A noticeable change in sunlight
and cool, late-summer rains
are helping to usher in a new season.
I am ready to say goodbye to summer and slowly embrace autumn.
By slowly I mean, I am not willing to bring home mums or pumpkins just yet, but I am enjoying early fall flower arrangements, cozy family suppers, and preparing for a successful new school year.
Our family study on "Discover Green Bay" has been going well.
We recently did a scavenger hunt downtown on a beautiful, warm evening.
You download an app and follow the clues, working together as a team.
Then, you submit a photo of your group accomplishing each mission to move ahead in the game.
Sometimes it had us making fools of ourselves, ( like acting out a silent drama scene in front of the main doors of the theater ) but the whole evening was a lot of fun!
We stopped to eat here, at Al's hamburgers, for a greasy, delicious burger and a milkshake when our hunt was finished. After running all around the streets of downtown for two hours, we were starving to death!
One unexpected "discovery" in our Discover Green Bay series, has been that not everyone in our six-member family wants to do the same things!
One person mentions, "Museum," another shouts, "No!!"
Someone suggests a walk along the river, someone else announces they're ready to head for home.
(You get the idea.)
In a way, having babies and toddlers was easier, because Micah and I were in control. You strap them in their stroller and you GO! .....
As a result of this, the valuable lesson of yielding to others is woven throughout our downtown journeys together.
We have talked about how going with the flow and doing what others want to do, with a cheerful spirit, is a matter of character.
Do you have the strength of character to spend two hours in a museum you don't care to be in, without pouting, because that's what the family wants to do?
Hmm, yes, these are life-long, important lessons.
Back at home, we have launched into school again with a promising, strong start.
I am excited about the 2023-24 academic year!
Because of good routine habits that were nailed down early on, our school schedule feels like second nature to us.
Bible and Arithmetic always come first in the early morning hours, when the house is quiet and our minds are fresh.
After breakfast, we diligently work through the rest of our core subjects until after lunch, when we can finally dive into some noisier pursuits, such as piano practice, play time, and nature walks.
(Sometimes you need a buddy to do Algebra with...)
We have never had a formal, actual school room in our home. Throughout the years any table, couch, rug, or fireplace hearth had the capacity to turn into the school "room" for the day. But now that my children are older, they each have a corner of the house for their studies that is their own.
I've tried to place each of them by a window, because that's what I would like if it were me...
Nola is the only one who prefers not to be by a window, however, because she says it's too distracting for her.
Elsa, on the other hand, takes her books right outside whenever she can!
It is the privilege, the responsibility, and the on-going challenge of the homeschool mother to learn her children's unique learning styles, and do her best to accommodate them.
The following is in accordance with my yearly goal of recording the children's grades and also their courses.
Elsa ~ 4th grade
Soren ~ 6th grade
Nola ~ 7th grade
(Elsa plays piano, too. I'm not sure why I left it out on her daily guide. Come to think of it... she is one who never needs reminding to practice each day, so maybe that's why. Also, Health is crossed out on Nola's guide because I forgot there is no separate Health book in 7th grade Abeka. There's a chapter in the Science book that covers Health, instead.)
Roman ~ 9th grade
We are tackling high school! I'm so proud. These are his courses in rough draft form. I'll type up a proper transcript later in the year when I have a better handle on things. For now I am still learning how to get him up and running for his freshman year. So far it's been great!
As for continuing homeschooling through high school, I have Hebrews 6:10-11 underlined in my Bible...
"God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end."
It does take diligence, but we've been easing into the school year quite comfortably, and for that I am truly grateful.
Yesterday, we had our afternoon walk down to the swing for fresh air and our family read-aloud, and on our meander back we stopped in the orchard.
Our plums were juicy and sweet and ready for picking!
That was all the inspiration I needed to spend the rest of the afternoon baking.
Elsa helped me get the plums washed up...
Some were used for spiced plum bread, and the rest were placed in a bowl for easy munching.
"Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers, we more than gain in fruits."
- Samuel Butler
As the years progress, it seems the Lord continues to show me Scripture verses that confirm my decision to homeschool.
This morning during my quiet time I read this:
"All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children's peace."
- Isaiah 54:13
I am thankful my children have grown up on curriculum that has faithfully pointed them to the Lord.
Homeschooling really is a lifestyle of peace, and I feel quite fortunate to be able to do it another year.
Thanks for reading,
💐
~ Courtney
