Today is the first day of Summer Vacation 2014.

Becks is contentedly playing with playdoh, which I am sure will occupy him for all of 15 minutes, and I will spend days picking up dried playdoh bits from the carpet.  We just watched a cardinal enjoy a watermelon rind that was haphazardly thrown into the yard after a Saturday night outdoor meal.  Who knew birds liked melon rinds?

Faith is taking her morning nap.  At home, on the couch, where I can look over and kiss her anytime I want.

And, I’m trying to determine what exactly I want this summer to look like.

Scheduled? Carefree? Accomplished? Sun-kissed?  Laid back?

I guess, all of the above. I want a summer (and life) overflowing with fulfillment.  Lazy days.  Zoo days.  Pool days.  Loving days.  Laundry days.  Thunderstorm days.  Library days.  Bored days.  Sit-back-and-take-it-all-in days.  I feel like this summer is limitless.   

  Being in the hospital for almost half-a-year really put things in perspective.  I appreciate the most crazy things that I wouldn’t have considered to be a big deal before.  My entire family sleeping under one roof?  Love it.  Breathing fresh, non-hospital air in the warm sunshine?  I won’t undervalue it ever again.  Freedom from doctors and nurses watching and dictating how your day will be spent?  I’m ever grateful that our days are now, mostly, our own – with the exception of daily, necessary medical procedures and bi-weekly clinic visits and OT appointments.  I can handle that.

* * * * * * * 

I prayed for a long time that circumstances would allow me to fulfill one of my life long dreams.  

To be a Stay-at-Home Mama.

I also love being a teacher.  

And, am currently required to perform daily nursing duties, too.  This will last for awhile.

So, with much prayer and discussion with B, it was decided I would accept a new position.  

That of a First Grade Teacher. A Nurse.  And, most importantly, a Mama.  

Starting this fall, I will be a First Grade Teacher again.

To this guy.

I’m excited, slightly nervous.  But, most of all, grateful.  Amazed at God’s provision to allow me to combine two of my favorite things – teaching and mothering.  

The desire to homeschool started its way into my heart in December of last year, as I sat with a teensy little Faith, rocking my days away in the NICU .  It seems like the best fit for our family right now, and there are no guarantees for how long I will do it.  Or how long Becks will want to do it.  We’re going to tread those waters together.  It could be a whole different story this time next year.  We’ll see.  

And, I am for sure we will drive each other crazy and I will throw up my hands in exasperation and wonder what in the world was I thinking?! every so often.  But, I’m pretty sure I did that as a traditional educator, too 🙂

Here’s what will be our “Home School Room.”

So, instead of classroom decorating, I will prepare a dedicated space in our home to instruction.  I’m pretty excited to attack this project.  And, am glad that I have the entire summer to thrift, design, and tweak this space.  Like really excited.  It’s been an empty room for an entire year, so it is lonely and just asking for something exciting to happen within its walls.  The morning lighting is so perfect, and since we never spend anytime in here, I think it will be a good spot for distinguishing what we do during “school” versus what we do the rest of the day.

If you asked me a year ago if this is where life would’ve led, I would’ve given you the Honey, please! look.  But, that’s the beauty of life – unpredictable and crazy amazing and sometimes just straight up crazy.

But, I wouldn’t change a thing.  Good, bad, or otherwise.  You only know fulfillment when you have experiences that shape it and mold it and make it what it is.  Then, you know to enjoy the sun a little more.  Kiss your babies relentlessly.  Make eyes at your husband a little more often.  And, take advantage of opportunities as God reveals them to you.

Happy Monday, friends 🙂