The Horn Family: August 2019

Friday, August 16, 2019

New School, New School Year 2019-2020

Last January, Kris invited me to sit in at the open house at San Ramon Valley Christian Academy to be a sounding board for Andy’s, middle school education. Within the first minute of our late arrival, the principal began discussing a specific topic that we’d just been discussing during the car ride there. We looked at each other with sheer astonishment over the coincidence and their radically different approach to such an issue. The rest of the meeting evoked similar responses and an overwhelming feeling that some way, some how, our kids would benefit as students at the academy. I called Nick from the parking lot and regaled him with the story of my morning and asked that we pray about sending the children to SRVCA. It would be the solution to the increasing tension we’d been facing in the public school arena. Sending the kids to a private school that operated out of the same Playbook that we’re raising them by at home seemed like a highly ambitious but seriously important decision. It was not without great anxiety, going from a 3 minute commute to 30, leaving Mom and so many beloved teachers, and the financial impact of 4 children in private school. We prayed for over a month and the path was made undeniably clear and so was the provision with Nick’s raise that just covered the tuition.

On August 13, we pushed through the new-kid (and new-mom) jitters and walked onto campus towards the entire staff holding welcome signs, cheering for us “Welcome Horn Family!” At the first chapel gathering that week, the lead pastor explained to the parents and kids in the audience that they had been praying for over a year to grow the school by 84 students to bring the total number enrolled to 350. Truly miraculously, they had 90 new students this year. 7 of them being Horn and Sacksteder kids. He then pulled a new student from each grade level onto the stage to illustrate his message that their presence was an answered prayer. Among them were Emmy, Hannah, and James. Bearing witness to it literally took my breath away. (This took place AFTER Julia was welcomed onto the stage to help lead the worship song, fulfilling a prediction that Kris and I had made just 2 minutes prior that we’d see Julia in such a role by the end of the school year.) My heart nearly burst with joy and peace and gratitude that morning, and every day since.

Hannah didn't realize she was walking into second grade behind her future best friend, Kadence.

Sitting with James as his Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Larson, read us "The Kissing Hand."

James' first day of Kindergarten in his very own class was also his first day to the treasure box. While Julia's name was miraculously drawn to go to the treasure box many weeks of TK, James fell on much harder luck. It seems multiple times that his name was drawn, he was absent, which meant he had to forfeit the prize. Needless to say, this year was already starting out well!

Starting the morning off with prayer.

Bidding Julia farewell on her first morning of Kindergarten in Mrs. Tos' class!

Brave girl!

Horns and Sackys made up nearly 10% of the new students at SRVCA!

Our first chapel when Pastor Tyler was sharing the story of God's faithful provision bringing so many new students to the school this year. A mutually answered prayer!

Juj helping to lead worship!

Emmy, Hannah and James were all randomly selected as new student class representatives and got a special t-shirt as a prize! I could hardly believe my eyes!

Friday, August 2, 2019

Summer Vacation & Maui 2019!!

When I asked the kids what they ranked as our greatest blessing this year, they all agreed it was our summer vacation to Maui. This was our first ever true vacation due in part, to my drastically reduced life expectancy from the stress of previous family air travel. This trip came together beautifully though, between Nick’s airline rewards, Mom and Dad accompanying us for a few days, and the twins’ friends’ family (also twins) unexpectedly staying at our resort for an unplanned overlap day. Our neurotic and elderly, (but loveable) dog Molly stayed in the loving care of the sole pet sitter on Rover.com whose profile picture I ruthlessly judged capable of the job. And as it turned out, is an old friend of the Horn family. In Hawaii, we boogie boarded, snorkeled, swam, painted sunrises, ate, cartwheeled, shopped, luau-ed and hula-ed to our heart’s content. Not even my 3 unopened library books for pleasure reading or the dolphin watching tour that produced nausea instead of dolphins dampened our spirits. We were grateful beyond words.

The one souvenir I sought for the duration of our trip was a Christmas ornament to serve as a reminder of our time together. My search ran dry until our last excursion before leaving. We finished our Cheeseburgers in Paradise, and were rapidly approaching the kids’ expiration time when we booked it down Front Street to Kimo’s for a take-out slice of Hula Pie. When what to my wondering eyes should appear but The Lahaina Christmas Store right next door to Kimo’s! I can’t make this stuff up. The women working there must’ve thought I’d lost my mind as the kids and I walked through the doorway cheering and I profusely thanked them for the existence of their store. We were able to select the most perfect clay ornament with with a mom and dad and 4 little hula dancers and had it personalized with “Ohana Horn.” It was the first ornament hung on the tree this year.

Dropping Molly off for a week with Mr. Brad.

GIDDY with excitement!

Made it to Maui, we pulled into our parking spot at the Papakea at 11:11 PM.

Marveling at our view early the next morning. We painted the sunrise with water colors.

Finding Mimi and Papa! They were just one floor above us!

Koi pond near our condo.

All the kids slept in one room. The girls all slept in the kind sized bed and James on an air mattress.

Morning walk with my girls.

Some kind people pointed out a zebra eel to us!

I couldn't get enough of the view form our lanai.

A personal hula show!

Running in my personal heaven.

Preparing to embark on our Dolphin Watching Cruise...

To be renamed the "No Dolphin Watching Cruise". But we did learn that most of us are prone to sea-sickness!

Most of us were MISERABLE on the no-dolphin watching cruise.

Mimi and Papa treated us to a Luau!

Learning how to cut coconuts at the luau.

Learning the hula at the Luau!

Two Fire-breathers in one frame.

Snorkeling in Wailea was a major highlight!

Authentic Hawaiian Shaved Ice at a roadside stand!

At the Lili Pulitzer store at Whaler's Village.

Cracking the coconut.

Visiting the penguins and other birds at the Hyatt Kaanapali Beach.

Mom and Dad watched the kids so we could go on a date to Kimo's.

Playing "Sweet Home Alabama" at James' request at Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Last sunset in paradise.

Running on the beach the morning we left.

Last stop before going to the airport was to see James and Julia's TK besties, also twins, Jada and Maya's family who was staying at the same resort!

Picking up Molly! She kind of forgot about us for a minute!

Julia and I took a pottery class together for the summer. Here we're holding our pinch pots. We stuck together because our instructor wasn't very friendly. Also because we love each other.