As a part of introducing our Rhetoric school, we would like to present the following as a “Portrait of a Graduate.” It will be a few more years before we have our first Valley Classical School graduates. But a critical piece of building this final stage of our classical school was starting at the end and working backwards. A team met together over a series of weeks to flesh out, name, and to dream and pray about what we hope our future graduates would look like. We want to present these prayers and hopes for our future graduates, acknowledging that this vision is the telos - the ultimate goal for our future students, and how we believe the Rhetoric school will operate towards this end. This portrait is not a model of a perfect student, but a vision for everything we hope God might shape them to be. We also want to acknowledge that these hopes for our graduates will be arduous, as VCS exists to cultivate the hearts, souls, and minds of our students for the glory of God, and that is not without struggle and difficulty. We do not want to graduate students who think they are perfect, but students who have a deep and accurate knowledge of God and themselves. We are building a new stage of our school, with broken people in a broken world, but we are hopeful that God’s grace will cause us to raise up agents of reconciliation who will leave VCS, going out into the world cultivating beauty, bringing life and peace to the people, times, and places God sends them. 

That being said, here is our portrait of a VCS graduate - the telos, highest goal, culmination of what a student who graduates from Valley Classical School will by God’s grace, be shaped by and be prepared for the rest of their lives. 

Students Oriented Towards God - Knowledge of God and Self 

We want our students to develop an ongoing ability for healthy self-awareness and a deep hunger for understanding more of God. We believe that when we understand who God is, that He is our Creator, our Savior, and the source and end of all truth, goodness, and beauty, then we can see all of our work as worship unto Him.  Alongside that, a right understanding of who we are as humans results in us being able to appreciate the givenness of all of our abilities (mind, soul and body), a comprehension of the inherent dignity we and our neighbors have as image-bearers of God, and a better consciousness of our responsibility to steward what we have been given. 

We pray that an accurate knowledge of self, and a lifelong desire to know more of God together moves students towards a life of wisdom and virtue. Our prayer is that our graduates would humbly orientate themselves towards the people, ideas, and stories from the past; engage faithfully, generously, and empathetically with the present in their communities, work, and worship; and to begin to prudently move towards the future with wisdom, curiosity, courage, and hope.

Students With a Hunger to Learn - Curriculum in the Rhetoric Stage 

At VCS, we view curriculum as the pathway on the journey of education. We believe in cultivating a good path  from K to 12th grade, that students will complete at the end of the Rhetoric stage by crafting and defending a Senior Thesis. Curriculum in the Rhetoric stage goes deeper and broader than in the Grammar or Logic stage. It is designed to allow students to taste and see the wonder of science, the elegance of math, the complex beauty of languages, the intrigue of ideas in the great conversation of literature, and the perspective of ancient to modern history. We have been training students all the way through the grades to get to this level, and now we give them opportunities to enjoy their studies since the base from Grammar and Logic has been set for them. Their thesis will be the conclusion of their K-12th education, as an apologetic, classical, relevant defense that the student will develop throughout their junior and senior year. We see this thesis as more than a capstone project, but a culmination of their Trivium journey and a powerful and beautiful way to use every stage of education to present what they are passionate about. 

Students who are Holistic and Healthy - Habit Formation in the Rhetoric Stage 

Though we hope that students retain the content of our carefully considered curriculum, we know that the habits, patterns, and liturgies that are formed during their years at VCS will remain far into the future. We desire holistic, healthy habits for our students: for their bodies, minds, and souls. Our aim is that VCS students graduate with a clear understanding of the patterns of work and rest that God gifted and designed for His creatures. Some of those patterns are practiced on campus with beginning the day in worship; a pattern of prayer woven throughout the day; and the continuous training of students to deeply engage with classmates, content, and discussions. Across grades, it is one of VCS’s highest priorities to work with teachers who are worth imitating as they lead class and disciple students in these liturgies. In the Rhetoric school, additional patterns will be developed through an intentional combination of structured class time and unstructured play or rest time during the campus days. 

Because VCS is a collaborative model, in working with families, other habits are cultivated at home. We hope to equip families with the same culture of training students  to engage and wrestle with an idea from beginning to end through deep and hard work in order to be able to taste the good fruit on the other side of that struggle. Families are encouraged to practice this habit of working from rest through the VCS weekly liturgies. Though a VCS Rhetoric week is full, if it is run well, it also allows for family evenings spent together without homework, an ability to rest on the Sabbath, and time to explore other interests and serve the community. We earnestly pray that as families and the school partners together, the Holy Spirit will bring fruit from these liturgies, for the good of the student.

Looking forward - Our prayer for the future

As we embark on the final stage of building VCS into a PreK-12th grade school, we pray that God will continue the good work that He started and shape VCS into a school community that blesses the lives of these Rhetoric students, their families, and the teachers during the last four years of their education with us. We are praying that this gift of education our students receive will be able to help them see God's goodness and faithfulness, to have the courage to help bring God’s restoration to our broken world, and to know God's voice saying "You are My child, whom I love". Please join us in praying that this might be so.

However, a scalpel in the hands of a clumsy, arrogant, or unpracticed surgeon can lead to great harm and devastating consequences. 

The difference between the two is not the knife itself, it is the person holding it - it is the lessons lodged in the psyche garnered by suffering, complexity, and time. (I’m married to a doctor, so maybe this is why the analogy of the scalpel resonated so deeply with me.)

I, too, was raised in a Christian home that prioritized Classical education. For much of my adult life, I have been grappling with what I was taught to do with the “scalpel” that was handed to me. So often, the desire behind my learning of great literature or complicated theology was a subtle superiority and a desire for certainty and “being right.” The scalpel I was handed gave me a tool to damage relationships by both pride and callousness. My posture was not one of humble inquiry and graciousness. 

But… it also gave me a hunger for Truth, for learning, and a love for things that “make sense”. As I am teaching your 5th-8th-grade kiddos, this tension is always in my mind. Getting to have a practice run at parenting with a Kindergartener this year has pushed me to analyze what sort of motive and framework I might want to give to her… and, by nature of my current profession as a teacher and school coordinator, what I hope to build within our school. 

As parents and as teachers, I think sitting with this tension can be a useful guide for us. 

However your school year has gone up to this point, I want us to pause for a moment today, remind ourselves that we are here by the grace of God, together, to love these students and press towards Wisdom, healing, restoration, and to rejoice that God “remembers our sins and lawless deeds no more.” 

Here is my list of what I prayerfully imagine for our students and pray is a reality for them: 

• We will lead them in the essential work of caring deeply about what is right and wrong, truth and falsehood, fairness and injustice, helpful and harmful, selfish and unselfish. But we will also remind them that even if people do wrong, they are still worthy of love as bearers of the Imago Dei.  

• We will lead them in understanding the values of excellence, the pride of doing one’s best, (in a carefully curated sense) the value of competition and winning. We will simultaneously warn them of the dangers of pride and superiority, and of the dangerously addictive power of winning, and we will teach them about the precious lessons that often come through loss, defeat, and failure. 

• We will teach the value of study and learning as an expression of our love for God, for others, and for ourselves - developing our minds and other capacities to their highest potential for the glory of God and service of His Church. 

• We will help our children develop critical thinking, honest questioning, and the ability to challenge and critique. We will help them critique and challenge without hate or disrespect, driven instead by love for the truth and for the common good. Love for God and love for others requires this kind of critical thinking. 

• We will guide them as they turn their eyes inward and face their own hypocrisies, their own shadows, their own blind spots, not to foster self-hatred or self-condemnation, but as a way of remembering that “He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” In this way, our children can learn to critique both others and themselves with the same graciousness and loving gentleness as Christ. “I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds...and I will remember their lawless deeds no more.” 

For thought and discussion: 

• Reflect on the analogy of Classical Education as a scalpel. How do you desire your child’s education to “heal and restore”? 

• What would you add to the list of things you pray for your children’s/students’ education?

• How do I want ____ subject to shape my children/students? 

• What are some areas the students collectively excelling at that subject right now? In what ways can they collectively improve? 

However, we know that students, and teachers, work in different manners and at different paces. Additionally, there are circumstances that prevent us all being physically present each day. When we are present, we’re not always engaged and ready for the school day. When this happens, we (both the students and I) have a unique opportunity. Instead of becoming frustrated or impatient with others or circumstances, we can demonstrate a servant’s heart and love when we extend grace and patience to those around us. 

Through the years, when the classroom’s daily rhythm is upset by absences, disengagement, or other circumstances out of my control, by God’s grace, I’ve learned how to better model love and patience for my students. However, as a teacher, there’s one area where I often find my heart growing impatient: a student’s progress, or rather lack of progress. If I have a student who’s struggling, whether it be behaviorally or academically, as the teacher I start to analyze and problem solve how to best help the student. It’s my job to help them navigate difficulties and persevere through the hard. When I’m unable to help the student come through the struggle and out on the other side, or  when my prayers and efforts seem fruitless, I find myself becoming impatient - with myself, my student, the circumstance, or even at times with God. My desire is to encourage and walk alongside students, especially in the difficult times. However, when it’s hard to see the light at the tunnel, it can be easy to lose hope and lose sight. I find it especially difficult to be patient in the waiting, when I see the student working hard, when the parents are committed and supportive, and when I have implemented all of the ideas and strategies I can come up with. As an educator, and as a human, these are the times where I tire of waiting to see what will happen, or how God will work.

The struggle I've faced in learning how to weather these circumstances as a teacher, have only expanded this past year, with the current climate of our communities and the pandemic’s effect upon them. I’ve found myself asking, “How long will this last?” or “When will it get better?” or even “Will this ever end?” Similarly to how I would approach a student experiencing difficulty, I have looked at our current reality and the pandemic with an analytical mind and tried to find ways to persevere through, and live well day to day. Though it probably comes as no surprise to anyone, I was unsuccessful, in my own efforts, to find the formula for what I could do to make it all better. However, God, in His rich love and mercy, brought me back to Him, and used scripture to encourage my spirit as I wrestled with these things. 

Back in the early fall, our church introduced a new song, “I Will Wait For You,” by Shane & Shane. I was already familiar with this song, God brought new life to the words as I sang them. A short time later, my husband and I led this song in congregational worship, and as we practiced, the words continued to penetrate and speak to my heart in new ways. 

