The Last Day

Katie had her last day of preschool. Ever.

She's changed so much over this last year. She's still tiny, but she has grown a little taller and she's a little more mature. You don't realize how much can change in a year.

She has learned so much and I know she's ready for kindergarten.

In fact, she's already started asking me when kindergarten is going to start.

#it'sgoingtobealongsummer

End of an Era

Sweet Katie graduated from preschool today.

It was a happy occasion...and only slightly bittersweet. 

Josh, Becky and Katie have all attended this preschool -- and Katie will be our last to ever go.

I am so glad she had such a good experience, and I know that she is going to be so excited to go to kindergarten in the fall.

It's hard to believe that we are entering this next stage of life -- it came so quickly and I know that the coming years will pass even more quickly. 

Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy.

Help me remember to enjoy!

sugar sweet

Katie was sooooo excited to celebrate her "pretend" birthday today at school. Since preschool is out next week, she was able to take cupcakes to school today and have a little party.

She was hilarious today. She got a special reward for being so good at the dentist...the first time was a lala loopsy doll. And this time she wanted lala loopsy socks.

She really wanted to wear them today...and dang if she isn't so gosh darn cute!! (I know..i'm not totally biased. lol.)

Not So Tough

Katie is the cavity queen.

Long live the queen.

She had her 2nd appointment to finish with her new filings and it was awful.

As she lay on the chair, feeling the hurt and pleading with me with her big, blue eyes, I just wanted to cry.

This is the same thing that happened when she went in for her tubes.

Why is it that I can never remember that I am just not this tough?

But it got me to thinking about sacrifice and kids and love.

I felt so helpless as all I could do was watch her suffer. I held her hand. I tried to reassure her, but I had to let her have this experience, because in the end, it would be for her own good.

And isn't that so like life?

We go though trials. And sometimes they are really difficult experiences. But we are never alone. And most likely, these experiences will be for our own good.

And sitting with Katie today, I had a tiny glimpse of what our Heavenly Father must feel for us...as we suffer.

I would have gladly traded places with Katie today. I would have taken her pain and felt her suffering if it meant that she didn't have to. Because, surely it is a lot easier to do the suffering ourselves than it is to watch someone we love suffer -- especially our own child. But...I have to let her experience life, just like I am experiencing it. And hopefully, I (and Katie) will know the good and appreciate it more because we have had to have the bad.

I know what we experienced today is just such a small fraction of what others we know are going through, but I grateful for still for the remind that my Heavenly Father loves me.