The time has come to enroll Jenna for Kindergarten. Who knew this process would be such a headache. I grew up in a small town where there were no options of what school to go to. There was only one. Decision made. And it was not too far from your house (normally).
After hours of research (mostly on Matt’s part) we have found that with all the options, there really aren’t all that many options if that makes any sense. We have a school less than 100 feet from our front door. The problem with that is that it’s a magnet school, and a great one at that. It has great marks for Portland schools but you have to apply to get in and then it’s a lottery. There are probably only about 5 spots and there will more than likely be hundreds of applicants making the odds very low of getting in. All the good grade school in the area are full and not taking transfers. All that to say that the only option we really have is to apply to the one next door, hoping to get in or go to our “neighborhood” school (which is about a mile away). It’s not a terrible school but not the best either.
Education is an interesting thing. You want the best for your kids and sometimes it’s hard to know what that is. I don’t believe in forking out thousands of dollars for elementary school (it’s really not an option anyway) and I also know the best for us is not homeschooling. I pray God never asks me to do that. I don’t think I’m patient enough or smart enough for that matter and so far Jenna is way to social and would hate every second of it I’m sure.
What it comes down to is trusting that God knows what’s best for my kids. We prayed for the house God would want us to live in (in the city) and He has provided that place. He also provided it 3 weeks before the enrollment of a great school that we are no longer zoned into. He knew what schools would be near and He knows better what education my kids need. He knows the education I need. I would even venture to say that I think that it’s not just about my kids schooling that God has in mind. It’s the people there, the teachers, the friends to be made, the parents of those friends, the eternal impact that we could have in our neighborhood school. I’m just praying that God will place us where He wants Jenna to be and that we have peace with where ever that is.