First Day of School ...

Laden with arms full and backpacks bulging with assorted school supplies Noahkila, Ms H and no longer so wee Beetle headed out the door this morning for thier first day of school ...

Three kids in three different school ... today is a day of new beginnings and fresh starts for them ...

For the first time Noahkila is looking forward to school - meeting new people, forming new friends, and being accepted for the wonderful young man he truly is, rather than being pegged as "the minister's kid" and being rejected by the brutish behaviour of young people who have regretably learned well from their elders ...

The gregarious and outgoing Ms H walked quietly into school, knowing the burden of being "the new kid" ... yet looking back, I remember the "new kids" that arrived in my grade school ... they were a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stifling place ... they represented change and opportunity and they were seldom "the new kid" for long ... and knowing the way Ms H. moves through the world she will soon form a circle of friends to complement her long standing circle of friends she still connects with ...

And wee Beetle ... she quietly tip toed her way into her class room, reclaiming the desk she chose yesterday during the open house ... "Okay, you can go now ..." was whispered quietly as I placed he bulging bag of school supplies in her chair, "I'm okay." My last glimpse of her going out the door was a broadly smiling little girl. Her teacher had asked the other two girls in the class to "show "Beetle" - with TWO E's - the playground because she's just moved from Minnedosa ..." "MINNEDOSA !!!" exclaimed one of the girls excitedly, "I've gone swimming at the beach there ..." The smile on Beetle's face told me she would be fine ...

Oh, and the new shoes ... they are Beetle's hand made creation ... plain white shoes just don't cut it in Grade Four ... plain white shoes are Granny shoes ... so with a little time, paint and creativity, a one of a kind of pair of runners resulted ...

So today as my children embark on a fresh new voyage ... a journey of discovery and challenges ... I can as a proud father only wish them well, and stand in awe of what fabulous young people they have become and continue to be ...

I may not say it enough outloud, but I think it ALL the time: "I'm proud to be their Dad!!"