Gathering my Chicks

 This hen has gathered her chicks around her for another school year! Let the fun begin:) It's important to stay positive and upbeat when trying to inspire your children to learn.  We've had a great few days of getting back into the routine of things before all the extra curricular starts up next week. Until then, we are enjoying picking up on familiar studies and adding some new ones. I say if it's not broke don't try to fix it. But I also say doing the same stuff can get b o r i n g for everyone, mama included!

Up on the dock this year for optimal learning enjoyment is .... drum roll, please

Bible - Bible History/workbook, catechism study, memorizing Sermon on the Mount, "Jesus our Family Guest" devotion book and Christlight (Zanna)
Math - Saxon 2 (Zanna) Teaching Textbooks Algebra (W)
Language Arts - Easy Grammar Plus (W) All About Spelling (Z) Learning Language Arts Through Literature, Red book (Z) Institute for Excellence in Writing (w) Explode the Code (Z) Handwriting without Tears (Z) 
History - Canadian History (W) Sonlight Core G -Ancient History (W & Z)
Science - Apologia Physical Science and SHEP (outside program for W) Christian Liberty Nature Readers (Z) Scholastic workbooks (Z)
Artist Study - confessionsofahomeschooler.com artist study

My biggest change in the lineup is Will's math. I have freed us from the shackle's of Saxon and have started Teaching Textbooks. We are loving it! As much as one can "love" math.  Nothing against Saxon but it had outlived it's usefulness and contributed to much heartache along with sinful attitudes.

 And you simply must listen to this podcast on a classical, Lutheran education. Not that I'm necessarily doing it, but I am inspired! 

Violin lessons for both kids have started back up again. Will also had his audition for the strings ensemble last weekend and was working hard preparing for that. 

 I'm pretty sure I have the most adorable students ever! And they humour their hen as she attempts to take some back to school pictures. 

The boys are still hoping to get some more golfing in before the weather keeps them from it. Will will be in a homeschool gym class. Zanna is taking ballet again. Both kids will be back in the pool. Once winter is in full swing, they'll be downhill skiing with Dad and enjoying some family ice-skating if the aging parents' backs can handle it! And both kids will play indoor soccer in the winter. While Mama chats it up with friends on the sideline.

Some field trips to the theatre and orchestra are planned. Zanna's enrolled in a monthly cooking class at our local grocery store. I also plan on organizing and facilitating a speech and debate group in the new year. That's the plan, anyway!

I prayerfully commit this year into God's hands. May we learn the lessons that he divinely teaches, appreciate the moments with our hands wide open in thanksgiving, savour the time we have together as family and grow in the knowledge and wisdom found only through him. 

End of summer memories

We've been blessed with another great summer and many memories were made. We hosted the Gumm family who helped us out more than they can ever know! Zanna had her first sleepover as a result of this visit and is already asking for another. We also hosted a missionary from Asia who gave a presentation of the amazing work being done in a country where doors have opened ten-fold in recent years. We had the privilege of seeing Koine in concert again and this time around was the best yet! Our favourite Christian band hands down! 
To wrap up the last week of summer, we were able to attend the Labour Day Retreat again. Hosted at a camp tucked into the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts, we certainly didn't go for the great weather! It rained pretty much the whole time. We had a few moments of relief that allowed the kids to swim in the pool and enjoy the lake.

We were also able to worship outside Sunday morning and had a beautiful view! 

The lake had this pretty big slide that plummets you down into the water. Looks rather ominous in this picture but this was the early morning fog. It cleared up by afternoon and allowed for a very fun ride!

Zanna had a blast! Will had fun playing soccer with the other pre/teens in the indoor soccer field. 
The main motivation for us going was to participate in the Bible Study that was being led by Rev. Daniel Deutschlander. This spiritually gifted man is the author of two of my favourite theological books from NPH - "The Narrow Lutheran Middle" and "The Theology of the Cross:Reflections on His Cross and Ours".  The Bible study/lecture was on the first 3 chapters of Genesis. It was wonderful! We loved his insight and wisdom found in these beginning chapters of the Word! We were not disappointed ....

It was a great end to a summer of lots of fun moments but it's also been a time for me lately of being in a funk. Brought on by several complicated issues, I know it's just a season. But my tears have flowed lately like never before and I'm tired and worn out. It's been challenging for me to start the school year and I've been delaying it - for several reasons. You can't end what you don't finish and this is the year - the last with both kids. And I don't want to dwell on the "last" part. I want it to be a year of good memories and savouring the moments. That's hard to do when I feel like I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown! So I take a deep breath, look for strength not in myself (cause it ain't there anyway) but hope in the Lord, and pray ...
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you downcast, Oh my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:1-5

The rest of our summer ...

We continued to knock off items from our summer bucket list. After making it through a successful VBS, we filled our days with summer fun! 
Will got his first job and received his first pay check! He delivers the area paper and flyers with the help of his trusty sidekick sister. They wander the streets of our neighbourhood with the little red wagon and cart. Right now the main adversity they've had has been some rain and wind. Just wait till winter! 

Inspired by her brother's new career, Zanna started her own business - face painting. Paints had been included in a loot bag she had received from a birthday party. She set up her shop in our front  driveway. So really there was no overhead. She made up a sign, came up with a business plan, made drawings to show her clients and she was ready to go! Her first customer was her big brother. Technically that was her only customer. The neighbour girl joined her and tried a hostile takeover of the business but Zanna stood her ground! 

Items on our bucket list included a day trip to the water park. After dropping an ridiculous amount of money for our family to play in water that is contaminated with large quantities of sweat and sunblock, I managed to chicken out on the first ride I attempted only to slip and fall on the way back from my walk of shame. I received a HUGE bloody bruise on my thigh, scratches along my leg and several gashes on my foot. After taking some time to wallow in pity for myself, we managed to save the day and still squeeze out some fun.
Also on the bucket list was outdoor movie night. There's something magical about watching a movie outside! Complete with popcorn and pop, we had a fun night snuggled under the stars.

For the second summer in a row, we attended a Shakespeare in the Park play, The Merry Wives of Windsor. We enjoyed a picnic of homemade spring rolls and had fun watching this play on a beautiful summer evening.

We ended the month with a trip to Calgary to visit Grandpa and Grandma. We set out for a day in the mountains even visiting the resort we had our wedding reception and pictures taken in Kananaskis Country.

We also had a good time hanging around the house and property and enjoyed a camp fire, roasting marshmallows and petting the horses.

Summer has almost come to an end ...