This week marks the start of a new school year for us. With summer coming to a close, part of me is excited about a new year of homeschooling and another part of me wants to stay behind in summer. I’ve enjoyed the long days, slower pace and the renewed peace in my heart. My time with God has been sweet and filling. Being in the mountains, at the beach, and in the river have all brought me face to face with His power and majesty.
A new school year means a return to a regular schedule, long to-do lists, more activities, and a lot less peace. It means less time and opportunity to experience the wonder of God in His creation. The distractions will be many and the clamor around me great.
Yet, much like the New Year, a new school year offers a fresh start and hope for a year better than the last. It provides for growth, change, and improvement. It also presents a future of new opportunities and new discoveries.
This school year,I don’t want to be distracted by the unimportant or too busy to appreciate the moments. I want to always remember why we are homeschooling and Who we are doing it for. I want our days to be saturated with grace and our minds focused on the truths of the gospel. I want to live intentionally and learn to hear God even in the midst of a noisy world. And I want to keep my heart focused on Christ, no matter what is going on around me.
This new school year, I want Jesus to be the center.
A Letter To My Boys
As this new school year starts, may we seek Him every morning
and search for Him all throughout the day
When the wonders of His creation catch our eye, let’s put aside the schedule and grasp anew the awesomeness of our God
Fish photo: Lisa Tarplee
May I never constrain your childish questions, excitement, or fascination
Source: Lisa Tarplee
and may you encourage me to be a child now and again too
Source: Lisa Tarplee
Let’s climb higher in learning
enjoy new experiences
and never back down from a challenge
Source
May we stay on the path He’s shown us
and jump at each opportunity He gives
Source
Source
May we love each other as He loves
Source
and splash in the grace He showers on us
Source
always remembering that all the riches of wisdom and knowledge are not found in textbooks but in Him alone.
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3
Linking up with:
and Intentional.Me
Love this letter alongside the pics!
Thanks! And thanks for letting me use your awesome pictures!
seeing all the pix of the summer we have enjoyed the day before i send my boy back to school…. in tears!
Me too. But more adventure lies ahead…
Beautiful, Christina!
Thank you, Jenifer. I appreciate it. And thanks for stopping by.
Awesome letter put to images! Loved it! Enjoy your first week!
Thanks! Having fun so far:)
A great letter, and will most likely come in handy in the midst of a school year! Now is probably a great time to get things like this written down….and send it to our future home-schooling-parent-selves.
Oh, so true! I’ll need to look at it regularly to remember where my focus ought to be. Thanks for stopping by!
My feeling about school starting is almost a “180″ compared to yours, Christina. I’ve felt swallowed up by the lack of routine and productiveness that summer has brought for me. I always enjoy the quiet house that school starting back brings to me. My times with God are much richer when all the distractions and busyness of summer are behind me.
But I totally understand that you’ve had a lot of great adventures this summer with your clan that have brought you much closer to God and each other. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and beautiful pics!
I think it’s the same for my boys. I think they need the routine that comes with school. Which in turn is better for me as well because they aren’t complaining about being bored:)
great prayer…and i love how you weaved the pictures along with the words…blessings on your new year:)
Amen, girl! Wishing you a great year of homeschooling with your beautiful family!
Thanks so much!
Oh, its bittersweet isn’t it, when the summer shuts her door and we enter the schedule. I’m sort of longing for a bit of organization to my life, I can’t seem to get any one thing fully accomplished. Hope you have a great school year and love all the photos that accompany your lovely heartfelt prayer.
I know, I love summer but need the routine in my life. My kids need it too. Thanks for stopping by!
Beautiful pictures! I could use these reminders, too. Him alone. Yes. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Thanks, Mary! It’s all about Him and for Him. A reminder I need everyday.
Beautiful job with the pictures and prayer! Get that one made into a keepsake book!
I hadn’t thought of that, good idea:) Blessings!
Love, love, love the letter!! Beautiful and those are some amazing pictures!!
Oh, thank you! And thanks for visiting!
Love this post and your letter!
The pictures were a delight to enjoy too!
Thanks! My friend took most of them:) It’s nice to have a friend who takes great pictures of your kids. So glad you visited!
Lovely, as usual. Yes, heading for school each year can be a challenge. I’m grateful to be beyond that, even with my g-kids that I was in charge of for picking up and dropping off often for about 3 years. Now the teens are entering the driving range of life, which is even scarier than having ME do it. The pictures, words, and love that flows through them are a treat that can touch hearts forever.
Oh, thank you! And I appreciate you visiting today!
How beautiful! I am new to homeschooling and your post captures every moment I hope to provide for my children, with God’s grace and guidance. Thank you for the inspiration and the joy you reflect here. I hope you’ll add my Tuesday Destination: Inspiration linky party to your list.
Blessings, Michelle
https://teaganstravels.blogspot.com
‘splashed in His grace’ — love that. Beautiful post. Sweet memories of my own boys and their youth. How sweet it is. Amen.
Keeping Jesus at the center is important in all our activities. Keeping to the path…loving others…what a blessed influence on your children. I’m praying your year will be crowned with joy and progress.
Oh, such confirmation for me. So glad I am catching up on your posts today. This is so my heart for hs’ing. We are switching a few things up since I last talked with you, because He wasn’t the center and I can not, I refuse to allow anything else to be. Thank you for sharing your heart and confirming my own heart in what is best for my home too. That is HIM, it always will be!!
What a sweet and beautiful prayer! So grateful for examples like you! Thanks for linking up at Fellowship Fridays.