What a full summer we had. Perhaps the fullest I can remember...and yet we went nowhere. The kids and I enjoyed a couple months off of structured time...I had originally intended to do "light school" throughout the summer but instead chose to toss that idea. This mama needed a break. I do think in future we will try to do a little better about it, but it is so nice to have some days to get some non-school related things done.
Probably the most time-consuming activity was the planting of a new church. Amidst a good deal of turmoil and hardship at our previous church, Eric and I were not sure where to go or what to do. We took our time about making a decision, looked at a few other churches, assessing and reassessing the condition of the church we were attending, and eventually decided that we would try to do what we could to heal that church since there was nowhere else we felt God was leading us to be.
Almost as soon as we made that decision a new opportunity presented itself. It was amazing to both of us how clear the answer was. And so we spent most of our summer immersed in planning sessions, prayer meetings, and preview services. Our new church is now fully launched and life has settled down...but only a little bit. We are still plenty busy with the details a new church entails.
Also over the summer I finally finished my book. It has been in the works for at least two years now. Although truthfully longer than that since it was actually a book I had started in high school...I completely revised it but I did take the original idea. I am now in the editing stage...and finding it quite difficult to focus on since my mind has already skittered on to book number two!!
Eric and I also got to go away for our ten year anniversary. Ten years! I
don't feel old enough to have been married that long. We escaped to
Mackinac Island. And while it was a much needed get away, we were both happy to get back to the family :-)
We are off and running with our school year. We began mid-August and are now in week eight. Hannah is a regular bookworm and I can barely pry her head out of her books to get her schoolwork done most days! She is doing very well in all her subjects, though, and our curriculum this year is very hands-on project-orientated so she is in her element. She really enjoys reading to her sisters (and Sean) and is a really good helper. She loves to teach Grace all the things she's learned. She's taking an art and gymnastics class this semester and so far she says that gymnastics is her favorite.
Grace is doing very well in her kindergarten year. She started out behind where I'd like her to be and that's my own fault. Grace was pretty resistant to bookwork previously and since I was learning how to do this homeschool thing and fairly overwhelmed, I let her do her own thing. She's catching up quickly, though. She's a very sensitive soul and doesn't like to make mistakes. It has been wonderful to see her gaining in both confidence and ability. She reaffirms why I love homeschooling. When we started her first week I wanted to bang my head against the dining table!! But now she's filled with excitement and pride in her accomplishments.
Elaina tags along with most of our activities. As she's only three I'm not doing anything formal with her, but I may start soon. She seems very interested in working on her alphabet and counting skills. In the meantime she enjoys doing "stickers" while her sisters work on math and reading. She happily participates in the projects and sits and listens well to the history and read alouds. Learning is a family activity :-)
Sean is beginning to walk. He's nearly 18 months old so it is about time! He still isn't doing it full-time but he will walk across the room to get to something he wants. He's gaining confidence and balance, and so we'll just wait and let him get there at his speed. Sean has always done everything very much at his own pace. He often needs a nudge to get him going anywhere developmentally!!
And that about brings us up to date...what are the chances I will keep up with it this time?
