It won't be the same ....

Tomorrow is the first day of school for my girlies.  We will begin our 9th year of homeschooling, 4 girls are school-age and the youngest 3 are in pre-school because they insist on "doing school" too!  But this year is different ... it won't be the same ... we won't get that phone call we always get on the first day of school from my dad.  We won't hear him ask each of the girls if they "like their teacher this year?"  Dad went from nine years ago thinking we were a bit "strange" for home-schooling to honestly being one of my biggest supporters.  And I loved that ... I loved the support and respect and encouragement dad gave to me over the last several years of home schooling.  And I miss that so much.  I miss getting the text now and then that said "you're doing a good job."  I still have those texts saved ... but I can't bring myself to read through them right now.  Tonight is full of tears, as many are, as I am reminded once again that my dad is not a phone call away ... a text away ... that the phone won't ring tomorrow with dad asking the girls "do you like your teacher this year?"  Yes tomorrow is the first day of school ... and it won't be the same ... nothing is the same since dad went to be with Jesus 2 months ago.