Of School & Seasons...

Today the children and I went to our local elementary school and took a tour.  In 21-days our boys will begin their first experience in public school.

We came home,  I baked up a batch of sweet potato fries, poured myself a diet dr. pepper, shed a few tears and then took a trip down memory lane.  I was remembering the past six years of home education.   

I graduated with a degree in elementary education, got married and had four babies in 5 years.  In 2006, I walked into the local school to register John Z. for kindergarten and walked out crying.  I thought I was signing him up for half-day kindergarten, but the schools in our area were running a full day program.  I wasn't ready for that.  So, out of a love for being with my son, Main Elementary & Pre-school was formed.... 

John Z. was the best student a teacher could want. He loved learning and worked happily, diligently...and independently!  Keeping the pre-school constituency happy & occupied while caring for a newborn was more of a challenge, but we managed and had fun making memories together.

5-year old John Z. working on his "squiggle" (creative writing)

JZ's finished squiggle.  Can you read it?

3-year old Daniel doing folder games...

...and he figured it out!

2-year old Josiah following along with a book on CD

Josiah's FAVORITE pre-school activity was getting to play in the rice bucket!

The following year, John Z. was in first grade and we decided that homeschooling fit our family and we wanted to give it another year.  That year the boys took the bus to school four mornings a week.  It was a short ride, but they LOVED it!

Taking the bus from the living room into the upstairs schooling bedroom

Year after year, Bryan and I have discussed and re-evaluated schooling for our family.  Home schooling has provided continuity in education in the midst of five moves in five years and a couple of deployments sprinkled in.  We've needed...and loved the stability.  

But now...

Well, now this teacher needs a sabbatical.  I'm tired.  I love my kids.  I love home education.  I love this life...and I'm tired.  

God is kind gives rest to the weary.  We are currently living in a town with highly rated schools and we are registered to join the public school party on 4 January 2012.

I never doubt this decision, but I cry over it daily.  I will miss our kids.  I will miss this life.

I will miss the "I-Finished-My-Math-Book" celebrations when we eat special food and the celebrating student gets to open a present.... his new book!

I will miss the creative, fun, family learning....

I will miss seeing these three heads leaning over their work when I come down the stairs....

Yeah, I'm really going to miss this season of home education.  John Z., the child who once asked if I would teach him through college, has asked if we will ever homeschool again.  It's very possible.  Probable even. Time will tell.  

Until then, we take a link off of our chain each day as we count down until the start of a new season.  As I look over at the chain, I weep.  My eye catches the photo on the wall.  There's comfort for my ache.  God is good and Jesus lives.  We are blessed.