Richland Homecoming

Richland High School's Homecoming!

During our trip, Caden's stamina and strength quickly declined.  By the end of the week, we didn't do anything unless there was minimal walking or a wheelchair.  Because of this, Caden, Jennifer, Zachary and Mackenzie decided to stay back from the large group date to Bill's Berry Farm to play games and have lunch closer to home.  Caden picked Jennifer up at 11:00am and met up at Zachary's home, since our home has littles that would have been in the way.  When he returned home at 2:06pm, he stumbled up to bed for a nap.  He is just so fatigued.

When it came time to get ready for the planned night activities for the dance, I could tell that he was pretty tired.  In fact, once he got his suit pants on, he sat at the edge of our tub and allowed me do the rest for him-- including buttons and combing his hair.  About 5 minutes before Zachary was supposed to arrive to pick him up, he let us know that he wasn't feeling well at all, that he didn't think he was going to make it, that he needed pain medication, that he felt so tired that he wished he could just go to bed for the rest of the night, that he didn't want to disappoint Jennifer.  He is such a good kid.  By the time he got to her home to pick her up, the Ibuprofen was kicking in, but that didn't do anything for his fatigue... or my anxiety.  I cannot convey enough how much I hate cancer.

 (He was jokingly modeling the corsage-- wish I would have captured it at the funnier mock-face he was making)

  

Mackenzie Ostrowsky, Zachary Bagley, Caden, Jennifer Elsberry

 Unkown, Julie Johnson, Unkown, Unknown, Zachary Bagley, Mackenzie Ostrowsky, Jacob Kreutz, Tiffany Bowers, Ashley Nelson, Zachary Graves, Jennifer Elsberry, Caden Dirks, Mackenna Wakley, Unknown, Megan Kraus, Mark Almond.

The girls surprised the guys by running up to photobomb their photo.  I'm so glad I captured them at this moment.  SO.MUCH.FUN captured in that one moment in time.

After pictures, they all went to the Almond's home for dinner and then drove in caravan to the dance, arriving at 8:30pm.  Caden and Jennifer stayed for pictures and a few dances, and then just the two of the came to our home to rest and watch Wonder Woman.  While I type, they're watching their show and waiting for a text letting them know that the group is headed to the Kreutz's home for Mario Kart and snacks to end their night.  

It may not be the carefree night that Homecoming is "supposed" to be, it was most certainly tainted by cancer because he's not doing as well this week as he was last, but it was a beautiful night because of who Caden and Jennifer are.

He is the boy that rallied his limited strength to take his girl out dancing, and she is the gorgeous girl that willingly, gladly, and graciously spent less time at the dance than she did on her hair alone.  These are two special people that got to spend a perfect-by-their-own-standards night at 

Homecoming. 

Update: The last thing I heard from Caden before leaving for Jennifer's home was that he really wanted to do the Mario Kart activity, that he'd made up his mind: they would go.  I really wanted this for him-- really, really wanted this for him.  As it turns out, when the text came in letting them know the group was headed for Mario, Caden did not have enough strength to go.  They finished the entire movie, him lying on one couch, her on the other, ending at the exact minute needed to return her to her home by Midnight.  Because he was so fatigued, I took on the role of chauffeur.  Oh, how my heart swelled in my chest as I watched my son carry an umbrella for her as he walked her to the door.  And through it all, Jennifer's gorgeous, radiantly happy smile and soul was a light in our lives.  Not once did she seem even the least bit sad or disappointed that her night did not go at all as planned.  Rebecca and I have both wondered allowed how blessed we are to have these two amazing children as our own.

The very day we left for Hawaii, we found out that Jennifer had been nominated for Royalty.  She did not win the vote, but in our hearts, she is the quintessential definition of Homecoming Queen!    

Polynesian Cultural Center

We were generously given tickets to attend a Not To Be Missed! activity when in O'ahu: The Polynesian Cultural Center (Ali'i Package).  Monday morning, we loaded up and left early to drive the scenic route to La'ie, Hawaii.  Probably the most beautiful drive and destination on the whole island! 

 It's always hard to get a good picture while driving, but I had to try.  The green of the mountains was SO STUNNING against the bluest blue of the sky and the whitest white of the clouds.

 This is the entrance to the tunnel that we were told is too long to hold your breath from beginning to end.

 Seven people started.  One person succeeded.  Can you guess who?  I'll give you a hint:  The one in this family that has the strongest will.  The one that said that "with every person that couldn't do it, it fueled his resolve even more."  The strongest of our entire family: Caden Randy Dirks.  I'm telling you, I seriously DO NOT know how he did it.  I was a close second place, but even then, I was amazed he held it the whole time.  It cut through an entire mountain!

 Our views as we were driving were so stunning, I asked Randy to pull over for a family picture.  This would be perfect if I could figure out how to lighten our family, while keeping the integrity of the background.  There were many, many spots that could have captured the perfect location for pictures.  Seriously, the most amazing drive!

 La'ie Point

Don't let the angle fool you, it was a 20 foot drop to the water.  I was a bucket of nerves having the kids walk around out here.  It was a rocky terrain where one slip of their flip flops would have sent them diving to the depths.  We didn't stay here for too long, even though the views were breathtaking. 

The second we stepped out of the car at The Point, Keilie got a piece of glass stuck in the bottom of her foot.  We quickly stopped by the grocery store for a pair of tweezers, and while she pulled out the glass we drove to my most looked forward to destination stop: The Temple.  We did not get out, because Caden was too fatigued, but we did get to see it.

Not the best pictures, I admit, but it's hard to capture them when you don't actually stop the car.  In that last one, we were on a round-about, going around and around and around.  It was kind of funny, actually.  This is the best of the five I tried!

We arrived at the Polynesian Cultural Center three minutes after they opened.  The sights were gorgeous, the dancing was superb, the smells were delicious, and the ambiance was intoxicating.  This was an amazing activity that took us from Noon to 9:30pm!  And, because they rented wheelchairs, Caden did better than expected during the long day-- we couldn't have done the day without it.

 The Luau was delicious and so much fun.  And, oh, the dancing.  So graceful and incredible.  Honestly, I don't know how those hips can move at such a rate, yet their ribs don't move a centimeter!  Believe me, I know how hard it is!  You'll see in the below pictures that I tried it!

 Not to worry-- I have no plans to quit my day job!  I'm pretty sure I heard screams from the audience: "MY EYES!!!  THEY BURN!!!  Take it away!!!" meaning me.

 Ha: Breath of Life.  7th row from the stage

The show was amazing!  We were close enough to feel fire.  But that is not the thing we felt the most here.  No, the story touched our hearts and made us grateful for this amazing thing we call Life.

We had heard that The Polynesian Cultural Center was a Must See!, and I have to say, I agree.  The entire day was full of laughter, excitement, giddiness, walking, heat, sunscreen, cold drinks, great food, and fun.  The kids tasted foods that are all part of the experience that is Hawaii, though I'm sad that they didn't taste Poi (not that I think it's delicious, just that it's part of the experience).  The stories that were told through word, dance, and song made the whole day feel as if we were in another world, as if being in Hawaii didn't feel apart enough.  The day started out with gorgeous views that the world has to offer, and ended with gorgeous views of those that are grateful to be alive.  I couldn't have done it any better than they.  Thank you Rodney and Tricia Graves for the suggestion and the tickets!  It was a magical, "O'ahu's Disney", perfect day!