Driving in the rain today. Not the beautiful day for a drive that I was hoping for, but enjoying being off-island for 24 hours. We’re on our way to our annual associational church family camp and looking forward to reconnecting … Continue reading
We finally feel alive again! Found out this week we have been dealing with a nasty parasite introduced into our guts through something we all ate (except our oldest daughter). Thankfully it’s something that our systems can handle on their … Continue reading
Dear Self, Here are a few things you must take note of. The Lord has been good to you this week. He has blessed you with down time to think and perceive and give thanks. He has given you the … Continue reading
We kicked off our week with a chilly nature walk. Gone are the beach days of summer, but we like our walks on the beach in the cool days of autumn almost as much! We were hoping to see some … Continue reading
Six weeks of summer vacation and now we are back into the books. I forgot how utterly exhausting school mornings are for me as teacher and mom. Afternoon comes, and my brain is mush. Hopefully I’ll adjust as a few … Continue reading
This morning started with snuggles and giggles with my littlest before my feet even hit the floor…as all good summer Saturdays should in my opinion. Over our usual weekend breakfast of blueberry pancakes we brainstormed about what we could do … Continue reading
My iPhone tells me I’ve walked 11.72 km in the last two days. Outlet shopping and a visit to Storyland is great exercise apparently. Our family is kicking off summer vacation with a road trip to our denomination’s annual convention … Continue reading
Like many homeschool moms at this time of year I am currently consumed with planning for next year. As this school year winds down, I am scrambling to get things set for next fall so I can relax and enjoy … Continue reading
Welcome back for #3 in our series “This Term’s Feast”. So far we have looked at Memory Work and Singing. This week it’s time to turn our attention to the fine arts. Charlotte Mason said that… “much and varied humane … Continue reading
This is instalment #2 in a series taking a look at our family’s feast of ideas this term. If you missed the first one, you can find it here. So, continuing on with Charlotte Mason’s idea of ideas… “Education is … Continue reading
I absolutely love Charlotte Mason’s analogy of a child being born with a mind ready and able to “digest” ideas just as his body naturally digests and is nourished by food. Exposing children to these ideas that will nourish their … Continue reading
~ I ~ So it’s been quiet around here. This past week was our “sabbath” week. I just find I can’t push us past six solid weeks of school so we took this week off. The week started out a … Continue reading
What a hard and wonderful day! Those who know me well know that I hate “good-byes”. I’m also not a fan of showing my emotions in public. But today I couldn’t hold back the tears as I walked through that hotel lobby with my sobbing kiddos trailing behind me after saying good-bye to our friends and neighbours for the last time. The kids had played together nearly all day, sharing snacks and school time and lunch and a swim this afternoon.
Most of our supper time tonight was spent bemoaning the empty house across the street and wondering what life would be like without our neighbour friends. When PJ asked where the second bottle of ketchup in the fridge came from, I could barely choke out their names and had to laugh at myself. He said, “I didn’t know you had grown so attached.” And you know what? Me neither. But there is something different about a neighbour friend than a friend across town. When you become friends with a neighbour, you don’t mind exchanging favours, recipe ingredients, babysitting. Your kids can play together any time without you having to coordinate a formal play date for a specific day, place, and time. You’re already there when emergency strikes. When the power goes off and fire alarms go on in the wee hours of the morning during a snowstorm, the whole thing turns into an impromptu pyjama party by candlelight. And speaking of pyjamas, you don’t mind answering your door to a neighbour friend before changing out of those…or before donning make-up or even brushing your teeth for that matter. You naturally share a few more of those behind the scenes moments of life.
The neighbourhood feels a little lonely this evening, and I wonder if my kids will ever play outside again. I didn’t realize what a comfort it was to have another homeschooler that close to home. What a blessing it’s been! If you currently have connections like this close to home, cherish them! Enjoy the things you share in common. Enjoy watching the joy it brings to your children. Change is hard. “Good-byes” are hard. But I’m reminding myself that every “good-bye” starts with a “hello”. I’m looking forward to one of those more scheduled play dates tomorrow afternoon with a homeschool mom I met recently. Who knows what blessings will flow from these initial “hellos”?
Sharing a Longfellow quote with you today from my devotional book on this Good Friday morning… When He bowed down His Head in the death-hour Solemnized Love His triumph! The Sacrifice then was completed. Lo! then was rent on … Continue reading
