Back to School 2015

All across Albania today students are going back to school.

Spiffy clothes.  Fresh hair cuts. Bright, new back packs stocked with all the needed supplies.

Well, probably everyone's children but the Waggoners'. 

Reni makes such a fuss about special clothes and haircuts and given how THRILLED [insert sarcasm] he is about going to a new school, we chose not to fight that battle.

At the grandparents' behest, we took the requisite "first day of school" photo.

I think this (above) adequately sums up Reni's optimism for what Albanian school will be like.  

Because his expression was so glum, I said something funny to illicit a grin because frankly, the photo above is just too depressing.

We all walked together for drop off, passing our neighbors along the way.  At one point, Ellie caught up with a group of teens we know well, all dressed up with perfect hair and clothes, and Ellie asked if she could just go to school with them.
Ha ha.

Reni chided his sister in his typical "know-it-all" voice that it'd all be in Albanian and she wouldn't understand any of it.

The teen girls, understanding his English, all laughed and we were back on our way.

We may have been the first folks to show up at school.  

We were greeted by blaring children's music from a speaker on the front porch, balloons, and the sweet message, "Welcome dear children!"

Right behind us were our Dutch friends with a bouquet of fresh flowers for the teacher and a camera to document the momentous day, the opening of the new school, built with the help of three foundations.

Within minutes of our arrival, family after family began arriving and Reni's confidence began to crumble so we didn't linger.  

After all, he isn't the only Waggoner beginning school today!  As I type, Nathan and Ellie are in the books, going through an overview of everything she will be studying this year.  She is quite excited to dabble in Latin this year and study early civilizations as her year's theme!

We pray that this year both of our children will grow in wisdom (that they will find learning fun), stature (that they will stay healthy and grow), and favor with God (live lives pleasing to him) and man (that they will cultivate good relationships).  Thank you for praying with us.