Look who is 16, going on…
Happy Birthday my love! We are in awe of you!!!
Canton’s buddies took him for pizza, ice cream, and an escape room.
We finally got to see him around 9pm! He FaceTimed with Rhonda who gave him the most generous and hilarious gift! The money box that kept on giving! We are so thankful and lucky to have Rhonda in our lives!
The girls wrote sweet cards, they sure love their brother! Happy Birthday, Canton! Cheers to a wonderful year! We love you!
Canton spent his last day being 15 staying after for an AP Environmental Science review session, writing notes to graduating seniors, and jamming on the piano.
We love you, Canton! Congratulations on an amazing 15th year! Can’t wait to see what you do next!!
Last Day Being 15
First Day Being 15
Happy Mother’s Day to the most loving, caring, kindest, most amazing mom there is! We are all so grateful for the support, encouragement, and love you give us every day. Happy Mother’s Day – we love you!
Adleigh competed at the state meet for gymnastics today with her age group from around the state. They award the top 8. She placed 8 on beam and 4th on bars. 9th overall. Lots of girls competing today! Yay Ad! We are so proud of how hard you work and what a great teammate you are! Congratulations on a great season!
Dear Canton,
Happy Birthday, Sunshine!
“You are sixteen…going on 46 :)…”
Wow, I know I say every year “How did this happen?”. But seriously, how did this happen? Sixteen. It’s not just a number — it’s a moment, a spark, a first chord in a song that’s all your own. This is your time. I have loved watching you grow into this stage of life. I love to hear your brain work as you explain your compositions or analyze a song. I loved watching Thomas the Train with you, and I now love watching “Curb” and “Sunny” with you. I especially love when you figure out the plot twist before all of us and then still have to explain it to dad. I love observing you as you pretend to be Owen and still find ways to include your sisters in your ever changing life. I love watching you balance ALL you have going on and still finding time to follow your joy. Sometimes I worry what it must be like to be you. You are in constant motion, constantly let down with the imperfections around you, but you still keep going, you keep striving and learning. Watching your brain work feels like watching a musical unfold — full of energy, heart, rhythm, and beauty.
“Takin’ what’s mine and not lookin’ back…”
The curtain is rising, and this is your solo. Who am I kidding? You have had a lot figured out since you came into our lives. As a little boy you would build Rube Goldberg machine level setups and analyze people’s faces to understand what they were feeling “what him face look like”. You walked early, talked early, read early, aced school, you name it. You have always been advanced, but this year has been another level. Just this year you have accomplished:
It may seem like it will be hard to top this year, but you are just getting started. There’s still so much ahead of you. We will always be your fan club.
“I may fly or fall but either way...”
It has been a joy to watch you grow into someone full of rhythm, heart, and spirit. In the coming year you will continue to amaze us. You will narrow down your college choice and your life path. Maybe as you turn 17 next year you will maybe have learned to drive, maybe you’ll try prom, maybe you will find your first love. Or maybe you will decide some of those things aren’t for you, and that is okay too. You have always been you, and that is a beautiful thing. You’ve got a good heart, a strong mind, and a sense of humor that can carry you through almost anything. This is your moment to take those leaps — to try new things, to test your voice, to go after the life you imagine. Be bold. Dance. Laugh. Your true laugh is one of my favorite things about you. Make mistakes with grace and joy. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to be you. Stand out and live fully, that’s how great symphonies are written. And if you fall, I’ll always be here — in the wings, in the front row, in every part of your life that you’ll have me, supporting you either way.
“Mama says, “What you believe in is all you really own…”
In this life, things can come and go: money, success, even people. But your beliefs? Your values? Those are yours alone. They shape who you are, how you move through the world, and how you handle the highs and lows that will surely come. Life will present you with hills to climb and valleys to navigate. There will be moments when you feel lost or uncertain. But those are the very places where you’ll grow the most.
So, believe in kindness, even when it’s hard.
Believe in integrity, especially when no one is watching.
Believe in your dreams, even when others doubt them.
And most of all, believe in yourself — your talent, your wit, your curiosity, your heart, you have everything you need in you already. You don’t have to have it all figured out, you just have to keep moving forward with honesty, humility, and heart.
“I simply remember my favorite things…”
Your laugh, your mind, your heart, they’re all treasures I carry with me every day. Watching you grow has been the greatest gift. You’re talented, clever, passionate, and so deeply loved. Your drive is something that I love about you, but take time to find the joy in the journey, even when it is flawed. Joy often hides in the little things: a shared joke, the smell of cookies, the feeling of home. Pay attention to those. They’ll carry you through when the tempo slows or changes unexpectedly. Don’t be afraid to live a little out of tune every now and then.
You are one of my favorite things. I cannot wait to see what kind of song you compose with the symphony of your life!
Happy Birthday, Canton!
I’ll love you forever!
Love,
Mom
Canton participated in the Virginia All State Choir Festival this weekend in Richmond. He spent Thursday and Friday in workshops with amazing choir directors and performed in a concert on Saturday. He was lucky to be with Alex, they have been friends since early stagelights days and it has been so fun to watch them grow! Great job, Canton!
That’s a wrap on Footloose!
Canton grew his patience, made great relationships, and perfected a country drawl! We are proud of his commitment and work ethic!
Shout out to Mike for set building and to get girls for being so helpful to me running the roses table! I just love that we are all joyfully committed to each other!
At the cast party the seniors give out some “paper plate” awards. These are usually funny, they can be inside jokes or weird personality quirks like the Texas award to a kid who moved from Texas or “the other one” award to the freshman with the same name as a senior. His good friend Coe and the rest of the seniors decided to give Canton this internet meme of “I’m nothing like yall” for recognition of his talent, smarts, and never being satisfied. I think they nailed it!
Great job to Adleigh at the Richmond Invitational!
Third on bars, 4th on beam, 7 overall!
Humorous Interpretation 2025 State Champion—Canton Murphy!!
Beyond proud of this kids! All the hours finding a piece, cutting it, creating characters, perfecting it, recruit other kids, coaching them…I just am in awe. He has so much to be proud of!
He’s already thinking about next year. They were 1 point from second place as a team! He broke a 15 year streak of Salem winning his event!!
SETC conference!
