Today marks the end of one season and beginning of a new season for the Perdue Crew! A bittersweet day, however, we are all anxious and ready to begin this new season.

For the past 11 years, I have been at home with my children: birthing, feeding, loving, kissing, and TEACHING them. This year marks a new year for all of us. Jake will walk out the door tomorrow and into a school for the very first time. We didn’t make this decision quickly or without much prayer. Many months ago, I started feeling restless in our schooling decisions. I started feeling that it was time to send Jake to school. I was gripped with FEAR, however, I started to realize that I couldn’t determine decisions for Jake’s life based on my fears. I needed to truly determine what God wanted and to live by faith not fear. I came across this amazing article and it helped me see launching him in a different way. https://10kreasons.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/shooting-your-arrow-by-faith/
So, to steal a tad from the article: he is an arrow, an arrow we have spent the last 11 years sharpening, an arrow that would go out and fulfill His purpose. I believe that the Holy Spirit will guide him and lead him when choosing friends. I believe that he will be a light and a leader. I believe he will have favor with his teachers. I believed God will protect him physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and that no evil could befall him or come near him. I believe that God would use him mightily! As we gear up for SIXTH grade, I am believing these things.

He won’t have me by his side, but I know that GOD is with him. I know this because HE has been so faithful through out the past 11 years. I am thankful for each year I had Jake home. We have grown together. BUT now it’s time for me to I trust Him with HIS child, Jake!

Bonaire Middle is a new mission field for our family, and a new chance for Jake to learn to shine his light brightly and share Christ with our community!

Several weeks ago, God led me to this verse and I knew it so perfectly fit Jake and the foundation that we have prepared in him as we launch him out.

ITS GONNA BE A GREAT YEAR-BRING IT ON!l

We love our sweet C girl and all the feistiness and love that she adds to our family!

At three, you are SUCH a girlie girl. You pick out your own clothes to wear each day, and it always consists of something pink and a skirt or dress. You will tolerate pants or leggings but only if it is cold outside. You love to wear headbands, pig-tails and sleep in curlers.

You are slowly no longer wanting to nap. This can be exhausting, because you are pretty high maintenance at this age. You say “Mommy?” approximately 536 times a day. You are becoming more independent, but still need a lot (like getting a glass of milk, help going potty, wanting to play a game, or read a book). However, Sadie does spend a good bit of time entertaining you.

You are completely potty trained even at night! EXCITING!

You love playing with your siblings, and most often want to do what they are doing. Some days you say you are a big girl and say you don’t want to be a TODDLER anymore, but other days you tell me you aren’t a big girl. Such are the whims of a three- year old.

You are a pretty good eater. You absolutely LOVE cheese. You also love milk. You don’t seem into sandwiches or bread, but love macaroni and cheese, lunch meat, and crackers. You will eat any fruit we have.

You are for sure feisty. You are VERY strong willed, demand your own way, and still insist on screaming at the top of your lungs when things aren’t going your way (not one of my favorite traits). You have come a long way, however, we all hope that you quickly learn that is inappropriate. The problem we encounter the most is that you often get your way because no one likes to hear you scream (not necessarily because we are all so compassionate for “the baby”, but because it grates on all of our nerves) so whatever toy or book or item you are screaming about will usually get handed over to you. You express frustration easily with a growl or sticking out your tongue, and on the occasion, you bite.

But you are so, so sweet. You love to snuggle and give hugs and kisses and climb in laps. You love to say “ Mommy, I love you.” Your Daddy puts you to bed every night, and you snuggle and it’s just so sweet.

Three is the big year for the Perdue children to move out of their cribs and into a big bed. So, just as in years past, we took the crib down and Caroline started sleeping upstairs with the girls. No more diapers and No more crib! The Perdue Crew is growing up.