Weekend Away with My Girl

Friday was finally here.  We got our small suitcase packed.  Mark arrived home from work. 

Sophie and I headed out the door for our first Sophie and Mommy weekend!

 We had no set plans and it was a fantastic weekend just me and my girl!

Manicures and pedicures in fluffy white robes.

Strolling along Main Street of Hendersonville with double scoops of ice cream.

 Next we headed further into the mountains for a trail ride with my horse crazy girl!

After our trail ride we stopped by a little creek for a picture session.  This was one of my favorite parts of our whole trip.  You'll see why, she just makes me smile...

Thanks for such a sweet time!!  I love you Sophie!!!

The Truth Of Our School Days

 At the beginning of each school year I hold in my mind an idea of what the year will look like.  To be honest, each projected vision is heavy loaded with mental pictures that match up to these...

and this.  (Even if it is 2:00 in the afternoon in pajamas ;)

 

We do have a lot of days where that is the case.  

However, these are the most exciting times for the girls...

 when we actually do the projects and experiments...

like melting chocolate by directing the sunlight with magnifying glasses,

 or our "to scale" solar system that now hangs above us as we learn astronomy,

or the thrill of making our own compass which turns into a presentation for CC.  

The truth is this is one of my weakest points.  Many times I will skip over the experiment part to make sure we get all the "boxes" of our day marked off.  This year we are making an effort to stop and observe, soak it in, not just check it off.  OH is that hard for me, but worth it every time we actually slow down and take time.

As much as I hate to admit it many of our homeschool days are actually "car school days" as we travel to piano and violin lessons, doctor appointments or shot schedules.  I have found such sweet moments as the girls work through problems and help each other when struggles come up and I just can't stop in the middle of the road to help with a word they may be struggling to read or a math problem that has them tangled up.  To hear them help out and explain their sister through the struggle lets me know they understand the how and why of what was previously taught to them and more importantly I get to see their heart care and calm a sister who is frustrated. 

The best moments by far are these...

when we are cuddled up reading whichever book they are working through.  These are the moments I find myself half following along word by word and with the other half I am wholeheartedly thanking God for these moments, the blessing of still holding them tight as we do this crazy thing whether it is homeschooling or car schooling, I'll take it no matter what we call it!!

Its Pumpkin Patch Time!!

A blink and September was gone and we were working our way through October pretty quickly.  We needed to take some time to make our annual fall outing to a "pumpkin patch."  That seems a bit odd to call it a pumpkin patch, we did take a hayride around the pumpkin patch 

 

but that was really just to catch our breath between the all the great activities spread out through these beautiful acres.

The giant spider web!

A good old horse tire swing always brings a smile!

A zip line was conquered by all three, even the smallest who has the biggest fear of heights.

Can you tell me what it is about hay bails that make you want to dash of skipping along the top of them?!  I couldn't stop smiling...

...neither could she!!

I mean, does it get any better than this?

YES, once you get to the other side it does get even better!!!

Of coarse we had to tackle the giant corn maze.  (I was no help at all.  I just followed behind taking pictures and making sure we didn't lose anyone.)

It was a sweet sweet day for sure!!

October 6, 2013

Packing Up Some School Kick-off Memories

 As September comes to a close, I think I better pack some memories into the treasure box.

This year Sophie is taking a step off the homeschool path we have walked since she was four.  She is still homeschooling but instead of attending Classical Conversation Co-op she is loving every minute of Artios. Artios is a fine arts co-op where Sophie gets to focus her learning on music, art, history and that which has pumped through her since the day she was born... drama!

 Haleigh and Mackenzie are enjoying  their days at Classical Conversations.  I am enjoying watching their weekly presentations and learning along with them.

The weekend before we kicked off our first full week of school we spent some time with Gran and Meeps in Charleston.  We took the opportunity for our first official field trip.

 Patriots' Point was an amazing experience.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Museum is located on board the historic aircraft carrier USS YORKTOWN.

