In February 1999 I was teaching at Harvester Christian Academy and both of my children attended school there. We knew God was tugging at our hearts when Nicole began to struggle with the most basic skills. We had expected this to come, but were not truly prepared for it when it happened. You see I really wanted God to prove everyone wrong. I wanted Him to show people that Nicole would overcome all of the diagnoses that we had received; however, that was not happening. So, we finished the school year and I resigned from teaching. Our son, Beau, went to public school and Nicole and I came home. We became active in Wisdom’s Way by going on field trips, participating in Pioneer Night, International Night, Biography Night, Mom’s Night Out, the Book Sale, and just about everything else. Nicole was flourishing in all areas. In May of 2001, the board of directors for Wisdom’s Way asked me to consider joining the board. Tim and I prayed about it and decided this is where God wanted me to serve. It has been an honor to serve on the board for the past seven years. I have grown spiritually and also in my leadership skills dur-ing this time. I have met some of the most amazing people and many have be-come what I hope to be lifetime friends. Most importantly, Nicole has made many friends and has grown socially by leaps and bounds. She “fits in” wherever she goes because she is loved by you all!

It is with very mixed emotions that I write this letter to you. God is working out His perfect plan in our lives and we are trying very hard to be obedient in following Him. We have a couple more years of “formal homeschooling” and then it will be time to send our sweet Nicole into the world. I don’t know how we will do that. I have no idea what that will look like, but I know God does. A dear friend of mine said it is time for me to “sing a new song”. I don’t know the tune or the words, but I’m begin-ning to hear a little hum in the distance. One of the first verses in this song is for me to resign from the Wisdom’s Way board of directors so that I can focus my time and attention on preparing Nicole for God’s plan in her life. I am pleased to an-nounce that Jenn Tackett will be taking my place on the board as the Wisdom’s Way New Member Director. She and her husband, Keith, have prayed about this along with the board and we all feel this is in God’s plan for Wisdom’s Way and for Jenn’s family. Please welcome Jenn with open arms and give her the encourage-ment and love I have enjoyed for the past seven years.

As for the rest of the board, Kim, Destiny, Lorie, and Donna, I love you all and will cherish our friendship forever. I will never forget the loooong meetings, the tears we’ve cried together, the laughter we’ve shared, the heartache we’ve shared, and most of all the friendship we have with each other. You are truly a Godly group of women and I feel so blessed to have served our Lord along side you. My family and I will still be active members of Wisdom’s Way and I will be the coordinator for the book sale for the next couple of years. If any of you need anything from me, please do not hesitate to call. Thank you for your love and support.

I love you all, Sandy