Way Overpaid!!

Back in October I substituted for one of the teachers at our co-op. Instead of paying me for standing in she asked if we just wanted to use their lake house for the weekend. Well, this was the weekend we were finally able to go (they had had long term renters through the winter months.)

As we passed through the gates we were instantly amazed at the beautiful "park" that was nestled just around the bend.

There was a great playground, but our "nature girls" were much more interested in the streams, bridges and flowers.

After a nice dinner overlooking the breath-taking golf coarse we headed toward our "fun house" as Mackenzie titled it.
It was amazing!!
After we spent a lot of time exploring and the girls finally stopped calling, "You have got to see this!" We decided to start unwinding and getting settled in.
What better way to do that than with smores?!

I'm not sure which one was more excited to watch the marshmallows melt in the microwave. The play-by-play between the two was a riot.

Everyone was finally (and then many more times after this) tucked in the "fancy" bed. (Not everyone made it all night here. Mackenzie joined us downstairs in the middle of the night. This was after she yelled, I sprang out of bed to get to her before she tried to make her way down the spiral stairs, forgetting there was one step down as you exited the master bedroom. That will jolt you awake enough to make it up the next flight of steps :)

Saturday morning was very rainy, but it was a sweet rain. We just stayed in our PJs and enjoyed making and eating breakfast at a very relaxed pace all together.

Around 1:00 we checked into renting a boat to go out on the lake the next day. Then our destination was the long awaited stables.

Once we got there however, we were told they needed a day's notice before you could arrange a trail ride. We juggled plans and headed back to the marina for an impromptu trip out on the lake.


After a windy exploration of the lake (and gawking at many massive houses) we headed to the playground (as if we hadn't had enough fun for one day :)

Sophie and Haleigh were still stuck on bridge building after the big "bridge competition" during last Monday's co-op. They wanted to put their new found skills to the test in the "real world." They met a new friend at the playground and recruited him to the building crew. They were as pleased as they could be that their "bridge" held them as they crossed the stream.

That was enough for one day, so we headed back to the "fun house" for dinner (and complete scrub down.)

The next morning was beautiful. We spent hours on the balconies just being and drinking coffee.

(You can take the girl out of the city...)

Eventually we had to explore the little pond in the back yard. It was all Haleigh could do to not move every rock to a new location. (I think we got most of them back close to where they started.)

To Sophie's delight it was finally time to head back to the stables. All the girls were excited with the thought of riding the horses. Sophie was the only one old enough for a trail ride, oh yeah I was old enough too ;)

Haleigh and Mackenzie each got to ride "Lady" the pony. Then they fed horses, played in dirt, and had a blast with Daddy until Sophie and I returned from our trail ride.
(Once we were back Mackenzie tried to feed the donkey some rocks. She would probably not list this as a suggested activity at the stables for any future visitors. Apparently Cliff the donkey prefers fingers to rocks. She is ok, all fingers still attached, and chalked it up to a lesson learned.)

We decided this weekend ranked up there among the best ever. The beautiful surroundings; the "together experiences" of boating, riding horses, building bridges..; sitting on balconies for hours; hearing the girls laugh with fun and amazement; cooking, eating, and cleaning up together for 5 straight meals; no schedules to keep...
All this very undeserved, for a few hours of teaching, which I would have done for nothing, yet we received a weekend packed full of treasured time and memories that will last for ever!!
What sweet sweet blessings!

A Saturday Advenutre

This morning we loaded in the truck and headed out. Not having a care about where we were headed I just got in the truck with my family and a lap full of magazines I hadn't taken time to stop and read yet. I was all set for soaking in some down time.

Unsure if we had waited too long to pull off for some lunch we spied a quaint little cafe/general store/gas station and knew it could be the last option between us and our destination. We were pleasantly surprised by this sweet cafe along the river. It also gave us a good idea of where we were headed (although Mark did have the trip well planned out the night before :)

After a "relaxing rocking time" on the porch we piled back into the truck and headed to
Max Patch Bald
(straight above the bear on the map.)

Did you catch the elevation?
4629 ft
Mackenzie made a good choice to ride!

We cheered on a para sailor, but he never got more than about a foot off the ground.
He's the little orange blob between the girls' heads.

We spent a long time taking in the breath taking panoramic views.
Then, as if Mark wasn't already the "fun hero" in the family,
he talked me into letting the girls ride down the gravel road
(just a few hundred yards from where we had been parked, at a very slow pace, under my very watchful eye and grip)
in the back of the truck. Nothing could beat that!!

We watched folks fish for a while and then headed back towards home.

It was a sweet day to pull away from real life and enjoy a very unscheduled day in God beauty with my beauties!

Love My Girlie Girls ...

even when they aren't too girlie!!

Rejoicing...

... that is what I am doing today, for many reasons.

For the many, cup-overflowing blessings I have been given. People in my life that encourage me, support me, love me, affirm what God has called my family to in concern to educating our girls.
I had longed for this weekend to arrive for many reasons. My oldest sister was making the trip from WV to join me at the Southeastern Homeschooling Convention, right here in Greenville. Not only was my sister coming here, but the rest of my crew was heading to Charleston for the weekend. (I'm just about to start missing them ;)
I had expectations of what this weekend would look like. But I am still amazed at what all the weekend taught me, reminded me, freed me from, inspired me to do, challenged me to focus on. What is this new focus? Writing, history, copy work, memory work...?

