in pursuit of wild things

Normally life dances along at a snail’s pace around here. Our days move along nearly ritualistically and as loudly and fully as you can imagine with four growing children. My days are good, really good. This week my quietly paced life kicked up into a new gear…and then another! All in a series of seven simple days my life took a new turn into a new season.

On Monday Littlest began his first official day of first grade. He completed all of his assignments, only cried once and gave me kisses all morning. We even watched a

documentary all about Pocahontas since that is the history he is studying. I think he liked knowing the program we all watched together was for his studies and not his older siblings. His reading and math skills keep his lessons fairly quick and easy at the moment but soon we will move into new territory for him. Change and new rituals still scare him and we spent several minutes just cuddling and discussing the new changes to his routine each day. I had hoped he would begin to grow out of this insecurity but, for now, the fear of change seems to be a part of his personality.

After some discussion with my husband (and an awesome friend) I purchased my ticket for the Wild+Free National Conference in Franklin TN. I am very excited to go for several reasons. Rea Berg, one of my homeschool heroes will be speaking…I would totally attend just for her! I am also excited to hear Sally Clarkson, Leah Boden, Sarah Mackenzie, Terri Woods and Toni Weber. I am over-the-moon, triple excited, there are no words to express my joy to be attending the event with an awesome friend. I’m not going to say that I cannot wait for September to get here because I know that it will be before I am ready. The moments seem long sometimes but the days fly with hurricane force.

Tuesday was cool. Nothing much happened. We read some awesome books and filled out day with learning and painting a Van Gogh styled tree. Well…not really painting. We learned how to use and paint with markers on glossy photo paper. Our trees turned out really cool and once I find a good quote to go with my tree I’ll post it from my art journal. I ordered some new science books for Sparkles and Middle Boy. Littlest consumes much of my time and we have only gotten to our group science reading and experiments sporadically. So, I let them choose their own science curriculum. Middle Boy chose to study Birds and Sparkles decided to dive into biology. Their new books should arrive early this coming week. We used to do nearly everything together in our home school and all of that began to change this year. My three oldest are at the point where they want to start learning about their own interests and have the motivation to do so. It is a bit scary for me. I liked when they were all under my wing and we learned together. But they are getting bigger and letting them explore is right and proper…

Wednesday and Thursday were both very nice and full school days. Sparkles had her evening out with Daddy on Thursday. They went out to eat and shopped a bit. I also got a call from Kroger letting me know that I could begin training for my new job on Monday. I am no longer a stay at home mother. I have a job…and just like that my identity changed. Hello workforce world! Just wow!

Friday we skipped formal schooling to watch the Inauguration of President Trump. We read brief biographies about him and Pence, histories of past Inaugurations and about the massive undertaking the White House staff undergoes to move the two households in and out. I decided to watch the Fox news coverage since I thought they would not have such a negative spin as CNN. I was watching with the kids and did not want them to hear hateful commentary. I answered all of their questions and we looked up information as well. The kids learned quite a bit about Andrew Jackson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as well.

You are about to learn how unpolitical I am. The Inauguration was the first time I had ever heard our new President speak. I did not follow the campaigns of any of the candidates nor watch any of the debates. I did not follow any of the political coverage or campaign promises. I did read up some before voting but that was it. I detest politics and politicians as much as I detest the media. Trump’s speech surprised me and I completely understand now why he won the election. His speech was to and for the everyday person…the common American Middle Class…not the political elite, politically correct, the Establishment, or the rich. I’m not sure what the future will bring but he is the President of my country. I love America and being an American. I can only hope and pray these next four years will be good for us.

Friday was also a bit nerve-racking for me for personal reasons. I kept expecting the “thanks  but no thanks” email from Brave Writer. I checked just before bed and they still had not rejected me. I figured they were just a bit late since Julie was speaking in California. I was so shockingly wrong. I made it to the next phase. Out of 200 applicants I was among the forty-five invited to the next phase of the application process to work for them…for Julie. I’m still a bit boggly eyed over the achievement. I prepared myself for rejection…for failure. I am more scared than proud at the moment. I’m still looking for the words…

Saturday was awesome. We drove down to London and spent the day with Cindy. We should spend more days with her. She is amazing with our kids. Littlest adores her like no one else. She is fun and mischievous, her eyes twinkle. She is fun and I am so serious. I adore her as much as the kids and wish I could be like her sometimes.  We are blessed to know her.

the sun came out

rainbow at Cindy’s