A New Era

Today was the first day of school in our town.

In years past, the first day of school at Brown Academy (our homeschool) looked like this: the kids would greet the day with a breakfast of cupcakes, get most of their work done by noon, then we would go out to lunch and take a walk.

Today was slightly different. 🙂

There were no cupcakes this morning…just cinnamon rolls, eggs, and sausage.

Breakfast was followed by the obligatory first-day-of-school photo:

 I wish I could get my son to give me a real smile for a photo but I take what I can get.

Of course, as I was taking the photo, this is what I seeing in my mind’s eye:

After a flurry of activity, we all piled into the car by 7 a.m.

Ten minutes later, I watched my freshman and sophmore walk into the high school together. As they disappeared through the automatic doors and into a new adventure, my eyes did fill with tears just a bit.

I marveled at Jesus’ tender mercies to me that morning. For one thing, due to the flooding in Vermont, my husband was here to see the kids off to school before leaving to head back to work. Right after he left, my brother showed up to wish the kids a good day. He then joined me for a walk around the high school track. After our workout, we ran into a sweet friend from church who greeted me with a big hug and encouraging words. I love how He cares about every detail of our lives and sends loved ones across our paths just when we  need it most.

I headed home, grateful that my faithful Bichon Frise Buddy would be waiting for me.

I am his very favorite person in the world. The only time he leaves my side is when he hears someone eating anywhere in the house. Then it’s “hasta la vista, baby!” When he is done begging for scraps, he comes trotting back  and promptly glues himself to me.

He did come running to the door, tail wagging happily.

And then he looked behind me, as if to say, “Where is everybody else???”

“You mean you’re it???”

He looked back and me and blinked, clearly bewildered and displeased.

This was Buddy’s reaction when I told him that yes indeed, it was going to be just him and me for the next several hours:

Notice the drooping tail. This was not good news.

I was shocked. I thought he would love the idea of having me all to himself for an entire day.

But no.

He moped at various places all over the house:

In the bonus room…

In the kitchen…

On the back of the couch (where he kept a close eye on the front door in hopes that everyone would come home already)…

He stood guard at the back door…

He waited in vain at the front door…

He paced the hallways…

He could barely contain his boredom at being alone with me in the house…

So he went to sleep until that blessed hour when the kids came home…

I must admit that I was a tad excited when it came time to pick the kids up at the school…

This is my view on the drive there…

We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

The kids came barreling out of the school full of energy, smiles, and excitement.

It had been a very good day.

And as the day ends, darkness falls, and the house is once again quiet after bedtime, I give thanks to my very good God who has entrusted me with these two wonderful children.

I rest in knowing that I completed the assignment He gave me when He called me to home school and I look forward with great anticipation to this new season.

I intend to treasure every moment.