Daisies and Lavendar

All of my daisies are in bloom. Such happy flowers!! I have them tucked everywhere and wish they would bloom nonstop until October. Undoubtedly my favorite summer flower, they look absolutely striking next to the masses of lavender we have planted throughout our gardens.

Lavender is the primary flavor of our honey. They grow prolifically in the dry heat, are fairly drought tolerant, and are just striking through the summer and even through the winter.

Here is one of my favorite "pockets of sunshine". It surprises me with its bold color and brings a smile to my heart each and every day. Praise God for flowers!! He is truly the Master Gardener.

Mountain Retreat

We just returned home from a glorious, relatively unplanned trip (we're really good at this!) to our favorite camping spot in the mountains. This was a wonderful reprieve for me after a very emotionally difficult week. I enjoyed the luxury of a good long cry on the way up the mountain and was able to breathe a sigh of acceptance and relief by the time we had leveled our R.V., made a make-shift lunch, and relished in the absolute solitude of being "just us". THIS is a gift from God.
With our wet spring now making way for the heat of summer, our mountain hideaway was lush and practically fuzzy with green. Butterflies fluttered in front of us at every step -- darting from daisy to daisy and making hasty retreats in and out of the grasses intermingled with golden buttercups. I counted 16 varieties of wildflowers currently in bloom. It was God's garden and beyond anything I could ever recreate.
Just the smell of this place makes me sleepy! Evergreens tower over the grassy meadows, wildflowers abuzz with the sounds of insects, and the flapping leaves of the mountain Aspens below. Our time is spent lazing, reading, napping, eating (always!), talking, playing games ("Apples to Apples" and "Uno" are the favorites), sleeping in, taking long walks, and, above all else, playing in the creek.
This year, Joe and the boys added to the existing dam, allowing for the kids to somewhat "swim" in the freezing creek water. I park my chair along the edge under the shade of overhanging bushes and trees where I watch, intervene when needed, listen, laugh, encourage and rest. It's utterly delightful. I'm always amazed at how the gift of silence allows for the healing of so many wounds.
On this trip, I've been reading Elisabeth Elliott's "The Shaping of a Christian Family". She is one of my favorite authors and serves as a mentor in my life and heart. What beautiful words and memories she has of parents who were utterly devoted to living out their faith in the company of their children. Many of her stories reminded me of what I remember of my own dear Grandparents.
Through this reading and through the quiet prayers of my heart during this time, I am reminded once again to live out obedience as I "make it my ambition to lead a quiet life, minding my own business and working with my hands ... so that my daily life may win the respect of outsiders ..." (I Thess. 4:11-12). I've always loved this verse. It has new meaning for me now. So much of the hurt I've endured in my life would not have occurred had I truly lived this out.
I'm so very thankful that my God is a God of second chances. "His mercies are new every morning" (Lam. 3 23). Too often I have put outside relationships at the center of my daily efforts. In reality, God will work out those details if and when He sees fit. My efforts are fruitless without Him in the lead. My small mission field is ever before me. Lord, help me keep my eyes on them.
He is my Guide, my Protector, my Shield and Defense, my truest Friend. With Him, I need very little else. As I sat in the glory of beauty all around me and cherished these moments with my most treasured possessions, nothing else mattered. To God be the glory.

Cousins, Ketchup, and Smiles

Monday nights this summer are dedicated to extended family. Everyone is invited. Whoever can and wants to come brings some food and we BBQ on the back porch. The kids squeal and get filthy, we play badminton, and just talk and enjoy the long shadows of a summer evening.

Jeff and Ember (my brother and sister-in-love) were able to come share the evening tonight. Their 4 girls are a hoot to watch and giggle with. Their faces tell the story of our evening together (including what we ate!).

Kaydyn and Isabelle are 2 years apart in age but you wouldn't know it watching them play. We have a picture of them several years ago sitting in this same washtub! They barely fit now.

Socialization -- Musically Speaking

We just finished out our week of Idaho Suzuki Institute. This year we opted to participate very minimally by only participating in two afternoon classes. This is our 6th Suzuki Institute experience and we were all happy with the lessons learned, friendships made, and music played in spite of our abbreviated participation.