No? Oh, then it must be reading, right?!
No, not really. The new focus is on the character of my girls (and... myself- ouch!)
This focus happens to encompass many areas of learning. Choosing to read (aloud) good character building classics, mapping the journey through timelines and on maps, copy work pointing out virtues, writing critiques...
All the "subjects" are covered, its just the packing we wrap it in will change. It may actually make it somewhat more enjoyable, memorable, and effective.
"Focus on character and knowledge will flourish."

My goal is not to grow knowledgeable girls so they can win thousands on Jeopardy, or have a high paying job and "be someone important." Our goal is to raise girls who will have knowledge and use it for the kingdom of God however He would call them, be it as a mom, business woman, missionary...

What I learned and want to remember:

• Slow down! Don't just get the work done. Be intentional to focus on building character and make the work reinforce that.
• Reach into the interests of the girls to make it appealing to them, not just my list of what I want them to get done and checked off the list.
• Commend their efforts regularly.
• Don't back off of a set standard, they will rise or fall to the standard expected.
• We can choose to cultivate contentment!
• Find joy in the little things.
• Sometimes it is as simple as changing perspective.
• "Good can be the enemy of best."
• The world doesn't need any more clever people, it needs good people."
• Etiquette is not about being proper, it is about loving others as yourself.
• Routine reduces complaints!

What I am so thankful for...

• my sweet sister/ personal librarian for the pointing me to the "good books."
• my husband and in-laws for taking such good care of my girls while I had a break and refresher coarse.
• Mom and Dad and brother-in-law for keeping my nieces and nephew so my sister could be kid free too.
• grace that covers all I have not done well (esp. not being the example of good character throughout our school days.)
• those who homeschooled when there was no material, then created material that makes my track much easier.
• a husband who doesn't freak out when I buy all the above pictured materials.
  
• the anticipation of my middle sister joining us next year.
• for living in such a neat town where the convention can be held.
• God's sweet guidance through lovely ladies in my life that steered me in this direction when I had no idea it was anywhere in our future.
• my three precious girls to journey with me as we figure it out together.
  
• Granny sending "fun money" for some good dining during our super fun weekend.
  

What a weekend!!

As last Friday began I was so excited for the weekend!! The past several weeks had been tiring at best. With the weekend in sight, knowing we could just slow down and be a family, I was excited with what awaited just a few hours away, a very unplanned weekend!

When the phone rang early in the schooling hours a friend's invitation to meet them at the zoo for an afternoon get-together was irresistible. We hadn't had a chance to enjoy our friends lately or check on our "friends" that live at the zoo. The chance to do both brought a quick, "Meet you there at 1:00, but have to be back for violin at 3:30."

Once we were home and wrapped up violin and our school odds and ends we got the call, Daddy was on his way home. "What do you want to do? Let's get out!"Mexican it was- yum!!Then one of our new favorite "hot spots."
(No your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. The bowls are almost as big as Mackenzie:)

After a slow morning waking up we took the chance to smell the "roses" and headed out for brunch and a walk, a really big walk!

Close to the end goal Haleigh and Mackenzie were running low on energy.

Sophie was low on energy too, but we were also low on extra shoulder space.

The treasure at the end of the trail, the park, brought renewed energy. Enough energy to play for a few hours (and have Daddy hike back to get the van.)

After riding back to downtown we hit the toy store and devoured a late lunch.

Many free weekends we head to the mountains for a waterfall hike. That was our initial plan for the day, until Mark thought this plan would give us less driving time and more play time. It was the perfect day soaking up family and the sweet downtown just a short bit from our doorstep.
At the end of the day the girls were wiped out and Mark and I headed out with sweet friends to eat yet again :)
What a great weekend!!
(Many many numbers in the gratitude journal!!)

Funnies From Room 6518

Two weeks ago Haleigh came down with Rotavirus and became severely dehydrated. Before we knew what was wrong we rushed her to the ER thinking she had appendicitis. We were surprised each day of our four day stay that we were actually still needing to be in the hospital. During this time some funny things were said...

In the ER: "Does this place make kids dizzy?"

"All the people were so nice to me."

When I told her how many loved ones were praying for her and checking on her.

"Aww, they all want me to get better, that's so sweet."

As Mark was preparing to spend the night he joked that he would take the bed and Haleigh could sleep on that cool chair that flattens out into a "cozy bed."

"Oh Dad, you are SO wrong?"

As I left for the night I asked Haleigh if she wanted me to bring her anything from home the next morning.

"A hug from Sophie."

When anyone would ask Haleigh how she was she would give the same overview,

"I started puking. I couldn't walk. Then they gave me this (pointing to her IV pole with a bag of fluids) and now I can walk again!"

On the third day of her stay she was allowed to try a clear liquid diet. She asked what that meant. I explained that a clear diet was any food you could see through.

"Then I can have crackers because you can see through the little holes in them!"

Our final day in the hospital Haleigh was feeling good enough to move out of the bed and sit in the chair.

"Why did you make me stay in that bed so long?"

Many sweet friends took care of Sophie and Mackenzie during this crazy time. One evening Mackenzie kept repeating her knock knock joke to one friend helping out.

"Knock knock, "
"Whose there?"
"Hospital"
"Hospital who?"
"Hospital got Haleigh."

Through it all we were carried by His strength and love shown by so many. Thanks for each prayer, email, visit, keeping our other two gals, snuggie, dinners... you loved us beyond!