'Lasts' ~A Homeschooling Post

I don't do 'lasts' very well.
Last night in the house.
Last campfire of the summer.
Last time breastfeeding.

We often don't know that something will be a 'last.'
Last time our child asks us to color with them.
Last time our hand is held, unashamedly, in public.
Last time she fits into the fuzzy, blue sleeper.

This time I know.
Or can at least say with great probability.

I'm about to embark on my 6th year of homeschooling.
My last year of homeschooling.

From knowing how to read only short vowel words to never-ending repetitions of phonics charts to reading Harry Potter & the entire Magic Tree House series...

From a poor pencil grip to repeated reminders & tricks to a proper pencil grip & pages & pages & pages & pages & pages of fiction & back again to a sometimes poor pencil grip...

Tea Time
the Bangor Public Library
Walks & Sketches
Reading Time
Math Corrections
Valentine's Day Parties & Field Days

This has been the adventure of my life.

I am so grateful.  JOY unspeakable.
I am simultaneously overwhelmed that I have had this precious gift & grief-stricken that it is coming to an end.

We may never make candied orange peels again and we may never dip candles again & we may never dance away to I Get Down, (And He Lifts Me Up) and I may never again need to whip out the Grumpy Frog and we may never go to a movie at noontime on a school day.
But we might.
And we did.

Thank you, God.
Thank you, God.
Worth every, single, fleeting second.  

We Three.  We have this.  And we can't bottle it to enjoy later but the effects on each of our lives will ripple farther & outlast what that bottle could hold if it could.

There will be some tears this year.
The type that happen during a 'last.'  During an epic 'last.'
The type that recognize the gift and the type that truly are oh so glad, OH SO GLAD that it has happened.

Cheers to Us.  Let's make it a 'last' that will last.