Isabelle took an elementary orchestra class with a fabulous local music teacher -- Debbie Hynes. In this class she learned a short little "circus symphony", had to sight read music and its corresponding rhythm, and learned to play with a group which wasn't necessarily playing the same notes that she was.

Josiah took an advanced Chamber Group class which involved learning a complicate song to prepare for an eventual performance on Thursday evening. His group was made of boys all within his age range which was a great experience for him. Although rhythmically challenged, Josiah played excellently and handled this new experience with maturity and a good attitude.

Isabelle also had the opportunity to take a Master Class with another local Suzuki teacher -- Katy Green. This is essentially where your student has one on one instruction from another instructor -- always a great experience for a student to hear new points of view and gain new perspective. There was one other student (a violist) in her master class, so Isabelle received nearly 30 minutes of instruction each day!

The final day, all of the chamber groups and orchestras (from beginning to advanced) played for an evening concert. Josiah's group (they named themselves the "Morning Guys") played beautifully. Josiah refused to wear a bow tie however, in spite of the peer pressure to do so! Oh well -- he's so rarely strong willed, I decided he could wear what he wanted!

Isabelle made it through the performance with a smile on her face. Her feet didn't touch the floor. I'm really glad she had on shorts underneath the skirt!! : )

Josiah played in the advanced orchestra which played AMAZINGLY!! It was incredible to hear what they were able to pull together in just 4 days of practicing. They played 3 songs from varying era's of history (the theme of the concert was "From Bach to Rock"). The Irish dance song they played was incredible and had the audience clapping and wanting to get up and do a jig! I'm always thankful for these experiences throughout the year where the kids have opportunities to use their musical talents and abilities in meaningful ways!

For more information on Idaho Suzuki Institute (for violin, viola, cello, piano, and flute), go to www.IdahoSuzuki.org.

Gobble gobble

We went to pick up our turkey chicks from the hatchery a week ago. Here's a picture of some of our little turkeys (the animals, not the children!) in the morning sunshine. They are currently housed in the barn where they can stay warm and dry. Turkeys are definitely different than chickens thus far. They are far more social and far more aggressive (notice each child is holding them with gloves on!). This should make for some interesting photo opportunities as they grow in size : ) As always, this is all an experiment! At $4.50 per chick, we really hope that we can raise them all successfully until butchering in November. Joe and the kids are putting the final touches on the turkey pen currently, although they won't be going into it for at least a month I would imagine. I'm having visions of a delicious turkey dinner ...

The Return of the Porches

The house is painted and the cement power washed. Ahhhhh .... I've enjoyed putting my porches back in order and am loving the freedom to come and go in them as I please. We literally live on our porches during the warm weather of early summer. Joe built a large picnic table where we enjoy many a meal al'fresco. I enjoy quiet reading with homemade lemonade or iced tea on my front porch. Joe and I have our best talks swinging back and forth on the porch swing. What a blessing a porch can be!! Complete with flowers and ferns, watering cans and rocking chairs ... there's no place I'd rather be then at home on my porch.

Socialization -- The Making of a World Changer

Josiah spent the majority of this weekend's hours learning more about our government and lawmaking through his participation in Generation Joshua's "iAmend" program held during our state's homeschool convention.

He had a blast practicing amending the Constitution and campaigning for the states (the parents) to ratify their particular amendments which were written by the students themselves based on a given topic.

This involved using parliamentary procedure, holding a mock legislature, participating in party caucuses, and campaigning throughout the several hundred participants of the convention.

Josiah was selected to be the "gold party" whip which meant that his job was to act as the link between the chairman and the party -- thus communicating in such a way with the group that the party voted together.

Josiah made some new friends throughout the process -- friends older AND younger, as well as interacted and learned a lot from the Generation Joshua staff.

He's a politician in the making and did a great job leading the group to take a unified stand!

Idaho State Homeschooling Convention

Wow. We are weary and yet exhilarated by another year's homeschool convention. I am always needing and seeking encouragement for this journey called "homeschooling" and this year, as in every year, I was not disappointed. We spent the morning Thursday at our local "used curriculum sale" where hundreds of moms, dads, and kids walked through a room (many with lists in their hands) seeking to find what might work for their children. The kids and I sold two tables filled with books, games, learning manipulatives, and DVD's which we have now retired from our family's homeschool. I had the opportunity to talk to many new homeschoolers and share our philosophy as well as curriculum choices which worked for us. It was a blessing to see that homeschooling is thriving here in Idaho.