God will meet me where I am. 

Psalm 130:1-2

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!

    O Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive

    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

“I Will Wait for You”-Verse 1

Out of the depths I cry to You

In darkest places I will call

Incline Your ear to me anew

And hear my cry for mercy Lord

The beginning of the psalm and the song showed me that we don’t always cry out to God from the mountain top, when the sun is shining, and all is well. There are many times when what we are facing is dark, hard, and deep, and God knows this, understands this, and loves us in this. He meets us where we are. 

My satisfaction comes from Him, and is in Him.

Psalm 130:5-6

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits

    and in his word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord

“I Will Wait for You”- Chorus 1

I will wait for You, I will wait for You

On Your word I will rely

I will wait for You, surely wait for You

Till my soul is satisfied

As the psalmist cries out, he declares his reliance on the Word and puts his hope in God. The waiting on God doesn’t produce impatience, but rather satisfaction in God and Who He is. These words struck a chord, and continue to do so, as they challenge me to rely solely on God. When I am waiting, I can find true satisfaction, true hope, and true joy, because of God and His character and goodness. It has nothing to do with me or what I can do or accomplish. 

Even in my waiting, I can be active in trusting and delighting in God.

“I Will Wait for You” - Chorus 2

I will wait for You, I will wait for You

Through the storm and through the night

I will wait for You, surely wait for You

For Your love is my delight

Waiting often seems like a passive state to me. However, as the song and psalm demonstrate, there is action in waiting when we choose to actively pursue God. When we choose to trust Him, we are not being passive and wasting time. We are standing back, waiting on Him, expecting Him to work, and delighting in His goodness and love towards us. 

Through reading this passage of scripture and singing this song many times, God has worked on my impatient heart and opened my eyes to the beauty of waiting on Him. Whether I’m working to help a student, or living through a pandemic, there is joy to be found when I’m waiting on the Lord, and not just waiting for my desired outcome. As He so often does, God lovingly reminded me that I must continually shift my heart and focus back to Him. I will not experience any of His goodness when I’m centered on my own efforts, ideas, and outcomes. Only when I can surrender my will to Him, can I know true peace and true satisfaction. When I choose to rest and reside in His steadfast love, will I be able to know and experience the joy and beauty of waiting.

This has certainly been the case for me since August, and, given that I don’t have years of experience teaching, I think it will be most beneficial for me to share what I’ve been learning rather than attempting to share the wisdom which I have yet to attain. To make it simple, I have summarized some of my findings into three simple reflections. 

1) Be patient.

I have always been an overachiever and someone who strives to be on top of things in advance. However, one thing that has challenged me about teaching this year is trying to accommodate myself to many new things without having the time or ability to master it all in advance. The real-life challenge is that I am learning the curriculum while trying to teach it to the students. Granted, I have a degree in the subject and they do not (lest you started to panic there for a minute!), but I am still learning the ropes of something new and challenging. And that simply takes time. While I would like to learn everything quickly, master it, and then feel competent at my job, that’s just not how life or teaching works. Mastery and skill are attained over time through constant practice and work, and teaching is no exception. 

One of my professors, who is also a mentor and good friend of mine, gave me the stark encouragement that first-year teaching is analogous to boot camp: you only go through it once. It’s an uphill climb, and it takes longer to get comfortable with it than you think it should, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The light may be a couple of years out, though, in all honesty. And in the meantime, I have been learning the value of being patient with myself and the virtue of perseverance in the task at hand, even if I feel I am only a few steps ahead of the students at any time. 

2) Be enthusiastic.

It may sound redundant, but students will perform better in a classroom where the teacher is enthusiastic about the material. Fortunately for me, I studied History, Christian Studies, and Music in college, and I have the opportunity to teach many of those very things I studied, which is simultaneously what I love and enjoy. This doesn’t mean that I am always thrilled about what we have to do in class each week, but I have seen that when I bring enthusiasm to the topic, it tends to invite enthusiasm from my students, too. 

For example, I have been teaching the story of the Trojan War from Homer’s Iliad to the students in my 5th Grade Humanities class. If taught poorly, this can be a tedious tale full of characters with confusing names and a long, complicated plot. However, if taught well, it can be an epic story featuring heroes, war, tragedy, romance, and deep questions about life and human nature. I have actually really enjoyed teaching this story this year because I recall being their age myself when I was learning the story of the Trojan War. When I was that age, I loved it so much that my siblings and I enacted the characters and pretended we were them. As a teacher, I have sought to channel this enthusiasm for the story in my teaching of it, and I have seen the students get very involved in the story and enjoy it. That is honestly one of the best rewards I have had so far - the reward of seeing the students enjoy and appreciate something that I enjoy and am enthusiastic about. The simple touch of enthusiasm can bring a subject to life as surely as a touch of tedium can kill it. 

3) Be grateful. 

Finally, I have been reminded of the importance of being grateful. 2020 has certainly been a tough year, and it has been very easy to fall into ingratitude along the way at many points. However, I have sought to remind myself of all of the things I can be grateful for in the midst of that. While this is something that I have learned as a teacher, it is not at all limited to teaching. As a teacher, I have a lot to be grateful for: I have a job that I love and enjoy, families that are very cooperative and easy to work with, students that are attentive and respectful, and a school setting that has been able to maintain in-person learning for 16 weeks so far without having to go remote. All of those are blessings this year. Furthermore, there are countless little scenes, moments, and events to be thankful for such as random words of encouragement from parents and other teachers or moments when I get to see the students’ enthusiasm for learning stand out clearly. My goal is to take none of these for granted. 

Reflecting on 2020 as a whole in a moment of particular stress and frustration, I was tempted to wish that I could just nix the whole year and flow seamlessly from a time of past normalcy into a time of future normalcy - to just skip over this hectic and discouraging in-between. Then I realized all of the many blessings and graces I have experienced this year at VCS and elsewhere, and my perspective changed. 

I thought to myself that if the only way to experience those moments of happiness, joy, and good memories this year was to experience them alongside and through the pain and frustration of 2020, then I would rather choose that - good and bad together - than throw out the good with the bad. Even if that is a hypothetical dilemma and none of us actually get the luxury of choosing, it was still a moment of reflection for me that reminded me of the necessity of stopping to intentionally be grateful to God. 

***

I’ve now spilled more than enough “ink” on describing a few things I’m learning this year. I can only hope my students are learning as much, though I will leave that in the hands of qualified parents to answer. ;-) While it is true that we don’t know what we don’t know, I’m thankful that God (and coworkers, mentors, and parents!) are gracious to teach us slowly and patiently over time. Truly, docendo discimus. I’m no exception!

John Mays, author of the textbook we use for 7th grade science, shares a similar sentiment in his book about teaching science. He writes, “Science provides us with an excellent forum in which to love our neighbor, and in which to learn what loving our neighbor means.” If there has been a year in my lifetime where I have felt more keenly the need to press into what it means to “love my neighbor,” I cannot remember it. The spectrum of opinions regarding the election and COVID-19 have brought this issue to the forefront of my brain- and to the forefront of theological and political discussion in the world at large. While I am not here to outline specific behaviors or principles that I believe define precisely what it means to love our neighbor, I do think this little organism, Vibrio fischeri, might give us some things to ponder as we seek to live well in God’s world. 

In her 2009 TED Talk, Bonnie Bassler, a microbiologist at Princeton University who studies cell-to-cell communication in bacteria, shared her lab’s discoveries in what we now call “quorum sensing” (where are my Latin scholars at :). Before we jump into quorum sensing, let’s talk about Vibrio fischeri, the species that Dr. Bassler studies, and how its incredible symbiotic relationship works. This is literally the coolest. These bacteria live on the underside/belly of Hawaiian Bobtail squid. The squid prefers shallow water and does most of its exploring/hunting at night. From a predation standpoint, swimming around in shallow water at night is a suicide mission- your shadow is clearly visible. So how does the squid get around this problem? It has a special shutter-like organ on its belly that houses the bacteria. This shutter flushes them out in the morning, and then allows the few remaining Vibrio to slowly replicate during the day while the squid is asleep. At night, the squid opens the shutter and light is emitted. Now if that’s not amazing enough, get this. The amount of bioluminescence emitted is based on the amount of light detected from special sensors on the squids back that assess the amount of moonlight/starlight above. In response, the bacteria release exactly the amount of light that matches the light from above. Incredible. This led Dr. Bassler’s laboratory to ask, how do the bacteria know when to turn on the light? And how do they know how much light to make? 

Here is where the discovery of quorum sensing comes in. They found that Vibrio fischeri makes a special hormone that sends a signal saying, “This is me, I am here!” As the bacterial cells grow, they are all making this hormone that is being released into the environment where their neighboring bacterial cells can recognize its presence. These neighboring cells are able to recognize the “This is me, I am here!” molecule because they also have special receptors on their cell surfaces that fit the “this is me!” hormone perfectly, like a lock and key. When this molecule reaches a certain amount, which tells the bacteria something about the number of neighbors present, the receptors absorb it into the cells and they collectively turn on their light. Dr. Bassler explains, “Why this is interesting is because in the past decade, we have found that this is not just some anomaly of this ridiculous, glow-in-the-dark bacterium that lives in the ocean -- all bacteria have systems like this. What we now understand is that all bacteria can talk to each other. They make chemical words, they recognize those words, and they turn on group behaviors that are only successful when all of the cells participate in unison. So now we have a fancy name for this: we call it quorum sensing.” 

Where am I going with all of this? To tie theology to bacteriology- the Body of Christ functions in a Christ-like way when all the parts participate in unison. In addition, there are human parallels to the Vibrio fischeri with their  “Here I am!” hormone, which requires the bacteria cells around them to be producing signals as well before they can truly orient themselves. We need each other to know something about ourselves. Paul’s writing reflects this idea throughout his letters to the Corinthians, insisting that if one part is hurt, the others are hurt too (1 Cor. 12:26), and that one believer’s sin is the lapse of all (1 Cor. 6). He holds them accountable as a group, a family whose lives are connected and held together by the gospel. Pain and sin belong not only to the individual, but to the Church as a whole. In his essay, On Being a Human Body, Rowan Williams describes it this way, “Living in the Church entails the difficult knowledge that my identity as a believer is not my business alone and that I am affected by the failure of another. Christians live in one place as members of the Body- for good and ill. No one resolves the question of their salvation alone.” 

