{squinting into the sun ~ not excited that i am taking pictures}
{and not squinting ~ excited to be heading off to school, to a new experience - junior high!}
in all the years that these two have been doing school and going to school, i have never taken a "first day of school picture" . . . i'm not sure why not. except that i rarely do things in the conventional way. i have my own little quirks and ways and tickings, i guess.
but, this is the first year they are going off to junior high. so, i thought that maybe i should document these next few years of first days. {it will be fun to see which year finds isaac taller than maddie . . . any guesses? he's eleven and a half and maddie is just about thirteen . . . and now i'm thinking that i have to get out a photo album and see what ages my next brother and i were when he caught up to me . . . hmmmm.}
after i took these pictures, i drove them into school, and as i was driving home, i dictated a journal entry ::
i don't know why today seems so big. we are starting a new chapter, that's for sure. the kids are in sixth and seventh grade. and i am thirty-six. ben will be thirty-seven in two months. is that really where we're at? it's good. it just feels very different somehow.
at school today, miss b was by the door to greet all the kids ~ a friendly and familiar face. i hope their day is just super awesome. and i'm sure it will be. they're such sweet kids. i love it that when i asked if i could walk in with them to drop something in the office, or if i should wait till they were well inside before i headed in, isaac said, "of course you can walk in with us, mom. we aren't kids who are embarrassed of our parents. we have awesome parents, and our friends who matter know that you're awesome."
through all of this craziness that has been my life, that has been our life together, sometimes i don't know what i've done right and how they've turned out (so far) the way they have. they are wonderful and fabulous and they're going to do such awesome things.
yet when i think about it, i do know how they are wonderful. they "are God’s masterpiece. He has created [them] anew in Christ Jesus, so [they] can do the good things He planned for [them] long ago." {ephesians 2:10 nlt}
i don't know why i'm feeling so nostalgic this year. is that the right word? or melancholy (deeply, quietly thoughtful). this all just feels really big and important.
i thought i would write this out and finish my thoughts as a blog post that evening. i did post these pictures on facebook and instagram on that first day of school, but here i am, a week and a half later on my blog.
because when they got home, isaac was worn out. exhausted. and feeling pretty defeated. maddie had a great day! isaac didn't.
and i sat down with him to look at his homework and to write notes to couple of his teachers. and i didn't know what i would write here. so i didn't write.
each day since school started i have done one or more of the following: i have reread isaac's IEP + recommended accommodations, written notes, made phone calls, stopped in to the school, listened to isaac, helped with homework, thought through scenarios and conversations, prayed a lot, talked this out with my God and my husband and a few good friends, and encouraged my boy to be tough, to have patience while we sort this all out.
{i am working on a post about (some of) my experience parenting a child with special needs.}
each day has gotten a little better for isaac.
each day has gone so well for maddie.
they are working hard, putting heart and mind and creativity into their school work, for themselves and for their teachers. both kids really like their teachers, and i am so grateful for these teachers (maddie and isaac have all the same ones!). what a wonderful team of people teaching these junior high kiddos!
isaac is playing football. maddie is playing volleyball. so they have practice after school four days a week. they are working hard, learning their games, putting heart and mind and muscle into a team. this is good, too!
they come home hungry and tired. but they play outside {rollerblade and scooter, walk with chaco and i, jump on the trampoline}, eat huge suppers, and get their homework done before falling into bed and sleeping deeply.
and this to me seems like a good sort of life. learning, working, creating, exercising, enjoying friends, breathing the wild fresh air, and sleeping soundly. doing the good things.
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ..
go gently, be wonderful, and do the good things, my friends.
love, e