A Prayer for the Start of School

And so the school year begins....

It's hard to believe that it's that time of year. Wasn't it just summer? Wait, it still is.

Here are my school-starters...full parental disclosure: I don't pick out their clothes.

Incredibly excited to begin her pre-K year:

Putting on fake enthusiasm for 4th grade:

Quietly impatient for kindergarten to start....
(it was the same day as the 4th grader but the rain started before afternoon kindergarten)

Completely uninterested in what's going on but always happy to watch...

And so begins a new year.

May it be a year of learning and growth, a year of new experiences and understanding.
May they outgrow their shoes and may they not lose their jackets.
May each day bring something new and may routine guide their steps.
May their pencils be sharp and their minds even sharper.
May they revel in the joy of each new fact learned, each right answer, each small accomplishment.
May the erasers on their pencils get as much use as the tips.
May they learn that wrong answers can be just as important as right ones.
May they ask questions, lots and lots of questions, and may their teachers be patient. Very patient.
May they make friends and build relationships, and may they make lifelong connections.
May they be kind and polite and each one a mensch of the highest order.
And may this year be filled with blessings...