Goodbye, OCS

It is always sad when a chapter comes to an end...even if its been a hard chapter. As I waited in the carpool line to pick the kids up from OCS one last time, my heart hurt a little. While we are happy and excited about our new beginning at CHA, it is a little bittersweet to say goodbye to OCS. We walked into this school at a very difficult time in our life...we had just been uprooted from the life that we loved in Tulsa and Brian was very sick...the first few months at OCS were HARD for our family. I remember going into Mackenzie's first Parent/Teacher conference in October with Mrs. Frankfurt and crying uncontrollably as she opened in prayer. Life was just incredibly overwhelming at that time. We made it through the first year and got settled in a bit, and our second year at OCS began. Through all of our time there, Brian and I both just had an unsettled feeling that maybe God had a different direction for our family. Throughout this process, I have said it again and again...OCS is a good school...just not the right school for us. I have been careful not to talk or write about the negative things too much, because I don't want that to be the focus. Instead, we are walking away with many sweet memories from our time here...

These are a few of my favorites:

* Madison's Land Run day in 2nd grade.

* Mrs. Van Curen has been THE most amazing teacher we could ever ask for.

* Mackenzie's Colonial Days in 4th grade.

* Jingle Bell Store.

* Everything about Pre-K for Jonah has been great.

* Christmas Programs

* Madison's sweet friendship with Adlee. (THE HARDEST PART OF LEAVING FOR SURE)

* Mackenzie's artwork displayed at an Art Show at Crossings.

* Mackenzie's 5th Grade Graduation

I 100% believe that we needed the time we had at OCS, as a learning and growth experience. I will never forget the day I submitted our applications to OCS...I was sitting in our kitchen in Bixby, with my hand on my Bible, over the verse Joshua 1:9...I was honestly distraught at the thought of our kids going to school anywhere but Regent...and I wasn't completely at peace about the decision of OCS...but in that moment, God spoke to me with Joshua 1:9..."Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you WHEREVER YOU GO." And there I found peace...I knew that God would be with our kids at OCS, and He has been. We are praying that we would find our "place" at CHA in a way that we have not at OCS. And we know that we don't need to be afraid, because just as God was with our kids at Regent, and at OCS, he will be with them at CHA too. 

I've heard it said...

"The end of one chapter is the beginning of another. Read on...the best is always yet to come!" 

I sure hope that's true!