How Shawn grown in his first four weeks of the Summer Bridge program

I meant to update sooner, but things have been busy here. Jim (Shawn's dad) is recovering from surgery, so that's been taking up a lot of our down time. Shawn is doing great. He came home for the Independence Day Weekend and showed us just how independent he is learning to be!

He amazed us at how much he has grown in his first four weeks of the Summer Bridge program. 

One of the big things was that Shawn wanted to cook and help cook every meal! Here is why, straight from the program: "The kitchen is the place to be at Summer Bridge! Every evening, a small group of students select a recipe they want to cook for their peers. The students make grocery lists, shop for the necessary ingredients, and prepare the meal with their mentors! The students learn about kitchen safety and cooking a variety of foods!" Shawn must be loving this part of the program, because he was really wanting to help make meals for his dad and himself. One day I heard Shawn get up and make himself breakfast without coming to wake us up. 

Shawn was also very excited about his job and told everyone about working at the recycling center. We think that Shawn has developed a great sense of pride that he is working because he knows that is what adults do. He was very excited when we drove past his work on the way back to his dorm at the end of the break, he said "I work there!"On July 4th, we went to visit some of our friends from the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) and Shawn was happy to see them. He has missed being able to go to SCA events on weekends, but has been very busy with the Summer Bridge program.

The weekend after the holiday, the Summer Bridge participants went with Parks and Recreation to see Mary Poppins at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Shawn loves all the songs in Mary Poppins, so I'm sure that he had a blast. Then on Sunday, Shawn and his friend, Anna K, went to a concert at the Amphitheater and saw Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper perform live and had a great time. That wasn't part of the Summer Bridge program, but was just Shawn hanging out with a friend! And like any other adult had to get up Monday morning and go to work.We do think Shawn is a little home sick though, because on Tuesday after work he called me after he couldn't reach his grandpa or Jim (He told me that grandpa was at work and daddy was at school). So I asked Shawn if he wanted to come to the SCA meeting with me that night and checked if it was ok with the staff at the program. Shawn came to the meeting and listened patiently while everyone gave reports. Then after the meeting was done, he visited with everyone, including the new baby in our Shire. Shawn really loves the SCA and his friends in the organization. Lord Shawn can't wait to go to an event and see you all again!

He called me again yesterday after work, and he also called Jim yesterday and today. His sister told me that he has been calling her too. Jim got to speak with his on-the-job work mentor and was told that Shawn has been calling just about everyone he has in his contact list during his breaks at work. He will be coming home for a little while this Sunday to see his sister, but he is busy on Saturday with the Summer Bridge and won't be able to meet her at the airport.

We sure miss Shawn being at home, but he is learning so much from this experience. So much more than money can buy.

Thank you for your encouragement and continued support of Shawn. Remember#smallthingsLeadToBIGTHINGS
Jim, Katheryn, and Shawn

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