When I looked out my living room window this morning and saw bright green pops of grass I called the boys over and showed them. They informed me that they'd already seen the green grass yesterday when they were "planting oats" as pioneers. Elijah is currently reading the Little House on the Prarie Book about Almanzo's childhood. He gets bursts of inspiration, "pauses" the book, grabs his coonskin cap and his brother and leads out in an adventure. Yesterday Elijah brought a bucket into the kitchen and filled it with apples and oranges. Said he'd need a bucket 'o fruit for all the work he'd be doing "cause pioneers, all they do is work, work, work; and I'm a pioneer". I was tempted to steer the working pioneer into his room didn't have the heart.
Joel came inside first, stripped off his boots, his jacket, shook his head and said, "Whew, good thing I brought my knife. There sure is lots-a bears out there." No doubt he single-handedly killed at least 20 bears, saving the farm, the fields and the family. Yet all in a day's work.
Elijah came in later and took off his coat slowly. Indeed, no words necessary for this pioneer. Strength yet exhaustion seeped from every pore. It was a wonder to me how he managed to play the WII after such a day.
A week ago Paul and I took the boys on an adventure after breakfast. We bundled up then set off into the woods. We were running away, you know, and we had to survive in the woods. Our journey to find the perfect place to camp for the night consisted of climbing over rocks and fallen trees, sliding under barbed-wire fences, crossing streams, climbing giant hills and walking "for miles" through rough pasture-land. Paul and I traded off carrying little Izaac who was pleasantly amused with both the walking and the climbing. At one point, our inspiration was momentarily quenched when we saw a distant highway through the bare trees, but thanks to Paul's heroic spirit we bounced back. Finally we found the perfect place to camp: a deep, dry, rocky creek bed with walls of sand and clay and a nook below exposed tree roots for shelter. Paul and I sank into the soft, cool dirt walls and watched the boys dig, climb, throw, hit, stab, stomp, grunt and growl. By the time we made it home I had blistered feet, the boys fell into a coma (nearly) and Paul was... well, perfectly fine. We all agreed it was by far the best adventure we'd ever had as a family.
Right now Izaac is standing on a stool at his bedroom window, banging it and yelling something about "help". I'm going to go get "the stinker" down.
Well, I completely lost my train of thought concerning what I'd intended to blog about next (and I'm still losing it this very moment as Izaac begs for more "na" - snack). He is SO hilarious. And not just because he's my child. He does things on purpose to make us laugh. And it works.
I have been extremely busy lately but have enjoyed it because God has been continually putting His fire on my heart to love Him. A while back I committed to read ten chapters a day in the new testament and to dialog with God about what I'm reading and it's literally the very thing that keeps me sane and keeps me from feeling like giving up - it's keeping my heart alive and I love it! I love Him! The more I know Him the more I realize He is everything good and He has more than enough strength to make up for my weaknesses.
This past Saturday we started the Children's Equipping Center (CEC) and it was awesome! We first had our instrument workshops (bass, guitar, drums, keyboard) then took Psalm 43:3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle, made up motions for it, explained to the kids what it meant and taught them how to sing and pray it. Then we did a worship set. Kids sang on the microphones, prayed and it was powerful. We prayed it over orphans in Swaziland, Africa and over our own hearts, that God would send out His light and His truth and lead us to Himself. Everyone was so energized. I can hardly wait until next Saturday!
Homeschool is going great. We found a large homeschool group that meets every Friday from 9a-12p and the boys each have three classes that they really like.
This school year have learned a TON in math (McRuffy, Grade K) and Joel is reading beginner books. It has been more rewarding than words can express to have homeschooled them this year. I look forward to many more years of teaching them at home and watching them learn as well as play together and go on adventures. I have been more consistent than I thought I would be this year yet less than I would like to have been, next year I know I will need more structure and a separate place for a school room. I am thinking of turning the upstairs room into the schoolroom. For now, we're working at the table (haha, I know I said I didn't want to do that) but those desk things in the living room were not working. They tip over too easily and are not the right height. The table will just have to do. Despite all the ups and downs, we've had a great year so far and I'm so thankful. It's unquestionably rewarding and I'm grateful for this opportunity. So grateful.
