This will be my last year homeschooling. It is the end of an 11 year season. I never wanted to homeschool in the beginning. It was not on my radar, but it was a decision I will be forever thankful that we made. When we were planning to move to Florida we had to decide if we’d reenroll Megan in school only to take her out mid-year. While I was processing and praying Chris said, “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you taught the very grade and curriculum that Megan will be in.” There are no coincidences in Jesus. He works all things for our good. The rest is history…and every other subject I’ve taught them over the years.
Hope and I planted tulips last November. I had never planted bulbs, and I was intrigued by the thought of them surviving the winter to bloom in the spring. It was also my reaching for something special to do with Hope. I had great plans for this last school year. I wanted to go out with a bang. It was a bang but not the one I’d hoped it would be. Hope has been the perfect companion though. God knew I’d need her. If anything ever happened to me, she’d be the one to run the house. She is compassionate and self-sufficient. She is wearing her name well.
Tulips make me think of the resurrection. They’ve been associated with it for years. Our tulips are growing now. They’ve not only endured Florida’s short winter, but they needed that cold to thrive. My health isn’t 100% yet and neither has our school year been 100%, but we’re here and we’re thriving. We made it through the winter. We’re together. My children still have both of their parents. They are strong, and they’ve probably taught me more this year than I’ve taught them. My homeschooling has come full circle. God has allowed the seeds I’ve planted through the years to come up and bless me. He’s so good like that. His goal is always redemption. He’s so good at bringing dormant and dead things to life.
I’ve also been able to get through this school year with a lot of help from my mom. I think mothers and daughters are supposed to need each other. I love stories that come full circle. I love how God is the beginning and the end; the author and the finisher. Seeds planted will grow. What God puts in the ground will come up. What He waters will rise. What He nourishes will thrive. He is the gardener and He’s good at His job. Trust Him to do what He said He will do.