The End Is Near

        We can count the days on one hand. The small dot of light that was once seen at the end of the tunnel has now become full sunlight streaming through the doorway that leads to summertime. With three days left of school, the children are extremely excited and bouncing off the walls. Not just my children, mind you, but the entire crew of students at Heritage have already mentally begun their summer vacation, while their bodies still sit behind their desks. The aftercare room is proof that they have simply lost it and demand freedom. Even the parents seem to be leaving them in aftercare longer these days, and I suspect it is because they do not want the 'crazies' running madly around their living room! The rain has not helped me either because it has kept us stuck inside all week. 
        As I mentioned before, we can count the remaining days on one hand. Three days to be exact, though the last day really does not count. That is the day where we will all be at Lake Compounce where the children can tire themselves out with lots of exercise and scary rides. 
        Looking back to the beginning of the school year, I am amazed at how God has blessed this entire school year. His handprints can be seen on everything from the teachers, to the students, right down to the smallest detail. Just the fact that we had a school to attend is proof of God's hand. Because the classes were small, the children were allowed to experience almost one on one teaching, and grew quite close to their fellow students and teachers. 
        I personally learned a lot over the course of the year, mainly from the three months of teaching that I experienced as I covered the K5-1st grade class. Even though I had taught my own children at home for five years, this was something completely different. I had every emotion imaginable tear through me throughout those months - frustration, anger, nervousness, joy, peace, a sense of incompetence, disappointment, excitement - all because I was teaching that group of crazy, wild, temper-prone children who were adorably cute, and sometimes very frustrating and loud. I found it extremely challenging. I had to keep on my toes with those seven, mentally staying three steps ahead of them or else they would have plowed over me with their antics. I shed a lot of tears and sent many desperate prayers to the Lord to help me get through, but He helped me every step of the way. He had something He wanted me to learn through it all and I hope I remember all that I took away from this school year. 
         I learned... 
        1)  ...that when you ask the Lord for a job and some help in your finances, be specific. He might give you what  you ask for,  but it will not be in the form that you thought it would be. I believe He has a sense of humor.  
    2)   ...that you should not ask God directly for patience. He  knows our character (because He is the One that knit us together) and will always place us  into the worst possible situation to answer that request.  
    3)  ...that I will never again be able to say I cannot handle teaching my own five children should the Lord call me to do that again. That would seem like a breeze!
    4)  ...that you should always be prepared for the unknowns that may be just around the corner. God will use any means He knows that will get our attention so He can teach us complete surrender and total reliance on Him. 
    5)  ...that you should never tell little children there is a mummy in the closet. They will take your idea and run with it until they have convinced themselves that it is true. The loud banging of the heaters will not help you tell them otherwise. 
    6)  ...that you should never think you know somebody until you have worked with them or spent any time with them. Great friendships can be made that will last a lifetime. 
    7).  ...that God will send encouragement to you through ways you would never have imagined. He may even use the child that you were having a hard time with to teach you an honest truth. 
    8)  ...that God is faithful through it all and will give you the strength you need to endure and is always on time. 
                                                        Hooray for summertime!!