Downpour

It is once again 400 degrees today, but I feel like I need an umbrella for the showers of blessings that have been pouring down on my red head today. My heart and mind is overwhelmed at the goodness of God and of His people and I need to TESTIFY as I've been challenged to do!

Yesterday we went in to the school building and met the girls' teachers. This was one of the areas I probably prayed the most about this year. And God was so good. Shelby has such a great guy; we couldn't be more thrilled. He is a Christian, is fun and full of excitement. He and Scott went on a mission trip together a few years ago. It is clear he gets a kick out of kids, and for my fun-loving Shelby, I think he'll be perfect.

Cassie's teacher is incredibly beautiful, and incredibly sweet. It is her first year at this school after ten years elsewhere. The fabulous principal we have (great, amazing guy who goes to our church) worked with her a few years ago and brought her over, so she must be a jewel! She recognized me from church- it looks like we got two Christian teachers! Praise God!

Yesterday two mentor-type women in my life called to encourage me and tell me they were praying for my girlies. They both made me cry, of course, but I was incredibly blessed. The pouring out of blessings continued.

We had a wonderful morning together before the girls went to school. We had time for everything...a nice breakfast, family devotion time, prayer, chores, etc. Then we headed for the school. Shelby ran ahead of me in the hallway, so excited to get in there. She immediately started organizing her desk and settled in easily. Cassie, my shy one, hung back a bit but seemed to be ok once she found a desk.

It was when I walked away from Cassie's room that the tears began to fall. Even though she is probably the oldest in her class, she looked so tiny. I worry that 5th grade girls already have their groups of friends; that being shy, she might have a hard time. It was hard to believe I was leaving my girls in other people's hands for an entire day.

I cried the entire way home. I was unprepared for one of satan's attacks.... all of the sudden I felt like a failure as a homeschooler that I hadn't taught them at home longer. I worried about everything a mom would worry about and then some. Scott held my hand, encouraged me, refuted the lies, and told me he was proud of me for everything I'd done these last years to get them to this point. My husband is a blessing in the mightiest of ways.

Stopping home for only a few minutes, more blessings rained down on me. I checked my email and there were several bloggy friends who said they were praying. Imagine! I've never even met most of them!! I had a phone message from one of my out-of-town college friends who called just to say she'd been praying. Do you see the downpour? Wow. Having people pray for MY children means more to me than I can say! I haven't even talked very much about this whole transition, yet people knew and cared.

At the park (a Starbucks Raspberry Mocha Light Frap grasped tightly in my hand) with some of my dear friends, the blessings kept pouring down. My friends were genuinely interested in how the girls did; in how my heart was doing. They listened to me tell them about satan's attacks and they helped me battle them. My friends poured out soothing words for me, words about how great they think my girls are, words of truth about God's hand over them. They told me that my kids would be making an impact for Christ. One friend came to the park just to bring me a card- a musical card which played "I Will Survive." She made me laugh, which I needed! These are all girls who also just dropped their kids off for the first day of school, yet they had hearts for my girls and for me! I was so touched. Another friend whose kids are still preschool age said she'd prayed specifically for me, for my children, even for their future years in school.

The reminder today of how many godly women I have in my life who genuinely care for my family was timely and precious to me. I started to feel overwhelmed not by this giant change for my family, but by my friends' love and God's generosity in giving me these friends.

Brynne and Jenna and I headed to the mall to get the new High School Musical 2 CD (Wohoo!) and eat at Chick-Fil-A with some of those wonderful girlfriends. We had a great time together laughing and talking for hours. The day sped by which was probably good for me! It was very clear that Brynne in particular is thrilled to have some time with just Jenna and me.

Get this----Cassie's teacher called me during the day to let me know Cassie was doing great, was smiling and interacting. She knew I'd probably be worried about her. I was blown away that she would take the time to call me simply to reassure me! Another bucketful of blessings!

I got to the school to pick them up and loved seeing the principal and all the teachers and secretaries wearing their school colors. So fun! The principal, smiling and laughing in the hall, immediately told me Cassie had a great day. He only has 430 kids to be aware of, yet he knew how MY daughter's day was??!? Downpour. Shelby's teacher was walking in the hall and informed me that Shelby is great at spitting watermelon seeds! :) That's my girl.

Both girls answered my thousand questions and genuinely seemed to have had a great day. I was amused that both of them said they hadn't done any "real" school. I think it is the mark of a great teacher who disguises "real school" as fun! (Using deductive reasoning skills in the form of 20 Questions to deduce that there was a watermelon in the secret box, using math skills to figure out after each child had their own slice that there were 1,310 seeds in the watermelon, and then using measuring skills to mark the distance each person was able to spit their two seeds. No school today, though. Just fun. ;) By the way, Shelby came in second, beat only by one boy. I'm so proud. This is EXACTLY what I've worked so hard for!)

Home from school and there were even more emails from friends who knew this was the first day of school! I'm looking for an umbrella now! AND we had an invitation to go boating! Three girls and Scott went; Cassie and I stayed home to recover from our huge day. (And to stay out of the 400 degree temps.)

God blessed my health as well. I had some pain today, but no major attacks.

It is still a bit hard for me to believe that I'll do this all again. Hard to believe that after the first day of school there is a second day and a third and fortieth and eightieth and hundredth. Hard to believe that we've really entered such a new chapter for our family. Hard to believe that tomorrow I'll be home alone with only two girls.

Yet because I know my God, it is not hard to believe that He will continue to provide and protect and lead and nurture. He is so amazing, so good, so generous, so kind.

Once again, God has poured out His blessings on our family. I am soaking wet today.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in His arms
And carries them close to His heart
He gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11