Vacation at home

This week my precious husband is off work. So, guess what? We took off school, of course! We've enjoyed his being home and the kids have gotten some really great quality time with him. Yesterday we spent 4 hours at Clark Creek Natural Area and we all had so much fun.

Science at it's greatest! Did I say we took school off? Well, maybe the math and stuff, but the learning never stops.

I did learn a few things myself. 1. Climbing hills is harder than it looks. 2. Waterfalls, even small ones are awesome. 3. Toes do have muscles and they will get sore from climbing over rocks and boulders.

One day away...

That is really all it takes is one day to disturb the best laid plans, eh? I've been super busy, and away from the house for most of the summer. I've surprisingly stayed on top of the housework, the basic chores, not deep cleaning, though. I set up a small routine that I can handle no matter what time I wake up or if I have to be gone all day. It's worked pretty well. Until yesterday. Yesterday, I crashed. Now, I PLANNED to do that basic routine, but had some drop in company as soon as I was dressed. I am actually grateful I was dressed because I was so tired from all the running and activities that I almost didn't change out of my pj's but some inner force made me do it. (okay, it wasn't really an inner force, I just talked myself into it, but for literary flow, let's call it an inner force! ) I then proceeded to have another set of drop in company, after which I had to leave to attend a farewell party. When we got home I was just exhausted. I felt physically ill from being so tired and worn out. So I didn't do much in the house. I threw together a simple easy dinner that Daniel actually did most of the work for, Mallory cleaned the kitchen and I went to bed at 8:30. yes...8:30.

Thankfully I feel better today, and now I am percolating (as my favorite ex Sunday School teacher fondly refers to it.) I look around the house and it is pretty messy. Lots to do. Now 2 days ago, it was peaceful looking. I felt caught up. There was no chaos. Today though, different story. So I was just one day away from loosing control of my house.

This is where the percolating part comes in.... As I am thinking about my spiritual walk and my relationship with God, I am realizing that the same is true for that area of my life. I can look back to last week or last month or last year and see the peace and joy and relationship that I have enjoyed. But if TODAY I choose not to live in communion with him, my life will return to chaos. Yesterday's peace is just a memory really. It matters what I am doing today. Today determines how I wake up tomorrow. Am I just one day away from chaos which is the result of willful sinful living. Or am I just one day away from peace, relationship and order. I am reminded today to take each day and live it for Him. Not to live in yesterday. But to live for LIFE today.

Break out the party hats.

We are officially on summer break! Yes, the boy has a short story to finish up and the major girl has a research project that needs to be completed but for the most part we are taking our summer break now. Yesterday the kids spent the whole day outside. They played in the backyard pool and exhausted themselves. It was beautiful! I did not go out due to a sunburn I recieved when riding horses earlier in the week, so it felt kinda weird to have the whole house to myself with no kids running in and out. I managed to fix them a picnic lunch and brought it to them, but no one came inside for anything the whole day. When they finally straggled in, Daniel to go mow with his Dad and the girls to take baths, they were exhausted. I am not sure anyone said anything to me for the remainder of the day. My house has never been so quiet with all three home, ever. I think they needed the time away from responsibilites as much as I did. It looks to be a good summer, or at least I hope so!

Horsing around

We had a perfect day for horseback riding yesterday. The weather was uncharacteristically cool for May in South Louisiana. The girls are part of a homeschool girl scout troop and it was this group that we were riding with. All three kids got to ride, because the "brother scouts", as Mallory has fondly dubbed them, were invited to ride as well. The facility, Frazier Homestead, near the Comite River, was very family oriented and the staff friendly. I was allowed and encouraged to ride with the troop and was the only parent who wanted to. The troop was broken into two groups and taken on trail rides. There were a few moments of anticipation as one girl kept dropping her reins and her horse would wander off, but for the most part all of the girls and horses did great.

My three kids did really well and loved the day. Of course Mallory has had 2 years of lessons prior to this. She is currently not taking lessons so the day was all excitement for her. The staff noticed her ability on the horse and were very encouraging to her. They offered her extra time on one of the horses and encouraged her to continue as she could to ride, as she shows some natural ability and affinity for the animals. I knew that, but God isn't providing for her at this time to continue now so she'll have to leave that in His hands.

Daniel did very well also, he's had a handful of lessons himself and remembered the "ropes" quickly. Sarah was my biggest concern. She tends to be more hesitant in these type of situations and she did have a few issues with not being aggressive enough in kicking and leading the horse, but once she overcame that she did great.

We left very tired but content. There is just something about spending the day outside, with God's creation and creatures that is satisfying in the extreme.

What is our time really worth?

I am asking tonight, this veritable question: What is our time worth. I mean, if you are spending time on a project... let's say the "project" is of long duration. You seem to be making headway at one time or another. Sometimes you wonder, but you at least are marching forward, for the most part. And then something happens to make you realize that all your work, be it words of encouragement to someone, ministry to someone, tangible project, ect, have been for naught. You realize that you have been blowing in the wind. Even as you thought you were making headway. Was that time wasted? Is there remnants of your work left in that project. Have there been differences made? Or was it all really for nothing. Even if the end result is not the expected result, is there some progress that can be claimed by the worker? Is the time we spend doing something only worth the effort if we get possitive results?

Major Blog Neglect

I realized this week that it has been almost 6 months since I've posted on this blog. I am sorry to my friends and family who live in "far away" places and only keep up with us by reading here. Life has gotten crazy busy and we have been chugging along with it.

I really miss blogging. It gives me that outlet to write, which I love to do. Hopefully I'll not be so neglectful in the coming weeks.

Although this blog is mostly about family and homeschool things, I have been having many thoughts rolling around in my head about the economy so maybe I'll get to posting some about that soon.

Otherwise, if you only keep up with us by reading here, again, I'm sorry for not keeping it updated but you haven't missed much. Just normal life stuff! Boring really. Somebody remind me why I was encouraged to start this blog?

The year in review

Well, December is coming to a close and it makes you think back about the things you accomplished or didn't accomplish doesn't it.

We've had some things that were challenging, like Mallory's broken leg which required a full length cast and a little stint in the operating room. We've also had some difficult things, like the resignation of our pastor and saying goodbye to some very good friends of ours whose lives have gone in a different direction. We've also had some exciting things, like Welcoming a new pastor and his lovely family into our midst. We made it through Hurricane Gustav, and the aftermath of that (well, some things haven't made it through yet, like the roof that we are still working to get repaired). And we've shared many days filled with laughter and fun.. family game night and movies with popcorn and such. Cooking with the kids and just living life together. This year we did not do any camping which will be on the agenda for next year, nor did we go anywhere for vacation. I think it is the first year that we didn't go anywhere not even camping, but finances didn't allow it. We have worked into a pretty good school schedule and had loads of interesting things being read, learned and discovered as well as the usual "Do we HAVE to do school today, mom" comments.

I am eager to see what the New year brings and hope to allow God to grow and change me into a better person. Something more closely resembling His perfect plan for my life. I am also really enjoying my kids right now and look forward to the things we will get to do together as we live out this crazy, fun and amazing thing we call homeschooling.