2:25

it's the time kinsley hops off the bus.   she hugs a couple older girls goodbye, pleads to play with ethan, invites neeshe and yohana over, then remembers her mom and sisters are standing there patiently waiting for some attention.  

our routine is to delay play dates until we can catch up, have snack and read her daily cuddle book.   kinsley reveals things she brought home one by one out of her backpack.  i ask as many questions as i can until she begs for mercy.  

my girl is growing up and it's hard not knowing the full picture.  i feel like i am putting together a puzzle of her day.  here are some of the pieces:

1.  saying i am proud of her is an understatement.  learning to read and write is amazing...especially if it is your own kid.  i love her terms:  she says she stretches the words out like a rubber band.   she is proud...we are proud...it is a win-win.   

2.  ben takes her to school every morning.  one day i had to bring her and did not expect it would take the vice principal, computer teacher and guidance counselor to peel her off me, screaming.  that was a rough start to say the least.  i was a nervous wreck to take her the next day but ben was out of town.  enter the best idea ever (credit to ben):  she took a picture of him and carried it to help her be brave.  it totally worked and he remains zipped in her backpack for emotional emergencies.   

3.  she has been talking about the school store for weeks.  one would not believe the amount of joy in that child when we let her bring some allowance to pick something out.  she couldn't sleep the night before she was so excited.   $1.50 later: a squishy bear keychain. 

4.  after talking about friends in her class she told me that joey takes medicine that makes his hair fall out.   my heart sunk to the floor as i asked her to tell me more about him and learned my fear was true.  absolutely heartbreaking.   joey is in my thoughts so often.  i don't know him or his story but he has impacted my heart.  the journey with him may be one of the most important lessons kinsley, and i, may learn all year.