Today, Monday August 11, 2008, was a historical day in the Overstreet family; Ashley began kindergarten and Devon began 2nd grade! Go ahead and grab the Kleenex! We had a wonderful morning getting the girls ready for their very first day of school at Winnona Park Elementary (WP). Doug and I walked the girls to school this morning, which we found to be a special moment in time. Devon was thrilled to ride her bike while wearing her backpack to school. What a big girl 2nd grader she is now! And as you can tell by the picture, Ashley looked just so little wearing her My Little Pony back pack. As I walked behind her along the sidewalk, I find myself wondering how could she possibly be old enough and big enough to begin kindergarten?

Once we arrived at WP, all the families were gathered on the front lawn known as Community Circle. The students gathered and sat on large blankets on the grass which sectioned each class, as a woman playing acoustic guitar led everyone in children’s song. It was very sweet. There were so many people in attendance that there was only a zigzagged narrow walking “path” between all the child covered blankets and parents; WP is a primary school of K-3 and about 335 students. And in the midst of all the organized chaos, a woman was passing around a basket filled with small “mommy bags” of Hershey Kisses and Kleenex.

The time came when the children filed in line to enter into their classrooms to begin their exciting day of firsts. Doug and I watched our big girls follow their classmates into school, just amazed by the events of this morning. We were so anxious as the day progressed to hear first hand about their day on the walk home.

Ashley’s first reaction to kindergarten was, “It wasn’t good, it was AWESOME!!!” She loved everything about her day, especially the fact that she never got in trouble! She took me back into the school to show me her chair, which has her name on it, as well as to the cafeteria where she had her big girl lunch. She said she made a lot of new friends, but I think all the excitement took precedence over her ability to remember new names.

Devon was equally as thrilled about her first day of 2nd grade. She told me how she befriended her teacher, Mrs. Peavy, and talked to her about our family moving from Charlotte this summer. The teachers at WP are very understanding of the transient families coming through the seminary. I do think Devon’s most favorite part of today was riding her bike to and from school. Doug talks about that part of his childhood fondly, and I know that this special time here in Decatur is going to build some wonderful childhood memories for Devon and Ashley.

In addition to our historical morning, I managed to take another Greek quiz today, this one on very few hours of sleep and that nauseous feeling it yields after too much coffee! Once the quiz was complete (only 1 quiz and the final to go!), three women from our Greek small group and myself led worship in the chapel. Our 30 minute service today focused on prayer, music, reading the Old lesson as a call to worship and New Testament lesson was portrayed as a drama. We played and sang the songs "Spirit" and "Seek Ye First" which are such beautiful hymns. My part today was leading the corporate Prayer of Confession, Assurance of Pardon, Prayer for Illumination (the prayer in preparation for the scripture reading), and lastly portraying the role of Jesus from John 3:1-21; this passage centers on Nicodemus sneaking around in the night to have a chat with Jesus on being born again.

I have enjoyed all the opportunities I have had participating in the worship service at Sardis Presbyterian and have had a quiet confidence in doing so. But meeting my parts today with little sleep, mounds of anxiety, and the motherhood tugs from the first day of elementary school left me drained and very insecure in public speaking. It is so difficult to lead worship with your peers, especially those who are 2nd year students who have taken the Scripture Reading Practicum and preaching courses.

Needless to say, many of our classmates shared with us how they enjoyed our mini-drama of the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus as told in John 3:1-21. It was a lot of fun for my classmate Rebecca and I to make the text come to life. And our Greek teacher’s assistant shared his ability to read probably the most quoted verse of the Bible, John 3:16, in the ancient Greek. It was very beautiful. Once the morning was over, I was so glad to come home for lunch today and take a nap! I am exhausted….. and looking forward to finishing Greek School Friday August 22. NINE MORE CLASS DAYS!!!!! Yippie! :-)

As we get the girls ready for bed tonight I am reminded of the speed in which life passes. I continue to hear God whisper to my heart to find these moments to drink up the sweetness of my daughters’ childhood and the memories that we are building here on this rich campus of CTS. I am so thankful to be here on this journey, as difficult as it can be on some days…like today. And although I do not feel worthy of the call I have received nor know what this vocation of ministry will look like for me 3 years from now, I do know that God is in the midst of it, using each experience to shape me if I allow myself to remain teachable and not focus on the frustrations that come along in this time of study.

If you have read this to the end, you are an amazing friend of mine! Thank you for being a part of our journey. We miss you dearly and are looking forward to seeing many of you and our home church in Charlotte Labor Day weekend!!! We are counting the days! Well, at least I am!

Grace and Peace,
Carson