Sophie Kate's Graduation

Summer has officially started here.  We have completed 6th grade, 4th grade, 1st grade and 4K and yes I say "we" because it has been a group effort for sure.  It will be a different kind of summer for us this year with Cooper playing school football and basketball but we are glad to have him with us right now.  We missed him in the afternoons during spring training.  It was strange not having him come home from school like he always has. The brothers asked where he was almost every day, they missed him and so did I.  It was different us all not being together, but we're adjusting.

Sophie Kate graduated from 4K and I think I held it together pretty good.  I had my moments like when Grey pushed her in during the processional.

Yep, I bawled but then got a hold of myself.  It was the sweetest thing and so very appropriate because he has been so involved in her class this year.  She wouldn't have had it any other way.

SK's 2013 4K class, everyone is headed to Kindergarten next year!

My friend Letitia joined us as we donated two books about special needs children to SK's teacher...one in memory of her son Dante and one in honor of SK.  It's been to my gain to get to know her precious Dante through her and her family.  I value Letitia's friendship so much.  I was thrilled she could come and as always was blessed by her selfless and uplifting spirit.

The other moment that I lost it, Sophie Kate and her teacher of three years saying their goodbyes.  Look how intently SK is looking at her and listening to her...not many people get to be looked at like that by her...so moved by the the love and respect between them.  

 Grey and his #1 girl...the feeling is mutual I can assure you.

A wonderful accomplishment for our sweet Sophie Kate.  It was truly a team effort to get her to this point.  There are so many people to thank...teachers, therapists, our fantastic school system, SK's nurse and our family and friends that have supported our girl and our family and have prayed nonstop for us.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Changes

I just don't do very well with the ending of things.  While I cannot wait for the ease of our unscheduled summer days, that's not how I am feeling this week.  I know without a doubt that we will smoothly transition into movie nights and sleeping late and I am looking forward to that, but it's not how I feel on this day.  On this day I am feeling nostalgic towards the little girl that started preschool 3 years ago.  As I literally count down the days we have left, I remember back to that little chubby cheeked girl and her mother unsure of the road that lay ahead (a place I have become very familiar with over the last 5+ years). 

 (SK the year she started Preschool)

Next school year I will have one in 7th grade, 5th grade, 2nd grade and Kindergarten...that cannot be possible, there must be a mistake somewhere.  They are different today than they were when school started back last August. Not a bad different just different and things have changed in our house and with our routines as the kids have changed.  Once again not a bad change but a change nevertheless.  A bit more grown up, a bit more independent...Cooper still needs us it's just in a different way.  I can feel things shifting in the house, kids growing up way to fast.

 All of these feelings will come to fulfillment when Sophie Kate graduates from preschool on Wednesday afternoon.  I will be an absolute mess.  A part of me wants to skip the whole thing and pretend like it isn't happening, but she's come too far for me to do that.  She has worked hard and I am very proud of her as I am her brothers.  Next week, it will be summer and all will be well, but this week I am feeling that sentimental pull on my heart that these babies of mine won't take their time in growing up. 

Mother's Day

Blessed that these three call me mama...

Would give anything to hear this one say those words too...

She satisfies my mothering heart with her touch, her smile and her presence that just fills up a room.

Yes we have the exact same hair, can't tell where one ends and the other one begins.  He told me just the other day that when he grows up he wants to have one special needs child, adore his gigantic heart.

This one got glasses for the first time last week, wears a hearing aid in one ear and doesn't let any of it get him down.  Love his easy going spirit.

So stinkin' proud of this guy for making the 7th grade basketball team and doing 7th grade football that I can hardly stand it!

I can't imagine a higher or more humbling call on my life than to mother these four children...my cup runs over.

Preschool to Kindergarten

Sophie Kate is doing better and went back to school on Wednesday of last week, that is also the day that we had her IEP meeting for next year.  It went really well and I am certainly looking forward to the new things SK will get to be a part of next year.  The only downside to next year is that we will be leaving our wonderful preschool class and teacher that we have been with for three years. 

The life of our family changed for the better three years ago when SK entered this class.  Her teacher and friends have been such a blessing to our family.  They have set wonderful achievable goals for our girl and work diligently and consistently with her each and every day that she attends.  As we sat around the conference table last Wednesday surrounded by SK's teachers and therapists I could feel in their expressions and their words how much they truly care about our girl.  They don't just teach her, they don't just stretch her, they don't leave her in her wheelchair to be a bystander to all the activity in the classroom.  They have made a commitment to these children with their lives and careers and it is evident everyday in their words and actions.  With tears that would come and go as the meeting went on, I felt so grateful for all of them and what they have contributed to the life of my daughter and our family.

It's a wonderful thing that she is able to attend school at all. It's even more wonderful that I can leave her confident in the care she is getting when I'm not there.  It's been a good thing for both of us.  Five years ago I would have never believed that we would be talking Kindergarten for SK next year, so excited for her.

This verse comes to mind when I think about those who have taught, loved and cared for our girl for the past three years, especially her teacher.  Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves."

Mrs. B thank you for always regarding Sophie Kate in such a way.