Letting go...

 So, this post has been a long time coming...but before I get too serious we have been having some fun.  It snowed here...only lasted about 24 hours...but it snowed.  The girls LOVED it...they ran up and down the driveway with their mouths open trying to eat the snowflakes.  On the way to school that morning....I told Reese that they were saying it might snow...but that it had to get down to at least 32 degrees...which she turned into a chant with all 3 girls of "thirty-two...thirty-two" for about 5 minutes!

 Catching some proof that the chant worked!

 The gansta squad!

Alright so, here it comes...letting go.  See this cutie below (the one who in this picture has just lost her 8th tooth) she is growing up too fast!  She will be braving the halls of 1st grade next year and I am not sure I am ready.  She started Kindergarten this year...half day...at a new school, but never missed a beat and loves every minute.  At our teacher conference, one of the comments was that they love the way she loves school...she is my child!

My beautiful baby

Jason and I went to take a tour of the elementary school where she will be next year...there were a few moments where my chest felt really heavy!  The kids seemed so old, the school seemed so big and I felt my grip tightening!  For the past few months, I have gone back and forth about where she should go to school, what I wanted for her, would she be ready, would I, would she like it, would she pick up bad habits, learn what she should, learn what she shouldn't...you get it...the questions just kept coming!

And then...God...yes, for me when I take the time to simply ask for His help, for some guidance, for a reminder that He is in control...well He answered!  The day after our tour of the elementary school, I happened upon this...and it took my breath away...because for me it was what I needed to hear and it resonated with everything I believe about parenting and what we want for our girls.

"Our job as parents is not to shield them from everything hard, but to parent them through it with wisdom and discernment. We should not pull our kids completly out of this culture in some parallel Christian universe, but teach them to navigate the real world with grace and conviction. This requires a gradual process of letting go, so our kids can actually live a real life with real people and real problems and discover the real God who shows up there.

I don't want my kids safe and comfortable. I want them BRAVE. I don't want to teach them to see danger under every rock, avoiding anything hard or not guaranteed or risky. They are going to encounter a very broken world soon, and if they aren't prepared to wade into difficult territory and contend for the kingdom against obstacles and tragedies and hardships, they are going to be terrible disciples." - Jen Hatmaker

I read it...I said a resounding "Amen" and then spread this along to some people in my same boat who might appreciate it.  I am still a mom who is not ready for her baby to grow up...it is a first step...first grade and I know it is going to get harder...but I am so glad for the reminder of the direction I want to be going!

And a parting sweet treat from our Reese...she drew this for Jason and me....I LOVE it......children love fairy tales...so do mommies!  We love our Reese!