Cade's last day at CWP was bitter - sweet! I had been thinking about making a move for him for 2 years I could just never bring myself to leave the program we've been at since Lily was 16 months old. But Chris and I made the very tough decision to move Cade to another wonderful program for the fall. I spent many hours praying about our decision and I really feel good about it. But it was very hard!!! It has been an amazing journey at CWP watching Lily and Cade from baby through toddler, and the pre-school years. We knew all the teachers and the director and it felt most like a second home knowing both Lily and Cade were learning so much, being taken care of, and led to follow the Lord each day.
Cade especially formed close bonds with his teachers and they with him. When Cade was in Mrs. Amy's 2's class he wasn't talking much and he would call her "LaLa." She loved it and she helped him grow so much that year! We would both tear up just talking about him because I knew she loved him so much and he loved her....It was the sweetest interaction and they both just really bonded without him being able to communicate with the right words. By the end of the year, he was talking. "LaLa" dissappeared and was replaced with "Mrs. Amy" and he would pray for "his Mrs. Amy" each night, run and give her a big hug when he saw her in the hall or when he was leaving for the day. And at his end of the year conference she and I both cried again before we even got started talking. Chris just handed us both the box of kleenex (ha). She was his angel that year and he touched her heart as much as she touched his!
Then came 3's with Mrs. Kelley! Lily had Mrs. Kelley when she was in the 3's class. We have also taken swim lessons from Mrs. Kelley since Lily was three and Cade was a year. She has known him since he was born, taught him to swim, and worked with him very patiently through some of his frustrations and loved him just like her own! He happened to have the sweetest class ever so that was such a bonus to see the friendships that formed! Cade would walk in the classroom and everyone...boys and girls would run up, yell "Cade Thomas Carter," and give him a big hug. He would just smile....how could you not love going to school and being greeted that way everytime you walk through the door! Such a sweet, loving group of kiddos!!! They did that with everybody, but we loved that they called him by all three names....all day long! Kelley and I did not say good-bye the last day. She gave Cade a great big hug, spun around the room hugging like the first day of school and said I'll see you at swim lessons! On the last day of swim lessons...we still did not say good-bye. We started to, but both of our lips started to quiver and we did the whole look away with one hand in the air meaning stop and said "This is NOT good-bye!"
So, here's to tomorrow!!!!! Not to Good-bye.....to a future of possibilities, new friendships, new adventures and fun. And always holding wonderful memories in our hearts and angels on our wings, the ones who led us and who guide us to become the best we can be....Here's to THE JOURNEY!!
Cade Thomas Carter...YOU ARE BLESSED!!!!
This post makes me want to cry because I miss that school SO much too!!! What a wonderful time in our lives!
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