While Joe and the younger kids were home, Josiah and I headed out bright and early on Friday morning to begin our two day homeschool convention (they were later able to join us for several hours and listen in on two workshops on Saturday). Josiah participated in the teen track which was put on by Generation Joshua and was a government oriented program called iAmend. Look for another post all about this. Of course, he was in his element and LOVED living out life in a mock Congress! Once arrived, I headed to my table and had the opportunity to be in a helping role this year as I tried to fill my role as "Assistant Volunteer Coordinator". I was able to meet several new people and reconnect with many others living all over the state. What a blessed time of fellowship and connection!

Thankfully, my volunteering position did not hinder my ability to take in several astounding and wonderful workshops. Although it was my intention to attend and listen to a variety of subjects and speakers, I never got past sitting under the incredible speaking of one of homeschooling's founders -- Christopher Klicka. Chris has been afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis for 15 years and was obviously suffering during each and every one of his talks; however, it was amazing to watch the Spirit of God speak through him BECAUSE of this weakness. He was incredibly inspiring and his words were filled with grace, mercy, compassion, and wisdom as speech by speech he expounded on the Biblical mandate to fully parent our children -- right on down to their daily education (Deut. 6). Chris had massive amounts of the Bible memorized and was able to share literally moment by moment from his heart using the Word of God. It was a tremendous opportunity to hear the history of homeschooling from this HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) lawyer's perspective. His speeches had titles such as "The Future of Homeschooling: God is Already There" and "The Heart of Homeschooling: Living What Really Matters" and "Helping our Children Live Out their Homeschool Heritage" and "Keeping the Heart of Your Teenagers", etc.

I rarely take notes when speakers talk, but I filled 4 or 5 pages this time simply because Mr. Klicka had so much wisdom to share from his many years of homeschooling his 7 children as well as his experiences within the homeschool movement. Here are just a few gems from what he had to say:

"Homeschooling hasn't gotten where it is today because the Government has 'helped us'! It is God's faithfulness that has brought us this far."

"Let's not sell out (by joining Government 'home school' programs) and return to Egypt voluntarily... great censoring will be the result ... and it will secularize the homeschool movement ... don't think with your pocketbook, but instead with your principle... God is already here AS LONG as we keep Jesus first in the movement."

"When God saves us, He doesn't pray that we'll have it easy ... He just promises to be with us. God gives us more than healing, He gives us Himself." (Mr. Klicka spoke many times re: his fight with M.S. and what God has taught him through it)

"The Word of God is a book about priorities ... More than your busy-ness, God wants your heart and soul."

"Don't allow your homeschooling to isolate you ... our kids will be stronger for it (having opportunities to evangelize in the world) and will develop a love for the lost."

"It's one thing to start strong in our training, but we need to also finish strong."

"Don't love the rules more than you love the kids."

"We as parents don't use the Word of God enough in our training ... rather than using our words, use God's words which are more effective and are promised to 'not return void'... never underestimate the Word of God."

"The world is waiting to shape your teens into its image ... if Satan had his choice, where would he want your child to go to school? ... when you sow the wind, you reap a whirlwind ... the humanist worldview has won the day in the public school system ... the morality in the schools is fed by the curriculum our Government chooses."

"We can delegate the authority, but we cannot delegate the responsibility for the hearts and lives of our children ... our children are not the 'state's' -- they are God's ... allow the Christian public school teachers to be the missionaries in the government schools -- not our kids."

"The temptations will come to quit for a variety of 'healthy' reasons ... but in the end, I'd rather have my kids mad at me, then to have God mad at me."

"Heap love on your kids -- even when they don't deserve it ... the heart of homeschooling is relationship with God, with our family, and with our community."

"Over and over again, give them the Word of God ... hell is too long and this life is too short."

