Ooh, Summer Don't Go!

We have had the best summer.  I can't really say why, but it was so good.  Having the kids was great, and weekends were filled with so much fun.  We even made progress on the house.  And now we are back to reality.  Goodbye summer, your presence is already waning, nights are getting dark and chilled sooner.  Leaves are still mostly green but a few tell tale golden ones are forecasting the fall. It is difficult to say goodbye, but of course fall holds its own beauty.

Ephraim is happily back in school.  He continues to amaze us.  His brain is constantly working, pushing himself to get better at everything.  Lately he has impressed me with his ability to understand others.  This year he has a student in his class who requires a full time classroom aide to be with him.  Ephraim comes home talking about him, but not in a negative way but a thoughtful one.  He really has been able to look past his friend's difficulties (which sound to be somewhat disruptive) and see him for his strengths.  I wonder at Ephraim's understanding of the situation.  From what I can tell, no one has talked him to about this, it is simply Ephraim's way of understanding his friend, in a way which seems to be spot on.

Salome was excited to return back to school, excited to see her friends, and be a big girl in the 4-year-old class, so thankfully parting wasn't too bad.  After a hug from papa and me walking her to class, she went and sat in circle time and then let me go.  The whole walk down she told me, "I want to stay with you" so I was a bit worried, but she came through the shyness thing and did it.  Phew!  So proud.  For the first time ever Salome talked to me about God in a way that she really loves him and believes he is real.  We try not to push her into anything but only tell her what we believe.  She is one who makes up her mind on her own, so it was so sweet to hear her talk on her own of she thinks about Him, what a beautiful thing.