My daughter is about to start WHAT?!

My daughter is growing up to fast! I know, they always do, nothing new. But I can't seem to keep up! She is starting 6th grade next year (which I've learned is considered middle school; I say this because I was homeschooled too, after 3rd grade, and all I knew of was going from grade school, to jr high in the 7th grade so I don't really understand how middle school is different). One more year and she will be in jr high! This summer, she also begins attending the youth at our church on Wednesday nights (fortunately, they have seperate small groups for 6th graders, but still), and I'm just not prepared for all this! I'm also realizing that I am going to have to take a different approach in her education now in preparation for high school, and then possibly college. We were allowed to be a little more laid back in the elementary years, which was good for us as we tried to get adjusted and find what works best for her and us, but we can't anymore. Things are becoming easier for us in our homeschooling journey, in some ways, and that is good because we are about to start on a whole new leg of the journey soon, entering in to territory unfamiliar to she and I: high school {shiver}. I'm quite nervous now that I'm seeing how close it is in our future. But, if we start now, we can be prepared, and conquer this road together. A few years ago, when she was in 3rd grade and we first began our homeschool journey, high school seemed so far in to the future that I didn't need to concern myself with it, even in the slightest, which was good because it was a scary thought. Still is to me, but it is one I must now face. But, I think that since Faith has gotten older, and a bit more mature, I think she has improved in her ability to cooperate and such for school time. I think that I have improved in my abilities in homeschooling too (though I know that this is a continuous learning process, where things and needs and methods and the kids all change almost daily, and so homeschooling is more of a journey and not a destination). Therefore, I think the thought of high school has become a little less frightening for me, and I have actually developed a bit of excitement for thoe years yet to come. A very tiny amount, because I'm still quite anxious, but some excitement nonetheless.

I think I'm slowly beginning to move out of the stage of shock that first hit when I began to see just how quickly teenagerhood and high school is approaching my daughter, inevitably, and moving in to the place of realization that there is nothing that I ca do to delay this. Therefore, I must quickly discover what exactly God wants me to do to lead her in this stage of her life. How he wants me to do it, what I need to teach her, how I can protect her, and even how to properly embrace her. I must look to God for everything I am to do in raising my daughter and molding her in to a godly young lady, a maiden of virtue. I have no time to waste in mourning the loss of my baby, because then I will miss the blessings of this beautiful, wonderful, precious young lady that God has blessed me with, and has entrusted to my care. What a privelage it is to raise her!