Almost done.

Brock has his last day of third grade tomorrow. He's very excited about summer vacation and not having to wake up early for school. Yesterday, the elementary students had field day and we were able to be there and see lots of the events and fun unfold. The girls were more into the ice cream treats and playing at the playground and getting dirty than they were about watching the 'big kids' play games. Wyndham isn't pictured here because she was at therapy/rehab for most of the duration of this event.
My classes are done for the year, although I will still be doing some work into June. It definitely was a learning experience for me to be the yearbook advisor and I still find it hard to believe I actually 'taught' highschoolers. I don't think I'll ever get used to anyone calling me "Mrs. Ferlaak", and I have to say my favorite thing about this year has been the past month or so at school.
My senior students have been talking about where they are going to college, and their summer plans and just all the dreams and hopes they have for their lives now that they're moving on from high school. I want to laugh at some of the things they say- they have it all planned out and it's all so neat and 'perfect'. I see a bit of myself in all of them- that ideal you have of how life is going to unfold in the next 10-20 years. I don't mean to say they won't be successful and great at what they do...I just wish there was a way to 'warn' kids that things might not go as perfectly as planned.
But that's what life and living and learning are all about, right?! If I had known my future I don't think I would have faced it the way I have. I think that's why God doesn't give us eyes to see to far down the road. Some of us would stop dead in our tracks and never take another step forward. If I could tell them only one thing they need for their future, it would be this, "Hold on to God- tightly!". He's all you need, really. He gives you strength. He gives peace. He gives success. He picks you up when you fail. He points you where you need to go. He holds your hand when you think you won't make it. He gives you the ability to love, to forgive, to make tough decisions, to have joy in dark moments and gives you all the gifts and talents you need to become who He created you to be.
Nothing else in life matters, as long as you have Christ.
You may get lucky and earn a great degree, have the best job, the hottest spouse on the block, a padded bank account, the most fulfilling family life and even plenty of leisure time to soak it all in.
You can gain the whole world, but I have learned that without God, it means nothing and it's worth nothing. I just hope that my students learn that the less they hold onto this world, the easier it is to hold onto God. And that, makes all the difference in the journey. I wish them all the best as they graduate and move forward from here!