First Day of School Fall 2017

Just as I predicted, our quiet summer days are over,

and the flood of school day activities has rushed in.

We were prepared for this first week though

and that has made all the difference in the world.

We have a brand new supervisor at our homeschool assistance program

who is fresh out of college and leaning into his life with his eyes wide open!!

We had a great time easing into our new schedule on the first day,

and there was even an extremely rare astronomical event that happened

while we were at the school building on the first day,

so we made that into an amazingly fun learning experience!!

I think it's pretty awesome that my children were able 

to witness their very first American Solar Eclipse on the first day of school

while at school!!

Thank you, Lord, for that special blessing!!!

 

This year's total solar eclipse was pretty special because it was the first total eclipse to swath

from the west coast to the east coast in 100 years.

We only experienced about a 75% coverage of the sun in our state.

But we learned and are very excited that the next American total solar eclipse

 will be in just another 7 years (April 8, 2024)

 and will go right over our house in Texas

allowing us to experience a total darkness!! 

Just before we completed our pinhole projector box viewers,

and elderly man from that church came in out-of-breath

and told us that he was setting up a telescope outside so we could all

see the eclipse through that!!!
What a surprise!!

What a blessing!!!

Not only did he set-up one, but he brought THREE

different telescopes with three different views!

It was simply incredible!!! 

 "The heavens declare the glory of God...."
Psalm 19:1

Savoring the last days of summer slow

We're preparing for a new school year in our neck-of-the-woods!

School curriculum has been chosen, purchased, delivered, and filed.

High school transcripts have been mapped and printed out.

Learning clothes have been tried on, fitted, shortened, and ironed.
Daily volleyball practice has begun.

We've met the new co-op supervisor.
Snack and menu management for busy days has been organized.

Earlier bedtimes have commenced, and our calendars are filling up.

We have several big ministry projects at our church coming up in several weeks
that we are busy preparing for as well!

But before the busiest days swallow us up,

we are intentionally savoring the last days of summer together.

Dad doesn't usually get to join the teenagers on church youth activities,

but he was able to work out this special evening

with their very favorite local baseball team!!! 

Celebrating a summer birthday

Summer free time is winding down here.

You can feel it.

A restlessness and lethargy as structured summer activities have all

come to an end, and we are moving things out and getting

organized for another school year.

Recently, we all gathered together to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday.

My children adore their grandmother, and it's become an annual

tradition to lavish some extra love on her on her special day!!

She was just booked solid the week of her birthday and Ashlyn was

working this evening, so the three of us planned a fun lunch together

the following week to extend the festivities!!

Happy Birthday, Mom/Grandma!!
We love you!!