A New Way To Home School

The books have been purchased and are lined up on the shelf.  School supplies are in bags stored in the closet waiting for that incredible first day!  Field trips are planned, worksheets are printed, schedules are made and pencils are sharpened!

It's almost here!

Back-Pack Fairy 2012

How awesome is it to look outside on the porch for days in a row and see boxes from Amazon out there, knowing that new books and new curriculum are there waiting for you??!!  TOTALLY!!  Anyone else feel that way?

I love the first day of school.  Always have and I think I always will!

I remember not being able to sleep the night before those grey, metal doors opened to the world of learning!

Now I have the same problem, but it is because I am so excited for my girls to begin their new school year. 

This year we have a problem though. 

It hit me today when I finalized our schedule and prepared it to be printed.  I had to delete a column. 

You see, my oldest daughter, Brianna, is getting ready to leave for college in two weeks.  Yes, 14 days! And I needed to delete her column in our school schedule.

When we started down this homeschooling road, we decided to take it year by year.  Each year we would re-evaluate and decide if we would be homeschooling again.  We did.  We were.

This year we begin our school year four days before she leaves.  This is good because it means that the backpack fairy will be able to visit her the night before and leave her school supplies and a few surprises!  It is also good because I suspect we will appreciate being in a routine when it hits us all that she is not coming back for a while.

Our goal has always been to give the girls a good education and provide it in the way the Lord leads.  We have made an effort to close no doors for them and to have them prepared for whatever He might call them to do.

She is ready.  She is ready spiritually, emotionally, physically and educationally. 

She will miss us for a time, but she will learn a new normal and she will thrive.  I know this not because of anything we have done, but because the Lord has called her and led her down this new path.

But we are not ready.  Her sisters will break down and cry at moments that remind them of what is to come.  I choke back tears when I realize that we sat next to each other in church for the last time for a while. 

Things are going to be different.  We will never be able to live this part of our lives again.  All four sisters together with mom and dad, educating together, living together, going through life together.  I know that we are closing that chapter.

But I hold on to what will not be different.  The love our family has for each other.  The love we all have for learning!  The love we have for the Lord.

The thing that helps me hold the tears back is knowing that God will provide for us just as much as He is going to provide for her.  We might not feel it now, but He will give us the strength to find a new normal and to thrive.

So as you begin this new school year, whether you homeschool or not, slow down and take the time to appreciate it.  Life goes by so quickly.  The noise that annoys you today, you will miss tomorrow.

Take time the first day to really look at your child.  See who they are.  Hear who they think they are.  Dream of who they will become. 

Let the Lord fill you with the joy of parenting!  And then wait for Him to fill you will the joy in letting go and watching them soar!!