Helping at the Homeschool Store 17 years later

17 years ago, I stepped into Heppner's Legacy homeschool store, a new baby strapped on my chest and my 3, 5, and 7 year old in tow. I told the owner, Nancy, "This is the only child-friendly place I could think of to visit! I need to have some adult conversation!"

Several years later, through tears, I called Nancy on the phone and asked, "Are you still open?" She wasn't. In fact, she was leaving soon to have a movie night with homeschool teenagers at her house. But she told me to drive to the shop. "Come on in," she said, when I arrived. She sat down and listened to me, encouraged me, and made me a cup of tea.

Today, I returned to Heppner's Legacy homeschool store, a retired homeschool mom, all 4 of my babies launched into the world.

As I pulled into the parking lot to work a shift, to encourage other moms, to help them choose curriculum, to make their kids smile, to ring up the register, and straighten the store during one of the busiest times of the season, unexpected tears started to fall down my face. All the memories rushed back. All the worries, all the wondering. Would they master reading? Learn to spell? Did I choose the right curriculum? Was I failing them? Would they turn out?

"Yes," I whispered, to my former self, "it all worked out. It ALL worked out. They turned into amazing human beings. We did it. We made it."

I brushed away my tears, turned off my car, and entered the store-- blessed to be able to give where I once received so much.