THE BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

This is "bridge week."

The week that bridges the end of summer and the beginning of another school year.

In six days kids will be back at school.

We have a freshman this year.

High school.

HIGH SCHOOL!

We have a 4th grader this year.

Last year of elementary school.

LAST YEAR!

I know for many the week of "bridge crossing" is a busy one, trying to cram in as much of what's left of summer as possible before the routine of school kicks in again.

"Bridge crossing" at our house is quiet.

I have home-bodies, remember?

They cherish this time to just "be."

To play with friends...to hang out...to stay up late...to sleep in even later.

Don't get me wrong, though...it's not as though we aren't busy.

Parker has football practice every day and he had freshman orientation earlier this week.  Faith has piano lessons.  There's school open houses tonight along with another orientation for students and parents.  There are haircuts to be had (and let me tell you...there's LOTS of hair to be cut), last minute school shopping to get done and hard-to-find jean sizes to track down.

But we're not jam-packing our schedules.

We're crossing the bridge at a slow and steady pace...although too slow for Faith who REALLY wants school to start!

Next week I'll give them over to another year of school.  Part of me will breath a little sigh that we are back into a "routine" again.  But most of me will be watching and waiting for that bus to arrive at 3:15 in the afternoons when Faith is once again returned to me after a busy and learning-filled day.  Then I'll wait again for that 5:30 afternoon time when Parker is returned to me from his busy, learning-filled and football-playing day.

Soon our dinner conversations will change to hearing about school friends, new friends, teachers and exciting (and maybe not-so-exciting) things that happened throughout their days.  Evenings will be homework-filled, with Scott taking everything math and science related and me taking everything reading, writing and spelling related.

Ah, yes...the busyness of another school year is just on the other side of the bridge.

But for the next six days...we're just gonna chill.

Wishing you a peaceFULLYsimple day.

peace
jeanine