A Reason to Run....or Walk

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jr. homeschoolers

David is my most eager student this year, begging to do school work.

He's four.

Abbie, wearing my old glasses again (frames busted out) is most eager about being the teacher.

David loves to practice letters.

A certain little one feels left out and pouts a bit that it's not her turn.

She has a great pout face, you gotta admit that!

But, when it's finally her turn, and she shows Daddy how she can count seven snakes, she's super happy!

As for me, I'm just happy that David gets to color another yellow sun in his calendar square.

homeschool: week two

The apple doesn't fall from the tree, does it?

I often wonder why Abbie, loves to do her school work wearing something that I consider part of our dress-up bin. You know, the bin that holds spiderman costumes, star wars outfits, pirate-wear, and even a Hillary Clinton mask! Don't ask....

Yesterday, she grabbed a pair of my old glasses, lenses busted out. And, well, she put them on and wore then the entire day.

I chuckled and walked into the other room, only to see Matt...dressed like this, reading.

Aaaaaahhhh, just another day in my little world!

Home School: Day 1

Well, it wasn't picture perfect, believe me.

The morning began rough. Everyone woke up late and I barely had enough faith to begin what will be my 10th year of teaching.

It's hard to say goodbye to the summer. Right on the heels of two weeks at the beach and a night at an indoor water park, it's hard to get started with schedules and studies, book reports and science labs. Before even starting, I feel behind.

Here is our day in pictures. I didn't include a shot of Jayda squeezing herself in an empty school bin. And I didn't even take a picture of what the living room floor looked like when I was doing school with the big kids. Let's just say, David and Jayda enjoyed playing with every toy.

Every. Toy.

But here's a snippet of our reality.

Right before lunch we all gathered to learn about people that are living in what is called "Garbage City" in Cairo, Egypt. David was so sweet as he prayed, "Lord Jesus - please keep the people living in the trash safe. Especially the Mommies and the Daddies and the babies."

After lunch, while I did some school work with David, Abbie begged to be Jayda's teacher and happily took her into the kitchen to practice counting and identifying her ABC's.

David was so eager to start. I guess he feels like a big boy now!

Abbie worked on her math using Teaching Textbooks, and she did so in cowboy boots!

Stephen chose to tune his guitar on his break...

The rain is still beating down, the laundry baskets are full of dirty clothes, and I'm not sure what we are having for dinner. Day one is almost over but there is still so much to do.

It's helpful to remember that "Motherhood is a hallowed place because children aren't commonplace. Co-laboring over the sculpting of souls is a sacred vocation, a humbling privilege." (Ann Voskamp)

A Great Combination

I love Shaun Groves' newest CD, "Third World Symphony".

I love Ann Voskamp's book, "A Thousand Gifts" as well as her blog.

Here they are together, talking and worshiping to the song I've been singing for over a month now.

Here's an interview I did with Shaun Groves, via email.

All Is Grace (With Ann Voskamp) from Shaun Groves on Vimeo.

Family Vacation: The Drive Home

Thank God for the ol' Macbook. A special viewing of "Cars" helped the kids with the travel.

When we hit some DC traffic, some drifted asleep. Even big girls get tired.

And finally, after a wonderful time away with our family, it is ALWAYS so good to see our home! Although Comcast was out, we had power and there wasn't any flooding or damage to our home.

Family Vacation: Happy with the Wolf

Family Vacation: Last in Line

Our one driving setback occurred on our drive to the Great Wolf Lodge. We tried to stop for lunch several times in Virginia, only to find restaurants and gas stations closed due to power outages. Along the stretch of I-95, driving through North Carolina, we saw many collapsed trees and some huge trees totally uprooted.

The need for gas became critical and after finally learning of a gas station that was open, we settled into our place in line. Last.