Dear Mugger...

Tonight was your preschool graduation. I don't think you wanted preschool to end. That's OK, we didn't either! You and Jackson and Allen and Colleen were the only graduates in your mixed-ages class since John had already moved. The 4 of you walked in as a proud little line between Mrs. Howard and Ms. Clements. We wondered if you were going to sing any of the 4 songs with the other kids and realized you couldn't concentrate on singing until you saw where we were sitting. Once you found all of us (Papa, Mama, Bug, Nonnie, Gramps, Great-Grandma, and Aunt Susie), you finally smiled and relaxed and enjoyed the singing.
You got to be part of Papa's message by holding up the first S in JESUS up front and you came up again when Mrs. Bradley wanted to thank Papa and bid us farewell. However, the most precious moment for me was when I saw you sitting on Mrs. Howard's lap-- you told me that you had told her that you didn't have enough room in the pew. I know she was pretty glad to hold you though. I think she's going to miss you lots-- and miss being Bug's teacher, too. I was so glad to hear that she'll be coming to your birthday party in the park.

You were pretty excited afterwards when Jackson told you that he'd be coming to your birthday party, too-- it was all you could talk about all the way home, at least until you remembered that strawberry shortcake was waiting for you for dessert. (You and Bug ran into the house chanting "Strawberry shortcake! Strawberry shortcake!)
Jackson sure has been a good friend to you these 2 years of preschool. I got some great pictures of the 2 of you hugging after the service because there were so many hugs.

We're proud of you, Mugger. You're a big kindergartener now, and as Coach K told me on Monday after your last Amazing Athletes, God has big things in store for you!