I think God has designed humans with the capacity to know ourselves and Himself better in the context of relationships with others. To allow ourselves to be known by another person is hard stuff- but it is the gold transformative relationships are built on. Marriage comes to mind as a profound example, reinforced by it’s covenantal nature. God relates to Israel through covenant, we in turn relate to each other through binding relationships. Later in his essay, Williams expounds on why this process is so hard, “So this is a body in which the vulnerability of the whole organism is accepted, in which there is normally no quick solution to the problem of disease or suffering...Healing the Body of Christ, in Paul’s perspective, seems to be a long job, one in which everyone involved is summoned to self-scrutiny in their relationships with others.” To circle back then, how does this connect to loving our neighbors? Perhaps loving our neighbors and living in community begins with having the courage to say in openness and vulnerability, “Here I am! This is me!” Staring at my own self with genuine authenticity is hard work, but allowing another to do so is an act of unprecedented courage. My prayer for us as believers, and families who are seeking to labor together in the education of young minds- is that we would lean towards each other with love, grace, and gratitude knowing we are healing as the Body of Christ together. We are laboring together towards the Kingdom of God being a present reality in our lives and in our world. Even more specifically, I pray my students would learn the beauty of being known and treasured as a part of this beloved community, and they would see God’s presence clearly in the precious masked face sitting next to them.

1. John Mays, Teaching Science So That Students Learn Science: A paradigm for Christian Schools, (Austin: Novare Science and Math Publishing, 2018), 12. 

2. Bassler, Bonnie. 2009. “How Bacteria ‘Talk.’” Filmed February 3-9, 2009 in Long Beach, California. TED video, 17:56. https://www.ted.com/talks/bonnie_bassler_how_bacteria_talk?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare.

3. Williams, Rowan, “On Being a Human Body,” In Sewanee Theological Review; 1999; 42, 4; ProQuest Religion pg. 403.

Read it for a glimpse of 2 things we aim for at VCS:

• a rich trinity of relationships between parents, campus teacher, and students

• a classroom environment of discussion that digs into the big-picture insights and nitty-gritty applications of the books we read

It is shared here on the blog with Mrs. Edsall’s permission. 

---

Good afternoon 7th Grade Co-Teachers,

I hope you're all doing well today! I wanted to share a bit of our class conversation with you all as it concerns a topic you may wish to follow-up with your student about: suicide and salvation. I first want to provide the context for the conversation, as well as my response to it, in the event that your student should bring it up, or that you choose to bring it up with your student. If, after reading this email, you have any concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to ask, and I'd be happy to set up a meeting!

For context: today during our Literature time in Humanities class, we discussed our Pilgrim's Progress readings through page 164, which, if you've been reading along, means that we have followed Christian and Hopeful through their capture, imprisonment, and escape from the Giant Despair's dungeons. When they're in the prison, they are told by the Giant to give up all hope and to “carry themselves away”' (aka, commit suicide), as they will never find freedom from his dominion otherwise. Christian and Hopeful, both very upset by this proposition as well as by their current imprisoned state, debate the matter; in the end, Hopeful encourages Christian to stay his hand by reminding him of several truths (i.e., that murder is a sin, that they ought not to become murderers, that Christian has been brave in the past and ought to continue being brave now, etc), and they are eventually freed from the prison by the “key of Promise” which Christian discovers on his person. 

In my opinion, it's actually a beautifully written passage that deals both lovingly and firmly with the prospect of 'suicide-to-escape-imprisonment' -- a topic which may seem simple but can be in fact very complex for Christians of all ages to ponder and discuss. 

This part of our Literature discussion prompted a follow-up conversation about whether or not someone who commits suicide goes to heaven. This question has occupied hundreds of thousands of hours of discussion over the centuries, and is a topic about which there seems to be even varying beliefs among Christians. On top of the theological complexity of the question are the numerous psychological, spiritual, emotional, social, mental, and moral implications that the topic of suicide can stir up. 

As someone who has lost two family members to suicide, I feel particularly sensitive to this topic -- both from a desire to see mental health destigmatized in conversation among Christians and from a desire to respect and dignify the curiosities and genuine questions your Logic School students may have about this complex and very real issue. Furthermore, I am committed to the belief that education (in all content areas) is primarily the parents' role, especially as it regards personal and spiritual conversations such as this one, and that you all, as their parents, likely know best how to discuss this topic with your students. I care deeply about the health and safety of each of your students, and want them to explore and wrestle with life's hard questions with the foundation of Christ's redemptive work and omnipresence as their hope-giving guide. 

To these ends, then, our class conversation was grounded in what we could know from Scripture and from the lives of the saints. We talked about the Ten Commandments, as well as Christ's words in the New Testament to sum up the laws; we discussed God's omnipotence and mercy beyond our comprehension to forgive all sin. We were reminded of the personal nature of salvation and of God's sole intimate knowledge of each believer's heart and soul. We even tried to examine the question from different angles or justifications (e.g., what if the world is too painful a place to live, is suicide okay then to get to God sooner?), and we revisited Scripture's teachings on suffering and enduring the trials of this world with patience, fortitude, and faithfulness. 

I don't know that we ultimately answered the original question of the destination of someone who commits suicide, but we did conclude that murder -- of self or others -- is sinful and should not be pursued. I tried to stress that this is an incredibly complex question/situation, one that we have to treat with seriousness, compassion, and humility. 

I consider it God's providential guidance that we were able to look to Bunyan's great work to help guide our conversation: at the point when we, as a class, seemed most 'stuck' in this question, we looked at Hopeful's response to Christian's most desperate moment, and then to their eventual deliverance (by the "key of Promise"), which was a beautiful way for us to transition from the despair that talking about suicide can bring, to the less tense topic of discussing ways that we are encouraged by "the Promise" and what "the Promise" might look like in real life. I asked your students to reflect on (internally) a time that they were in a hard place, and to remember how they were encouraged in that time. I shared a few examples from my own experience -- i.e., that Scripture and hymns are often ways I'm reminded of "the Promise" or of what is true when I'm in a difficult situation. I didn't ask them to share these, as I didn't want any of them to feel pressured to make up an answer, or to share a personal answer with their peers if they weren't ready to do so, but it may be something to bring up with them at home.

I am praying even now that our conversation today was truth-filled and encouraging. You know your students best, and you may want to ask your student about this conversation at some point tonight or later this week, as it may rattle around mentally and not come out verbally without prompting. I don't know all of your families or your personal experiences with the subject of suicide, nor do I need to per se, but I do want your students to feel confident in their faith and their ability to talk about this topic with you all. I am praying for wisdom and charity for each of you all as you consider this topic and how to discuss it with your students if they are curious.

In closing, I was extremely impressed by how well your students handled the conversation today: they were respectful, patient, and humble as they asked questions and discussed our various tangential comments. This seventh grade group is so dear to my heart, and I thank you, parents, for how you've trained their hearts to be soft to truth and eager for justice and faith -- all of which was plainly evident to me during our discussion today.

I apologize for how long this email has gotten -- it was my intention to keep it brief. Please reach out if you have any concerns about how I handled it, or if you would like to discuss this topic further. I am grateful for each of you, and am excited to continue to partner with you this year in teaching and learning with your seventh grade students!

Blessings,

Danae

One unique thing that we do at Valley Classical School is hold book parties. A book party, according to us, is a class celebration when a certain read-aloud is finished. Students are invited to dress up as their favorite character from the book. Parents and staff plan activities, snacks, and decorations to fit the story. 

The goal? To bring the stories of literature to life. 

At least, that’s one way to answer the question of, “Why book parties?”

To get a more complete answer, we asked our teachers and staff to share their perspectives. Their answers have some common themes, but also some unique highlights:

Book parties are the perfect way for the students to celebrate after finishing a book. They have the opportunity to remember all the best parts of the book with games, food, and crafts related to the story. The Pre-K students really enjoy dressing up as Stuart Little, Snowbell the cat, or even Margalo the bird, and digging through trash, shooting a bow and arrow, and eating yummy book-related treats.

.

Students cultivate a love of reading by celebrating a book we’ve read together in class. They also encourage reading comprehension as students listen for silly characteristics or scenarios of characters in the book to represent at our party. Time for book parties in class is time well-spent!

.

Book parties bring the book to life -- hopefully spurring the interest to read other books, to open thoughts of creativity in one's own writing. The kids really like dressing up as the characters.  They always have fun making the projects that have been created to go along with the book.  They enjoy the downtime interacting with their friends. In The Cricket in Times Square, the kids really enjoyed the animal characters and their friendship.

.

Our read-aloud literature time is a time for students to sit, listen to good books, develop their listening skills, and just enjoy a good story. It is fun to stop and discuss the story, the characters, the themes, and the things that make these books interesting. We get to make predictions as well as make connections to our own lives. Being able to wrap up a good book, with a celebration of what we've read, is a wonderful way to instill a love of learning in our students.

By having book parties, the students get to pretend they are a character for the day, each fun snacks that remind them of the story's events, and do activities that engage their minds and take them back to the book! In 2nd grade, our book Peter Pan and Wendy, offers a whimsical and adventurous story filled with excitement, danger, and fun. It's a great way to start our year in literature, and the perfect story to dress up to and celebrate!

.

One of the many things that make these book parties worth it and why I love them is because it's a group celebration! The whole class gets to experience the book read aloud to them at the same time, we all look forward to the party together, and the party is enjoyed together as a class. I appreciate this more than a book report or a solo book project because it keeps the purpose of good children's literature -- wonder, awe, enjoyment -- at the center; and wonder, awe, and enjoyment are even more impactful when multiplied and shared with friends. 

Book parties are awesome because the sole purpose is enjoyment. I structure my daily schedule so we read our book at the very end of the day, making it so that reading and literature is a reward, something to look forward to, a delightful way to finish a long day of work. Likewise, the book party is the perfect way to celebrate completing the book, and enjoying it for pleasure's sake! It is good for our students to taste and see the pleasures of feasts, and celebrations that exist simply for the goodness of wholesome enjoyment. While they may not fully know it in the moment, I think the highest goal of the book parties is ultimately pointing these students to taste and see the good pleasures God delights to give, the banquets He prepares for us. When I see the looks of pure glee on their faces at our book party, I can't help but think of what God must feel when he gives us good gifts for no reason at all but for us to enjoy them! 