Joy Inside a Homemade Tepee

Garden Update

The spinach and lettuces are being eaten daily with still much to share! The second planting has already been done. My chives grew so thick they toppled over. Everything is loving the rainy cool weather! My various "experiments" for this year (beets, turnips, and a variety of kale/cabbages) are all doing nicely; however, I'm not sure but that I should have thinned them out much more severely and now they are too mature for me to do such a thing! The zucchini and summer squash will soon have all of that dirt (and then some) covered. Carrots, potatoes, cilantro, and of course a variety of flowers fill in the rest of the kitchen garden.

My garlic is the most mature plant in the garden and will be ready to harvest in a few weeks. The tomatoes and cucumbers are grown from heirloom seeds and will need the sun to come out before they explode into growth for an August harvest. The Indian corn is coming up nicely. Isabelle's garden is in the far left corner of the bottom picture. My green beans are about 8 inches up thus far. These are my favorite summer garden treat. The lemon balm (a daily treat of Isabelle's but a bit of a menace to me) is gigantic! Pumpkins (both giant and cooking), cantaloupe, watermelon, potatoes,and a variety of heirloom winter squashes are planted in the garden pasture as well. Now on to my next project -- a sunflower fort for the kids!! :)

If Momma Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy

My apologies to my family and friends for the past few days. I've been a grump.

Going on nearly 3 weeks of illness in the house has taken its toll on my normally optimistic attitude. In addition to coughs and sniffles and fevers, we're currently having our house repainted (for necessity sake, not beauty). This means that for the past week, I've endured mess in such a way that I cannot easily clean up. There are woodworking tools, saws, wood, paint buckets, power washers, caulk guns, and ladders everywhere. Each day, after the painters leave (one of whom is my stepdad who is so sweetly trying to keep things orderly for my sake), I try to salvage what has been damaged in the gardens surrounding the house and sweep up the latest debris. My porches (where we live in the summer months) have been off limits, and the beauty in the simple things surrounding me has been replaced with tape and paper and remnants of paint equipment. I know it will be beautiful once it is finished, and I am truly thankful ... I'm just shamefully suffering from the sin of a discontent attitude right now.

I realized with great clarity today that I am almost entirely responsible for the mood of our home. It was one of those blessed "ah ha" moments from God that thankfully follow periods of grumbling. Initially, my sense of justice rang through and I found myself asking, "Why is it always me? Why am I always the one who has to make things peaceful and God-honoring around here? Can't someone else come up with family building activities which are fun and yet meaningful?"

Although my husband is the leader of our home and his moods can impact our family, he is also spending hours each day working so that we can all enjoy the benefits of his labor. He is tired and weary at the end of most days. He makes great efforts each evening to enjoy the company of his children and myself, to work and play around our "farm", and to be the jovial and lighhearted half of our whole.

No, with reluctance I must admit that for the most part it is MY attitude, MY spirit of joy or unrest, MY moment by moment decisions which will determine the spirit of our home.

More importantly, I realized that it is God within me which drives the many daily choices that shape the hearts of my children and husband. Do I choose to go to the time and trouble to prepare healthy and nutritious food which will strengthen our health and overall outlook or do I call in the burgers and fries? Do I organize our time in such a way that the children are always ready for family devotion times led by Dad or do I let things go late through my own selfish ambitions to get "just one more thing" done, resulting in later and rushed bedtimes? Do I set aside my own desires at times to spend quality and meaningful and heart-building time with my husband and my children or, because of tiredness or a complaining spirit, do I just let things slide into grumpy attitudes, bickering children, and an offended husband? Do I work to daily set up my home to be a place of learning and joy-filled times of devotion and nurturing and fun (and this takes hourly sacrifice at times), or do I choose to find my own fulfillment first?

Motherhood is not about me. It's about daily, humble sacrifice of my own selfish desires while meeting the heart-felt needs of my family ... for God's glory, not my own. And rather than only (realistically) seeing it as a sacrifice of my own selfish ambition, God can work in my heart to help me realize that it is also, and even more so, a tremendous OPPORTUNITY to be daily involved and daily on my knees drawing closer to Him through the process and journey that motherhood affords.

The Bible teaches me in Proverbs 14:1 "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." I don't know about you, but I'm ashamed to say that this week I definitely had moments of tearing my house down. Thankfully, God has reminded me of His word and I am praying for renewed strength and vision to fill this calling with gladness of heart. I covet your prayers as well.

