This season.

*(found it here.)

Okay, so I'm feeling kinda blue.

I know I shouldn't be.

 I look around and see so many things to be thankful for--

my family, my friends, my home.

My husband has a great job. 

We are all healthy.

I AM growing a bit weary of having the house for sale.

We all know that game's not fun.

Yet we have placed this dream firmly in God's hands 

and are not holding on too tightly.

It's not that.

 I taught my last art classes at WCA today.
School for all 3 kids will be finished tomorrow.

Summer break is so close I can almost taste it and

oh! am I ready for it! 

What's wrong with me?

Am I just being hormonal?

Today as I was saying goodbye to my students, 

I was glad to be able to tell them I will see them in the fall.

I will be teaching 14 classes instead of 3.

I'm grateful for this opportunity and thankful for the provision 

that God had given our family through this job.

I'm excited for the challenge of teaching older students 

in addition to younger ones--

my wheels are turning with ideas.

Plus, I'm going to have my very own art room for the first time

in 12 years of teaching!

How exciting is that?

And yet, there it is.

Am I just tired?

Do I need a good, long nap?

(yes.)

But that's not quite it either.

Was it being given the free uniforms that a friend passed along?

Her daughter outgrew them and she knew 

that they would fit Hadley.

No, I'm very thankful for that!

But perhaps it's what it represents.

The end of a season.

Eight seasons in fact.

Of read alouds and snuggling on the couch.

Of flexibility and spontaneity.

Of even working through subjects that aren't my favorite.

I have loved homeschooling,

even the hard days.

The end has come slowly, over the course of a few years.
First Berkley, entering high school 3 years ago.
Then Sierra, who, though she still homeschooled for most of her subjects,
took math and science classes every day at WCA this year.

But now all 3 will be there in the fall.

The next season is going to be good.

It will be great to have everyone at one place again,

especially for Berkley's senior year.

The girls are super excited

and that makes me happy.

But my current season is ending

and I have to let go.

I guess that's why Gabrielle Blair (*see top of page)

emplores us to embrace the current season 

of our lives.

Because one day it will end.

We're moving from one season to another.

It's the last paragraph of this chapter.

It's almost time to turn the page.
To embrace the new season of our lives.

Is it possible to be full of gratitude and sad at the same time?