A few things my students like about book parties: looking forward to something for weeks, getting a special day set aside for your own class's party, and finishing your schoolwork early for such a fun break from the normal, scheduled, rhythm of a typical campus day -- all of this feels extra special when you're a young student. My students start talking about what character they will dress up as and what treats from the book they hope to see long before we finish the book -- so I think there's something to be said for the expectancy of the book party just as much as the party itself! 

In 3rd grade, we read My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. The book takes place entirely out in the Catskill Mountain wilderness, so it makes for a really simple setting to come to life at our party -- all we need are the outdoors! I love that our book party is both a celebration of the great story, as well as the beauty and wildness of creation.  

.

Having a book party is a fun way for students to have the opportunity to get excited about reading in general, and about the world(s) reading a book allows them to experience. I have found that my students really enjoy the fun games and activities and the delicious food that come with book parties. Some students get pretty excited about the possibility of being able to come to school dressed as a goblin; no one has done that yet, but it's the idea that it's ~possible~. Something fun about my grade's book? We read The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald in 4th Grade and I've always enjoyed being able to try out new goblin voices each year. My students get a kick out of these and it helps highlight the goodness of reading a book when the characters are brought to life.

.

From a parent’s perspective, book parties offer the opportunity for my children to relive the story in reality. They eagerly plan the character they want to dress as, often changing their minds as the story develops. Along the way, we discuss why they want to be “that” character, and what has been a favorite part so far?, why is that their favorite part?, and other similar questions. Book parties allow the children’s creativity to flow into costume design and imagining what crafts and activities they might partake in that day. Book parties allow some of the best attributes of childhood (imagination, creativity, anticipation) to come into the realm of possibility.

Good evening! I’m going to share about one of the Three “C’s”, one of the three pillars that make up VCS -- Classical, Christian, Collaborative. I was asked to share some thoughts on what it means that we are a classical school. My hope is that this will be an encouragement to you.

I so desire to convey to you a hopeful vision of why we have all chosen probably the hardest road -- rigorous academics in home schooling through classical methods - so that when we all get into the trenches in a couple of weeks, you might have a perspective that gives you the courage and faith to keep going. We are after something really hard, but really beautiful, and that’s what I hope you hear tonight. 

Before I dive in, I feel that it’s important to first clear up what classical education is NOT. Classical education, the way we do it here, stands in opposition to many things, but I want us to clearly understand that classical education is not the perfect method. It’s not salvation, and it doesn’t guarantee salvation. Everything I hope to convey about what is GOOD in this endeavor will only bear fruit in your surrender to Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and by the grace and mercy of God. That needs to frame everything I’m going to share. 

So with that in mind, I want to speak to the ethos; the spirit, aspiration, and hope of what it means when we commit to classical education. 

When you think about your children 5, 10, 15 years from now, what are you praying for? Who do you hope they are becoming? It’s our hope, and probably your hope that your child has not just learned a lot when they finish their primary education, but that they are passionate about deep things. Passion and depth -- this is what we are after for ourselves, and this is what we hope our students go after in their lives. Classical education can be the route we take to get there. 

In the classical tradition, here is the route as outlined by the Trivium: 

We want to train grammar students to soak up all the facts they can, give them all the pieces that build a sturdy foundation. We do this through memorization and repetition -- it’s what they know and love. 

And then when they’re ready, we want to train logic students to take a good look at that foundation and let them question it, let them ask “Why?” When they start to look out at the world and process what they know, they begin to weave the different pieces of what they're learning together. 

And finally, once they have had years of building a strong foundation, and then time to process and practice the art of valid questioning, arguing, and defending, we want students at the rhetoric stage to learn what it means to articulate what they know, how to communicate what they mean: effective articulation gives them a sense of who they are! 

And so this is the route: the grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages through God’s grace, leading students towards what it means to be more fully human, not just brains filled with all the right facts who can give the right answers and get the right test scores. We are laboring and praying for God to be gracious to them, and we are aiming to give them an education that leads them on the paths of becoming people who are passionate and deep. 

So as we lean into this hard work and begin another school year, this is what I’m praying for when I’m praying for our students to be passionate and deep: 

• That our students would know the taste of good fruit, the best-tasting fruit that is won by diligence, and persevering through difficulty

• That they would grow into people who don’t think they know everything, but they know how to learn for themselves and have a life-long desire to see where the pursuit of knowledge will take them

• That they would become people who are “all in” for the gospel because they are learning now how sweet it is, how much better the joy of obedience is than the all ways of chaos

• That God would turn their hearts to earnestly desire truth and wisdom, to seek God’s heart for justice and righteousness all their days

• That they would start to catch a sense of what is good, true, and beautiful -- that there is transcendence in all that God has made, and that they want to run after it, and find that they are running after HIM, and that HE is eternally good, always true, and unfathomably beautiful -- this is what it means when we pray for their souls to be passionate and deep. 

And as they grow up and go throughout their lives, my prayer is that this would spill over out of their beings and into the world around them to display God’s goodness to the whole world. By God’s grace, may you remember this year, that this pursuit of classical education can be the trajectory, the path towards this good life. 

So this being Vision Night -- it’s way easier to stand up here and talk about the vision we have for our students maybe a couple years down the road. Yes, we want all of this for them! But this isn’t about painting the picture of an ideal student or graduate. 

I want to circle this back around to you. Your family. Your homeschool days ahead of you… Because several weeks deep into the school year it might be really hard to remember that we’re after passion and depth when your kid just needs to finish their math facts!

I want to challenge you to remember this vision for your child, remember the goal. They’re going to catch that vision more fully when YOU are filled up and passionate:

• When YOU taste how sweet the Gospel is 

• When YOU earnestly seek truth and pursue wisdom

• When YOU are worshipping the Lord as the source of all goodness, truth, and beauty

• And when YOUR soul is burning for the deep things of God. 

But we can’t do this alone, so be encouraged in this: this is why we have the Holy Spirit. This is why we have each other, this sweet community -- so we can remember, so we can help each other remember, so we can put our hand to the plow of classical education and go after what really matters, and what will last in eternity. 

I want to close with Jeremiah 6:16 that came to me when I was thinking about this talk: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” 

Let’s ask God to show us the ancient paths, the good way, and let’s help each other along -- for our students, and for the sake of raising up these young souls for the gospel.

If someone were to ask if I am an intentional person, I would quickly respond with an ardent yes. I like to have a plan, I thrive in structure, and I find joy in the completion of tasks. However, if I am honest with myself, the plans I put in place can lead to a false sense of control and the goals I seek to accomplish can easily become an arbitrary wish list if I am not mindful to keep the proper constructs in place.

In 2019, our family moved to the New River Valley to pursue the lifestyle we desired to raise our children in. One component of that lifestyle was to have a farm. Our faith and big picture outlook propelled my husband and me to make some challenging decisions. We prayed, researched, saved, planned, and prayed some more about what we were doing and where we were heading. Looking back, I can see God’s providence in each step as He guided us here. We’ve now bought land with a fixer-upper house, started our farm with pigs, poultry, and goats, and our lifestyle dreams are slowly becoming a reality. My heart overflows with gratitude for all He has done and is doing in the life of our family, but still there is a small undercurrent of uneasiness that creeps in at times to steal my joy. While we have been mindful to plan the major events in our life, the focus in our daily lives has become blurred. The lack of forethought for the order of our days led to meandering throughout the week. The list of things to do inadvertently grows and time flies by without many of these activities being checked off.

So how does one avoid the fog of unintentional living? What framework is needed for a life of purpose and calm? Philippians 4:8 and 9 provides insight to answer these questions:

“…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” [emphasis personally added]

When my thoughts align with the virtues of His word, my trajectory is set. My response is to carry out my days with purpose guided by the mind of Christ. Being intentional in thought and disciplined in action will in turn lead to peaceful living.

So, as summer’s end quickly draws near, I look forward to the coming year of intentional living, peacefully enjoying the thoughtful ways of time well spent.

Ulysses undoubtedly faced “dark hours” as a general for the Union during the Civil War, but it seems as though he unearthed a golden truth in this epic quote already written in our precious scriptures.  Proverbs 17:17 states, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” Although we are not engaged in a physical war, we too have the opportunity in the adversity and darkness of this global pandemic to “relieve the gloom” of others as well as to “cherish” Jesus Christ, our families, our friends, and VCS. 

Unsurprisingly, many of us are experiencing loss and anxiety at unprecedented levels during this time, and the acts of cherishing Christ and also using our gifts to relieve the gloom of those around us seems unattainable. Some of us are facing unemployment. Some have a family member sick in the hospital and aren’t allowed to visit. Some are struggling with depression or a fragile marriage. And many of us are adjusting to the loss of the routines and schedules we worked so hard to build for ourselves, our families and others, throughout the week.  So how do we as VCS parents, co-teachers, and more importantly, beloved sons and daughters of the living God, grieve these losses properly but keep going? How do we begin to strengthen what remains from this great upheaval and still live the gospel by relieving the gloom of others? How do we be the friend and parent “born for a time of adversity?” Here are a few things I have been meditating over that I have found helpful as it relates to our new normal in the areas of homeschooling, parenting, and our gospel mission in this hour. 

Recognize and trust in the sovereignty and grace of the Father in our present situation.

I cannot cherish what God has given me and stay present in the “now,” neither can I properly relieve the gloom of others until I recognize that my Heavenly Father has been working for my good, my family’s good, and His glory, in all things. God even saw fit to meet my family’s need in this pandemic by providing VCS this school year. All our needs differ, but for my family and I to “just keep swimming,” as stated by our favorite fish, Dori, in the brilliant film Finding Nemo, God anticipated we would need A LOT of help.  We would need the lesson plans, the co-teacher accountability, the models and leaders to go before us in these murky waters, and most importantly, the unceasing prayer of the board, teachers, families, and on-campus staff coordinators. 

Over the past month, I have been encouraged again and again by the VCS community: uplifting emails from co-teachers, a surprise letter in the mail to my kids, the teachers’ incredible patience with us during online learning sessions, and much more. Every time VCS sent us an uplifting verse to memorize, a hymn to sing, or an educational Bible video I was filled with awe and gratitude. Because of the tremendous effort and support from our VCS staff, I have been able to cherish Christ, who has proven time and time again that He is good and that He cares for us. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7).  He anticipates and meets our needs. “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matt. 6:31-32). A greater trust in and friendship with Christ indeed has arisen from this season as He relieves our gloom through His provision of VCS.  

