School work is done but lessons continue ...

We've finished our school year and along with that comes a sigh of relief! We've worked hard, learned many things and continued to grow in true knowledge found only in Christ. No more math worksheets, spelling words or writing assignments. 
I was at the park the other day and making conversation with another mom. After hearing we home educate she remarked how I must love to teach. I gave a mumbled reply but thought about it later. Do I love to teach? I don't know that I would put it that way. I do love to learn. And that's what I've been doing all along. I've been gobbling up all the juicy tidbits the children are supposed to be learning. My excitement (I'd like to think) gets them excited. 
As I look back and consider how things went this last school year I return to the mission statement I had carefully made last summer. I need to stay focused on the task at hand and sometimes all the curriculum choices and outside activities can seem overwhelming. Making this mission statement helped keep me on track as we considered what our options were and if they supported our mission statement. If you're wondering, here it is - To prepare faithful disciples to witness to the gospel in all of life.  Hey no pressure, right? Easy - peesy. Not. So. Much. 
Sometimes the lessons aren't as easy as doing a sheet of long division. Or writing a paragraph on the beauty of a whooping bird. Sometimes we wish we could avoid the hard lessons and still learn. This came to our family in the form of a diagnosis. 
I remember vividly the feeling in the pit of my stomach 15 or so years ago when I heard over the phone that Mom had cancer. I wanted to get on the first plane to Texas and be with her, thinking somehow that would help if I were just there. I never got on the plane. She wanted me to stay put and reassured me that with grandma and grandpa and Dad there, she had plenty of help. I respected her wishes but hated being so far away. 
Wayne got on a plane last night, headed for home to be with his Dad. Leukemia. He wanted to be home. To be with his Mom and Dad and brothers because a son never stops being a son even when he's become a father. Will went along - the lessons continue. He learns how Dad handles hurt. How the Pastor man, so used to being strong for others in the face of grief with the power and strength of the gospel now handles his own grief. Being vulnerable enough to share his struggle with his flock. And allowing the body of Christ to serve him through their prayers and support.  He learns that family stick together even in hospitals. And that God is present in these moments. Bringing us closer to Him, to each other. These are the teachable moments, the lessons to be learned. This is how we prepare ourselves and our little disciples to witness to the gospel in all of life - even cancer.  Thankfully, we don't have to worry about an exam!  Jesus took it already and got a perfect score on our behalf! 
Please pray for our family, for my father-in-law Jake. 
May God be glorified through this and His will be done.