What lies ahead...

So a little over five years ago Radley had his first day of "school". We dressed him up in his little St. Joseph's Eagles Nest tshirt, loaded up the car, and walked him into school. He was four months old and when we walked out of that school, I cried. And cried. Ryan and I went to McDonald's for breakfast and as I picked at my Egg McMuffin I looked up at Ryan for the first of many times and with tears in my eyes said, "What am I doing?!" 

Meaning, why were we leaving our sweet baby in the care of someone else? Why wasn't I going to stay home with him? 

And I have since answered those questions many times - with the basic answer being this is what works for us.

We stayed at St. Joe's until Radley was almost 2 years old and then moved to our current daycare. For several reasons, but one being that our closest friends had their child (at the time that was just one! ;)) there as well. 

In that time, we have seen an almost 2 year old grow from a small toddler to an amazing "big kid." We have watched as his love for learning and exploring new things shape him into the inquisitive, bright little man that he is. 

We are so thankful for each one of his teachers he has had - each and every one of them have impacted his life in small and big ways. He seriously LOVES school - he loves his teachers, his friends, his projects. He is so happy and filled with energy, he wants to please and make you proud. 

He cares about his friends...

he never wants to leave anyone out...

and as sad as he is to say goodbye, he is READY to set sail for Kindergarten!

He will miss being goofy with his crew of kiddos...

but we know that there are a few that will be part of our lives forever!

And four that get to go to the next phase of school together!

(love that Welvin photbombed this pic!)

He had a great last week with the Friendship crew!

Almost every night I sing Radley "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor, so when I left work to pick him up for the last time yesterday, I turned on "our song". And then proceeded to ugly cry to his school. 

My biggest hope for him is that he always feels like he has friends in his teachers and classmates. That he is able to trust those around him to support him, and challenge him, and discipline him, and teach him, and love him...

just like he has been given in these teachers for the last five years. 

(Miss Tori wouldn't let him leave).

That he has a safe space to turn to when Ryan and I aren't there. 

That he always feels like he can offer his friends the same blessings...

and that this next crew of classmates is as awesome as the ones we have come to know and love. 

(And that he knows his sisters love him, too)!

And as we left yesterday for his last time as a "preschool kid" I watched him walk out on his own two feet to what lies ahead. His little bit of sad to say goodbye was surrounded by his sheer excitement for the unknown.

May he always walk to the unknown with such confidence!