Dear Nate (on your first day of your sophomore year)- Oh, Nate. You’re breaking my heart this year in just about every way. First of all, the good news—or at least the bit of buried joy. You have become the kid I always dreamed of having. So handsome and confident and smart. Here you are....Continue Reading
Dear Sam (on your last first day)… What can I say that I haven’t already?Sixteen last-day of school letters. I’ve celebrated with you for all the ways you’ve conquered hard times, commiserated with you about the really crappy years, told you how you inspire me (you do), predicted which school years would be remarkable, and...Continue Reading
Dear Elisabeth- The other night, while we were praying, you said something profound that I won’t forget. As we made (joking) predictions about senior year, you suddenly got serious and said, “I have a lot I could lose.” And that’s it, sweetheart. Your life glistens with these gorgeous blessings. You have the most loyal and...Continue Reading
Sam is thirteen and has a mind that goes a million miles an hour. Watch the video to see his three tips about how to get to sleep. In our family, three of us are night owls and three of us are early birds. We’ve all been like this from birth. The night owls can’t...Continue Reading
Dear Elisabeth… My dear El, you are a devourer of books. You are a voracious teller and reader of all the stories. For most people, this year—Seventh Grade—is an epic chapter of dramatic proportions in their life stories. It’s the awkwardness of sudden growth spurts (or the lack of those spurts). It’s the hormones and the crushing peer...Continue Reading
Dear El… Thank you for making me laugh every single day. I don’t know where you got this sarcasm from (ha—that’s total sarcasm) but it’s just the best. You may only be 12, but you’re sly wit is way beyond that. Here’s another delight that you might not even know is happening: you’re learning to...Continue Reading
This school has become our family and our home. And not it’s time to say goodbye. For the last decade, Westlake Prep has been the seventh member of our family. To our kids—who started here just a few days after potty-training and who are leaving as tweens and teens—this place has been where they learned just...Continue Reading
Dear Elisabeth… Fifth Grade will be like none of your other school years. You, my dear Elisabeth, have changed. Your self-confidence has grown and you are shining. This inner sparkle comes from your security that Jesus loves you. It also comes from your love to imagine and create. God’s love for you will never change;...Continue Reading
Dear Sam…. Yesterday, when I was worrying about some detail about your school year, a friend said to me, “I think this will be Sam’s best year yet.” Just like that, I knew what she said could be true for you, Sam. So, what do you say we just claim this as a promise for this year? Let’s...Continue Reading
Dear Sam…. It’s crazy I’m writing your first-day-of-school letter at almost the end of September. This has been such a chaotic start to this school year. Hurricane Harvey has made everything later and backwards and awkward and different. Actually, this might be the perfect way for you to start Fourth Grade. Because, Sam, you love the crazy and...Continue Reading
