in pursuit of wild things

Last Friday we finished up all of the books in our American History studies from Beautiful Feet Books. The crew still needs to write up one last paper and we will be finished. I’ll write up a final post on our extra activities and books as well as a final review for the study. When I conducted end of year evaluations with my scholars they all listed this course as their very favorite for the year. No one had a least favorite or despised subject this past year. They were all in agreement on the only thing they did not like was not having school during our current two week break from school…at least they like home academics.

We went skating on Saturday. Everyone had new skates (or new to them skates) to try out. We skipped our usual church service on Sunday and visited a small country church. Only Oldest and I went to the little church to support a good neighbor who is preaching there until they can find a new pastor. I just loved the church and would go there if I did not have the kids to consider. My favorite part of the entire experience was getting to hold a hymnal in my hand and actually sing sweet old-fashioned songs instead of praise music. I was particularly thrilled to see shape-notes in the hymnal…something I have not seen in over twenty years. I nearly wept.

Vacation Bible School began Sunday evening at the big church my crew enjoys attending. They love all the crafts, special music (kid style praise music with some 80’s hip-hop thrown in …not my cup of tea) and that some poor soul endures spaghetti and buttermilk dumped all over them. For the next four days VBS was from six in the evening until about half past eight. Middle Boy began a week long Extreme Lego Camp on Monday from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon. So I only saw him about an hour in the morning and an hour before VBS in the evenings. For the first time in ten

years all of our children were old enough to go to VBS. Sunday afternoon was the first time my husband and I had ever been alone in the house together! We went out every single night of VBS! After getting up early all week and going to bed really late we are all looking forward to sleeping in this weekend!

My friend Mama Quilts hung out with me this week and made a beautiful princess dress for Sparkles. She brought her youngest over to play with Littlest. They both enjoyed dressing up in the Batman capes and fighting crime or each

other. A few times Oldest was surprised to discover he was the Joker. He was a good sport about it and let the two Batman’s beat him up!

Next week Oldest will attend Extreme Lego Camp. The following week we will work on cleaning up our school room and preparing for our Promotion Day party and get everything ready for the next school year! Fifth grade, third grade and first year pre-school…I’m not wanting to let go of this year just yet. I’m not ready to let go.

I talked with a new homeschool mom today. She is getting ready to start out on this great adventure! I wish I could give her some great and wise advise…sage words of encouragement and comfort. But I feel inadequate and clumsy with words. I can share all the knowledge I have but wisdom only comes with the walk. Every homeschool is unique as is every child God created. We each have to set out on our own path, make mistakes and embrace this amazing journey for the pure grace it truly is.

I am blessed. Most of my life(the past ten years are like a fairy tale come true) has been hard to endure and I am permanently marked by the pain. Some wounds you just learn to bear. Right now, my life is beautiful and I would not change one ugly moment for fear of losing where I am now.

Linking up with: Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

my workplace at 4:39 in the morning