Back to School Tradition at the Guzmans

I can hardly believe tomorrow is the first day of school for three of my four boys.  This summer has flown by too quickly.  I came across these pictures the other day and it seems like just yesterday this was our reality:

Instead, my reality was moving my oldest into campus housing for his second year of college today.  I am still in denial and call his going to college as "soccer camp" since he plays soccer for Division I school and they pretty much own him! :) Which is GREAT every other day of the year except the day I have to leave him and drive home. 

Thankfully, I came home to two kids who are still young enough to love back to school shopping and were ready to go.  Yes, we waited til the night before school started.  No, I was not the only one.  Tons of people at Wal-Mart alongside of me.  So we come home and I have them sit at the table with me and do my favorite thing of all in "back to school" season:  their prayer hands.

So this is what we do. At the beginning of each school year, I trace the boys' hands on a sheet of paper.  Some years I did it on my prayer journal...but now their hands are too big to fit.  I have them write five prayer requests they have for themselves for the school year and write them on each finger.  Then I use these to place my hand over as I pray over each one and their requests.  I love it.  I love having them write down their requests to God.  I love how it changes how I pray for them.  I have gone back this evening and looked over Dalton and Chandler's sweet hand prints over the years and I am just amazed at their spiritual growth.  I won't share Chandler's recent requests, since he is a Senior and all... but I am so humbled to be able to pray for him this year.  For the desires of his heart...not necessarily what I thought would be best.

So for all my friends who are starting this "Back to School" thing with your little ones, I encourage you to do this.  Praying over and for my boys has been one of God's greatest gifts to me as a mom.  He lets me see how He loves them and molds them and somehow uses the feeble, yet fervent prayers of a mother to reveal His will for them.  I'm undone by it all, really. 

And Dalton, I didn't get your hand print this year, but I did walk through your apartment praying and singing the song I have been singing over you since you were in my womb: "The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make His face shine upon you, and give you peace."  Leaving you at "soccer camp" never gets easier for me, but I love how you carry yourself in confidence of who you are and Who you belong to.

Know my prayers for you tonight! -Mel