Being Together



Joel - Kindergarten



Hannah -4th Grade



Elizabeth - 6th Grade




David - 8th Grade

We are now in our second week of school for this year.  Thankfully, it has started off pretty well.  But, having the kids gone more than they were during the summer always makes me think.  You see, many parents can't wait to send their kids off to school.  Honestly, I miss them.  Joel and Hannah are only at the Learning Center one day each week, but it is sure different without them home.  

David and Elizabeth are at school 3 day each week and complete home study on the other two.  As our children grow up we raise them in growing independence and know that being away from Mom and Dad is part of that process.  It is healthy for them.

However, I believe it is even more healthy to spend lots of time with your family and your parents.  I don't feel like I have enough time as it is to enjoy my kids and to train them.  Training takes a lot of time.  We are not to yell up our kids, or just let our kids grow up, but to train them.  Training is a process of showing and modeling to our kids how to live.  It takes a  lot of time and patience.  Sometimes I have it, and sometimes God is working on me, too. 

As I being this school year I find myself greatful for all the time together that homeschooling allows us.  It is truly a gift to be able to invest large amounts of time into our kids.  What a blessing!

End of Summer Thoughts

I love summer.  I love being with my family an making memories.  We've had a really fun summer, and I'm sad to see it end.  There is something exciting about a new school year, too, but it comes with quite a bit of organization and preparation for a homeschool Mom, too. 

This summer we've spent lots of time in our pool and had friends over.  The kids have enjoyed riding bikes which was kind of difficult in our last couple houses.  We were blessed to go to a Fields Family Reunion in Oregon at the end of July.  We extended our roadtrip abit and saw 3 of my roommates from college days and took a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory.  We've settled into our home a bit more and worked on getting back into some family routines that were neglected in our year of transition.  David started a little business and Elizabeth, Hannah and Joel completed the Library summer reading program. 

Next week our lives get back into a schedule in a hurry.  I'm ready for it in some ways, and in others I would love a few extra weeks of summer.  However, I am thankful for the fun we did have this summer.

Last night I sat on the driveway with our kids and watched the world go by.  We played a guessing game of what color the next car would be and Melody waved to all the dogs and people passing by.  We watched airplanes, birds and lizards.  The kids puttered around with various toys.  But the best part for me is that we just WERE.  We were sitting, relaxing, enjoying one another and not feeling the need to do anything or go anywhere.  I'm not so good at that.  We need to do that more often.  Even when the school year begins. 

Just being and enjoying each other.  Sitting and enjoying the world God made for our pleasure.  Those are the moments to really live for.