Year-End Violin Recital

It was another big night for the Kronz family as we all enjoyed our year-end violin recital in Boise. Both Isabelle and Josiah played beautifully! They have the wonderful gift of performing well under pressure (a gift I do not share unfortunately!).

Isabelle played two Suzuki book 2 songs, while Josiah chose a non-Suzuki song as his main piece and finished off the recital with a light and fun Suzuki book 5 piece.

This is our first year with our new teacher, Jenny Jones. She's just completed her Master's of Arts degree in violin pedagogue from B.S.U. and is a great fit for the kids right now. She's light-hearted in spirit and yet technique-oriented in her teaching. Josiah is remembering how to enjoy his playing once again and Isabelle is speeding through her songs with seeming ease.

Although we do miss the many families we'd come to know through our first violin teacher, and of course miss our first teacher as well (Marilyn Short -- we had been with her for 8 wonderful years! In fact, Isabelle began attending Josiah's lessons when she was only a week old!), there are times in our lives when change (albeit difficult) is needed. We now have the opportunity to work with and meet new families -- some of which are already dear to our heart.

Isabelle's sweet "bosom friend" (this is thanks to "Anne of Green Gables") -- Sarah -- is one of teacher Jenny's students. It was a real treat for the girls to dress up and see eachother perform at their recital. They enjoyed ice cream afterward as well as taking some silly pictures with their teacher :) Excellent job kids! I'm so proud of you!!

Quote for the Day

After our instrument practice and walk/bike ride this morning, I see Isabelle heading outside to the back porch with her two dolls in tow ("the girls"). Without a second thought, she throws back a look to me and exclaims, "Momma, I'll need some hard red wheat and my coffee grinder set out. I'm planning to make some tortillas today for the girls and I." Bang, slam. The screen door shuts behind her. She's off. My little pioneer girl learning about the world around her, one tortilla at a time ...

A Memorable Week

We have had a full week and a half here at the Kronz farm! Nana and Great Aunt Jennifer visited from Indiana and shared time with us in our little world.

There were lots of games, loads of laughter, and yummy and nutritious home-cooked food to share with them throughout their 5 day stay with us. The "girls" had some sewing, quilting, and learning to knit time (I was the learner and it was HARD!!).

Nana and Aunt Jenny were able to come and watch Isabelle (and Josiah) during their horseback riding lesson at the Monaghan farm.

This is "Isabelle's horse" (on loan for the hour) named Buster. At nearly 25 years old, he's the perfect compliment for Isabelle's beginning riding.

They were also able to watch as the boys (and nearly 100 other Nampa School of Karate students) did their quarterly testing.

During the "test" the students are asked to perform various skills and then are graded/evaluated by a judge. As you can imagine, it can be quite loud in the gymnasium with so many karate shouts at the same time.

Both boys received excellent and above average marks. They are promoted to Gold Belt level!

Thankfully, karate is also a chance to spend time with Uncle Jason and the cousins! Great job boys!!

The next evening, Isaac was privileged to play in his yearly piano recital with Nana and Aunt Jenny as a part of the audience. Isaac played a 7 page "Sonatina" by Clementi and did a fabulous job.

He and I will both be glad to "retire" this piece :) He's been learning and playing it since November!

On Thursday, while Aunt Jenny and Nana took some time to do some sight seeing and shopping, Isabelle was surprised by my bringing home her best friend Sarah for an afternoon of playing and imagining. Here the girls enjoy serving eachother some homemade lemonade. Aren't they precious??

It's been a busy and memorable week. Unfortunately, we have finished it off with every last one of us getting a cold virus! We are all in various states of illness right now. It looks like a good time to sit around and work on our year's scrapbooks of the kid's schoolwork! You know where I'll be. Blessings everyone!!

A Goal Accomplished

This morning Isaac completed a year-long goal -- reading through the entire Bible start to finish! He has taken the initiative to accomplish this task and has been diligent throughout the year to read in the dark morning hours day after day. We are so proud of you Isaac!! To think -- reading through the Bible before you turn 12 years old! Amazing. God has something incredible planned for this young man's life...

