I Sent Out My Fleece

Stiffly dragging my feet and fighting back tears, I entered into the school.  Trying to stifle all of my anxious thoughts, my body tensed and my smile was forced.  Trying to act excited for Benjamin's new possibilities, I prayed silently, "Oh God please let me hear your voice.".  I sent out my fleece as we toured his charter public school environment. This transition would be the end of my 25 years of home educating my children.

Benjamin heard the violins as we passed the music classroom. He looked up with a grin, "I want to take violin lessons!".  The administrator explained that a parent volunteered to give violin lessons for the school. Benjamin looked excited. I smiled back.

"Here is our small 2nd grade class room.  We have two other full size 2nd grade classes, but this one will only have 11 or 12 students."  I whispered my fleece, "Lord,  if this is you, can he please have the small class room?"

"Lord, if this is you, may he take violin lessons?"

She cheerfully assured us of the school and all the teachers.  He would have to come back to be evaluated, since he had been home educated.  There weren't any words I could say to convince her that I had educated him well, as I had done with all my children.  They weren't sure about home schooling.

Benjamin talked on the way home with excited anticipation. I silently cried in my seat, my back turned to him so he couldn't see... my husband gently patting my arm.  This was going to stretch me and I continued to cry out to God.  Days later, Benjamin and I would both be in the car again, meaning he couldn't see my face, when he explained how he wanted to cry the day we took him to visit the school.  I reassured him that things would be okay.  I was stepping out in faith with my reassuring words.

My prayer through last summer was for a Godly teacher and success with his testing. The administrator's answer concerning his test, "We think he can do 2nd grade work."  My fleece was before the Lord and now I walked it out in faith.

He was one of only a handful of all the 2nd graders to win the Academic Excellence Award.  My home education had paid off and he wasn't at a disadvantage.

His class - 11 students and one awesome Christian teacher!

He excelled in violin, winning the highest awards.

The total confirmation came at the end of the full school year.  His violin teacher was also a Christian, as were the majority of teachers and administrators.  Many of the teachers were members of our church and they knew his older siblings.   I heard about his violin teacher's personal struggle and someone told me she was a singer, along with her two sisters.  I looked her up on YouTube and I listened to this song.  My soul rejoiced over the answered prayers for this first year.  There were some days that were very rocky...even to the point of wanting to pull him out. However, we persevered and the fruit was well worth it.  God was faithful, even had he not answered even one of my fleeces. He still is God... and I praise Him for answering this mother's heart's cry.

In the Span of Nine Months

Nine months seems to be ringing in my ears. 

 In the span of nine months my daughter and daughter-in-law gave birth to my two grandsons.

In the span of nine months, Benjamin will have completed his first year at a charter school and promoted to third grade.

My husband has now been employed in the span of nine months.

Summer is on the way and I am still adjusting to my new roles.  I have been working two to three jobs for over a year.  The temporary has become permanent.  As my friends and I quote to each other on a regular basis, "Our expectations of what we thought life would be at this season are what is tripping us up.  Our reality isn't close to what we thought it would be like."  We are learning to let go of the expectations and embrace the new permanent, that we all thought would be temporary.  I am encouraged by women's strengths to adjust and move forward.  They have all experienced the span of nine months, during their birthing years of their own, now grown children.  They are now embracing the birth of this new season of life.

Benjamin has accomplished many things in the span of nine months.  He has adjusted well to all the changes. We have had some ups and downs, but growth has come from all of them. My favorite time of each day is seeing his yellow backpack come bouncing down the ramp to greet me in the pick up line. I am so grateful I am able to pick him up each day and hear all about the day.

In a span of nine months Benjamin gave his first violin recital. He played solo, duets and in the ensemble pieces.  His older brother helped him achieve this goal.  He has excelled in violin.

Promoted from Wolfe to Bear in Boy Scouts.

He played a sport our family knows nothing about...soccer.  We have been a baseball, softball and basketball family.  Benjamin has expanded our life...in more ways than one.

In the span of nine months - school.  He will be out for the summer the first week of June.

He grew up!  He adjusted this year and so am I.  He also took care of his ducks, then through tears he released them to a better life.  We took them to a near by pond, and yes, we all have secretly gone over there to check on them.  Our 18-year-old son even drove over there himself to see if they were okay. I heard one little boy say he liked the duck with the "pony tail", he didn't know we had placed the ducks there.

LIFE!  So many curves balls...so many chances for growth...even in the span of nine months.

New Mothers and Boys

My daughter-in-law made sure I am part of the club.  I have shown  her own boy mom shirt...check out their site if you are a mom or grand mom of boys. www.boysmomsdesigns.com  Joshua made me a Grand Mommy a year ago. He calls me "Grand Mommy" and my  answer is "yes!"

The new moms in our family are doing a great job!!  My moms of boys...my three grandsons.

Don't you remember your first kisses from your child?  My daughter is getting Mother's Day kisses from son David.

Uncle Benjamin loves being an Uncle!  Holding Maverick.

Cousins playing with each other.  My husband just laughs and says, "I can't believe we have two grandsons two days apart!"  Their personalities can already be seen.  This is going to be fun.

Now to leave you with the latest trick.

He has found his tongue!!!

Being a Grand Mommy brings a new meaning to Mother's Day.
Since I am still raising two sons, I get to experience both worlds.  Benjamin made me a home made card that will go in my treasure box.  What a joy to be a still active Mom and Grand Mommy at the same time.