are you starting school today?

this question comes from the traditional way of looking at school- it starts and ends at a particular time- time of day, time of year. when your children are in school, your schedule is made for your family. that is what is so glorious about homeschooling- there isn't a beginning or an end. if you define education as a joyful process that saturates life rather than something controlled by an on/off switch dictated by some board of education, this question becomes irrelevant. i wanted to explain all this to the librarian who asked us if we were starting school today, but at the time, i said "we homeschool and don't really have a starting or ending date- it's more of a lifestyle thing." and gave her a big smile, hoping for understanding.

this picture is of the school bus coming up our road for the first time this school year. i always get an odd feeling when i see it, imagining joseph on it, and it's so strange, to imagine him there. i'm so grateful that we have the opportunity to share learning adventures with him...