Be willing to be “born” a friend for a time of adversity. Be willing to be cherished for the sake of the gospel.

We all have different tendencies in trials and tribulations.  Some of us run away from conflict and problems.  Some of us are unresponsive and apathetic in difficult times.  Some of us overcompensate, not knowing how to rest.  We work from our own strength rather than clinging to God. No matter where you may find yourself, there is always opportunity to arise from the dust of our sinful natures and be “born” for such a time as this!  The Apostle Paul, despite imprisonment, weeks on stormy seas, starvation, isolation from his spiritual community, and surrounded by hundreds of other prisoners, was able to step up by the power of the Holy Spirit to speak truth, and remember our Lord by breaking bread with the prisoners and feeding them at sea. He became so deeply favored and cherished by the Roman centurions that they ended up sparing the lives of all the prisoners on the ship because of Paul’s influence (Acts 27). Paul positioned himself to be cherished for the sake of the gospel. He wasn’t focused on what was behind him or his “losses.” He considered it all “rubbish” for the sake of knowing Christ (Phil. 3:8).  Neither did he allow the lies of the enemy to make him apathetic to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those around him, even while he was in chains. God is giving us an opportunity, like Paul, to suffer with others and be cherished for the sake of the gospel. 

There is something about suffering with others that creates a bond to cherish. God is opening doors for our children to cherish one another and their parents, and for parents to cherish their children in return. God is opening a door for us and our children to be “born” as friends in adversity for others right now. Are we willing to step through that door? We are surrounded by opportunities. Have a Zoom call with your class. Have your children send hand-written letters to classmates or teachers. Your family can spend precious time reading, praying, playing, and singing together. And I personally want to thank the co-teachers that have offered to help me homeschool or set up zoom meetings for our children to chat and play games. These are just a few examples of ways we can love and cherish one another as a VCS family in this difficult time. 

Furthermore, God is giving many of us ideas and open doors to be “born a friend” in this hour with those who do not know Him, are outside the community of VCS, or are simply our next door neighbors. I am asking God to help my children and I be “born” in this hour of adversity, and to use us to help relieve the gloom others are facing; to make ourselves cherishable. I have found that in order to make ourselves more cherishable, I have to continue to view my work in the home as holy, sacred, and important. As I prepare for the week of homeschool, plan ahead with meals, and stay focused on the “little things,” the ambiguity of how to reach and love others outside of the home, under the current pandemic orders, becomes more clear and possible. 

This time is challenging. There is no minimizing that fact.  May we as a VCS family, by the power of the Spirit, be “born” for a time of adversity, grow in our trust of the Father, and relieve the gloom of others by helping to foster an environment at home and around us that creates more moments of cherishing this precious time with our spouses, children, family, friends, and those who do not know Him as we are together apart. 

1. I would end up doing all the work.

2. My quality of work would be inhibited by my peers’ work. 

I could not see the benefit of working and collaborating with others. It was a heavy weight on my shoulders that was not lifted until the project was completed. 

Fast forward to the start of my teaching. Prior to being at VCS, I taught at another school for seven years. As a new teacher, I sought out people for support, guidance, and encouragement. In my enthusiasm and excitement, I attempted to establish and build relationships with the parents of my students. I knew in order to be successful in my profession, I needed the insight of these parents to know how to best educate their children. Even though I did have parents who were on board, and ready to help and support, I faced a lot of opposition from others. These individuals who I thought were my teammates, were often disengaged or waiting for me to make a mistake. After enough failed attempts at establishing a relationship and cultivating trust with certain parents, I started to give up. Yet again, I was resigned to the fact that I was better working alone. 

A couple years ago, when I was approached about the prospect of teaching at VCS, I was told a great deal about this school’s vision and hope; how they were structured, and how they operated from day to day. The board member who approached me shared that VCS was a collaborative model where the parents shared the teaching responsibility. Collaborative? While many aspects of classical education appealed to me, active collaboration with parents was not one of them. After having many poor experiences with collaboration in the past, I was hesitant to say “yes” to this new position. Thankfully, the Lord, who knew what was best for me, my heart, and our family, led my husband and I to accept the VCS job. 

When I started at VCS, I felt overwhelmed: a new curriculum, a new teaching model, and a new group of parents to work with. I was still very unsure of what this “sharing” of teaching would look like. Very quickly, the Lord began to soften my heart to this unique model of collaboration. He used my co-teachers to illustrate the beauty of how the Body of Christ works. Being new to VCS, I made some mistakes, and I sometimes felt lost, which I am sure is a common experience for new teachers and co-teachers alike! However, instead of judging me or disengaging, my wonderful co-teachers showed me grace, offered their support, and most importantly they prayed for me. Not only were these co-teachers not a burden, but they were encouraging, supportive, and loving during a time of uncertainty and weakness. I did not have to do it alone, and it was a beautiful thing. 

Since being at VCS, the Lord has continued to shape my perspective on working alongside others, and the amazing way He uses the Body to bless, support, encourage, and most importantly bring glory to His name. As I work with co-teachers, the Lord continues to demonstrate truths about who He is and how He created me to be.

One thing I’m reminded of is how my weakness allows God’s power and strength to be revealed and proclaimed. As Paul states in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10,

 “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 

Instead of declaring my greatness, or my competence in educating well, I should be professing God’s glory and goodness in how He uses me to accomplish great things. If anything I do is done well, it is because of the Lord’s strength and faithfulness. 

Another realization that has brought great peace in working with others is that it is a blessing for me to share the load with my brothers and sisters in Christ. This adventure of teaching, of shepherding hearts and minds, is a difficult one. It can be discouraging and disheartening. But it can also be beautiful and filled with joy. On the days where I feel my strength is failing, I can reach out to my co-teachers and ask for their prayers and encouragement. When my co-teachers are feeling overwhelmed by their home days, I can step up to the plate and cover them in prayer. A beautiful picture of this can be found in Exodus 17, when Moses instructs Joshua to fight against Amalek. While the Israelites fought, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. Moses had the staff of God in his hand. Whenever he raised his hand, Israel prevailed. However, if Moses lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. As it says in verse 12,

“But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

Moses was tired. His brothers in Christ stepped in and physically supported Moses in a time of great need. Because they shared this load, the Israelites were victorious. I can think of many times where I have exhausted all my resources and feel that I have nothing left, and God brings someone alongside of me to help fill the gaps. My Father leads me to victory, not because of myself or what I have done, but because of what He is doing.

As we go through this last quarter, may we all be reminded of the beautiful nature of collaboration to teach these students. Whether it be a bad attitude, a messed up math lesson, or a failed Latin quiz, may we remember that God is bringing us alongside one another to share in these burdens, and to turn our hearts and minds back to Him. By acknowledging our limits and our weaknesses, let us encourage one another to go back to the cross, surrender ourselves to God, and put our trust in Him.

Let me explain before you accuse me of forgetting to lock my front door. My husband and I moved to Tennessee this past summer for his first year of Family Medicine Residency. A few weeks after we moved, one of my co-workers from the lab I worked at in Roanoke moved in with us, along with her four-year-old daughter. Without a doubt, this has been one of the biggest blessings and challenges that the Lord has EVER dropped in my lap. I had no idea what we were in for, but the Lord has knit our little crew together like family. Daily sharing your space so intimately is frustrating and sanctifying (wailing tantrums, disappearing phone chargers, the mystery case of who shut the cat out in the rain), but I also think it is a preview of the marriage supper of the Lamb. My co-worker has become a dear friend and, very recently, a sister in Christ! This entire journey over the past six months has catapulted me into thinking about gospel-centered hospitality. How do I share my life--my house, my food, my time, and my relationships--with another image-bearer in a way that puts Christ on display? Foundational in my processing of this question is the book The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield. She outlines 3 principles that I love and would like to reflect on with you. 

1. “Radically ordinary hospitality reflects that the words you speak reveal that you are owned by Christ.” If you know me, you know I am a control freak. I plan everything out. I know exactly how much milk is in the fridge and exactly how long I plan for it to last. Then Jesus tossed in a wild card--a four year old consuming cereal...and this can, at times, require half a gallon of milk?! WHAT? My precious apple cart of control must come tumbling down. I am not my own. My home is not my own. My fridge is not my own. All are for the use of the Kingdom. Now, I am not saying there are no boundaries. What I am saying is that if I really believe “you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so you may belong to one another, to Him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God” (Romans 7:4), then my desire to have things my way must be nailed to the cross . 

2. “Radically ordinary hospitality sanctifies us by putting us in a sacrificial posture of service to others.” Ouch. My time is so precious to me. My time with my husband is so precious to me. However, the Lord has given me the unique opportunity to use my time this year to serve my friend and love her daughter. “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5: 13-14). Control Freaks like myself plan strategically for maximum efficiency when it comes to the use of time. However, Jesus never approached life or people this way. He said, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). There is an aspect of service that is the giving of your life, of yourself, to a world that is starving for love and belonging that can only be felt in Christ. Hospitality always requires hands, heads, hearts, and messiness, weakness, and sacrifice. Always. 

3. “Radically ordinary hospitality is part of our spiritual armor, allowing us to access people’s broken hearts, allowing the Spirit of God to work through us in spite of our limitations.” And that is exactly what was happening that Monday when I opened the door to find complete strangers on my couch. My co-worker’s highschool friend had been struggling to find work, which had led her to a path she would not have chosen. She had not told my coworker she was coming, and out of desperation had ended up in my house seeking comfort from her friend. As they grieved together, I realized God was granting access to brokenness that needed a space of safety and hope. 

I am learning that gospel-driven hospitality is about the business of making people want more of Jesus. Sin cannot harm Jesus. In fact, I was entrenched in it when He saved me. Weren’t we all? The gospel says to fellow image-bearers, “You are welcome in my home. Come as you are. I am not leading, I am following. Jesus is leading.” This means I must bring others into my mess. I do not have to have it all together before I open my home. People will die from loneliness and a life apart from Jesus much faster than they will die from the dog hair that is in my food. In the book, Rosaria Butterfield asks a question that really wrecked me, “Have I made myself safe to unbelievers where they can share the real hardships of day-to-day living, or am I still so burdened by the hidden privileges of Christian acceptability that I can’t even see the daggers in my hands?” This was a punch in the gut. Am I safe? Or am I constantly trying to make sneaky evangelistic raids into the sinful lives of those around me? For unbelievers to see Jesus and know the truth of God’s love, I must be close enough to be seen in transparent and vulnerable ways. 

