School update

Tuesday afternoon we got the call, she got in! I think she was the last first grader enrolled in this school! There are three classes, and there are 28 kids in each class. Each class, well, at least the one she is in, has an assistant too. We didn't find out who her teacher wa suntil yesterday morning, the morning of the first day, but that was okay because Monday night at open house we had been told she was #1 on the list, so we went and introduced ourselves to each of the teachers and she got to look around each of those classes. So it wasn't ALL brand new when she went in yesterday.

Monday night we met Jackson's teacher. To save on time I won't share all details, except that my God is SOOOOO good!! he answered every prayer that has been said for us concerning this transition and I have absolutely no doubt at all that this is the Lord's will for us. I had a friend share with me her opinion that she didn't think God would ever "call" anyone from to public school, after I shared that I felt that's what the Lord was having us do this year. It really hurt when I heard her say that but, I guess we all say things we don't mean to others that hurt. It just reminded me to keep my eyes on God in this time and I kept remembering the words my other friend shared with me.

When meeting Jackson's teacher, she asked what school he was coming from and shared she used to teach in a Christian school. That was good, but knowing not everyone who professes to be a Christian lives accordingly or believes what the bible says, either. In conversation I asked if she went to church anywhere and she said yes, shared where they went (north of our church, which is in a very conservative county), and that her husband was a Baptist preacher! *g* Jackson told her our church name, and she then said "do you know ....?", which, was my very good friend and assistant teacher in the nursery! I said yes and how, and my friend taught her son when she was teaching years ago. J said surly to goodness it had to all be a coincience, he couldn't call our kids out of private Christian school to public school and still end up with a Christian teacher of like faith! I cried I was so amazed at God's goodness to us.

First day stories:
Jackson:
"Mom, my teacher really is a Christian, she says "amen" a LOT!"

Hannah:
(as she tosses her bookbag down)
"Mommy, they didn't pray today!!" (with a look of atonishment on her face)

me- "yes sweetie, we talked about this. Your teacher at this school can't pray with the class like Mrs. L did last year, this is not a Christian school"

"then why are we there?"

Jackson- "because we can't afford Christian school"

me- "So you didn't pray today?"

"NO, THEY didn't pray (pointing outwards), I prayed (pointing to her chest)"

me- "Oh did you pray for your lunch at lunchtime?"

(puzzled look on her face like she realized, she forgot to say the blessing, lol)
"No, we went to the library and it was really quiet there so I prayed in the library"

AAAWWWWW!!! My baby prayed beyond the food blessing on her first day of school!! How perceptive of her!!!

I'll have to share more first day stories later ;)

Feeling better about school

I got a note from a friend yesterday that just left me in tears. She's always had such a way with words, but what she said just organized a few of the thoughts I have had over the past week since making the decision for the kids to enter the public school system; she also encouraged me regarding God's will for our life. I asked her if it was okay for me to share it here, in case there might be another person reading my blog that might be going through the same thing. It also gives a very different perspective regarding how a Christian "should" educate their children.

I am so blessed to be able to call this woman my friend, and thank God so much for having her in my life! She is going through insurmountable trials right now, yet was sensitive enough to the needs of her sister to send encouragement. God knew what I needed, and he sent it. PTL!! Along the same note, I'm waiting for the admissions director to call me back about Hannah's enrollment. Please continue to pray things move quickly and we'll know SOON that she's indeed "in" and they don't have to go to different schools.

Hey! Loved the blog from your bday and I wanted to be the first to say
"Welcome to the Mission Field!!!" I'm sorry, I'm one of the weird ones
that just wants to do the happy dance everytime I hear of a Christian family
infiltrating public education. It's a mission field, I'm telling you,
right in your back yard! (or up the street).

You are going
to be such a blessing to that school. J.D. is going to a charter middle
school this year. They sell Dr. Dobson books in the school office.
I'm not a fan of Dobson, but he is my brother and I couldn't help think, "that's
cool!"

Also, I just want to throw this out there and you can
totally reject it, but you said that you couldn't help think that your children
having to attend public school was a consequence for the financial folly at
home. You also said that you always said you would never send your kids to
public school. I don't know if this is true in your life, but sometimes I
find that whatever I say I'll never do is precisely what God calls me to
do. And when I read that part about financial folly, I couldn't help think
that maybe it's the other way around. Maybe the financial issues are a
result of refusing to send the kids to public school. Maybe they're part
of the wooing, God bringing you to this place of desperation to get you where he
wants you to go. Now I'm not saying that's a for sure truth at all, just
something to think about. Our Dad owns that cattle on a thousand hills and
we're in the will, chick. I can't explain it, but I am just convinced that
there is a family at that !
school
that your family is going to bless
beyond measure. I know that he won't waste his workers.

