All that Matters

Senior Night is a rite of passage for student atheletes to be honored for their accomplishments on and off the court. MacKenzie has watched years of Senior nights waiting her her own to arrive one day..... Throughout those years of waiting, our life took many twists and turns. Her biological father becaame very removed from her life..... Her step-father who she truly loved and worshiped as her dad, let her down in a very real way. A way that ultimately led to their being no communication between them.

The days grew shorter and the time had finally arrived and Senior Night was here. I had always assumed that it would just be Kenzie and I walking the stage for Senior night, arm in arm. Kenzie had other ideas, The night before the event she approached Jeremy and said..." i know it has been fast but we have really bonded...all of us.... you and the boys are my family......." She put her arm around his shoulder and said i know you aren't my dad, but you are MY Jeremy and I would really like it if you would accompany my mom and I...........

And so the evening arrived, just after the end of the last girls home game, and the parents lined up under the bleachers and waited to meet with their student......

It was very interesting.... Some students had both of their parents(obviously still married)
other students had both of their parents(obviously divorced)
some students had asked a teacher or an administrator to walk with them so they wouldnt be alone.... MacKenzie had Jeremy and I.....

For me, these moments right now are like the culmination of 18 years of uncertainty and worry and guilt.... I had MacKenzie when I was 17 and I left school shortly there after. And to return 18 years later with a Varsity Athelete in 2 sports, a peer mentor, a Honor Roll Student, I couldnt be any more proud.
When Kenzie found me in line before we walked the stage, she was already crying and as I wrapped my arms around her i joined in her tears...... When it was our turn to walk we stop and look at Jeremy and he too is crying. Told her that he is honored to be escorting us out.....


and so we walked, and it wasnt Kenzie and her mom and dad, or kenzie and her mom and step dad, but according to Kenzie- it was her Mom and her Jeremy- the ones that give her a family----and she and I agree- that is ALL that matters :)