5:15 am this morning, my alarm goes off. I lay there a moment wondering why in the heck I have to get up at such an ungodly hour--then it hits me. Today is the day my children, my precious babies, go to public school for the first time. I get up and drag myself to the kitchen, pop my meds (for those who don't know, I've been battling high blood pressure and not winning that battle! I'm on my second med for it, which at least doesn't make me pass out and pee every 5 minutes but has yet to prove it will bring down my pressure from 168/120) and start making scrambled eggs with sausage. I wander out to the living room where I find my oldest son, Austin, all dressed and eating toast. He smiles and says 'Hey Mom!'. When I question why he's up already, he answers he doesn't want to be late for his first day of school! I stumble to the bathroom where I find Ty, my middle son. He is shivering and with his big blue eyes staring into mine he whispers 'Mom, I'm nervous.' I hug him and reassure him that he's a smart boy who makes friends easily. I send up a quick prayer to God to watch over him. Back in the kitchen I continue to make breakfast and check off in my mind all the things I have to do yet. In comes Caden, my youngest. He announces in his sleepy voice 'I'm not going!' I stop the protest with a simple 'Yes you are. It isn't a choice.' He stomps back out to the table and sits to pout while he waits for his food. Breakfast is quiet and the boys all seem to be daydreaming in their own minds. Showers, teeth brushing, hair brushing (which Ty labors over for quite a while to get the righ look) and getting on new clothes seems to fly by in a moment. Christopher arrives (little boy I babysit, who will ride the bus to and from our house) and his face mirrors all the anxiousness of my own children. I get him breakfast, dressed and ready to go with ease. We get back packs adjusted, shoes tied and pictures taken. We make our family cirlce and I pray aloud for Jesus to watch over them and protect them. Before I know it, we are out the door and down to the bus stop. That big yellow bus pulled up and on they went with a last call from me to be good and have a great day. The short walk back home was a tearful one. Homeschooling was definitely easier I can't wait unitl they are home to hear all about their day!
