My little boy is growing up...
He's finally said goodbye to Preschool. When God brought us to Illinois, I knew God would find a place for Ryder that would be perfect for him. He definitely did that through the amazing Preschool experience He provided for Ryder these past two years at Little Lamb.
Here is one fun memory we have from this year...our time with "Freddy, the Traveling Teddy!"
Freddy visited every home of Ryder's classmates and came to ours in the last week of school :) We took him on a bike ride around the lake and then recorded about his adventures in his journal for the class to read about when he got back to school.
Here is Ryder and one of his best preschool buddies on the last day...
One of Ryder's teachers... :)
And, his teacher he had for both years in preschool...
This year was extra special since she retired after this year after teaching at Little Lamb for 25 years!
She was such a gift to us in so many ways. I remember one conversation we had at one of our conferences when we talked about Ryder waiting a year before starting Kindergarten. Since his birthday is in late August, John and I have always wanted to wait until he was 6 to start him in school. She was such an encouragement to us as she shared with me how ready he was to move on academically, but that she's never heard of any parent regretting their decision to wait so they are a bit more sure of themselves socially and for Ryder...giving him a bit more time to mature in his fine motor skills.
Here's a video of him reading to Cole...
(I'm holding Rylee on my lap while I'm taping...don't mind her breathing in the background!)
I can't tell you how thankful I am that we waited. I know there are many parents and kids that do it differently, and I'm not meaning to make any blanket statements that bring condemnation on anyone else's choices...not at all! I love that part of living life in this world. God has given each parent the grace and wisdom to lead their children well. He is so good. For my boy, I know that this timing is good for him. He is much more confident socially, and in his fine motor skills now than he was at the beginning of this year :) I just praise God for His word for US, especially since He knew we'd be moving on top of it all :) Ryder is so excited for the Lord to show us which school it is that He has for him. We pray for God to direct us every night. :)
I cannot let this moment pass without giving God ALL the glory for the peace I live with these days. The peace I wake up with and live through my days with doesn't come because I have answers to questions like...
Where will we live?
What school will my boy start school in?
What teacher will he have?
No...we can't have answers to these questions quite yet, so until then, I'm
packing boxes, and trusting in my God who DOES have the answers.
I don't know yet, but I will.
When God is ready for us to know, He'll tell us.
Until then I am swimming in the presence of the One who holds the universe on the palm of His hand.
I live overwhelmed by the truth that I'm a speck in that universe that God sent His Son for.
Yet, I was worth the price of His only Son.
God sent His Son to die so that mine could live.
If He paid such a price so that Ryder could live, how could I help but trust Him with tomorrow.
There is no one more worthy of my trust, hope and faith than the Most High God.
There is no one who holds more blessing in His storehouse for my boy than the One who breathed him into existence.
Ryder...my beautiful boy...was God's idea.
He knows how may hairs are on his head.
I don't.
He knows who he'll marry and how many kids he'll have someday.
I don't.
He knows how many days he has left on this earth before he sees Him face to face.
I don't.
When I stop and consider who the God is that I worship,
I can't help have peace in Him.
I can't help but trust Him.
I can't help but give Him my thoughts.
I can't help but love Him...because He first loved me.
While I was yet a sinner, and prone to worry and anxious thoughts,
He sent His Son to die for me, so I could know His peace, forgiveness and freedom.
At the end of this road, my prayer is that Ryder learns to give God all the glory for the direction we're given. He'll have a place to learn not because Mom and Dad figured it all out, but because God provided. He's never failed us before, and tomorrow will be no different :)
Oh Lord...we love you and give you all the glory for the story you've written for us so long ago. We wait with peaceful anticipation to watch you unfold the next chapter in our boys life. It is so good to trust in you, Lord!
