Our HUGE School Decision!

"Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done."

Psalm 105:1 

Although this is supposed to be a "jogging" blog, my post today will not be about jogging. It will instead be about a huge blessing the Lord has given our family. 

Around a year ago, Jack started preschool. We had him enrolled in a Christian preschool at a local Methodist church, and he absolutely loved it! His teachers were amazing, he had a great group of classmates, and most of all, Jack loved learning about God. He loved it so much, it was the first thing he asked his teacher at orientation. "When are we going to learn about God?"

I have to take a moment here to explain something. I grew up in a small town in Arkansas and public school is all I've ever known. I even decided on a public university over a private Christian university when I attended college. My degree is in early childhood education and most of our emphasis was on teaching public elementary school. I have always been a *HUGE* supporter of public school. I remember, on more than one occasion, saying,  "My kids WILL go to public school!" I felt VERY strongly about it! I felt like I had good educational experiences in elementary, high school, AND college. I saw absolutely no need to change things when it came to my children.

And then my child started preschool.

In this faith-based preschool, my son absolutely blossomed. He had no shame in praying, he yearned for God's Word, and he had such a sweet heart for other people. It wasn't long before I started to question my decision on public school for the future. I suddenly began to feel very uneasy about Jack going to a school where his relationship with God would be put on the back burner, or not even acknowledged at all. I knew it was the Holy Spirit telling me that maybe I didn't know it all. Maybe what I originally thought was best, wasn't right at all. Maybe what was best for me when I was growing up wasn't going to be what was best for Jack.

At the end of October, I knew my plans were going to have to change. Jack accepted Christ into his little heart and I knew, without a doubt, that we needed to look into Christian school for him. I had absolutely no experience with Christian school and I also had no idea how we'd pay for it. It's no secret that we're a one-income family, so that I can stay home with the kids. Although Jack is starting kindergarten, Charlotte is still at home, and while I knew God was calling us to change our educational plan for Jack, I didn't feel like God was calling me to leave my work at home with her. 

I was scared. I didn't know how we were going to do it. But we started talking about it anyway.

While volunteering in Jack's preschool class one day, I was talking with his teacher about how we were thinking about private school. Devin and I had pretty much decided on a Christian school and were discussing how we'd be able to make it work financially. And then Jack's teacher said some of the best words I'd ever heard, "You know they take scholarships there now, right?"

I couldn't believe it. Can you say answered prayer? I called the school to verify and went straight home to check scholarship requirements. I nearly cried at what I saw. We were going to qualify for a 100% scholarship. God had already taken care of everything before I even had an opportunity to really worry.

Before Christmas, we put Jack on the enrollment list for kindergarten. And then came the waiting game. It wouldn't be until mid-February before we could apply for the scholarship. I was tempted to worry, but I knew that God would not have laid this on my heart without following through. So I trusted Him. And come through He did!

Jack's future school had a parent meeting in February and helped all of us submit forms for our scholarships. In less than a week, it was official. Jack had a 100% scholarship and he was going to a Christian school in the fall!

I would have been satisfied if the blessings had stopped there, but that's not usually how God works. I'm near tears every time I think about the things that happened next!

Over the summer, God sent our family two more huge blessings. First of all, the scholarship Jack received paid for all of his uniforms! As if that wasn't enough, someone donated school supplies for the kids on scholarship, too! I still can't quite believe it. What seemed like nearly an impossibility a year ago, will become a reality tomorrow morning when I take Jack to his very first day of kindergarten. 

To a school where they will pray together. Where he can talk about God as much as he wants! Where he will learn about the Bible daily, and memorize Scripture, and where he can grow more spiritually than I could even help him grow at home. 

Our family has been so blessed! I can't think about this entire experience without Ephesians 3:20 coming to mind, "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

Thank you Lord for your blessings! And thank you for loving my son, even more than I can.