Resources—always available!

Each year I homeschool I am more delighted with how God provides everything we need! I'm not much help with high school math anymore, but Jamie is taking a Geometry class for homeschoolers, which meets after her vocal performance class *on the same day at the same place*. Wednesdays will be her day "off campus" (our home) and she will have guidance and input from other teachers who are passionate about their subjects. Fun for her, and a load off my mind! Anna gets to see her friends and do art, science and P.E. with a group of kids and adult leaders on alternate Fridays, and Joe will do his Physical Science labs with other kids on Mondays. We still love homeschooling (ask any of my kids), but that doesn't mean we must stay home all day every day. The whole community is our school!

Fall!?

It was HOT today! Jeff said it was 114 degrees—ugh. After church we went to a surprise birthday party for Jeff's friend Greg; it was held at Rose Canyon Cantina, a Mexican restaurant in Trabuco Canyon (about a 45-minute drive). The strangest thing happened: it felt like a sauna on the patio (where the party was held), but about 10 minutes before the guest of honor arrived, clouds covered us and the temperature dropped about 30 degrees. It was actually very pleasant for the whole party! It got hot again as we were leaving. Shelley (the hostess of the party and our friend) later told me that as they were getting ready to leave for the restaurant, she knew it would be a difficult time for many of the guests because of the heat, so she asked God, "Please change the weather!" Isn't He wonderful? I love it when He does things like that, just because we ask.

Back to our homeschool schedule on Tuesday! I look forward to the routine (and cooler weather) that autumn brings.

Tahoe!

In July I took the kids and two of their friends (Chris and Rachael Hiigel) to South Lake Tahoe (a 10-hour drive!) for a week at "Papa's" cabin (he was there, too). We had a blast! Playing tag in the woods, hiking down to the river to skip rocks (Rachael and Anna swam in it--brrr!), renting bikes to ride for about 3 hours down a beautiful trail along the lake (stopping for ice cream on the way back), playing miniature golf one evening.

Most evenings Chris and I played our guitars out on the front deck, then the kids soaked in the hot tub before coming in to watch a movie. The kids took turns helping with dinner and doing the dishes. Other than the mosquitos that loved Chris, it was a wonderful week. It smells so good there in the summer!

Winding Down the School Year

Joe, Anna and I went to Parents' Day at Jamie's Speech class yesterday; she gave 2 speeches as part of her final. She did a great job. She wants to major in Communications, and I'm sure she'll find her niche there. Today she has her last Biola Torrey class (Foundations of American Thought). I so appreciate these outside resources that make homeschooling richer. Joe is thinking he might like to take a science class with other kids next year, and maybe find a wood shop class or a carpentry apprenticeship. I'm looking for that now.

Right now Anna is teaching Joe how to play the flute! She has really improved in the few months since she started (she doesn't get dizzy and faint from the breathing anymore!) and she's a good and patient teacher.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was fun! After church (Anna and the kids worship team recited a poem, and I taught Sunday School 2nd hour) we came home and Jamie whipped up a scrumptious chicken broccoli casserole. Jeff prepared apples/celery and peanut butter to go with it, THEN we dove into warm-from-the-oven brownies with cream cheese frosting. Oh, my! After letting that settle for a few minutes, we went up to Brandy's park and played football! Well, not a real game, but we threw the ball around and played keep-away. It was a blast. I love to play ball in the park with my family!

National Day of Prayer

Yesterday the kids and I got up at 5:30 to go to a Prayer Breakfast commemorating the National Day of Prayer. It was a great time of praying together for our nation, our state, our city and our neighborhoods. Anna was a "Greeter", Joe was the photographer, and Jamie helped lead singing. I love how the kids are each learning about servant-leadership and have found ways to practice that concept. God always provides the resources we need, including opportunities to practice what He's teaching us!

We were so tired the rest of the day, I went easy on them with the academics. They did do a lesson of math, but mostly Jamie played the piano and spent a long time cleaning out and organizing her music notebook, and Joe and Anna played with our marble set (fitting chutes and tunnels together in different ways to make paths for marbles). Anna and I are reading "The Wheel on the School" together--what a sweet book! Joe often listens in...

Easter

What a beautiful day it was! (April 8 this year). Jamie was in a skit and had to be at church at 7:00 that morning. She performed in all three services—she did a great job. I taught my 4th grade girls Sunday School class, then we came home and the kids found their Easter baskets, then had an Easter egg hunt in the backyard (I guess you're never too old!). We prepared an early dinner. We decided to forego the traditional ham; Jeff barbequed salmon—yum! I added steamed asparagus and roasted red potatoes. I had made a strawberry trifle the night before. It was a simple but elegant meal, and we enjoyed Grandma's china and new candles. Jeff read the Biblical account of the resurrection of Jesus...then we watched the movie "Narnia." It was a great afternoon.