safety

Jesse is now 4 years old.  I'll get to his birthday post soon (I hope!) but today I wanted to reflect on the community that surrounds him and provides him with a space to feel safe and loved.  In the past few months, I have watched him connect with others in our church community.  He has found a number of grown ups that he feels comfortable approaching.  He has never been an extremely timid child, but he is careful.  I have loved watching how comfortable he has grown around others.  He easily greets people and wishes them to have a good day.  I think so much is because of the wonderful people that love and support him.  He isn't phased by the older boys running around.  He has learned that they are watching out for him.  He knows that when he approaches one of them, he'll be met with warm eyes and a kind voice.  He knows that he is safe.

When I look through pictures taken from a bbq on Sunday, I am reminded of how easily he fits into this community of friends.  No one is telling him to bike out of their hockey game.  They're probably amused by this cute kid riding around with the hockey mask on.

 

 

When they learned it was his birthday the next day, there was quick thinking with candles and watermelon.  Jesse was thrilled to hear everyone sing Happy Birthday and be able to blow out his candle from one of his favorite snacks.

This is a sign of a very happy boy!