Our one-room school house opened it's door to another learning year..
And whenever another learning year rolls around, I feel excited, inadequate, optimistic, and intimidated all at once.
My only hope is the truth of His Word on the tip of my tongue... ready to remind my heart that I-CAN-DO-THIS... with my Jesus leading the way.
This year we have Our Siah starting 2nd grade...
He looks so old to me.
We had to shave off his mo-hawk and scrub off his summer tattoos cuz the place where he and his sister take classes one day a week have a "you-may-not-wear-anything-fashionable-or-fun" rule... no mo-hawks, no tatoos, no sparkles, nothing colorful, nothing original. It's more of a "tuck in your shirt and wear a belt across the middle of your waist" kind of place. Siah was kinda bummed. :(
But when I picked him up from his classes today he couldn't stop talking to me the entire way home... he had a blast.
He's handsome, eh? :)
Not far behind Siah, is our tender-hearted Dancing Girl. She's starting first grade. Unlike our Siah, she soaks up this school stuff (he'd rather be outside riding something or climbing something). She's the child who asked to do school work all summer long. So looking forward to another year with this amazing treasure.
And oh, my sweet little Spunky Girl... She's gonna bless my socks off this year, I just know it. Today while I was working with Hal she so sweetly kept her brother entertained... Doesn't The Charmer look beautiful??
This girl asks me to teach her to read every-single-day... So, I think I just might go for it. We'll see how it goes. :)
And then there's the little Charmer... This year, him and I are going to learn some valuable lessons like,
"Love, there's no need to cry about that"...
or
"Please take your hand out of your pants".
Him and I, we're gonna do a lot of laughing and we are gonna try not to eat as much chalk as we did last year.
I have a few prayers for this upcoming year...
"Peace makers who sow in peace, produce a harvest of righteousness." James 3:17
May I remember that life is not an emergency, that some days will be smoother than others, and that I have the privilege of setting the tone under this farmhouse roof. May I be a peace-maker? And as these treasures grow may there be a harvest of righteousness happening in this place?
Patience is defined as "joy-filled, long-suffering."
May I learn to be patient?
May I pass out patience as freely as my Savior pours out patience all over me?
Please Lord.
Grant me the right kind of confidence Lord?
"Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God."
2 Corinthians3:4-5
May the things that matter to You, matter to me?
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality."
Romans 12:11-13
Lord may I live in the shadow of your wings for another school year,
remembering in each moment, that You Alone are the strength of my life.
