The highlight of my summer is over: a little more than a week ago, the family returned from a week in Bentonville, Arkansas, where my daughter participated in the UPCI’s North American Bible Quiz Tournament (#NABQT21). She learned 521 verses of the book of Mark (KJV) and was able to correctly answer about 5 questions out of 20 in two quizzes.
Her quizzing was over pretty quickly as she went up against two good teams Saturday and Sunday evenings. Her team was at a disadvantage as her most aggressively competitive teammate was unable to join us due to COVID exposure.
We were so blessed to be able to spend time with an aunt, uncle, and grown cousins on the days we weren’t quizzing, so the trip was fantastic in that regard! My children were able to start relationships with some of the most wonderful people in the world whose lives had been transplanted from Houston to Bentonville a few years back. Before that, they’d met only a few times due our own transplantation to Mississippi.
So now we’re all back home. The 15 loads of laundry are done, the quoting is over for a few days, and a new chapter in our lives is about to begin.
My daughter is already planning her senior pictures (remember how I had to do all the planning for the boys?), and she’s already begun homework for classes that are yet to meet. Today is the beginning of her senior year!
My two boys move into dorms tomorrow in different cities in Mississippi. I’m not sure how I’ll face this year without them! I’m sure I’ll be fine after the initial shock wears off, but I’m honestly not looking forward to pulling out only three dishes for dinner. I know, I know; I should be grateful for the slash in my grocery, water, and electricity bills! But I’ll miss the noise and banter that I’ve “enjoyed” for the past 20 years.
Change is difficult, so I pray my family and friends will extend a little grace my way while I come to terms with our new chapter. I’m always hopeful that the Lord has something new and wonderful planned for our story as we close the current chapter. I trust Him!
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV)
