The First of Many Firsts

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 was a day of firsts. It was my first day to purposefully wake a child before sunrise. It was Troy's first day to request a wake up call when he didn't need to get up for work. It was Kaden's first day to wake up and know that his best friend had already left the house. It was Greyson's first day to wake up and be Kaden's first choice for a playmate. But amid all those firsts, it was Lauryn's first day of kindergarten! It was a magical day!

For those who don't know, Lauryn is attending kindergarten at my school. So we got up, got ready, and headed to school...TOGETHER! I had worried that she wouldn't like having me along and that she would want school to be her thing, but she was all smiles. She just loved going to school! She was excited about the hook for her backpack, excited about her seat, excited about her name tag, excited about her teacher, excited about art class, and excited about being excited. And that has not changed in the last eight days. Each night, she tells us, "Tomorrow is my third (fourth, fifth, sixth...) day of school!" It is a joy to watch her love learning and love being here! The whole family, with the exception of Kaden, who is a little lost without her, is so delighted and amazed to believe that we are already at this place in our lives!

And after her third day of school, Lauryn had another first...her first soccer game! She was so confident and cool, it was hysterical to watch. It rained and was cold, but she played like a champ. She showed herself to be the same girly girl she has always been, however, when she tripped and got the tiniest speck of dirt on her white sleeve. She ran straight off the field to show me and ask if I could get the stain out! We laughed, sent her back on the field, and later explained that it's a good thing to get dirty when you're playing sports!

We're so thankful for our sweet and not-so-little girl! She is growing up so fast, and it is really awe-inspiring to watch God work in her life. She has a heart of gold and is already making friends and smiling at everyone at school and on the soccer field. What a gift she is!