"1st Day of School" (Kindergarten and 2 Year Olds)

Well, they are off!  It really is unfathomable that Elijah is in Kindergarten now. He is ready though and I believe it will be a wonderful year for him. We are very pleased with our decision to keep him at his current school for one more year. He goes 5 days a week from 9-1, and it's just enough for him. Just adding the 2 extra days will be an adjustment for him, so I am really thankful that his preschool goes through Kindergarten and he could just stay in the same place for another year. He was somewhat tentative about starting school, because he tends to be very attached to me and enjoys being home - but he was fine once he realized all of his friends are in his class! He will have a great year. While I didn't put him in preschool until he was turning 4, we decided to let Ellison try it for 2 morning's a week at the same place Elijah goes. She has only been 1 day so far, but she was so excited about her 1st day and I think she is going to love it. She walked around with her backpack on for several days before school started staying she was ready to go. On the first day, it was really precious to see Elijah take his "big brother protective role" so seriously with her. He walked her in to her classroom, showed her where to sit, and made sure she knew he was right down the hall if she needed anything!

I thought about writing something really sweet and sentimental about the first day of Kindergarten and preschool, but after thinking about it, what I really want my children to know is how much they are loved.

So...... Elijah and Ellison, I want you both to know how deeply and unconditionally your Daddy and I love you. You are the joy of our lives and we are so humbled and thankful that God chose to give you to us to raise, to love, and to be loved by. You make us so proud just by being yourselves. You never have to try to earn our love - we love you simply because God gave you to us. Your identity is not in anything other than the fact that you are loved by the God of this universe. He loves you also, just because you belong to Him - you are His. You both are loved forever and always, and we are so proud of you. We cannot wait to see how God is going to use you to bring glory to Himself. Listen to Him - hush the noise of the world around you and the voices in your head and listen to Him. He will lead you and guide you all throughout your life. He loves you - love him back. 
Love always, 
Mommy and Daddy

1st day of Kindergarten
September 3, 2014 

She was a very supportive little sister on his 1st day

1st day of Preschool (older 2's)
September 4, 2014 

Day 2 of Kindergarten!  He wanted his picture made - CRAZY, unbrushed hair and everything! 

She was saying, "1st day of school" and he was giving a big "thumbs up" in the background! I hope this enthusiasm will last (doubtful), but hopefully :) 

"Prayers....."

Recently, Ellison has amazed us with her desire to pray. She does not wait to be asked, she simply volunteers to pray and insists that she wants to. She will not let us forget to pray, but will quickly remind us that we need to - which is so very humbling. She will pray at meals, at naptime, at bedtime, walking around the house, and in the car. She is beginning to simply talk to God and dialogue with Him throughout the day. Her prayers have a common theme too - gratitude.  She is always thanking Him. I have so much to learn from my children. I suppose Jesus knows this which is why He said, "and a little child shall lead them".

Tonight's prayer was, "Father, thank you for YOU. Thank you for my family. Thank you for my mommy, my daddy, my brother. Thank you for the sunshine, thank you for the spider and the ladybug. And Father, thank you for myself, Amen". 

I was sharing with Jay tonight a prayer that I have prayed for Ellison since the time I found out I was carrying her. Because of the difficulties my family was going through while I was pregnant with her and then her first several years of life, I found myself praying specifically that she would boldly proclaim Christ to all who would hear. I prayed that she would lead many others to Christ. I have prayed that she would shout His name from the rooftops boldly....., I was reminded through suffering that nothing else matters in this world - and I want my children to know that. I prayed she would be full of JOY, and that she would boldly proclaim Christ.  It is humbling to watch God shaping her little heart and giving her such a joyful spirit, and now to see her desire to pray - to lean upon Him, to interact with Him, to boldly speak to Him, and to boldly speak about Him.

Several nights ago, I was putting her to bed and leaning over her tucking her in. I was wearing a special necklace that has an anchor on it with the inscription, "HOPE HEALS".  I wear this often as a reminder of that hope that is mine in Christ Jesus and that this hope is an anchor for my soul. I was talking to her and she was touching my necklace and asked if it was a cross. I explained to her that it was not a cross, but an anchor. She asked what an anchor was, so I explained that an anchor is something that holds something else in place so that it will not be moved, get lost, or get broken. I then explained to her that Jesus is our anchor - He keeps us close to Him so that we will be safe and unmoved. I was having a particularly difficult day, so I felt like I was talking to myself and reminding myself of this truth as I spoke to my 2 year old daughter. She seemed satisfied with my answer and then told me she was going to pray. I was amazed by what came out of her mouth at her tender age - amazed that she had even listened to me - and amazed that she felt moved to pray.  She prayed, "Father, thank You that You are an anchor. Thank you that You are always with us. Thank you that You keep us safe. Thank you that You are always with us. Amen".