I
also know that, when called to go places we're not sure about, it's easier to
say, "here I am, Lord, send me" than "here they are, Lord, send my kids".
But I want to tell you what you already know: he loves them more than you
do. He will go with them. God is in the public school.
"Whether (they) turn to the right of to the left, (they) will hear a voice
behind (them) saying, 'This is the way, walk in it'." He will guide
them. And I don't know your kids, but when you speak of Jackson it just
sounds like he has such passion for the Lord. I am so excited to see the
impact for the Lord he will have. Yes, our kids can be missionaries
too!

If you were sent to Africa as a missionary I'm sure you would
encourage your kids to befriend the children of the families you were sent to
minister to. I'm sure you'd expect them to carry the word of God to them
as their friend. Missionaries do this all the time. You are a
missionary and so are your kids. You've not been sent to Africa, you've
been sent to the charter school. God loves the kids that go there just as
much as the kids in Africa. Your calling is no less real than that of a
missionary to Africa.

I encourage you, as a family, to start each school
day by saying in your hearts, "here we are, Lord, send us". And I
encourage you, my fellow worker, to look for the opportunities that he is
preparing in advance for you to do in that school. I will pray that doors
fly open. I will pray that God direct you to families to minister
to. He's preparing them in advance. He will show you, just listen
for the voice that says, "This is the way, walk in it".

I don't
believe every Christian is called to Africa. I don't believe every
Christian is called to public school. But for those of us who are called,
He provides the grace, strength and guidance to do the work he's prepared for
us. Welcome to the P.S. I Love You Mission Field, (Public Schools, I love
you). Your family will be in my prayers.

School, Sitemeter, Theme Week, name it

School update:
I haven't heard anything from the charter school yet pertaining to Hannah's enrollment. They said Jackson was a sure thing though. This is nerve racking yet she didn't seem to worried that Hannah wouldn't, but it makes me wonder .... no, I'm not going to wonder, I left it at the alter last night and we've already purchased uniforms! Just pray pray pray please! Also pray for Hannah's anxiety over this. She has some strong feelings based on the stereotype of public schools that has been inadvertently portrayed in our church. :o( I need discernment in that area too. PTL her children's church teachers are right there ready to listen to her and help ease any fears she might discuss with them.

So, I have two sites I visit frequently: Apples of Gold Ministries and Growing in Grace Magazine online, both owned by my buddy Sisterlisa. Friday, I lost connection with them! *gasp* IE(7) said "operation aborted, cannot open website" and when you clicked "ok", the window closed. I had no idea because I could reach my blog fine, and she uses blogger too. Then I try her site this morning and voila! I'm in! Here I thought my scanning over the weekend worked, until I read her post saying she'd removed sitemeter from her pages until more knowledge is gained. (Love ya hon but IE7 was fine with sitemeter until Friday!) Then I saw A's post from PPP about it. Yikes! I had one other blog, that would load, but I got the error when I tried to submit a comment. It looks like her sitemeter is still up but I can comment today.

So is it sitemeter, or did my little scans this weekend work? ;o)

It's still theme week at Creating Websites and Graphics! Come on over and request your theme week tags, we'll be accepting requests until Thursday!!
This is mine-

Click here to request it.

On Frugal Kitchen we are playing the ABC's of the supermarket (thanks Dana!); tax free holidays; my birthday; and meals on a budget ...

Not to mention some NEAT new recipes!!:
Cucumber and Tomato Tangy Yogurt Salad
Instant Vegetable Soup
Broccoli with Sesame Seeds

Easy Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken
VEG: Zucchini Lasagna
Cold Sesame Chicken Salad

Pina Colada Smoothie
Special K™ Fruit Cookies
Creamy Cheese & Cherry Pie

What else? Don't forget to sub to Calvary Girl Devotions, you won't want to miss out ladies! She's hoping that it will be a real blessing her to her readers.

Mom got us a new vacuum cleaner this weekend at a yard sale, a very nice dirt devil. I think I'll go get me a bite to eat and vacuum the house! Have a great day and don't forgot to say hey- I don't know if you're here or not if you don't! *g*