School Days...

Growing up, there were two times during the year I had diffiuclty falling asleep. The first would be Christmas Eve, which was one of my favorite nights of the year. I can still see myself in my bed with my new PJ's on, anxious for the morning light to crack through the windows. The second would be the night before the first day of school. The excitement of a new school year, new friends and a new desk overwhelmed me.

This last Monday Jackson headed off to his first day of 1st grade. As I close my eyes I can see us taking pictures two years ago as he headed off to KG1 at Bingham Academy, it seems like it was just a few minutes ago.

Bingham is a special place, one that is hard to describe. The international school has been around for at least 50 years now and has seen students from all over the world attend. The thing that is really connects you at Bingham is the understood notion that everyone is going through the same things. The school is filled with local Ethiopian students, but also many international students who are trying to adapt to a new culture, no water and a world they are not used to. Jackson's class with filled with kids who looked so different from each other, and yet not one of them saw any difference. It was truly special.

Jackson's second year, which was KG2, started off a little different. I returned to Ethiopia from our furlough with Jackson while Amanda stayed in the States two more weeks to attend doctors appointments. Jackson was about two weeks late starting school but he quickly caught up. He was so excited to see many of his friends again from KG1 as well as new friends he was able to meet. Jackson also went from going to school half days to going full days (two days a week), which was a big adjustment. Both years Eric and I would rotate driving the kids to school, which was about 45 minutes away leaving at 6:45 in the morning. The drive home took about 1 1/2 hours because of traffic. On most days because of the congested streets whoever was driving would just stay in town, which made for a very long day.

Last year Jackson was able to finish out the school year at a local Christian school just down the road from us. The school was gracious to allow him to finish out the year and also participate in graduation, and on Monday he started 1st grade at the same school. As you can see Jackson has really gotten taller in just the last year. He now knows how to tie his shoes and his reading and writitng has improved greatly. Jackson has had a very unique life in his brief six years, and we pray God uses that in a very powerful way.

It is bittersweet seeing him head back to school to start 1st grade...

knowing that tomorrow he will be heading off to college.