it was a price she was willing to pay.  Sar and Em would ride to school everyday and continue their talks and when different schedules would sometimes interfere, they'd be sitting on their bedroom floors "catchin" up.  And yes, sometimes there would be the "Sar, hurry up!  You're gonna make me late again" or "Em, where's that one sweater you wore last? You need to put my stuff back." But the spats wouldn't last.  By the time they got to school usually everything was forgotten and by that night, if time allowed, they'd be watching a movie together or sharing a half gallon of ice cream. 

 
   Em excelled at academics and we often wondered what she'd be able to accomplish had she ever really studied.  There would be many times when Em would say "Oh yeah Mom, be sure to pray for me (at such and such a time) because I have a test and I didn't have time to study."  I'd always check with her and sure enough, she would get an A on it.  I wasn't that she didn't have time, it just didn't get as much attention as it should because there were other more pressing things to do like go to any and every sporting event to support her friends and enjoy all the fellowship. When she was home, she would study some but with the cell phone in her ear and MSN and music going on the computer. She excelled in science and it was always her goal to be a doctor of some sort.  She won her 5th grade speech contest as she talked of wanting to save people like her Grandpa Bob had been saved but only be more like a "Patch Adams" doctor who really took an interest in each patient.  She also had a real heart for people with disabilities.  She was invited to attend the National Forum of Medicine in Chicago, at age 15, after being nominated by Mr. Calloway, after taking and excelling in an upper level science class for mostly Seniors.  She had planned to go sometime later in her high school years. 

  
   Em's hard work paid off and she made the Varsity Volleyball team as a freshman and she couldn't have been more happy.  It was an incredibly awesome year of volleyball with much success and after a series of events, Em would again have her dad as a coach.  Life was good!!  Her closest friends her age would excel in their sports which were basketball and softball mostly, and some in cross country and cheerleading, but she was the only freshman to make Varsity.  Her friends and her did however remain close and though their own individual sports were different or at different levels, they found their relationships intact as they cheered together at the boys sporting events tailgating or being side by side in the "Wacky Woody" section.  There would be parties after formal dances at someone's house, they had fun in their classes and

worked on Homecoming activities together. Em loved to host a Super Bowl party every year. It was a time when a group of her friends would try and get together.  The Super Bowl party was still held in 2006, only this time they wouldn't watch the game, they would watch old movies of Em (and friends) and make fruit smoothies (Em's favorite).

   Those friendships that were started in Jr. High and nurtured through the High School experiences would be the ones that brought Em the most happiness and joy.