Participating In Public School: Dear Katie

Dear Katie,

Three weeks from tomorrow you will finish the third grade, but more importantly you will finish your first year in public school.  With a Mama who LOVES words I am almost speechless when I think about you. (Notice, I said almost speechless). I have just a few things to tell you.

*Tears*

Your Daddy and I are so humbled and so impressed as we have watched you navigate the waters of this unbelievable life change.  Not a single week went by that we didn't see your character stretched by circumstances. And baby, I see no sign of stretch marks on you. You gracefully waltzed through playground heart wounds, a teacher going into labor on day 3 of school, a long term substitute,  fashion bullies, misplacement of phalanges, being totally dehydrated on the first day of school because you were too nervous to ask where the juice was or to ask your teacher to get a drink out of the drinking fountain, a painfully annoying math curriculum, reaching out over and over again to build relationships with people, and surviving being "the new girl".

 Your hard work to learn the traditional school processes just furthers our confidence that you can do whatever you want because of your patience, your diligence, and your perseverance.

Each day you left our home at 8:30am and represented our family with such integrity, such love, and such kindness.

Thank you for always standing up for what was right.
Thank you for choosing forgiveness over bitterness. 
Thank you for showing everyone you interacted with a glimpse of the Jesus you love.
Thank you for willingly getting up day after day and finishing what you committed to do.
Thank you for being flexible and adjustable.
Thank you for setting an incredible example for your siblings.
Thank you for making this first year of public school a total joy for our family because of the positive attitude you were determined to exhibit.

My sweet, you make being your Mama an utter blast!
Your smile, your contagious personality, has lit up the little school on the hill.

Our Savior has been faithful, oh so faithful, to answer our cries in the wee hours of the night. Cries that He would protect you, grow you, send you friends who were like minded, and reveal Himself to ALL of us during this school year.

Proud of you does not begin to explore all the things we feel when we hear your name!
We love you, our Katherine Suzanne!

~Mama and Daddy