School's Out For Summer

That's it. It's done. Another 180 day (give or take) complete. Yesterday was the last day of the 2015-2016 school year. That means, whether we're ready for it or not, summer is here. No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks...(do teachers really give dirty looks?)

Our kids went to school yesterday for about an hour and half. They weren't happy about getting up and going in for so short a time, especially when, "no one else is going." But we sent them, and it appears there were other kids there so...

The last day of school. I (Jay) drove home from the office mid-day to meet the kids after their 90 minute-ish school, to have lunch with everyone. As I was pulling into the driveway it hit me. There's been another significant change in the life of the Higham's. We now have a second grader, a fifth grader, an eighth grader, a HS junior, AND a HS senior. A SENIOR!

It's been a crazy year. New job. New school. New house. New friends. New church. It's really been a lot. But we are so very proud of our kids, who took all the changes in stride. There were moments when it was easy. And yes, there were tears. We have had our shares of the ups and the downs. There's been some real uneasiness. And there's been a lot of laughter. All in all, it's another chapter added to the amazing story God is writing.

As I think back over the year, I am amazed by God's faithfulness. (Crazy to think that even now, 25 years in ministry, 20 years married, we're still amazed by God's faithfulness.)

So we pause today, and simply say thank you. Thank you, to the God who loves us and cares for us. Thank you, to the God who knows our need before we are even aware of our need. Thank you, to the God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20b NIV)

So a second grader, a fifth grade, an eighth grader, a junior, and a senior all walk into a house...sounds like the beginning of a joke, right? But it's not. It's our life. It's our family. It's God's glorious blessing for us.

We don't know what the end of the school is bringing for you and your kiddos. We don't know what you summer is going to look like. And we don't know the future God has planned for you. We don't even know what our future is going to look like.

But here's what we do know. We have today, for as long as God gives us today. So let's make the most of today to live, laugh and love! To treasure the minutes. To enjoy the present. To recognize that with each passing day, we grow one more day closer to being empty-nesters.

Happy end of school to you and your family! May God bless you with a wonder summer of family fun!

​- the higham family

---

Hi we're Jay & Amy, and we've been married for 19 years and are super blessed to be busy raising our 5 kids; 4 boys and 1 girl! We juggle the adventures of life and ministry and share what we are learning as it relates to marriage, family, raising kids, serving in the church, and chasing after Jesus. We know that raising a family is hard work, especially in today's culture. But our hope is to encourage you and your family, as we live for the glory of God. This is our story.