Welcome....Here's a glimpse of our happenings!

The verses that have REALLY spoken to me (Sarah) lately....



"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:24-25



Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. I Peter 5:8-9



From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' Acts 17:26-28



May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14



So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:32-33



God, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business. It's up to us and our children to attend to all the terms in this Revelation. Deuteronomy 29:29 (The Message)

About the Friesen's....

We are Marc, Sarah, Luke, and Kate Friesen. We were married June 5, 2004. We have one son, born July 21, 2008, named Luke Andrew -- now 4 years old. We also have a daughter named Kate Christine -- born June 6, 2012. Marc is working at Cessna as a Senior Accountant, and Sarah stays home full-time with Luke. Sarah also gets to work very part-time at home for Graber Backhoe -- an excavation company AND VERY part-time at our church. We LOVE being a part of Grace Community Church here in Newton, KS. We lead a Community Life Group of other wonderful couples. Marc thoroughly enjoys long-distance running and Taekwondo. Sarah thoroughly enjoys walking -- especially when the weather is nice to take Luke and/or out in the stroller. Thanks for reading our blog!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

On Kindergarten...

I'm doing this post more as public information to my followers -- not for advice (unless you're an older mom who wants to encourage or share your story about your child(ren) when they were young -- see previous post)....Luke's birthday is July 21. He will turn the big "5" this summer (Sniff Sniff). Of course, when I was pregnant and obviously had a summer due date AND when we knew Luke was a boy (and announced it), several well-meaning elementary teachers had to tell me THEN that we should think about "holding him back" until he was 6 to start kindergarten. NOW, I know these teachers meant very well and were basing the statement on professional experience, BUT I, to this day, am BAFFLED at how I heard this before Luke was born -- well before we knew much about him or his personality. Several years ago, when Luke was around 2 1/2, Marc & I did go on ahead and make the decision to most likely have him wait until he was 6 to start kindergarten. I spent a whopping ZERO amount of time on the internet, reading books, etc. researching the topic. We pretty much solely based this decision on a) MANY older parents telling us their experiences with summer birthday children and waiting OR not waiting, AND b) My personally watching Luke interact with other children who would eventually be in the same class as he would be. During all of my observations, I did tend to notice he tended to act a bit younger -- because duh, he was younger. At that point, 2 wonderful older moms suggested to me (on different occasions) that if we at all thought we might hold him back until 6 to start kindergarten to hold him back in Sunday School at that time. That way, he'd be in Sunday School with the same kiddos he'd go to kindergarten with. Then, he wouldn't at all notice the difference. We took that advice, and we're grateful we did. Kindergarten round-ups are going on right now or will very soon. You will not see us there. We are waiting until Luke is 6. Luke will be going to preschool 3 mornings/week next year, and he's excited about that! AND, the SELFISH part of me is excited that we're waiting because that means I get to have him home with Kate and me one more year. Kate also has a summer birthday -- though it's early summer, and she's a girl (obviously). So, we'll see with her. We definitely have made no decision on that one yet!

3 comments:

More than just okay said...

when I was debated taking Anna out of Kindergarten to wait until 6 I talked to several people. No one regretted holding their summer baby back. several wished they had. I'm glad I pulled her and she will start K next fall at 6. 6 months at that age is a long, long time. Especially with all day kindergarten. Anna probably could have handled 1/2 day, but full day was just too much. trust yourself, you know him best.

Liz at Four11 said...

Older mom with 3 boys and raising a foster 3 year old (happily with a late October birthday). Held the first two back, and the third -- who was CLEARLY ready -- had a late September birthday and missed the cutoff. My experience is that the "young" kids are most noticeable in 2-3 grade when the curriculum gets more challenging. Older kids tend to roll with the punches a little bit better. I also think there is a lot of learning that happens at home-- you are Luke's first teacher. and do so many enrichment activities with him. I enjoy your blog, and feel you and your husband have your priorities spot on. ENJOY THE TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN!!

Amy said...

As a 1st grade teacher, I am confident you won't regret this decision. I have had several young kiddos, boys especially, that about 1/2 way through 1st grade... parents start realizing how much better off thy would have been if they had waited. I always figure... Why start your child off with a disadvantage? Any extra advantage you can give them in school is only going to benefit them in the long run. The added year with you is just a bonus for you both. :)

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