God is calling us to make sacrifices that hurt sometimes so that others can be served...and maybe even saved. In our post-Christian world, I am convinced our words are only as strong as our relationships. My best spiritual weapon? An open door, a space at my table, and lots of Kleenex for the tears that may come. So what do you do when your unbelieving coworker lives with you and her friend (who dances for a living) is on your couch? You reach for the chips and salsa, lean hard on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and remember, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5). 

When I know I have everyone’s attention we fold our hands, close our eyes, bow our heads, and pray this prayer together:

Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous.

Teach me to serve You as You deserve.

To give and not to count the cost,

To fight and not to heed the wounds,

To toil and not to seek for rest,

To labor and not to ask for reward,

Save that of knowing I am doing Your will,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

This beautiful prayer was given to me the first year I began teaching at VCS. It was simply called Opening Prayer along with a different Closing Prayer in our curriculum. I had said it with my students more than a hundred times before I became curious about its origin. I assumed it had been written recently by the administrators at our mother school, Trinity Classical School in Houston, Texas but they directed me to Memoria Press who published the curriculum we use for language arts. When I couldn’t find the name of the author from their website, I turned to Google and typed in the first line to see what would turn up. What I found was a deeper, wider history than I ever expected.

It turns out that many scholars have attributed the Prayer for Generosity to St. Ignatius of Loyola who lived during the time of the Reformation, even though no reference to the prayer has been found before 1897. Whether or not he actually wrote it, it is universally agreed that it is Ignatian in style, form, and content. The imagery in the prayer has always conjured up for me a soldier preparing for battle, and now I know why. 

Ingatius was born in 1491 in the Basque region of Spain. At seventeen, he joined the army. He loved the military exercises, the fancy uniform, the code of chivalry, and the excitement of living out the stories he loved from El Cid to the knights of Camelot to the Song of Roland. But his successful military career came to an end when his leg was shattered by a cannonball at the Battle of Pamplona in 1521. He was forced to return home for a long recovery.

For months Ignatius underwent several surgeries and was confined to bed. The only books he could get his hands on were stories of Jesus, the history of the saints, and other religious texts instead of his usual tales of knights and battles. It was here that he had a spiritual conversion and felt called to give his life to ministry. 

When he could walk again, Ignatius made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and later enrolled at the University of Paris to prepare for a life of service to God. Interestingly, John Calvin also studied there at the same time, although it is not recorded that he ever met Ignatius. Ultimately, the two men ended up on different paths. Calvin went on to write the first systematic theological treatise of the reform movement. Ignatius of Loyola went on to found the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Jesuits were devoted to education and scholarship and were committed to bringing their message to other cultures through missionary endeavors. They were known for being as devoted to the Pope and his orders as soldiers are to their commander. Apparently, Ignatius’s love of the military never quite left him and in fact the opening lines of the Jesuits’ founding document said that the society existed for “whoever desires to serve as a soldier of God to strive especially for the defence and propagation of the faith and for the progress of souls in Christian life and doctrine.” The society was nicknamed, “God’s soldiers,” and “God’s marines,” due to their willingness to serve in any condition. 

After reading about Ignatius and the early years of the Jesuits, the Prayer for Generosity made more sense to me and the rich, deep history now provides a colorful backdrop and a stage for its imagery. It reminds me of Ephesians 6 in which Paul uses the picture of putting on armor to prepare for battle. He admonishes his readers to remember that the fight is not against flesh and blood. Our battle is against the schemes of the devil, the present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil, and flaming darts of the evil one. Our weapons and defense are the Word, the Spirit, prayer, truth, the righteousness of Christ, and the gospel of peace. 

Every day in my classroom, we do battle. We fight against the darkness of this age and we fight our selfish flesh to seek instead the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christ. Every book we read, every lesson we tackle, every fact we memorize, every letter we form with beauty and excellence is an offensive move against our enemy. May our Lord do more than we can ask or think to uphold us in the battle.

Sources:

https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/teach-me-to-be-generous/

http://www.jesuits.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignatius_of_Loyola

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Jesus

Latourette, Kenneth Scott, A History of Christianity: Beginnings to 1500, Volume I, Prince Press, 2005, Peabody, Massachusetts.

But every year that Christmas comes, it ebbs away again.  You find yourself back in the day-to-day.  The routine.  The work.  The cold, at this time of year.  What had been The busy, bustling, much-anticipated holiday season dwindles as life picks back up and school starts again.  

It’s empty.  

It’s quiet.  

I’ve heard it called the ‘doldrums’ of the school year.  

I will be honest with you; I don’t like doldrums.  As an introvert, I don’t mind quiet, but by January, I can start to feel an emptiness seeping into my soul.  Do you feel it too?  You thought you wanted more blank space (or, less holiday craziness) in your life until, all of a sudden, you get a flood of nothing but the usual, and you find yourself dreading the silent stretch of winter before you.  

Doldrums, according to Google, are: “a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or depression.”  As I’ve wondered about this season of doldrums, two questions have come to mind.  

Question 1:  Why is it that our human hearts are so quick to link ‘inactivity’ to ‘stagnation’ and even ‘depression’? 

Why don’t we like stillness?  Why do we get uncomfortable at the thought of nothing but routine marching straight before us for the next month?

In thinking about this, God has pointed out a few roots of my own doldrum dread.  Maybe these will resonate with you, too.

• I’m afraid of what might be exposed in the quiet.  Will I see ways I have missed the mark?  Will I hear answers from God that weren’t the ones I wanted?

• I’m afraid the season of inactivity is somehow my fault because of my own lack of productivity.  What if I am missing something or dropping a ball?  What if I just keep checking the same things off the list?   Who am I if I cannot measure my worth by what I’m getting done?  

• I’m afraid that holding still means I’m held back (when I want to be moving forward).  What if I’m missing on the excitement somewhere else -- there was plenty a month ago after all?  Does God realize where He last left me?

God answers these questions with His quiet rebuttal. From page one of Scripture (Genesis), a void does not mean He is absent.  In fact, He speaks into voids and creates life. He is not afraid to reveal our inadequacies to us because He will fill it with Himself.  The Scriptures we’ve looked at this past semester have shown us God’s character in that regard -- He chooses the least of people to be His (Deuteronomy), He walks with us through our valleys of shadow and makes our cups overflow (Psalm 23), and He makes barren wombs leap with joy (the Christmas story).  “Do not fear.”

Question 2:  If we don’t dread the doldrums, how do we approach them?

First, a theological answer:  Let the quiet be a gift.  See the doubts the doldrums expose and receive the mercy in Christ.  Recognize that a dreary routine can be redeemed into a gentle rhythm.  January is the Sabbath of the year.  Start your year the way we start the week -- resting in the grace of what God has done and remembering that He is good.

Also, a practical answer: I am not a homeschooling parent, but as a homeschooled alum who watched her mom wrestle through the doldrums each year, here are some thoughts you can implement hands-on.

• Lean into the regularity -- you can finally keep something of a normal schedule with December over!  

• Tackle indoor house projects, considering you can’t be outside as much.  

• Make room for snow days (or snow half-days).  

• Plan something fun of your own to shake up the monotony like a quick family trip.  For example, Colonial Williamsburg offers Homeschool Days in February.  

• Incorporate a simple craft project like paper snowflakes into a Friday’s school load.

• Find opportunities to plug into community beyond your usual sphere.  For example, homeschool groups often offer winter encouragement events.  

• Think of something your family enjoys doing and make a mini adventure out of it! 

Yes, winter is quiet and cold, but that stillness is not something to dread.  May the January doldrums prove to be a gift that strengthens your heart and your family with the echoes of God’s faithfulness -- a whisper you have room to hear.

“May God give you eyes to see, 

All that is good, all that is good.

The courage for anything, 

May you be strong, may you be strong.

May God give you ears to hear, 

His loving voice, his loving voice;

 Speaking all around you, all around, and deep inside.”

I often tear up while we're singing this simple song because it holds several of my deepest prayers for the students at VCS. 

We and the world we live in are out of joint. There is evil, there is sin, there is temptation, and there is just pure brokenness. Things don't work the way that God created them to function. Our sin and others' sin throughout time has affected and still affects every tiny bit of our world. The older I get, the easier it has become to dwell in all of this sadness. I am tempted to only see the brokenness and not all of the good gifts God has given us, or how He has reached down into our broken world in merciful ways to mend the shattered pieces. But the ability to see glimmers of God's goodness in the midst of our brokenness, and then to ultimately see the promise of the final mending Christ brought when He entered our broken world to save us from our sin - that is the hope that Christ gives us. Our desire is that as VCS students in 5th grade read about the merciful ways God works to mend the brokenness of disease and illness through the painstaking and exhausting work of scientists like Joseph Lister and Louis Pasteur, and as VCS students in 6th grade read about how God provided the imperfect person of Alfred the Great to lead the Britons to safety from the Vikings, they begin to see this hope. This practice of looking for the good that God gives us and being mindfully thankful - of being hopeful - that is an ability that we hope God blesses our community with.

And in this dark world, we all need courage; righteous courage. We don't know what God is going to call each of us to today, tomorrow, or next year. But we do know it will be interacting with a broken world. We know it will be part of His work in us and part of his redeeming all things back to Himself, bringing peace, defending the defenseless, caring for the needy, and proclaiming His name. And therefore, we know that it will be hard and possibly dangerous. C.S. Lewis wrote, “Since it is so likely that they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.” Our hope is that VCS students begin to know what righteous courage looks like, tastes like, and feels like from the literature that we read, the history that we study, the scientists we examine, and the scripture that we memorize. But since being righteously courageous requires not just making one decision to do what is right, but making a string of many, many decisions to bravely stay on the path of righteousness, we train for what pressing further on and further in feels like. It's hard to persevere! But, the more that any of us taste what digging deep yields, or gather muscle memory on what it feels like to push through the hard and difficult things, the more that we have the courage to try it again. 

