Well, today is the last day of summer for me … and the end of an era.

After 14 years of being a stay-home mom and having babies, toddlers, and preschoolers all around, this chapter of my life is closing. My youngest daughter starts kindergarten tomorrow, which is a full-day program in our state.

Last year, she attended preschool three mornings a week, and between drop-offs and pick-ups, I only had about two hours to run errands, straighten the house, attend Bible study, and dash through an occasional aerobics. And in the spring, it seemed like every day she had a field trip, party, pet day, or something in which my presence was needed.

I loved it … I really did.

But now she’s joining her siblings in “big school.” And I’m happy for her. It’s time.

So then there’s me. I’ve been praying for God to show me what’s next. As a woman in my 40s, I’ve become a little wiser and more careful with how I spend my time. This seems to be a trend among friends my age. Several of them are starting to pursue dreams that have long been dormant during the busy childbearing and preschool years.

Of course, I also have many homeschooling friends whose children of all ages are still at home. But most of them are trying new things as well: teaching classes for other homeschoolers, adopting children from around the world, foster parenting, taking on leadership roles in church and community. Some are even going on mission trips as far away as Africa.

What about me, Lord? I ask, several times a day.

I do plan to volunteer at both of my children’s schools. I love being around these wonderful kids. My son’s high school requires all new parent volunteers to go through official substitute teacher training before helping out in the classroom, so I plan to do this. I love chaperoning field trips, which keeps me plenty busy seeing plays, concerts, puppet shows, and farm animals.

Hmmmm … but is there something more?

As I’ve spent the summer in prayer, I’ve asked God to lead me and make it clear to me what He wants me to do. A few days ago, author Keri Wyatt Kent’s monthly newsletter arrived in my in-box at the perfect time. In her column on the topic of “Following God’s Call,” she wrote:

What is God calling you to do? Are you scared to even ask, because then you might have to follow where he leads? I, for one, sometimes hesitate to give God all out devotion, for fear he’d send me to Africa or the inner city. That he’ll upset my apple cart, which is teetering as it is.

But sometimes, God just chips away at your heart until you surrender, and just keeps showing himself trustworthy and kind until you give in and say, Okay, what do you want me to do?

And when he tells you, what do you say? How do you respond? Because he never reveals the whole plan—in fact, if you’re like me, you’re probably wondering if you heard his call correctly … What if it is not what you expected or what others would even consider a sacrifice or “a calling”? What if Jesus just shines a bit of light on the next step, and tells you—step here. Walk this way. Never mind where we will end up. Just know that I’m walking with you.

I read those paragraphs three or four times, then I had to close my laptop and go walk around for a while, feeling hot tears forming in my eyes, realizing God was trying to speak to me. Keri also wrote:

God’s calling me, so far as I can discern, to make some changes in my life, my career. Pulling me, step by step, out of my comfort zone. It’s still new and uncertain, so I can’t explain all the details yet.

Me too. After reading this, I discovered Keri is giving a keynote address not too far from my house in November, and I’m hoping to go hear her speak. I think God wants me to hear something she has to say. She’s wise. Her books are wise. I want to learn.

That’s all I know for now.

And maybe that’s enough.