it rained last week

I stayed inside, but the kids...

oatmeal as usual at breakfast

be praying for my friend's son, Stellan

Prayer Vigil set up at here.

how being put on another waiting list is a blessing

I'm having trouble organizing my thoughts right now.

We've been thinking a lot about education options (public, private, homeschooling) for Henri as he will be of Kindergarten age this fall.

We applied to several public schools, mainly charter schools. We've also been exploring homeschooling. Private schooling isn't feasible for us.

We received notice today that Henri is number 100 on a waiting list for one of the public charter schools we applied to for Kindergarten, which choose their applicants by lottery. We are also number 48, 66, & 34 for three other public schools. And we're still waiting on one more for an all day, everyday French immersion magnet school that's 15 miles away through a congested interstate. We're not too excited about that one.

I have mixed feelings. Before finding out today about the latest school, I felt sad about the thought of sending Henri to a school when I've really enjoyed teaching him how to read this year. He's liked it too.

However, when we found out we didn't get in another school the reality of having to actually homeschool during Kindergarten settled in. We like the thought of homeschooling Henri for many good reasons. We really like this choice, a lot, though it scares me. Today, I was sad while being happy all at the same time.

We have been praying that we wouldn't get into any schools if homeschooling Henri is what we should be doing. It seems that the Lord is blessing us with an answer to our prayer.

While in my grieving state over Henri not going to a Kindergarten classroom, I put on my iPod and was blessed to learn about this little girl:



You can watch all 6 installments on You Tube.

This video reminded me of what many homeschooling families seem to foster--closeness between family members and a lack of peer dependence. I had an overwhelming feeling that the Lord was nudging my heart, letting me know that this is really what we should do next year. (While I realize this closeness may vary from family to family, it was a blessing to me this afternoon.)

It's settling in that we REALLY are heading toward homeschooling. Yikes! Yea! Oh dear. Wow. Help! Hmmm... Really? Okay.

wanting a little attention

Cosette says,

While running, skipping, hopping, twirling, or dancing across the room:

Watch this, Daddy!

or

Daddy, look at me!

After coloring something at her table in Henri's room, and running to the room where we are:

Mama, I wanna show you something!

first name

Henri's first time writing his name correctly (beginning with a capital letter followed by lower-case letters instead of a mixture of both).