Back in the high (school) life again...

Anybody remember that Steve Winwood song? Here are some of the lyrics.
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We'll have ourselves a time
And we'll dance till the morning sun
And we'll let the good times come in
And we won't stop till we're done

We'll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time
Will open up again
We'll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched us once
Will smile and take us in

And we'll drink and dance with one hand free
And have the world so easily
And oh we'll be a sight to see
Back in the high life again

High life
High life
In the high life again

We'll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time
Will open up again
We'll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched us once
Will smile and take us in

And we'll drink and dance with one hand free
And have the world so easily
And oh we'll be a sight to seeBack in the high life again

Read more: Steve Winwood - Back In The High Life Again Lyrics | MetroLyrics
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This morning, Daniel and I are beginning another year of homeschooling. He's a junior in high school this year. In fact, as I write this post, I am sitting next to him at our homeschooling desk. He's watching the first class video of the year. (No, friends, I do not make up every lesson for him. I do the Spanish and some of the writing lessons. I still read to him often. But most of the actual lessons are online.)

When I think about the fact that he chooses to stay at home every year instead of heading off to traditional school, I am amazed. That he chooses me. That he chooses our home. That he chooses our family dynamics. I am enormously grateful. 

And I'm also terrified! Junior year??? Starting to make college decisions. Reaching out to college tennis coaches. Getting ready for college, for living in a dorm, for playing on a college tennis team, studying, writing, reading, speaking Spanish, journaling, preparing for the PSAT and SAT... there's a lot of work to do this year. 

But there is also a lot to enjoy and celebrate.  He's a junior in high school; he made it this far with grace, sarcasm, faith, boredom, courage, humor, impatience, avoidance, questions, and laughter. In other words, he's a extraordinary, ordinary kid. He's a tender-hearted young man. He's a loyal friend. He's a loving, attentive son and brother. He's a generous and funny kid. He's mine. He's ours. Most important of all, he is God's. 

I hope and pray that on many a morning, we will "drink (tea!) and dance with one hand free, and have the world so easily." When we are wandering through museums, international markets, and the zoo, we will probably be quite a sight to see - one tall, handsome young man with his doting, goofy mom. When this year is over and I look back towards this cool August morning, I want to recall the lyrics I've posted here and the many ways in which we "have ourselves a time, let the goods times come in and won't stop until we're done."

Here we go, buddy. We're back in the high (school) life again.