Kindergarten

Somehow we're here...the night before Kindergarten, 5K, "Big Girl school," Elementary School.  I'm pretty sure I'll be wide awake tonight, but the utterly amazing thing is, I am at peace.  And, if I think back to where we were 5 years ago, I never would have imagined feeling this way.  I had fear, worry, and quite frankly didn't know what school would look like for Ellie.  But...our girl is on her way to Regular, Typical, Mainstreamed, Least Restrictive Environment, "Whatever You Want to Call it," Kindergarten!  And I can't help but reflect how God has just loved her, and loved us through all of this.

The ELC, CDC, and now AMES.  These institutions of learning have done more than prepared our girl.  They have loved her, loved us, and pushed her appropriately to achieve her absolute very best. To see her growth academically, emotionally and socially has been an absolute joy to witness, and I can't wait to continue it year after year.  That's not to say it's been all rainbows, unicorns and butterflies, and I'm not under the illusion that there will not be challenges.  There most certainly will be.  But, I'm confident that our girl is up for a challenge, has the perseverance to push forward even when it's hard, and has THE absolutely BEST team fighting with and for her.

God has showed little blessings along the way...like having us "run into" her teacher at Target...a beautiful, compassionate, precious soul that we didn't know at all, but now absolutely know without a shadow of doubt was placed in our lives for a perfect reason at the perfect time. God's so good like that.  He's placed friends in Ellie's class that I simply can't wait to watch the relationships grow....the friends are sweet, kind, patient, loving, accepting, and protective.  He's orchestrated her school nurse to be not only a dear friend, but a previous NICU nurse that Ellie had when she was born.  And just today, her 4K teacher (who no doubt has prepared Ellie beautifully, knows her perfectly, and loves her so deeply) from last year called and left the most beautiful, perfect, and inspiring message for me to play for Ellie...and of course, I cried.  I could go on and on about the specific, detailed, wonderful ways in which He has and is showing us He's in control and taking care of her.

And that's where the peace comes from.  From Him.  Will I be worried tomorrow?  Probably.  Will I cry when we turn to leave her?  Maybe.  Will I think about how she's doing every second.  You bet. Will I cherish this feeling that I have tonight?  Absolutely.

So, her backpack is ready, her lunch is packed, her clothes are laid out, we've sprinkled our "1st Day Confetti" under her pillow to have the best.year.ever, and I'm trusting Him as we continue our journey.