And in all of the work that God gives us to bring peace and light to our broken and hurting world, we all need to hear His loving voice speaking truth and grace to us inside and all around. We need His voice telling us that He is our God and we are His precious children. He is our shepherd and we are His beloved sheep. Just as Aslan's breath heals, so does God's voice bring healing to our souls. This is one of the reasons that the truth that we're all hearing, memorizing, and proclaiming during morning assembly is so important. These truths are some of the ways God will speak to us and our children now and in the future. Truths of who He is and who we are and of how much He loves us and what He has done for us. This truth brings courage, it brings wisdom, and it brings healing. 

These precious souls that sit in the hallway and sing this song with me every week; we pray that God's hand of blessing will be firmly on them all of their lives. We want Him to care for them, protect them, to grow them and bless them. We want them to see God's goodness, to have the courage to be part of God's goodness to our broken world, and to know God's voice saying "you are my child, whom I love". Singing this together at the end of the day is a way for us all to be reminded of this hope and prayer. 

Above lyrics taken from the music video by Sara Groves performing The Song of Blessing (Audio). (C) 2017 Sponge Records http://vevo.ly/tYteIX.

So much of what I’ve learned about Deuteronomy this year has been fresh and new, even though I’ve read it many times. For example, merely learning the definition of the word “Deuteronomy” helps inform much of the meaning of the text, and it has helped place me in the story on a personal level. The Greek word for "Deuteronomy" means "second law," or, rather, a renewal of the law.  This definition brought to my mind the speech Moses made to the Israelites as they were about to enter the Promised Land. It is a passionate and desperate plea to remember God’s promises and faithfulness, and a call to renew their own commitment to the covenant (see Deuteronomy 1-4). What a weighty moment! I started to get a sense of the gravity of these words for the people of Israel: at long last, they are on the cusp of the promise, the good land they will possess. I wondered how many of them did not fully comprehend what was really happening. How many of them just coasted around, growing up in the wilderness, knowing the stories their parents told yet not sensing how much they had been through, the cost of their parents’ disobedience, or their own potential to disobey? This makes a renewal of the Law that much more necessary, and if you listen closely to Moses’s words, that much more desperate. A renewal will help them remember, and to remember will keep them from disobedience. So I feel the desperation in Moses’s voice as he leads them in this renewal: “Remember what God did for you! Remember that you were slaves! Hear oh Israel! Listen and obey! ‘The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

In the middle of Moses’s desperation, there is a sense for why the laws are so necessary: God wants his people to flourish! They are a mass of people going into a new land to stay and dwell. To set up a prosperous nation, they need laws, commandments, statues. This makes sense, because without order you have chaos. The Ten Commandments are purposeful and important.

One day as I was preparing to teach, it was as though the gospel lit up the page. In Deuteronomy 5, the Ten Commandments had just been restated. And in chapter 6, the Greatest Commandment had then been said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-6). The greatest commandment is greater than all the do’s and don’ts of the Ten Commandments, greater than all the systems and rituals to follow: You shall LOVE. The Greatest Commandment is not a rule, it’s an affection! Thinking in this way, if the statues and rules are to keep the nation in order, the greatest commandment is to keep their hearts in order. 

To rightly order their affections toward God is the first and greatest commandment. Do this, and God heaps blessings upon blessings. They shall order their affections towards God, “that it might go well with them and their descendants forever!” (Deut. 5:29). 

We know the way Israel rebels, and we know the way we too fail to order our hearts rightly. Yet I love how immediately following the renewal of the Law in chapter 7, Israel is reminded of its utterly unique identity as God's chosen people. They are “chosen… for his treasured possession” (v. 6). but not by anything they had done, or anything that was special about them. “They were fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping his oath that he swore to your fathers…” (v. 8). The gospel is so vivid here! Just as Israel did nothing to earn their treasured status, neither do we, and we do earn it despite our sinful rebellion. 

At this point, I place myself in the shoes of an Israelite listening to Moses.  This highly regarded set of laws is being read aloud again, at the cusp of battles and of stepping foot at last into the Promised Land. The rule-follower in me earlier would have been nearly trembling at the weight of the covenant being asked of me. But the gospel shines through again: “The Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you… You shall be blessed above all peoples” (Deuteronomy 7:12,14). Yes, there is a high call to love God, but the people are bound within GOD’S covenant to them! The covenant of old, from generations past, is where the gospel shows up in Deuteronomy - God is the promise-keeper! He promises to perfectly keep the covenant Himself, and then sends Jesus to perfectly keep the Law. Nothing will sway the covenant he made to their fathers. He will keep them with his steadfast love. They are asked to remember, and to love him in return.

Almost all my life I’ve known it to be true that the gospel threads throughout every book of Scripture, but it was still the sweetest joy to find it in this Old Testament book, in a place I thought was full of old, outdated laws. But the Holy Spirit, through his kind work, gave me fresh glimmers of his beauty as I saw new facets of his precious truth in the gospel: God is the promise-keeper. He asks us to love him above all else, but only because He keeps, protects, and holds us in his promises first. 

Psalm 119:12

For several weeks this past winter, my husband had taught the devotional for our teenagers at church.  We have often talked about what he had presented and it has resonated in my thoughts for weeks. He had tried to impress upon the teens that the choices they make become their inclinations-what they will probably continue to do in their lives.  How important it is for us to make sure that our hearts are inclined to the Lord. Our standing with Him will often determine what we do and who we become.

Of course he talked about several examples of characters in the Bible and how their choices affected them.  Two that my thoughts keep returning to are Lot and Daniel. Two different men with different inclinations.  Lot had returned from Egypt with Abram.  Both men had prospered and had great flocks.   When they returned to Bethel, they were not able to dwell in the same place.  Abram told Lot he wanted no strife between them and their herdsmen, so Abram told him to look over the land and take the section in which he wanted to live.  His inclination was to look for the best, to see what was “good”, to see what he could gain and therefore pitched his tent toward Sodom. It wasn’t long before he was sitting at the gate with the men of the city.  In Genesis 19:7 we see that Lot had become so corrupted by the lifestyle of Sodom that he called the men at his door “brethren”.

Daniel, on the other hand, purposed in his heart to serve the Lord.  Daniel, with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were brought to Nebuchadnezzar’s palace where they were expected to eat the king’s meat and drink the wine which the king drank.  Daniel 1:8 tells us that Daniel purposed in his heart that they would not defile themselves with the king’s meat or wine. Because of this choice, God gave these four men knowledge and skill in all learning, and Daniel was given understanding in all visions and dreams. Because of Daniel’s faithfulness in following and serving God, he was later able to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.  All four of these young men were given roles of leadership in Babylon. Their faithfulness could have ended there in these high and important positions, but they chose to remain faithful to God and continued to purpose in their hearts to do right.

Later we read that Nebuchadnezzar made the golden image and required that all bow down to it.  Daniel’s three friends would not worship this image. They all had purposed to obey and honor God before any of these things occurred.   Because of their decision, they were thrown into the fiery furnace that had been heated seven times hotter than it had been.  They believed God would deliver them.  When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, he saw four men, the fourth being in the form of the Son of God.  God was walking with them through this trial. Their faithfulness in serving God caused Nebuchadnezzar to make a decree that every nation and language would not speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  Had not these Jewish men purposed to obey and honor God, the ending would have been so different. These men inclined their hearts to God.

The word “incline” means to lean, tend, or become drawn toward an opinion or course of conduct.  God in His Word tells us to incline our hearts unto Him. We do that by knowing His Word and what He is saying to us.  His Words are precious and we need to treat them that way. We need to open our hearts to what He is saying to us. We need to be ready to obey His commands and do His will as we hear from Him.  Learning from scripture, hymns of the faith, and teachings of those who love and know God, help us to incline our hearts to Him.

So, why am I sharing these two stories of men of the Bible?  It is because of what we do at Valley Classical School. Each morning we meet in worship to our God, the God of creation, salvation, and grace.  We learn scripture which will settle into our hearts and be a weapon against the threats of Satan. We will have God’s Word deep in our beings to remind us of His goodness, leading, and deliverance when our hearts are inclined to go the wrong direction.  We will have beautiful hymns teaching the doctrines of the grace and the debt we have to Christ for that wonderful love gift given at Calvary. When our hearts are “prone to wander,” we can call upon the Lord to renew our relationships with Him and be drawn back to Him.  We have Bible Truths that remind us that we are sinners and sin’s penalty is death. Yet, even in that sin, we have a redeemer who endured the painful and shameful death of the cross that we might live in and through Him. We have a wonderful God who wants to draw us back to Him when we wander.  He wants our hearts to be inclined to Him, His Word, and the truth of that Word. He wants us to know that we are His through salvation, He loves us, and wants to bless us as we walk with Him.

Our second quarter hymn, “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” reminds us that we can rest in Him, be drawn back to Him when we go astray, and be stronger through His grace because of what we go through.  

“O Love that wilt not let me go,

 I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer fuller be.”

Teaching of, pointing to, and exemplifying Christ to our students is a privilege we have. God is on our side.  He has given us the tools to walk worthy of His calling. We seek to partner with our children’s parents to help the children be built up in the faith, to give them the courage to stand firm, and to be inclined to follow Jesus no matter what they face in the future.

Proverbs 2:1-5 says:  “My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.”

Let this scripture resound in our hearts, and the song below be what we team together to instill in the lives of the children God has entrusted to us.

"The Song Of Blessing"

May God give you eyes to see

All that is good, all that is good

The courage for anything

May you be strong, may you be strong

May God give you ears to hear

His loving voice, his loving voice

Speaking all around you

 All around and deep inside.

1.  Scripture taken from the ESV Bible

2. O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go by George Matheson  1842-1902

3. Above lyrics taken from the music video by Sara Groves performing The Song of Blessing (Audio). (C) 2017 Sponge Records    http://vevo.ly/tYteIX.
,

There are many options for preschool.  Why did you choose VCS?

Sammi L. : For us, we absolutely love the classical education model! We plan to continue that model throughout our children's educational careers and so it makes sense to start as early as we can! I'm so glad that my child is one of nine in a classroom rather than one in a sea of children's faces. The kids all know one another and their teacher knows them.

