sweet endings

Have I ever mentioned one of my very favorite treats? Maybe not. It is my GG’s recipe for chocolate sauce and I love it with my whole heart. It has a very deep flavor of cocoa blended with vanilla. The texture is very unique ; smooth, but a bit chewy – certainly not like processed, jarred sauces from the store. I made homemade chocolate sauce for sundaes tonight. It is a sweet treat to mark an ending. Today, Friday was the end of our summer.

*sigh*

I knew it was coming. My start date for the school year has been on the calendar for quite some time. But it doesn’t make it any easier. Monday morning we will hit the ground running, implementing our new daily schedule.

I can feel my temperature begin to rise, just thinking about it all. Why? Well, I’m anxious because it is all new. again. New subjects. New schedule. New curriculum and books. And most of all – a new student. I’ve got all of the challenges a new school year brings, multiplied by two now because Isaac is beginning kindergarten. It makes last year seem like a piece of cake.

With a sweet kiss of chocolate we say “goodbye” to staying up late on summer nights and sleeping in whenever we want. We say “so long” to playing outside in the sprinkler and unplanned trips to the park. Sleepovers at grandmama’s house will have to be saved for weekend nights. And we say “hello” to history timelines, multiplication tables, Scripture memory work and lots of read aloud books – just to name a few…

The good news, that I’ve been rehearsing in my heart and mind all week is this: My Heavenly Father is in the business of new beginnings. Even though endings can be hard to face, there is always a fresh start available. He offers it freely- even now – at 10 pm on my last night of summer vacation.

The words He has given to me from Scripture are encouraging as I embark down this new path.