The New School Year has Arrived!

Well, the school year is almost officially in full swing. The teachers started back on Tuesday. Since I am an assistant, and am a 182 day employee, I only had to go Tuesday for the kick off and then yesterday (Thursday) for meet the teacher night. I love meet the teacher night! It is so exciting to see the halls and classrooms full of (mostly) excited children and their (mostly) excited parents. I love greeting the kids that will be in the same class I will be in. And getting hugs from the ones that I have been with in previous years. I am always amazed at how much they have grown in the few weeks since the last day of the previous year. Since I shadow a specific child, I go up to the next grade with him each year. So this will be my 4th year with this particular group of kids. I feel that I have an advantage over the teachers in a way. I don't have to say good bye to the kids after one year and pray that they do well on their journey of life. I have been allowed to continue to be a part of these kids' lives. Even if they aren't in "my" class each year, I still see them in the halls and at recess, etc... I still get hugs from many of them each day. There is a set of twins that especially have a special place in my heart. They are the most loving, caring, hard working girls I have met. So easy to love. I have been with at least one of them for the past 3 years. This year I won't be with either one. Their mom gave me a hug last night and said, "You have done so much for my girls. Thank You. We love you." Of course we were both weepy eyed. But it is this kind of bond that I have been allowed to make by being with the same group of kids each year.
Of course, the child that I shadow has a strong hold on my heart. I don't know how we will ever part. I know the time will come that he won't need me. I am not sure when that will be. Who knows? This could be my last year, or next year. I may go to middle school with him. I don't know. I am praying about this constantly. I am going to have a hard time tearing myself away from him when the time comes. He has come a very long way since I first started with him 3 & 1/2 years ago . Last night, he came straight into the classroom with a smile on his face and a big hug for me that didn't have to be asked for. This was a first. He talked about his summer trips (especially to Ripley's Believe It or Not museum at Myrtle Beach). He talked about his Lego stop motion movies that he had worked on all summer. I just loved it and hated for him to leave. He obviously has grown and matured a good bit over the summer.
So, to say the least, I can't wait until we all return to school on Tuesday. I won't sleep much the night before. I never do. I am really going to hate getting up every morning by 6am. But the kids make it all worth it. I am a very blessed person. God knew what I needed when he put me in this position. I just have to trust that I can accept it when He moves me to another position in life and I have to say good bye to all my sweet babies.