Last Day of (Home)School

We celebrated our final day of our 2008-2009 academic year with homegrown scrambled eggs and biscuit cinnamon rolls this morning! It's been a crazy year with more new opportunities for learning and growth than I could have imagined. It has been a lot of fun, but we're all happy for the slower pace and the different focus that summer break brings. Of course, the learning won't stop -- we try to live a lifestyle of learning as much as possible! However, it will be less seatwork focused and more activity oriented. We have planned swimming lessons and track meets, music camp and horse camp, camping and fishing, weeding and watering in our near future. In between, we'll enjoy unscheduled time for reading, playing, and snuggling in the hammock. God is so good and once again we are reminded of His faithfulness to our little family. Summer break -- here we come!!

Balance Part II -- The Road Less Traveled

The past two weeks have been ones of "finishings". Isabelle and Isaac completed their respective math curriculums for the year, Isaac completed his science text on Astronomy and completed his final project (a model of the space station), and Josiah finished his Biology text. We said one final goodbye to friends and coaches in Speech/Debate and had our final Science Club of the year this week. Next week will include our final piano lesson with our school year teacher as well as our final meeting for Aspire -- our homeschool co-op. The school year is winding down and summer activities are winding up! : ) Meanwhile, the lines in my hands are permanently stained with soil as I am spending the evenings out in my gardens making up for the week and a half of cold, wet weather we've been having. This time of year is delightful!

I need to gather my thoughts on "balance" to finish this post as well. It's an interesting subject isn't it -- and one that we often like to avoid because of the convictions it induces. I think it's important to realize that this sense of balance is going to look different for everyone. Being critical never leads to joy and so once again I remind you -- when I write, it isn't to preach at you but instead to share what God is teaching ME.

When I think about living in balance, I think of the road less traveled. Our society and culture are CRAZED in so many senses of the word. It's crazy to watch and even crazier if you happen to find yourself on the "merry go round" of DOING IT ALL. I like to imagine it being a merry go round because, in reality -- does doing it all really lead you anywhere?? It might lead you to a higher level merry go round, but then the horses are just taller and, even though you can perhaps see farther, it also means that you have farther to fall when you eventually come down. I have regular moments in my year when I live on a merry go round of activities, commitments, and busy-ness. Quite often, it is a fun ride. Sometimes it goes very fast. But always ... literally always, I grow weary of it not stopping and I long to get off.

This is how I find balance. I purposely STEP OFF the merry go round. I begin to gently remember that I can say "no". I see and remember and long for the STILLNESS that is needed so that I can hear clearly God's leading.

It is only in this BEING STILL that I am able to truly remember and focus on my goals, my mission, and my calling as a wife, as a mother, as a homeschooling parent, as a friend, as a daughter and sister, and as a woman of God. Living in this stillness (or at least revisiting it on a regular basis) is the road less traveled.

More and more I find that I am on this road in regard to setting boundaries for myself and my family. Just last week I had to say "no, I will not be participating" in a situation which really made me look like the 'party pooper' of the group. It was uncomfortable for me and I received some spoken and unspoken criticism -- even from dear friends -- because of my choice. It was a choice to purposely step OFF the merry go round. I don't regret it.

I can assure you that homeschoolers are not immune to the pressures put on parents within our society to "do it all". It's pathetic actually. In fact, I think that perhaps homeschoolers might even 'take the cake' when it comes to DOING IT ALL because of the underlying insecurities which we often feel ... this sense we either receive from skeptics or the strong will we hold deep within which makes us want to PROVE ourselves -- to our families, our friends, our husbands, our children, and our culture. Burn out is typically the end result of living like this and, sadly, too often mothers with hearts filled with conviction eventually let it go because their bodies and emotions can no longer take the stress.

If this is you, I encourage you to STEP OFF the merry go round you are on. Experience stillness. Live in reflection, if only for a moment. I know it isn't easy. Most often when I do this, I experience a short spell of "what do I do with myself??" frantic emotions. Often I find the need to keep going and my mind plays tricks on me. I literally feel that I'm running alongside the merry go round for a while because I don't remember what to do with myself once I'm off! I hope you're picturing this in your mind because it is quite humorous but also a very real analogy in my own personal life.

