Mark changes schools

Today was the day we had to finally decide where Mark will be attending school this school year. Short history. We pulled him from PUCE late last year due to significant conflict between Mr Fisher and Mark in the 6th grade classroom. Mark was failing to learn, the teacher was failing to use teaching methods that connected with Mark. Mark finished the year in home school. That was in March or April. Since then he has been working on all his subjects at home and after the summer break we started a home school program led by Linda that included all required 7th grade subjects plus band at PUCE and math at Sylvan Learning Center in Santa Rosa. Due to a variety of conflicts from scheduling to personalities we decided that Mark needed to be back in the classroom. But where?

Dona is teaching at First Christian School in Napa and recommended we explore that option. I wanted us to explore Foothills school. Linda and Mark visited both schools and felt the differences in each school made Napa Christian the best choice for Mark. Both felt the attitude of the school, the style of the teacher and the focus on Jesus Christ was stronger and better suited to Mark in Napa rather then Foothills. So we started doing the financial math. Tuition, $470, deposit $250, uniforms, $200?, monthly gas, $400. It all seems completely insurmoutable. Impossible.

I was in Albion at dept retreat and Linda and I spent much time on the phone together, then time praying apart. How could we pay the bill in Napa, what was God's plan? What was the best decision, where was the clear sign from God we needed. I finally declared that based on finances alone we had to make the choice for Foothills, it just had to be the right decision. I spoke with Linda again, she felt, NO, it was not the best choice. I spoke to Mark again, he said, "Dad, I will go to school where ever you and Mom feel is the best place for me, but I must say that I did not like the noise and talking back to the teacher in the class at Foothills and I am afraid if I attended there I would start to act the same way. I think the best place for me is Napa but I don not know how you can pay for that. But the spirit there is much better and more like Jesus."

Well, how do I go against that? How could I possibly say, No, all wrong there kiddo, off to Foothills you go? Maybe this was the sign I actually was looking for.

Linda and Mark are in Napa right now, finishing details of enrollment.