RIVER!!!!!!

My eyes are still a bit puffy from all crying I did the night before your first day, but I’ll do my best to type this out and give it the attention it deserves. YOU STARTED SCHOOL! It’s technically been two days ago now and I could not be more proud of you. My little boy who has always clung to my leg on a good day (usually you stop walking at some point down a hall and I look to see you’ve vanished ha!), but you walked boldy right on in with zero hesitation. I truly think you’d have walked all the way in through carpool had I given you the option.

You told me you want to be a policeman. Specially, because you want to see what kinds of things they have in their homes. I’m not sure what salary you think a policeman makes, but probably something closer to what they deserve more than they actually make. You wore your new uniform and looked so much more grown with that leather belt and your brand new green shoes you picked out. The mask for Covid-19 part was a bit sad for mommy. I hated that your face was covered walking into your first day. I know that it only bothered me, and that made my mommy heart feel a bit better, knowing you don’t realize quite how sad and strange all of that is at your age.

I WAS THE FIRST IN LINE at pick up. You don’t know how big of a deal this is, but it’s IMPOSSIBLE to be first. I tried to be first for sheppard last year and FINALLY made it only to be cut in front of while we were rolling up. So when I was first for you, I was so proud of myself!!! ha! I guess I wasted it bc you weren’t impressed with my early bird skills. I don’t think doing it day one was a good move, bc now you probably will expect it! I had to get there at 11 (you get out at 12:45) to pull that one off. But you are worth it! My mommy was always one of the first in line and I remember feeling so loved that she did that.

I packed you a Peanut butter sandwich, popcorn and a honey bar. OH how I wish you would eat a fruit. Your lunchboxes are like a shame box for mommy. I think tomorrow I’m going to stick some strawberries in there and waste them just to make myself look good to the teacher who probably thinks I feed yall junk for a living.

After school, you had on a hat that you’d colored that day and hopped right on in telling me you had a great day. Mrs. Milstead had given you a special clip to hold your mask, and while the day was fun…..you told me “the playground wasnt as fun as the 4 year old school playground and we didnt get to do music or ipad or spanish or those things.” I just love how eager you are to get started. You were so ready for some real school! Today, you told me you made a friend who “is a girl in a blue dress with a blue mask with tiny white polka dots”. I have a feeling you’ll have a LOAD of friends here soon. You make them everywhere you go and make people laugh until their bellies hurt.  You are such a joy!!!

River, I pray you know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. That God has BIG plans for you. Plans full of hope and intention. I pray every night that he will give you blessings FAR above what we deserve and that you will use those blessings to show Him that you will reap what he sows. I pray you grow in wisdom and stature and favor with Him and with those around you. I already pray you will find a proverbs 31 wife one day and that you will love her the way Jesus loves us.

I want nothing but the best for you River, and while this World is not our home and it is not what we should strive for, we are to make it the BEST it can be while we’re here by soaking up what Jesus gives us. So for tonight, I’m soaking up you. I’m soaking up the fact you walked right in with Sheppard today and didn’t need Mommy to walk in. I’m soaking up your silliness. The way you still say some words like my baby roo and knowing that those will soon change. Soaking in the way you tell dirty poot jokes at dinner and remembering that in this season, nothing makes you happier than pushing someone’s buttons to make them laugh, or greeting Teddy when you wake or when we get home. The way you tell him “Oh Teddy you’re so cute I can’t even stand it.”

River….YOU Are so cute and I can’t even stand it.

I love you,

Mommy (aka old lady as you tease me)