Lucy B. : There was no question where we would send our daughters. VCS provides the spiritual and character development that we have hoped for, and the "lightbulb" moments have been wonderful to watch. She has learned ~55 verses already this school year, and so many of the memorized catechism questions/answers are applicable for even a 4-year-old. I love having the opportunity to teach, watch her learn, and be a part of her education already in Pre-K.

Erin Y. : We've always wanted to homeschool our children, but when VCS opened, we loved the collaborative model, and we saw it as an opportunity for our children both to grow in maturity by learning from other adults and to make new friends with others who homeschool like us.

What is your child's favorite thing about PreK?

Sammi L. : My son loves the tactile approaches to math - geoboards and using shapes for patterns.

Lucy B. : Definitely the crafts. On campus and home days, it's her favorite part. When she can be in a room surrounded by her peers doing CRAFTS....she is beside herself! We all enjoy the curriculum "sharing", and at home, we sometimes even repeat the crafts.  PE class with Mrs. Kirstan is outstanding. She's energetic and fun, and our daughters both love the creative games she comes up with that really mean ... exercise!

Erin Y. : My son loves spending time with the other children and teachers.  His favorite things are recess and PE.

Would you share a little about the teacher/co-teacher relationship you've experienced at VCS?

Sammi L. : Mrs. Anderson has been wonderful! Our son started out slowly, struggling to adapt to a classroom setting. Mrs. Anderson was in communication with us constantly about his progress even going so far as to send a weekly email update for him so that we could all do what it took to help him succeed.

Lucy B. : From the very start, I knew that our campus teachers were praying for our children. It is so comforting knowing that the people that we drop off our daughters with love Jesus even more than our children. We haven't had our children in an educational environment up to this point. I feel very comfortable emailing the campus teachers about anything, even about things/behaviors happening at home that may or may not be seen at school. They are quick to respond, and I really appreciate the guidance about home day homework or such. It is sometimes easy to think of myself as just the mom, homework nagger, etc. But everything I do helps our daughters succeed on campus days. So we really are co-teaching with our campus teachers.

Erin Y. : Mrs. Anderson has been amazing.  She has been very helpful at giving me a vision for what Pre-K should look like and what I should expect from a four-year-old.  Any time I have a question, she quickly responds to my emails.

What are home days like for you?

Sammi L. : Home days are some of my most and least favorite times. It's a challenge and a delight to be the person responsible for educating a child. But whenever I'm able to see the light bulb go off or to witness him complete a new task successfully, I get to share in his joy first-hand.

Lucy B. : Fun, challenging, easy, relaxing, crazy, enjoyable. :) Pre-K is often easy to incorporate into our daily lives because so much of the curriculum is stuff we already do. Read, crafts, Bible time, music, etc. Most challenges come from her sibling's school work -  more involved work to do each home day. So if I don't focus on the Kinder work first, then it makes things difficult later in the afternoon. Our Pre-K daughter does a great job working on the Kinder worksheets for fun while I'm working with the Kinder student. Or she'll work in her Alphabet and Numbers book mentioned in the lesson plan. We also come up with fun ways to review/learn some of the skills.The other two sisters participate and enjoy the activities also. Plus, always fun to have recess and PE time at home. One warm day last fall, we even had "recess" and "PE" in the baby pool in the back yard.

Erin Y. : We usually review phonograms, the abacus, and the numbers learned that week, and we always read the World Discovery book for that week.  This is one of my son's favorite activities. We often also do the optional worksheets for the letter and number learned that week. We try to keep it short and interesting so I can maintain his attention.

In what ways has PreK challenged your child?  In what areas have you seen your child grow?

Sammi L. : I've seen Marshall grow in his ability to interact with others and also in his ability to understand social norms. All the while learning in a safe and positive environment where his peers and the VCS community cheer him on and celebrate his wonderful personality.

Lucy B. : Our daughter has grown in her compassion towards others. Already a very tender, generous girl, but she has expanded that in so many ways. As parents, we care much more about her love for and knowledge of God than educational success. That being said, academically, she has soared these months. VCS has made it possible for her to learn beyond what she's expected to, and it's much more than I could've independently provided her to at home.

Erin Y. : My son has really grown in his confidence and ability to communicate with others.  He has also really grown in his ability to recognize letters and to begin writing them on his own.

What advice would you share for a family considering VCS PreK for their child?

Sammi L. : If you are lucky enough to be able to participate in the VCS community, it is certainly worthwhile to check it out! There is so much joy in being an integral part of your child's education and the bonds of your family will only strengthen as your children learn elements of academia while simultaneously learning depth of character and a love for the Lord.

Lucy B. : Pray for discernment about the decision. Ask to meet with some VCS families to ask questions similar to these. If you decide yes, pour into it - get involved, serve when you can, get to know the other co-teachers/families, and even though some of the Pre-K may only be recommended, try to do as much as possible because it's helping the children/campus teacher with everything you do. It is worth it.

Erin Y. : VCS PreK is an excellent place for your child to get their first taste of school, to learn what it will be like in the classroom, and to begin making new friends in a safe environment without having a huge amount of work for that age level.  In a nutshell, VCS PreK makes learning fun and playful, while teaching them how to interact with both children and adults alike.

We hope this helped provide insight into the Pre-K program here at Valley Classical School. If you’d like to know more, we encourage you to attend an Info Meeting or our upcoming School Tour! You can find more information on those events here.

I know that in many ways, this is simply a part of our culture. More and more, it seems to be a struggle for people to remain present in moments that fail to live up to their expectations of entertainment. I find this troubling. I don’t want to simply make it through all of the day to day experiences of my life. A large portion of life is made up of doing things that are not particularly exciting to do, but that doesn’t mean those moments aren’t worth experiencing. I want to be able to recognize God’s beauty and purpose in all of the moments of my life. When I tune out moments that are difficult, awkward, or even just boring, I’m choosing not to recognize God’s holiness in each moment.

Part of why this has been on my mind recently, is because I have been thinking about the ways in which I want my students to approach their tasks. I genuinely wish for my students to view their studies in a way that shows a true joy for what they are doing. When my students fill out a grammar worksheet that they may find repetitive, I want them to do so with the knowledge that working with integrity and a good heart is just one small way that they can point to God’s glory. I want them to recognize and respect authority when they are being reprimanded or corrected, not out of fear, but out of an assurance of love that stems from God. I want them to live worshipful lives, and I believe that part of a worshipful life is performing even the smallest of tasks with a joyful heart.

Recently, my wife Kristian and I lost water in our apartment for several days while some necessary work was being done on the pipes. Thankfully, given that we live in such a privileged area, this was no more than a minor inconvenience. We were able to get by well enough with the help of some kind friends, and the showers at our gym. What it did mean though, was that doing the dishes and cooking elaborate meals was no longer a possibility. For the better part of ten days, I was relieved of my normal responsibilities of managing the kitchen. At first, I was thrilled to swing by Cookout for my Kristian and I on my way back from work, and just throw away the egregious amounts of styrofoam and tin foil that was left when we were finished eating. Pretty soon though, I started to miss the creative outlet that cooking provides for me. Even though I may not feel like doing it every day, cooking stimulates my brain in an important way that is healthy for me. Likewise, cleaning the kitchen after dinner is one of the ways that I can most regularly serve Kristian. Beyond just being a necessary chore, it is a small action that I can take to show my love for her. I should complete duties with a thankful heart, rejoicing in the gifts that I’ve been given.

I think we often overlook the importance of small, menial tasks. They can often be the richest parts of our day, and they provide us with opportunities to bless one another. So I hope that within our school we are modeling this for all of our students. Real and lasting joy comes from God, and doing work with a happy heart is one way that we can honor Him.

Our rescue dog, Buddy, has been acting weird lately—I’m suspicious he is starting to go blind. He is older, and has always been a low-key, people-loving lab. But now, he avoids steps, got very stressed at his favorite friend’s house, and won’t walk on the tile in our kitchen. While I was vacuuming this morning, he followed me like a shadow. While I was typing lesson plans, he kept trying to climb into my lap. Naturally, I got very frustrated because my productivity was being hampered. Like a true Millennial, I switched tabs and googled, “what to do when your dog is being extremely clingy,” immediately followed by “how to help an old blind dog.” How thoughtful and responsible of me.

Website after website explained the causes of separation anxiety, why you should not rearrange your furniture, and how to dispense dog treats using positive reinforcement. Yikes. Then, I stumbled upon this instruction, “Remember: older dogs still need attention. Make effort to spend time with them. Play with toys, take them on car rides, or just sit on the floor touching them.” So, I got out of my desk chair, laid down next to Buddy, and stroked his back. He nuzzled my face, leaned back, and instantly drifted off to sleep. I sat there and sobbed.

The Holy Spirit’s conviction pierced my soul. All Buddy needed was two minutes of simple presence. It reminded me of a line in my dad’s favorite Christmas song, O Holy Night.

“Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.”

That’s what Buddy (and all of us) are craving: the knowledge that we matter, someone sees us, and that we are loved. And the knowledge of this worth comes from the presence of Christ himself. I felt the weight of my sin twofold.

1) I spent my Sunday morning rushing around and cleaning because for years I have never been able to shake the lie that my worth comes from what I do, and

2) How many glimpses of God’s grace and unconditional love have I missed because I could not slow down and be present? How many times has my husband, my mom, or a friend called and I put them on speaker and rushed around doing other things (trying not to make too much noise so that they won’t suspect anything)? How many times have I said “yes” to something that wasn't mine to do—and left Buddy’s precious little face peering out the window as I drove off to go try to prove my sense of worth to myself or someone else. No, I’m not obsessed with my dog, but he has certainly taught me more than I ever thought was possible.

It doesn’t matter how cleaned up things look on the outside if on the inside I am aching and exhausted from trying to prove I matter and that my value comes from what I can produce. Christ has come. God looks at me and sees the finished work of Jesus—that means I am enough. This grace is sweet. It gives me permission to cuddle happily with my dog, laugh earnestly at my students’ jokes, listen intently to my husband’s stories, and sit quietly in worship of my Creator. No more rushing, running, bull-dozing, and flying around trying to convince myself (or anyone else) I am worth something. I am already enough—because Christ is more than enough. Thank the Lord for His sufficient grace...and my old pal Buddy.

“What more can He say, than to you He hath said…to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled.”