This week, I saw a kindergarten graduation, a sixth grade graduation, and even a Sunday school graduation.  A lot of emotions (so much gratitude toward my parents) and a feeling of relief even as worries threaten to crowd out our joy.  But for a moment, even a few hours at a time, I could look back and be grateful for this year, and for the people who made it beautiful.

I so wanted to put a picture of my sixth graders even though of course I can’t.  Instead, let me describe it to you.  We all stand close together in a corner on my blue and red rug, smiling.  A girl from El Salvador has her arm around a student from Nepal with “Miss You” embroidered on her purple shirt, her hand making a peace sign as a student in a hijab looks at these two girls and smiles in delight.  Two boys from Afghanistan have the purest smiles on their faces and squat next to a boy from Somalia who is giving the camera his best smolder, not realizing that cute Napoleon from Afghanistan is holding up bunny ears and squealing with delight.  Three gorgeous girls from Afghanistan hug each other, one in a delicate red hijab and two with their beautiful long hair for everyone to see.  A boy who cried everyday his first month of school now beams at the camera.  A boy from Tanzania is trying to get the attention of another and tell him a joke while I stand and hug my hardest working student, a girl from Congo who is taller than me.  We are all enjoying the moment.

I am so thankful for my school and for the tutors, the teachers, the administrators everyone from the librarian to the custodians who helped us make it through this year.  I need to spend this summer strategizing for my boisterous fifth grade class, but just for this moment, I want to thank God for my sixth graders.  All in all, they were so easy to love.

My kids got to hear our jazz band perform this week, and the next day, Little A graduated from kindergarten.  His Mountaintop Montessori school is so, so good, and I felt so sad that he is leaving.  I really felt like the people who worked there truly invested in our kids.  I am grateful that Andy and Mitya went to school there.  We are so lucky.  Praise God!

And last but not least, Sunday school graduation.  You guessed right—I feel so happy that the kids had another year there. But more than that, the priest (who is really tall and Mitya calls “God” no matter how many times I try to correct him) has been so kind to the kids, so you are right, I am also truly grateful for him.

Summer begins!  The older kids have some camps while Mitya and I spend some quality time together and I am (almost) back to being a stay-at-home mom.  I will actually have enough time and energy to cook everyday (like, other than pasta and chicken)!  No excuses, baby.  Time for playing outside and reading lots and lots of books.  Finally.  It’s been too long.

Please pray for us!  Have a great week!