Good Proud

I have been keenly aware in recent weeks that Silas is getting older. He will be 8 soon. I can't wrap my mind around that one. But in several ways lately, he has grown and changed and made me so, so proud. It's the good kind of proud; the kind where I really didn't know what to expect but our little man rose to the occasion and met some challenges head on. 

In the last month during karate, Silas has had the opportunity to be in the group with the higher-level belts and even when I could tell it was difficult, he kept going through every class. His hard work paid off and he was invited to belt testing a few weeks ago. He earned his green belt!

Because the public schools (and the twins' preschool) went into June this year, I planned for Silas and I to do the same. With our move and a few lighter weeks with visitors in the spring, we needed time to finish out. It was a long semester for us both and when I realized we actually needed to finish a week earlier than I planned, we were both ready! But the last two weeks of school were packed to finish up. Again, Silas hung in there with me and we completed first grade!

Silas finished out first grade having done all the Classical Conversations memory work and Saxon Math Level 2. We left off in the middle of Spelling Level 2 (to be picked up next year). He is reading any and all things. But this year our absolute favorite this was History. We totally absorbed The Story of the World and made a timeline together to correspond all we were learning to our CC ancient history memory work. We both look forward to the next book in the series.  It was a delight to find the area where Silas excels. This, I keep telling myself, is the joy of homeschooling. I have many plans for next year and other areas we will fold in to the plan. But for now, I have closed the books for a few weeks and am resting settled in a year completed well. 

And then today.  Well, it was big.  

Today this sweet boy passed his swim test and was given the green light by the lifeguards to be independent in the pool!

At our pool, kids have to pass a swim test with the lifeguards to get in without an adult and to go in the deep end. Kids who haven't passed all wear a red wristband. Silas was thrilled to get his green one!

To pass, kids must jump in and tread water for a minute. Then they have to swim the length of the pool without difficulty. I have been working with Si on treading water and he has become much more proficient swimming with confidence. Well today I just asked him if he was ready to try. There were lots of camp kids at the pool doing their swim tests and after watching them, Silas said he wanted to do it. 

This is him treading water down at the deep end with the lifeguard. I didn't get any pictures of the swim because I was videoing it!

I had to stay in the shallow with the 3 little kids so Silas did the whole test on his own. It was like one of those moments...I watched him grow up right in front of my eyes. 

It was a good proud moment. 

The lifeguard wrote his name in the official book...

And gave him the green band...

It was a moment worth celebrating!

We are all so proud of you, Silas. You are a gift of a firstborn and are paving a path worthy for your siblings to follow. I praise God for how He has created you and am praying that I have grace and courage to encourage you to walk toward the plans He has for you.