Day 2--TLO

Saturday, November 2nd was a busy day at the Van Hulzen house! I guess most Saturdays are that way.  In fact, most DAYS are that way.  That probably happens when you have 3 kids and they are involved in sports, church, friends and whatever else might happen to pop up that intrigues them.  Because of the chaos of the day, I was debating on what to be thankful for in today's journal. Good problem to have, right?!  Then I thought, hey, you have 30 days! Don't worry about it!

So, today, I am thankful for Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran School.  We have been a part of that school since Connor was in kindergarten in 2005. If Truman goes there (which he will, unless we move, but that's a whole 'nother discussion) we will have a student there continuously from 2005 - 2024.  Oh my goodness!!!

TLO is a small school.  Right now there are just over 100 students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade.  People always say, "Where is that? I know I've driven past it." When I tell them where it is, they then exclaim, oh yeah!!

We initially found TLO through our good friends, the Gorters.  We knew we wanted our kids to go to a Christian elementary school to lay the foundation of their education in an environment where they could grow in their faith and where the teachers could speak freely about their love for Jesus. Connor and Elianna have flourished in their years at TLO.  It is hard to believe that Connor will graduate this year and head off to high school next year! (And no, we haven't made the final decision about where that will be yet...)

TLO is a family.  The teachers love and pray for our children.  The secretary is truly the hands and feet of Jesus on a daily basis.  The principal drives our kids to school every day :)  For that I am soooo grateful!!  We have grieved with each other over the loss of Connor's 4th grade teacher.  What a site it was to see the class sitting together, all the boys in their shirts and ties and Annika in her beautiful dress.  Then again this fall, we grieved together when Annika's mom passed away from breast cancer.  Annika left TLO this fall because of her mom's illness and the transportation problems and multiple other reasons, but the TLO family took up at least 5 rows at Kristie's funeral.  Again, the boys (not all of them, but as many that could make it) were there in their shirts and ties, and Annika looked beautiful.

The family had requested guests to wear pink in honor of Kristie.  And the boys have pink ribbons on their shirts as well.

The flowers from the 8th grade class.  12 white roses for the boys and 1 pink rose representing Annika.

The garden stone from the 8th grade class.

The students at TLO are also grouped into "families" which is something I LOVED as a parent of a kindergartner!   The students across grade levels are divided into "families" with 7th and 8th grades "in charge".  They eat lunch together on Wednesdays and then have mileage club during nice weather where they walk or run around the soccer field and see how many miles they can add up per family and for the whole school.  The 7th and 8th graders are out there counting each time one of the students comes around another lap.  Those families also are a group on the last day of school when they do fun activities and obstacle courses.  Each of those older kids are paired with a kindergartner or 1st grader that are in their family group as a chapel buddy.  They sit with them during chapel on Wednesday mornings and help keep them in line :) It melted my heart to have kids of all grade levels saying "Hi, Connor!" to this little kindergarten boy when I would see him walking in the hall ways :)

Connor and Elianna are receiving an excellent education.  When looking at their Iowa Tests of Basic Skills scores, you can tell that they know what they need to know, they are doing homework at home, they are working on projects, and they {usually} enjoy what they are doing!  They have a science fair at the end of the year. They are both playing trumpet in band.  The 7th and 8th graders play handbells.  All students participate in choir.  Sports are a part of the school in grades 5-8 and sometimes grade 4.  How great is that?  Driving a long ways sometimes stinks, but they get to play with their classmates.  They love that!

Okay, time to get ready for church.  I could continue, but I think you get the point.  We love and are grateful for TLO!

--An addition
I never completed the circle of my thoughts on this post.  Part of the chaos of yesterday included things related to TLO.  The 5th and 6th graders had a lock in on Friday night with the wonderful Mr. Huonder, 4th grade teacher extraordinaire.

Would you want to be stuck in a school with this crew?

So of course, Elianna was extremely tired on Saturday! A cranky, tired 6th grader? No fun!

Then, Connor went with the JR Youth group to Feed My Starving Children in Eagan and their fabulous and fun (and fun to tease) youth director David Taylor. This is the jr. high youth group (7th and 8th graders) from TLO church that also includes the kids from the school. Connor has a great time with this group and all the kids love Mr. Taylor! 

As many of you that went to small Christian schools know, the teachers wear many hats.  They are the teachers, recess and lunch supervisors, coaches, athletic directors, musical directors, field trip planners, party planners, lock-in planners, volleyball referees, marathon volunteers and so, so, so much more!  As a public school teacher, I know I'm not in it for the money, but for private school teachers, they DEFINITELY are not in it for the money!  But thanks be to God for the difference you are making in lives of all the children you touch on a daily basis!!