Opportunities and Observations

     It was so nice to not actually have to be anywhere this week, unless I absolutely wanted to go. It is amazing how big a chunk of time two days can take out of your week, which is how many days I usually work at the daycare. I find I have to  cram five day's worth of activity into the three days that are left, and I often wonder how I can fit it all in. 
     Now as I look at the new school year looming ahead of me, I tremble inside wondering how I am going to be able to work five full days a week and pack all I need to do into one short Saturday. It has been years since I worked full time. Not since I was pregnant with my first back in June 1999 did I have to work all day, and now that I think of it, I was not even working a full day. I got out around 2:00, which was enough time to go shopping, clean, and prepare for the arrival of our first little one. But, don't take this wrong because I am not complaining. In fact, I am very excited about this opportunity that God has opened up for our family.  Being a school teacher is something I always dreamed of, something I used to play for hours as a little girl with my friends and brother and sisters. One of my sisters was so smart from all the lessons I gave her that she was far ahead of everyone else in her class when she began kindergarten. That made me feel good!
     Plus, I get to be with Benjamin, since he is going into Kindergarten and that is the grade that I am taking over this year. I think it is going to be fun. I have been working hard on the room, getting the years of dust out, putting fresh coats of paint on the walls and radiators, plus trying to imagine how I should set up the classroom. My children, well, three of them to be exact, are ecstatic to know they are going to back to Heritage, but my older boys are not so excited. For Caleb it is the newness of being in Junior High. He does not know what to expect upstairs with the new teachers, nor how the other teens will accept him. On the outside Caleb is very rough, loud, and very crazy. He does not know how strong he really is and things get broken when his hands touch them. He has an unlimited supply of energy that becomes reckless if we do not direct that energy into something useful. Yet, Caleb has a soft and tender heart. He feels pain and regret unlike any other of my children. He tries to do the right thing and makes amends when he needs to. My prayer for Caleb is that he will learn to think before doing things, and that God will use him for His glory and direct that energy into something wonderful for God. 
     My oldest is another story. He just does not want to spend an entire day in the old school building, where he says he is hot all day long. He would rather be home alone, like a hermit, and hide away in his room, doing his school work there, and being close to his electronics. I can relate though. Well, for me it was the part of being alone. The farther into my teens I got, the shyer I became. I did not know how to make conversation with people. I remember getting a job babysitting a little boy at a nearby inn and it took weeks for me to say anything to the adults working there. I still remember the comment from one of the workers when I asked for something to drink. With surprise on his face he said, "She CAN talk!!!" Just think how that made me feel! 
     So I chipped away at the iceberg of projects at home this week. I made progress by getting rid of extra stuff, cleaned my kitchen cabinets, and took down all their school books from last year. I tallied up the grades from the four older children and was very happy with their overall scores for the year. Even when there was frustration and stress, they still did well and I am thankful for the year of homeschooling we accomplished.           
     Another school year is finished. I can close the book on 2012-2013. I have two months of summer ahead of me to enjoy and get stuff done. I have a story to write, maybe two, that is just bursting at the seams of my brain waiting to be put into words. I have places to go and people to see, mainly my family in Vermont and my grandmother in Massachusetts. I have a wonderful husband and five awesome children to spend time with, making memories that will last a lifetime. Yes, summer is here and I love the sights and sounds all around me. I am going to make every minute count. I am going to thank the Lord for all His blessings and trust Him to help me through the next phase of life when we get there. God bless!       

---