School

School is officially back in for Team Reed. Josh started his 3rd year of seminary(!!!) mid-August. Between taking 12 hours, his N. Wake internship, and working as an ambassador at SEBTS, Josh is a busy man this fall. God was gracious to give us a reprieve over the summer, and we enjoyed the slower pace as we were adjusting to being a family of six. And now we're back in the swing of things!

Last year we had planned on Kate starting Kindergarten at WF Elementary and late in the summer we found out she'd been accepted into Bay Leaf's first-ever kindergarten class and she went there instead. This year we had planned on Kate starting 1st grade at WF Elementary and very late in the summer (read: 10 days before school was to start) we totally switched gears and are now homeschooling. I'm noticing a theme here...

All I can think of is what Proverbs 16:9 says "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Homeschool is something I honestly thought I would NEVER do. Not because I think it's a bad thing, but because I simply never considered it as a viable option for our children's education. But God, as only He can do, radically changed my heart towards this throughout the month of August. He showed me and Josh clearly that this was indeed what we needed to be doing with Kate this year. So even though our own plans were well in motion, we are now on a new trajectory. And, might I add, loving it!

Here's my new student on her first day : )

Carter is going to Bay Leaf's Little Lambs Learning Center (LLLC) this year on Tuesdays and Fridays. He is beyond excited to be going to school. I think he asked me at least twice a week last year when he was going to get to go to school. We've been gearing up all week for his first day (which was today). On Tuesday, he got to go in and meet his teachers. They gave him a bag for the year to take home and decorate. This was extra fun for me as I clearly remember doing this very same thing with Kate a few short years ago.

We had fun deciding what to do for it, and going to get supplies together. Here is Carter, working intently on his blue and green football yesterday.

Carter woke me up this morning and told me "I'm so exciting to go to school today!" Our family loves this place! It was nice to be back at a school for a second year, because Kate was in a different one for each year she's been in school. And the best news of all for us this year is that my dear dear friend Stephanie Lyon is one of Carter's teachers!! We were all thrilled when we found this out, and seeing him run into the class and give her a big hug today was such a sweet thing for this mama. We are looking forward to getting to know his lead teacher Mrs. Courtney. What we've heard about her has been wonderful!

Oh, my sweet boy. How did you grow up so fast?

I did way better than I thought I would. I still had a lump in my throat this morning, but I wasn't the puddle I expected to be when I dropped him off. The thing that did set me off was Hudson's reaction to dropping Carter off. He cried almost the whole way home, and it broke my heart because I knew he didn't understand what I was trying to explain to him. All he knew was that his big brother was not there. And he was sad about it. I love how close they are. Utterly grateful for that sweet relationship.