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!