Third Grade Bible and catch up on the year

 You got your third grade bible at church a couple of weeks ago. You were so nervous to get up in front of the church and wanted to know exactly what you would have to do. I don’t think you believed us right away when we told you that you simply had to walk up and take your bible. Your nerves didn’t show a bit as you walked up with your head held high and we were super proud. Dad and I enjoyed going to bible boot camp later that Sunday to learn all about using your new bible. We pray you use this as the main book in your life and source for all the answers you seek and comfort you need. 

In other news, you are back in school four days a week and are so glad! You rocked having to be at Seven Oaks Park by yourself and keeping up with your virtual schedule, but it was a lot for an 8 year old to keep up with. There were definitely some stressful times and times when your emotions won out, but overall you were a rockstar and handled it with more maturity than lots of older kids. You are in Ms. Barrack’s talented and gifted class and are doing well. However, you put so much pressure on yourself. We pray that you will seek your worth from God and know that no matter what your grades are that what matters most is that you’re a kind person and always try your best. We’ve had that conversation many times lately and we’re not sure it’s sinking in yet, so I hope your older self is reading this and believing how awesome you are!! 

We love you and are proud of you. Let’s pray that the next update is back to normal and covid is gone!!!!

(You wanted to try ice skating again when we both were off for election day. You first wanted to give up when it was hard at the beginning again, but you got back out there and ended up doing the best you've done yet and we stayed the longest we've ever stayed. I had so much fun with you! 

Halloween 2020

 A horse, a knight, and a dragon had a great time trick or treating for Halloween 2020! 

Hilton Head Island 2020

We had a wonderful week at Hilton Head this summer and it was much needed! It was so nice to feel "normal" again and to spend time together as well as with Grandmommy and Grandaddy. Your highlights of the week were: boogie boarding, bike riding, and as you told us more than once: SHOPPING. You got a new hat, float, gum and a sign for Georgia's dog house and would have bought everything else you saw if we would have let you. Ha! We will cherish the memories of this week with you forever!

Summer Swim Team 2020

Madison- I am so proud to write to you that you placed in the top 20 of you age group in the (virtual) city swim meet last week in freestyle stroke. While I'm proud of this achievement, what I'm most proud of is your perseverance this summer. It was only towards the end of last summer that you really became a confident and comfortable swimmer, so you were very nervous starting off this year. You were ready to quit when you were quickly moved up to an older group (away from your friends) once they saw your potential, but you kept going. Each day, even when it was extremely hard, you worked and practiced and listened and never gave up! You worked hard and earned the "water bottle being dumped on your head award" in dry land conditioning multiple times. You came to the pool for "fun" later in the day and worked on dives and flip turns, etc. You put your mind to it and were successful. I'm so proud of how far you came this summer and how strong your will is. You amaze me and I love you so much!

This is how we quarantine:

Well this is certainly a strange time. We've been stuck inside our house/neighborhood for 3 weeks now. Some days are great; some days are awful, but we certainly are building lots of memories together!  Below are some pictures of the first part of our social distancing time together. Here are some things I don't want to forget about you right now:
1. Doing art work with you in the driveway. You are a perfectionist and nearly drove me crazy in the process, but the final product was beautiful and I love your dedication!
2. You riding your bike like a champ!
3. You've made such good friends in the neighborhood and it's hard to stay away from them right now. Your favorite thing to do right now is to get all dolled up (cute clothes, hair done and lip gloss on) and go out to ride your bike in hopes that you'll see someone to ride with (we allow bike riding since you can stay 6 feet apart). It's cute to see you develop these social relationships and begin to care about appearance and what other people think. You still have a healthy balance of what's really important though and I pray you alway will. It's such a joy to watch you learn and grow!!