Back to school

Theo went back to school this week. This was simultaneously the fastest and longest summer of my life. When I look back, it was definitely the fastest. Then again as we were in it, the days seemed very long...probably because they were so mixed up with nights.

Theo's first day of school was Tuesday, so on Monday night for Family Home Evening Matt gave the older kids father's blessings to start off the school year. (Ida is going to do joy school with three of her little friends, similar to the play school they did last year.) When we explained the concept to them, Theo and Ida thought it was hilarious, since their most recent encounter with a blessing was Lars's baby blessing. I think they maybe thought Matt was going to hold them like a baby or something...anyway, we asked Theo to bring over a chair. I thought he would get one from the dining room table but he brought over a kid-sized one from their little play table. For some reason that tugged at my heart. Surprisingly, they were able to hold in their giggles during the blessings. He and Ida both looked so small and so sweet as they took turns sitting in the tiny blue chair, folding their arms and closing their eyes and sitting quietly as their strong and loving dad promised them comfort and new experiences and happiness and growth during the coming year.

Years rushed backwards past me as I remembered so many nights before each first day of school when I was a kid, when my own dear dad gave me and my brothers and sisters each a father's blessing. Then the night before I went to college and back again for 4 years; the night before I went to Europe for a semester; the night before I married Matt. I know I am only 28 but my life has been so good. I can only hope that my kids can know the wide range of emotions, but mostly joy and love, that I have known in my short life so far. I think they are on their way.