*Almost* Back to School

Can you believe it? I can't. I can't believe that it is almost that time...

Kindergarten.

In a lot of ways, it seems like forever ago that we lived in our sweet little house in Shawnee, OK. We brought our precious baby girl home and we couldn't see past the tiny cries, the wrinkly toes, the diaper changes and tiny pink dresses to what would happen 5 years later. On the other hand, time has flown! I can hardly believe the beautiful, sweet, kind, little girl who has quickly become my best buddy.

Unfortunately, she is ready, and I am not

My prayer for Belle is that she learns and benefits from this change. I pray that she is safe and stays healthy this year. I pray that she can make some good, sweet, friends. I pray that she continues to be sweet and respectful of her teachers and classmates. I pray that over the next several years she grows strong in the Lord and that she can stand up for what is right. I pray that we are teaching her, even now, how God expects her to be different, not just to fit in. How he wants her to make good choices and to also lead others to make good choices. My parents always taught us to stand up for what is right, and even when we were completely outnumbered, we knew we had to. I remember having debates with teachers, students, youth ministers at camp, etc, etc, etc, over things that I knew were right. Looking back, I know that was because my parents stood up for the truth and challenged us to do the same. I feel so blessed to have had that training from such a young age. Blake and I pray that we are passing that on to our children as well.

I ask that you pray for this as well. For Belle and for all of the kids in our church who are heading out into the world, as well as their parents. You may not think this is necessary, but Blake and I know that training up a child in the way he should go, begins at birth. It is never too early.

Mama and Daddy love you, Belle!