you love on and wrestle with Stormie, and our nightly talks before heading to bed. Although I will miss these moments, I look forward to so much more. I cannot wait for Facetime talks to hear about your days in Aggieland, dinner trips to College Station, texts to discuss what's going on in our shows, and silly pics that I promise to send you of Stormie! 

There will be trying and hard times but nothing too hard for you to conquer and overcome.  I leave you with these words of advice and encouragement for whenever you need it. First of all; I believe in you, I believe in you, I believe in you! There is always a time in life when we face doubt and question whether or not we are strong enough, smart enough, or capable enough of doing something. I am here to tell you that in all times of doubt, know that you can and will be able to accomplish even the hardest of tasks. I have lived through the trials and tribulations of going off to college, and I am proof that I also lived through and experienced all of the joys and successes that college brings too.

Know your worth but be humble. Being humble doesn't mean thinking less of yourself, it means thinking of yourself less often so you can also serve others. Help the underdog. It is always to easy to go with the crowd, but takes courage and compassion to go against the norm. Push yourself to make new friends, try new foods, experience new adventures, and play intramural sports. This is a wonderful time in your life to explore new opportunities. Take advantage of it and have fun! Strive to find joy in all that you do. True joy is happiness with peace and serenity mixed in. Put your faith in God and pray often. Lean on your faith and try not to worry; trust me I have lived through so much worry that never came to fruition. It was a waste of my time and energy. Know that you can always call on me without judgement no matter what the situation. 

I will end with this. I am and always will be your #1 fan and biggest supporter. You can call on me all hours of the day or night. I will always have time to listen to you, support you, calm, you, laugh with you, motivate you, and encourage you. I will always have time to see you, and I certainly don't mind making the trip to College Station for dinner and a hug. So go do big things!

I already miss you, and you haven't even left for college yet. I will miss hugging you goodnight, walking by your room to harass you, talking to you after school, and so much more. I am thankful for facetime calls to hear about what is going on in your life, snapchat streaks so I can see your face at least once a day, and random texts just to let me know that you are okay. I look forward to holidays together, weekend visits, and summers spent at home. Know that our home is always waiting for your return. I am beyond proud of you Griffin Zachary Thomas, GT 23, Mr. Summa Cum Laude, Future Aggie, and soon to be graduate! 

Remember Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".

I love you always and forever!

Mom

Take more chances, and dance the dances!

 

Last weekend was prom, and you and your date looked fabulous! I know it was a weekend full of laughter, friends, and new memories. Continue to make every moment count. Take more chances, and dance the dances! Take pictures, cherish the small things in life, and find joy and happiness in all that you do. Senior year is quickly coming to a close! I am holding on tightly because I know our time together here is limited. I am so, so proud of you, and I am excited to go on this next adventure with you. Here's to our next couple of weeks together at the Village! Stay tuned for your graduation post!!! 

I love you forever, 

Mom <3

Hook ''em Aggies or Gig 'em Longhorns!?!

                        

 
My grinning Griff! Where do I begin? First of all, I am beyond proud of you! You are rocking this whole senior year. You are taking the most challenging of classes and seem to be conquering them with ease. Baseball is in full swing, and I am soaking it all in for your last season to play. You bless me with your smile when you stop by before 3rd period. It truly is one of the highlights of my day. It's the small things that mean the most. You have set yourself up for success and have two incredible choices for college. While you watch your friends stress over which college is going to accept them, your biggest stress is trying to decide which college choice is the right choice for you. Let me start off by saying that there is no right or wrong choice. Whether you decide to hook em or gig em, you will end up right where you are destined to be in the Fall.

Wherever you go, I leave you with these life challenges. Be brave and courageous. You will face new obstacles, some of which will make you want to throw in the towel and give up. Don't ever let this be your solution. Being brave and courageous isn't about conquering your fear or challenge alone. It is about leaning on your support system and calling on us to help you. Afterall, that is what family is for. Spread kindness wherever you go. You never know someone else's struggle, but a simple hello, holding the door open, or smile can make someone's day. Always trust in God, and pray about everything during the good times and the bad. He will always bring you an inner peace, especially during the hard times.

Enjoy the rest of your Senior year! Make the memories, hang out with your friends, and smile often. Whether you decide to head to Aggieland or join your sister on the 40 Acres, you know I will be your biggest supporter and fan. Either way, I will be joining you for some meals and quality time in either city. Hook 'em Aggies or Gig 'em Longhorns?!? Wouldn't it be so much easier if you could just do both! :)

I love you, Mom!

P.S. MOST ;)

Sailing into Senior Year!

