Tears of joy and other things

Today was the first day of the 2011-2012 school year. Streed is entering 1st grade and Ella is doing another year of K-4 since her bday is in September. However, I put her in the K-4 class at CommCentral so that she could get accustomed to it this year before starting Kindergarten next year. The selling feature for this decision was that her teacher this year would be her music teacher from her preschool last year. We just love Mrs. Karen and she loves Ella. Because Ella does not do so well in new environments I figured it would really help her to get used to a new school already knowing her teacher. Ella has not gone to Sunday School in probably 8 months because she does not know anyone. She attends church with Chip and Me. I am fine with this I just want her to grow in this area. As soon as I signed her up for this class I began praying for God to put a girl in her class that she would see at BLOOM (formerly Mom's N More that I attend at our church on Tuesdays) as well as church on Sundays. She has been really excited about starting school especially since her pink L.L Bean back pack arrived and we filled it with school supplies. She was a trooper getting ready this morning and heading into school. The change happened when we actually made it to her doorway. She immediately turned her head into my belly and said she wanted to be with me. We got love from her teacher and walked back outside to get her nap mat out of the van. When we got back to the classroom she entered in and we put all of her things against the wall under her name.
Then we began looking around the room at all of her classmates. She started saying, "That girl goes to my church...that boy Barrett goes to my church...I have seen that girl at church..." I was immediately overwhelmed (and am even now as I type) of God's faithfulness to my simple but important prayer. A friend saw me tearing up. She thought it was because Ella was sad. I explained to her what God had done! I tried to tell Ella but I got choked up. I did not want to make matters worse by my crying so I had to get it together. I kept asking myself if I was crying because I did not expect God to answer or that I was so grateful that He did. Maybe some of both but I think it was more that I truly felt His love for me and for Ella.

Streed walked in like a rock star. He has several friends in his class from last year so he was excited to be back with them.

I love our co-op. I love that I am able to stay home with my kids. It is a sacrifice both financially and mentally, emotionally etc but for us it is so worth it. I love that Chip can read the Old Testament to the kids at night while saying words like "donkeys and asses" and they do not giggle, because they have not been exposed to that yet. I do not know how long we will be a homeschool family but for now it is for us. I would not have it any other way.


"Captain Crab" (that's what his shirt says) stayed with me. We played a little, laughed a little, met a friend to play a little, but mostly I was able to get some stuff done. He will start preschool after Labor Day so the next few Mondays it is just me and Nate Nate. After that, I have every Monday to myself from 9-2. I have not had this since I had kids. Hallelujah!!!