We all need to find this balance for ourselves. Be leery of stepping off one merry go round only to get on another. Take time to readjust. Allow yourself some long reflective walks. Spend time with your children or your husband that doesn't involve a clock or an appointment to get to or an obligation to fill. Set aside moments for joy, for fun, for reflection, for prayer. Reconnect with parts of yourself that you've let go of. Take a bike ride, go see a movie (if you can find one worth viewing!), spend an afternoon at the park. Write letters. Read a book. Clean a closet (okay, that one is for me) : )

To live in balance means that we must live lighter at times in order to balance out the heavier moments which life inevitably brings. Yes, it is the road less traveled, but who cares? If God is leading you ... answer with obedience. Don't fret -- He'll straighten out the wrinkles it might cause. Your health, your family, your homeschooling, and your walk with God will all be enriched by the moments of peace that living in balance will bring.

When Life Gives You Puddles

This is what happens when children don't watch t.v. -- they spend an afternoon creating "a boat that floats", make sails from sticks and bandannas, and have imaginary adventures with the local worms. Read, talk, listen, and walk alongside your children. Turn the t.v. off or get rid of it altogether. The world is NOT a better place because of it.

"It's the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." -- Laura Ingalls Wilder

First Cooking Lesson

I'm ashamed to admit that I have yet to truly teach my boys to cook. They can set the table, do the dishes, cut fruit and vegetables, but cooking a meal from start to finish is something they still leave up to me (or their 7 year old sister!). This is going to change. Remember -- my ultimate job is to work myself out of one. And so ... the cooking lessons begin.

Tonight Isaac learned to read a recipe, crack eggs, handle a hot griddle, measure, pour, mix, ladle, and flip all in one lesson! Undeniably my least independent child, Isaac kept waiting for me to get exasperated by his inabilities. But -- voila!! I had prayed for extreme patience and God was faithful to answer my prayer. Isaac, after a few foiled attempts to get out of the job, rose to the occasion and (I think) perhaps even enjoyed himself making good old-fashioned johnny-cakes (corn meal pancakes).

This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship between Isaac and the kitchen! One of my (many) goals for this summer is to teach each child to prepare one full meal from start to finish -- one breakfast AND one lunch AND one dinner. Imagine the possibilities of freedom for me if I can teach them to be capable cooks??!! So many meals to teach ... so little time.

Butterfly Release

It's the simple things in life which really bring the most joy, don't you agree?

For several years now we've ordered caterpillars to go into our "butterfly house" where we watch them eat and grow and eventually form into their chrysalis'. This year, Isabelle documented their growth in her nature notebook.

Although still a bit on the chilly side, we released them today into our dandelion dotted pasture where the kids enjoyed chasing them and finding them happily landing on the nearest flower. It's like a scene from "Little House on the Prairie" when I see my kids enjoying old-fashioned, God-created fun! "Glee" is the best word to describe the joy on their faces and the giggles in their throats.

Sunset Blossoms

Brothers and Sisters as Best Friends

Every day, I consider it a privilege and one of the wonderful fruits of homeschooling to watch my children seeking each other out to play. Even Josiah (now 14 1/2) still looks forward to opportunities to be with his siblings. While I was in the garden earlier this week, I caught them all on an "expedition" -- seaworthy in foreign waters, always on the lookout for enemy avengers! Smile. What a joy to watch them play, imagine, and include one another in their backyard sailing adventure.

Parade of Blooms

Springtime Morning

Heirloom Seeds

My kind-hearted husband ordered for me (several months ago) a generous supply of heirloom seed for me to use in planting this year. The seeds come from Amish country in Pennsylvania and have not been hybridized so that, if desired, we can keep seeds from each individual plant for use in years to come. Most of the seeds you buy in stores could not be reused in this fashion and are thereby not nearly as cost-efficient in the long run. When we lived on the east coast, we had the privilege of visiting and buying some heirloom seed from George Washington's home - Mt. Vernon. Each year, I love to see the "candytuft" flowers bloom, knowing I have a small part of history growing in my own yard. The variety of seeds I received from "Heirloom Seeds" is astounding. I will only use a portion of them this year (if kept sealed in a cold, dark place they will last for several years). I'm excited to see how this latest gardening "experiment" turns out!