We toured the Medal of Honor Museum, it was a lot of fun watching the girls connect history they have learned over the years with the museum artifacts and information.

The USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy. 

 

 

We felt so small on the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier.  It was overwhelming to try to wrap my mind around being on this ship for months on end and living in the spaces and conditions we toured.  It made us all much more thankful and thoughtful of the men and women who serve our country!

 I ABSOLUTELY love this attitude and have reminded my girls often of this as when we come up against a hard day.  "The difficult we do right away.  The impossible will take a little longer."

CLAMAGORE is the only GUPPY III submarine preserved in the United States.

The LAFFEY (DD-724) was named for the first LAFFEY (DD-459), sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942.

What a great way to kick off the 2013-1014 school year!!

I Want To Be A Pinch Of Salt... Just Like Her!

It was beautiful, hard, and overwhelming to realize the blessing I was given by her being my Grandma!

I have started and restarted this post several times.  How do you put into words a heart that is breaking, rejoicing and realizing all at the same time?

Breaking because one of the most special people in my life will never again hold my hand, sign off our phone calls with a double kiss, or ask "how are my babies?" as she did every day since the first great grandchild was born till the day her words left her. 

Rejoicing that she is with Jesus! That she is at the feet of Jesus seeing His face. That she is in a new body without aches, without struggling to get the thoughts from her mind to her mouth.  That she may be running through beautiful fields (she liked to sleep after she had her stroke because she could run in her dreams.) "Thank You Jesus for taking Granny home!" these words have echoed during meal prayers around our table and oh are we thankful!!

Rejoicing because I did have such a special relationship with her.  She was a part of every big event in my life; from cheer leading competitions, to graduations, to my wedding, setting up my kitchens as we moved, moved and moved again, and of coarse she was there for the birth of my first baby.  She wasn't there just for the big ones though, she was there for so many everyday days.  In my younger years when I would wake up "on the farm" she knew how to make me feel like the most special kid in the entire world on just a regular day.  (I guess I'm reconsidering and feeling like every day I did wake up on the farm was a special day! )   In the later years she was there for several phone calls even in the same day when I was happy, lonely, frustrated, sad, celebrating or just needing to talk to one who loved me no matter how I was feeling.  So many times I would say, "I need to ask my Grandma because she is very wise."  You see, her formal education level made her feel less than wise, but I disagree wholeheartedly!  I remember several times calling and expecting her to just agree with me  and my opinion on things.  However, she would wisely talk me through seeing another perspective than the one I was stomping my feet from before I even knew it, my perspective was changing, softening. Oh how she guided me through the big and the not so big.

Realizing how she loved so many so well!  Our family is close and it is a given that she poured her love out on us.  But there were so many stories of how she loved others well, not just others but Jesus.  She did things to love His children, His church, His gospel and many of these acts she did without anyone knowing until the day of her beautiful celebration!  I am realizing it doesn't always have to be grand or over planned, just do something to show someone love and the Lord will bless it and carry it forward to touch many. 

I am also realizing how deep the memories grip of that precious country church and the faces, though much older now, are still recognized as sweet friends of Grandma's who greeted me so kindly and genuinely when I was just young visiting her church.  When it was time to leave the church that day I wasn't sure just how to walk away.  That place that holds so many precious times by my grandma's side, the clear picture of the choir no more than twelve strong (with her in the center)  that pops into my mind by the second measure of certain hymns, the experience of the most touching foot washing service followed by the Love Feast (Passover Feast,) and now the place we told her goodbye for the last time.  How do you walk away?

I pray I walked away changed.  I know I am much of who I am today because of who she was is to me, but I want to be a bit different.   I saw a clear ripple effect of her love for her friends, family, and Christ.  Will I have that effect on those I love so dearly?  Will I be "a pinch of salt to this world" the way Pastor Donnie described Grandma or will I be the one always defeated by the to do list, the schedule, the routine?

 I want to love well, I want Christ to be honored through my life and my days, I want to be a pinch of salt just like Grandma!!