Back to School

We just completed our first day of school, and I'm feeling pretty upbeat about the day. Part of me is a bit overwhelmed by the increased workload as our boys grow older. I feel I barely have time to fit my household chores in between classes, so I'll need to do some additional tweaking. But all in all, the boys' attitude was positive and optimistic. Despite the fact that they claimed they weren't looking forward to school starting again, they eagerly embraced the day and all that it held.

I was thankful for my husband's support when I returned home from my run this morning. He'd already been praying for our first day of school and asked how he could be praying specifically throughout the day. I'm so thankful that we're in this thing together!

And thanks to my mom, the boys had a sweet suprise for me before we started school this morning. As we were preparing to begin, they each entered the room with their hands behind their backs and presented me with 3 affirming teacher gifts--- a couple of #1 Teacher ornaments and a "World's Sharpest Teacher" pin (which they insisted I put on immediately). My heart was blessed and encouraged.

Thanks, guys!

Our devotions this morning were meaningful and memorable. I asked the boys why they thought that we have chosen to homeschool them. They gave some thoughtful and insightful answers, but then our 7-year-old came up with this classic reply: "Because if we get expelled, we're already here! We don't have to get sent home!" Man, that kid cracks me up! On a more serious note, though, I shared with them the verses that have come to mean so much to me in our home school, and I share them with you in closing:

"...that their hearts may be encouraged,
being knit together in love,
to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding
and the knowledge of God's mystery , which is Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge."
Colossians 2:2-3