BACK TO SCHOOL

Daniel 1:17 ¶ ... God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom...

As my husband Richard attended the "All Personnel" meeting on Saturday night, it became very real that the start of another school year is upon us. Our grandkids have their first day of the 2007-08 school year tomorrow. Jarrett is an 8th grader, Isabella is a 7th grader, Josh is a 3rd grader, and Jaden is in K3. As a principal, Amy has been at work for 5 weeks already but will experience her first day of school as principal of grades 4-6 tomorrow. I'm sure everyone will have some neat stories to share at our dinner table on Monday night.

Richard will be teaching a business course at the college again this semester. He enjoys teaching in addition to his other duties in the area of finance. It is a spiritual dream come true for him to be here working in this Christian College ministry. God is good!!!!

As we anticipate the college students returning, I get excited and eager to see our campus daughters from last year. Diana will be returning from Ohio, Darla from Tennessee (pictured together), and Melissa will be returning from Wisconsin (in the solo pic). In addition to our three campus daughters returning, we will probably get at least three new campus daughters this fall. We have met a freshman girl who is here working this summer and hope to be able to get Candice as a daughter. Also, Darla has written to let us know that two girls are coming as freshmen from her school and that she hopes we can get them as campus daughters as well. So, it sounds like our house will be full with girls in and out this coming semester. I love it!!! As "parents" of campus "daughters," our role is to open up our hearts and homes to these girls who are away from home and to help them adjust. The new freshman girls are our "official" daughters for the year but we are invited to keep our previous daughters until such time as they graduate. I enjoy introducing the new freshman girls to their veteran campus sisters ~~ and to watch friendships bloom.

We have graduated several girls, and it is such a blessing to know they are out serving the Lord as trained professionals in their chosen fields. I especially think of Becky and Sarah who are both teaching for the first time this fall. Also our daughters, Kim and Teresa, will be teaching for their 2nd year this fall. It is good to know that they are using their God-given gifts and excellent training to go out into the world to teach others. And so I wish them all well.... the principal, the teachers, and the students!!