First Day of School

After the dog-days of summer, there's really nothing quite like the advent of autumn.

I gathered some clippings that included fall berries on my nature walk the other day, and counted down the days till school.

I look forward to it every year.

(A pinch of sugar in your vases will help fresh arrangements last longer. 😊)

Today, August 20, marks the first day of our family's 2026-27 school year.

We enjoyed a great day together.

I guess I was living in the moment, because I didn't take any photos!

After I dreamed and planned and organized this summer, it was beautiful to watch it all come together today.

The kids did great!

Elsa, Soren, and Nola are on a classical curriculum called, "Challenge," and Roman, who is entering his senior year, is enrolled in Southeastern University for duel credit. 

This is my fourth year of experience with my children being in the Challenge program, so I know the work load and generally what it takes. I decided to conduct an orientation with each of them individually before our first day. I typed up the following thoughts to go over with them. This one happens to be Soren's...

(I'm happy to report, they all signed their lives away willingly. 😉)

We began our day at 8:00am, with breakfast and math flashcards at the table. The day unfolded comfortably from there, and I floated from desk to desk as my help was needed. It was really fun! The next thing we knew it was noon, the bulk of the work over, and time to break for lunch, which we ate together on the patio in the beautiful sunshine.

I read Psalm 8 aloud and reminded the kids that their school subjects should lead to worship. That's the beauty of home education! The whole purpose is to marvel, and to point us back to God.

"... When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" (vs. 3-5) "Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (vs. 9)

Part of our back-to-school preparations included Roman taking on the project of building himself a new desk. 

He's been sketching designs all summer, but finally built it about a week ago.

Micah only offered a few suggestions, but otherwise, yes, he built it entirely himself.

Sanding...

Staining...

Moving in...

All done!

I allowed him to choose the stain color and decorate it how he wanted.

He's pleased with it, and I think he did a great job!

I am hopeful for a wonderfully productive year.

📚

~ Courtney 

Back Home from Guatemala

Micah and Nola just returned home from spending ten days in Antigua, Guatemala. I enjoyed receiving their daily updates and photos...

Doesn't this landscape look like something straight out of a storybook?  

I thought I'd better park a few of them here, for safekeeping, since I like to think of this blog as a way to record for my family. 

I tell them, if something happens to me you'll have over ten years worth of posts with photos that tell the story of our life: the places we've been, the way I've homeschooled, and my thoughts and beliefs on various things.

They worked with a missionary group at an orphanage for a week. Nola's great with little kids, so this was a good fit for her...

Micah told me the missionaries' kids had grown up together and were a tight-knit group of friends, but they welcomed Nola right in.

Nola said she thinks she's made lifelong connections with some of them, and plans to keep in touch as well as hopefully go back!

I'm so glad it was a good experience for her.

(I love this one! 😂)

They were able to tour the small town of Antigua during their downtime. In one of the open air markets, Micah purchased this watercolor from a local artist. 

I can't wait to find a frame for it! I'm fond of homes that show that the family's been well-traveled.

It's one of the many sacrifices of a mother to spend years training children to be good, honest, hard workers, then send them out to be a blessing in the world. 

I couldn't be more proud. 😊

~ Courtney