Baseball Boy

Dear Luke,

You are getting to play baseball these days with Lamar Little League and are learning a lot! You recently got hurt at a game when you were up to bat. This season is kid pitch, so a lot of the pitches are off the mark. Unfortunately, you got hit pretty badly with the ball and that shook you up quite a bit. I came over to check on you in the dugout and you later told me you were glad I came over to see if you were ok. You didn't cry, but you said you wanted to. Then, you were pretty scared of the ball for awhile after that. You practiced with Daddy and we talked a lot about confidence and thinking through what would be the worst that could happen. You did a lot better your next game, but then got nervous again. I was cheering for you when you came up to bat later in the game and you were a lot more confident that time. When I asked what gave you confidence, you said that your coaches had talked to you, but the thing that gave you the most confidence was hearing my voice. You said if I keep cheering for you, you'll get a grand slam! :) You've developed a lot of independence so I'm glad to know you still want me cheering you on and checking up on you.

Love,

Mommy

Third Grade

Dear Luke,

We are 7 days in to 3rd grade and it's going great! As school approached toward the end of the summer, you'd say, "finally, I can't wait to go back to school!" When I would ask what you were most excited about, the answer was always that you wanted to see your friends. 

It was such a gift to be able to walk in the building for Meet the Teacher and actually meet your teachers! You have two this year and seem to be doing really well with the switch in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, none of the kids in your class last year are in your class this year, including Asher and River, but you have a great attitude about it. You told me it's ok because you still get to see them at lunch and recess. And you are making new friends in your new class. When I asked if you'd like me to come have lunch with you sometime, you said you might be embarrassed in front of your new friends. So, I told you that was fine! 

You seem to like going to school with Nora. We have been walking together to school from the point where the walker line comes into the neighborhood. Sometimes you walk ahead of us in the mornings, but when I pick you up after school, you are always walking with Nora. You told her the first day of school that she looked really pretty and are very interested to hear what she has to say about kindergarten. You share and compare what you each did in specials and ask lots of questions about her experience. 

I'm so happy you are happy in school and am praying for it to be a great year of growth for you. I miss you, but I know you're in a great place and I am savoring the memories from our fun and full summer. We really lived it up, especially after a summer of so much quarantine in 2020. It was nice you and Nora didn't necessarily need to have rest times, so it opened the door for lots and lots of fun activities and time with friends. I'm so thankful for that time together as we transition back to another schoolyear.

Love,

Mommy

Your Baptism

Dear Luke,

Last weekend, Daddy and I got to baptize you at Real Hope's new campus! You had told me after seeing our church's last baptism some 6 months ago or so that you wanted to be baptized. We were sure not to push you on that decision, but really wanted it to be your own choice. You had questions about what you would wear, who would be there, and had some nerves, but stayed really focused on the idea. Honey and Grandpa came in town for the weekend and were so glad to be there. Saturday night we took turns sharing our own stories of coming to Christ and being baptized. You listened intently and asked good questions. It was a very special and celebratory occasion. When it was over you told me it was the best thing you'd ever done! We love you and are so proud of you.

Love,

Mommy

It's Great to be 8!

Dear Luke,

You and I just finished a game of Battleship at the kitchen table and now Daddy is tucking you in for bed upstairs. You're wearing your favorite Star Wars pj's and playing around with your Perplexus while you two talk about the day. When you turn off your lamp, your Millennium Falcon will glow on the wall as you drift off to sleep. Tomorrow, I expect you will wake up around 6, often sometime in the 5 o'clock hour. My alarm will go off at 6 and I will call you down for breakfast. These days you like to eat an english muffin with butter, sometimes a banana with peanut butter, and sometimes a breakfast taco with scrambled eggs. Always a string cheese. You usually carry down some lego sets to bring to the kitchen table and play with Nora. I read a devotional to you two while we have breakfast. 

We try to head out the door about 7 to get you to school. You're full of energy in the mornings and sometimes need reminders to stay on task to pack up your backpack with your lunch, water, and snack, grab a mask, a jacket, etc. You love it when your hair is short enough that I don't have to fix it before school. On the way to school I'll ask what we should pray for, sometimes encouraging you to think of something to thank God for, ask God for, and tell God you are sorry for when necessary. You give me a big hug as you get out the car door and happily walk into school. 

Nora and I pick you up from the walker line at 2:55 and almost every day you ask to go to the park. As long as the weather is accommodating and we don't have a grocery pickup, we often do meet other neighbor friends there after school. Then when it's time to come home, you eventually work through your chore list, including unpacking your backpack, prepping your lunch, picking out your clothes for the next day, and taking a shower. Sometimes there's a show and you love when you get to play Imagine Math on the computer. Then we have dinner and a treat and start the process all over again! 

The days are full and they are good. You are energetic, fun, and love to be silly. I've noticed these last few months how social you are. You are very motivated by making other people laugh. You're much less interested in the park if there aren't other kids there to play with. You talk about your school friends a lot: Asher, RJ, Addie, Mattie, River. You are reading at a 4th grade level and also have the highest math level in your class. Your teacher has mentioned to me that slowing down is an area for you to grow, as you sometimes rush through your work because you want to be done, and miss some questions when you really know the right answer. She has also told me how much she loves having you in class and on a recent grade report wrote, "this kid lights up my life!!!"

When we were heading to the car after eating out for your birthday dinner, I saw you lag behind and crawl through the bicycle rack from beginning to end. I was glad to still see some "little boy" in you and wondered if that's something you would do on your next birthday. It was a good reminder to enjoy the stage where we are right now. You also still say "libary" and I know one of these days you're going to start saying it the right way, but it won't be because I corrected you!

I love you so much, Luke.

Love,

Mommy