Kelly's Thoughts Today

This has been a great day. Tori and I entered into her second grade year. She enjoyed reviewing all of her new books and workbooks.  So much of the first few weeks will be review for her and since we finished first grade so recently (July 1st), her mind is still pretty sharp.  She is feeling fairly confident at the moment, which is great!!! Today several different times she said, “This is really fun” or “I am enjoying this”.  There were a few comments of a different nature as she would flip to the back of her new books and try to figure out how to do certain math problems. “What in the world is this?”  We have a lot to learn and it will be interesting to take one step at a time and see all that we learn as we make our way to the end!

I am feeling more emotional this year as we start than I did with Kindergarten or First grade.  Realizing that this is likely my last year to have this kind of experience with Tori is really tugging at my heart.  Planning her second grade year has also required me to look seriously at the calendar and face the reality that our time in Benin is nearing an end. It is a lot to take in.  

I really love our life here.  I love the quality time with my husband and with our children.  I love knowing that we are making a difference in the lives of people and that sharing Christ and teaching others how to walk in relationship with Him is our daily job definition.  That is a dream that the Lord put in my heart many years ago and I am so thankful that Randy and I have had an opportunity to live this life for nearly 8 years. The other day I came across a quote that resonated in my heart…

And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives…and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." - Nate Saint

We have experienced so much and have grown in more ways than we are even aware.  There have been many hard days for sure, but at this point in our experience I can truly say I am thankful for them all.  We are stronger and even more aware of our need for Christ.  The Lord has blessed us and we are GLAD to be here.

All that said, I have had such a strong desire to get out of the house and go to the mall today. I would love to be doing some back to school shopping, walking the school supply aisles at Target and sitting down somewhere and eating a pretzel with a Large Diet Coke.

This time next year, that will probably be happening.