and all the thoughts.
so many thoughts in looking at these pictures together. bookends to this school year.
they grew. maddie is so pretty. isaac is so handsome. they are both so kind. they are funny. nothing makes me happier than hearing them laugh. they are wonderful. they make me smile. sometimes we disagree. sometimes they make me so mad. we share laughter, and joy, and frustration, and growing pains, and utter confusion, and solid knowing. so many times, they fill my heart to bursting.
8th and 9th grade - done at noon today.
and my kids are already on to all the activities that will mark them as a 9th and a 10th grader. a freshman and a sophomore.
isaac got his football helmet for freshman year already, and has an initial camp/practice on monday. maddie has a volleyball camp monday-wednesday next week - starting to ready for j.v. tryouts. they both have summer jobs. they both have plans for some time at the beach with friends. and right now, i am thinking that i am going to block off some days that i will take off work, that the three of us can do some summery fun things together. and some days that the four of us (b+e+m+i) can do the same. we need to claim some days, right now. so we don't make it to the end of the summer without a few days of ease, together.
oh, friends, if you have littles, know that all the work you are putting in now to play with your kids, really know your kids, to build relationships, to help them find the things they like to do and that they have the potential to do well, all that work will pay off. it will. and you will have teenagers that you love to spend time with. keep choosing them. and they will keep choosing you. if you have more than one kiddo, help them choose each other (at least some of the time!), model the choosing. help them build each other up, tell them they are wonderful, model the telling. you stand to gain so much joy and such a beautifully full heart.
i love these two, ever so very much.
here's to laughter, and friday, and summertime, and new beginnings!