Oh my...where to start. This new chapter in Austins life has been a really hard milestone in MY life. He is growing waaay to quick. I look back at some of his baby pictures and find myself longing for this sweet, loveable, little guy. Now he's a teenager and full of A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E!!
We went to back to school night and as we approached the school he tells me that he is getting so nervous. "It looks so huge!" he says. Of course I reassured him that he would be just fine. We had to jump through a few hoops to get his schedule, but once we did, we went through the school, found his locker and all his classes. After we went through it once I told him it was his turn to take me through. With a few nervous butterflies he led me to his locker and opened it...then to his first class...and his second. "Wow mom. This is going to be easier than I thought!" Being relieved inside, I just encouraged him on. When we successfully made through the night he was once again nervously excited for school the next day.
All day I waited anxously for him to come home so I could hear all about his first day. When he got home he played way casual...like it was no big deal. I asked him how he did finding all his classes, and this is his story...When he got to school and went to his locker there was some other kid in it. "Hey dude, that's my locker." "No it's not, it's mine." replied the other kid. After going back and forth like that a few times the other kid says, "Look, here is my locker number." He showed Austin his schedule which had the same locker number as Austins. Not wanting to put his stuff in a locker with a complete stranger, he just kept his stuff in his backpack and proceeded to class. It was English, and the teacher called his name. When Austin went to the front to get his book from her, he was greeted with the same kid that had his locker. The teacher had only one Austin Allen on her role, but there before her stood two Austin Allens! What are the chances? So she sent them both down to the office to get it all figured out. It ended up being that they gave us the wrong Austin Allen schedule. My Austin is actually on the records as Austin R. Allen. So they gave him his new schedule, and locker info. and sent him on his way! Talk about overwhelming the poor kid. So here he was left to find all his classes on his own. All the walking we did just the day before was for absolutely nothing!! He said he found everything just fine. It all ended up being worth it in the end because he likes the location of his locker better and he actually has a few classes with some friends. He told me that he was glad that he had a new locker because there was a really cute girl with a locker next to his. Oh my...he definately IS growing up toooo fast!! 
Austin IS "Something special to me". He is such a good example to everyone around him...including me. Sometimes he amazes me with the things he already knows. He has such a strong testimony and is so close to the spirit. I have had several oppertunities to have long talks with him...sometimes about nothing at all...but he never seizes to amaze me with his sweet, strong spirit. I can really see why the Lord saved him for these last days. He most definately is a "great and noble one". What I have ever done to be blessed with such a wonderful boy, I will never know. I am just thankful that my Heavenly Father loved me enough to send me this sweet young man. He has such a tender heart and would do anything for anyone.
