The night before kindergarten

It is the night before kindergarten. We had a special dinner tonight, Babes Chicken, her request. She showered and went right to sleep. We read special books. We gave her a special present. Before she got in bed, we laid her freshly steamed clothes out. The alarm was set. Her new backpack is finally taken out of it's sacred place. It has been remaining spotlessly clean in our guest room closet. It is packed with important first day of school items. It is on the kitchen counter waiting for her. Her new lunch box, which also remained spotless, is packed with the best lunch for my girl, also in, may I add her new super, cool lunch container. Daddy has taken this special day off work. We are ready for this, she is so ready for this.

Kathryn outside of Babe's

If you look closely, you can see the special present we got her.

It's around her neck! It's her first 'big girl' piece of jewelry from James Avery.

It is a small sterling silver cross. A sweet present from mom and dad, but also a wonderful reminder to always keep Jesus close to her heart. She was so excited and sweet!

Her cool new lunchbox container. It is from Pottery Barn, you pack it up and it fits perfectly in the lunchbox. We'll see how it goes, but it seemed like a great option! Also, a little compartment in the back to hide a note and cookie for her!

So then why I am sad, I am not going to lie. I am sad my baby girl is big enough to go to kindergarten. I am sad that my baby girl is not going to be here with me. She is my buddy. I've been sort of a mess and have really been pondering these thoughts. So here is my little pep talk to myself...
This is one of the most anticipated days in Kathryn's and our lives. She is starting kindergarten! We have been talking about this day for so long. There is excitement, sadness, joy and fear all wrapped up in us. I have prayed and prayed for this day, for this year, for the beginning of what this is. This is HUGE! I am so excited for her, I truly am. She is so excited, she is so calm. She remains to show me her maturity. She is ready for this. She will do great. She may be nervous, but she will be strong. And just in case, I have tucked a picture of us inside her bag. I hope if she needs it, it will make her smile. I am proud, while I am very sad, I am so proud. We have been working toward this since she was born. We have prepared her to enter kindergarten and tomorrow she is going to walk into her new school for the first time as a student. I am going to watch that precious brown hair of hers swing from to side to side, those cute little feet bounce up and down as she walks. She will be such a big girl. She will turn around and give me a kiss and make her way into her new classroom. She is going to grow so much this year. She is going to make new friends, she is going to learn so much, she is going to grow in Christ. She is going to ROCK this and nothing less! I will go to the Boo-hoo breakfast and I am sure shed a few tears. But, I will walk away so proud, I can't be anything else! I can hardly wait to pick her up from her first day of school and hear about this new adventure. It will be wonderful!

A great report to come tomorrow with lots of great 'first day pictures'!