Where do I start!?! My baby boy (I know Parker and Makenna will make fun of me for this)! I have immensely enjoyed our time together at The Village. It has afforded me so many opportunities to watch you grow. To say I am proud is an understatement. You have rocked this whole school thing remaining at the top of your class while taking college level classes and devoting countless hours to baseball. This makes my heart swell with pride. You are to be admired for your kind heart and loving spirit. You love big and aren't afraid to show it. Thank you for always visiting me after your second period class. This simple gesture means more to me than you will ever know. It starts my day off right and gives me a chance to catch a glimpse of my grinning Griff! As the school year comes to an end, these are my hopes for you this summer. Explore new places to create new memories, but know that home will always be waiting for your return. Create new friendships because there is always room in your heart to grow, but don't forget the people who have helped shaped you into the person you are today. Never let fear keep you from persuing your dreams, you are stronger than any worry. With these hopes, I also give you these promises. I promise to always be your biggest cheerleader and loudest fan in the stands. Cheering you on is one of my favorite things to do. I promise to support you as you walk your own path in life, but I hope you will let my love for you be the light to guide you. As you sail into your senior year, let the wind take you to horizons you have never seen and adventures you have never explored. I am forever proud of you! Let's rock this last year together. Cheers matey!

Life is good!

My guy! Where has the time gone?  It is so hard to believe that you are already a junior in high school. I feel like the years are flying by, and I am just trying to hold on for the ride. I am so beyond proud of you. You have accomplished so much in high school already. You are at the top of your class and rank in the top 3%. I am proud of you for taking the most challenging classes while still enjoying a social life and playing baseball. You are setting yourself up for success and the opportunity to choose from a variety of amazing colleges. Who knows where you will end up, but I know it will be right where you are supposed to be.

You have made some amazing friends along the way, which have led me to some really amazing friendships as well. Continue to foster these relationships. Friends are what make the world go round. Live life to the fullest and with no regrets. Try new things, live without fear, open the door for others, dance in the rain, make tik toks, and live the best version of you.

Baseball is quickly approaching. I cannot wait to sit in the stands and cheer for you. I have always been and always will be your biggest fan. I will be there to scream and root for you when you make an amazing play and encourage you when things don't quite go your way. Don't ever be too hard on yourself. Always try your hardest and give your all, and that is all anyone can ever ask of you. 

I am going to soak up all the time we have left together at the Village! Thank you for coming by every day to greet me with your smile. It is the best part of my day. Thank you for including me in all of your life's events. I love preparing for homecoming, helping you and your friends make hard decisions, and experiencing high school with you. Thank you for our late night talks each night before you head to bed. I cherish them. I am one lucky girl!

I leave you with this. Never settle. Always strive to be better today than you were yesterday. Keep an open mind even when it seems challenging. Believe in yourself, you are your biggest champion. You are strong even when you feel weak, brave even when you feel scared, and more confident than your biggest doubt. Open your heart up to love and be loved. Life and relationships will not always be easy, but they will always be worth it. 

You are smart, you are kind, you are worthy, you are important, and you are so loved!

Hugs!

Mom

I'm Back!

It has been quite some time since I updated your blog. All of your activities keep me really busy. I am not complaining though. It brings me great pride and pleasure to watch you play in all of your sports. You do really well. You just finished up with football. This was your first year to play tackle football. You did really well. You were the quarterback for your team and made the All Star squad. You were lucky to have dad coach you this year. You two made a great team. Your team was successful and even made it to the playoffs. It was exciting that you actually got to play against your cousin, Kyle, this year. Although, we were hoping you two would have been on the same team. That would have been awesome! You are now playing basketball and beginning baseball season. You absolutely love basketball! You are playing up in the 8u division and doing just fine. You have made some nice shots! I think every one's favorite so far was when you got the rebound and had a break away layup shot. There was no way you were going to let the other team stop you. The crowd went wild and you grinned ear to ear from all the applause and cheering. You made the decision to play with the DC Mudcats for baseball this year. I am so glad you chose this team. They are a great group of boys and coaches! You have played in a few tournaments and made some key catches. You never cease to amaze me. You are competitive in all that you do. You remind me a lot of myself at your age. You are in second grade. I am a little sad that this is the last year you will be with any of your siblings until high school. Your teacher told me that Makenna and you hug each other bye every day before going to class. I am glad you two love each other so much and look out for one another. You are trying really hard to run the most laps in PE so you can win the trophy at the end of the year. I am so proud of how hard you work in all that you do. You are reading quite well, and you love watching wrestling videos. We got lucky and actually went to a WWE match. You guys loved it. As you continue through this year I want you to continue to give it your all. I am so proud of the young man you are becoming. Always remember that dad and I love you and will support you in all that you do. Continue to dream big and work hard. You are a star in my eyes!!!

I love you! Mom