Fun with Glass

While we were doing our family holiday rompings, we came across an opportunity that most kids never get. We found a place where our youngest could make his own glass icicle. Take a look!

Skiing with the Family

A family first for us ... skiing together. For me, it had been 9 years since I had been on skis. For our youngest ... never. He was amazing, and we loved having all of us together to share the moment.

Walking in Surrender

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust him,
In his presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my Blessed Savior,
I surrender all.*



I grew up knowing the words by heart, singing them with the passion only a child-like heart can possess.

Do you remember the first day of true surrender to Jesus? I do. Having known him and, in a simple and shallow way, loved him since before I could remember, my first day of real surrender happened when I was 30.  I had lived a lot of life under my own direction, but that day, very clear in my memory, I began the journey into walking in surrender.

I remember thinking of that moment as a marker for many years after. Yes, I HAVE surrendered my life to my Savior. It is done. But, no. It isn't done. Surrender happens in layers, with every moment of decision, with the worries of day-to-day life, with the devastating and the small. Surrender happens when I choose not to obsess, when I make decisions that are counter-cultural, focused on God's economy. And just when I think I've surrendered one or another area in my life, the next layer becomes clear. There is always more that I must surrender.

To yield. Just to yield. That is my heart's desire. All the while my heart fights back, along with my body and my mind and all my humanness. Paul's battle is my own.

"For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." Romans 7:18b (NIV)

As it turns our, everyday is another opportunity just to walk in surrender.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at his feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.*

* I Surrender All - hymn written by Judson W. Van DeVenter

Summer Depression

Note: While this post is not exactly timely, it has been on my mind to share with the hopes that others who experience the same thing will take heart.

We live in a place that lives for summer.

Goodbyes

I hate goodbyes. From the daily "have a nice day, honey" to the lifetime goodbyes. All are painful, and make my heart a little heavy. I've moved a lot since graduating from college ... 11 times, the last 3 in the past two and a bit years. I've lost many people in the process. Last week, I was reminded of the loss that hurts the most, the loss that lasts for the rest of your life.

The Story of a Christmas Tree

One of the holiday traditions that I've carried throughout my life is the tradition of the tree. Yes, I know that its origins are pagan, and adaptations to the celebration of Jesus' birth have weathered many controversies. Regardless, for me, it is a tradition that brings family together to share memories of joyful times spent celebrating the birth of my Savior. In my opinion, enough said.

In years past, our family has been through many different tree phases ... the artificial tree of my childhood, finally replaced with real green in my teen years. Cut trees purchased from a lot, from Home Depot, from the Boy Scouts, or the local nursery. We even had one year where we used a live potted tree ... a story of mishap and magic that ends with, the last time I saw it, a 30 foot monstrosity in some unfortunate someone's back yard in Colorado. I guess the Colorado Blue Spruce isn't so named without reason. They grow very well in their native state.

The last few years, we have ventured as a family to the mountains of Colorado to help the Forest Service thin out their evergreen tree population. For a mere $10, you can go into the National Forest (designated areas only), and cut down the tree of your choice, within some size limitations. We've enjoyed each unique "Charlie Brown" tree as the years have passed.

This year, we found ourselves in Canada, and as with everything, tried to figure out how things work here, and what opportunities were available.

The PLAN (Home Learning - Grade 5)

A note before we begin. I've been working on this blog post for a couple of weeks. Not because it is so hard to get the information together, I have it in our planning journal. Not because I'm uninspired, I am. But because it seems so overwhelming to put it all out there. I feel like a pushy overachiever. The thing is, we're moving through somewhat according to the plan, and finding new things to add along the way. Nathan LOVES to learn. I asked him yesterday if he was having fun with our school year. Yes. I asked him if there was anything he just really didn't like. No. I asked if we work too long, too hard, not hard enough, etc. He said he is happy. He acts like he is challenged. He still prefers his home learning life to the idea of going to school. He said he likes the quiet and peacefulness. With that in mind ...

  

  THE PLAN

Each year, I try to re-evaluate the prior year and outline a plan for the new year that not only addresses the basic academic goals of the year, but keeps in mind one of my favorite sayings:

You're not raising a boy, you're raising a man.

Homeschool isn't just about academics, but also about life. Living life. Learning in life. Becoming in life.

A Foggy Morning

Just a few photos from a beautiful foggy morning this week. Enjoy!

The Coming Rains

Today is a beautiful day. It is fall, my absolute favorite time of year. The sun is peeking through a partly cloudy sky, after an amazing weekend of sunshine and warmth. It is a different sort of autumn, one unlike any other I've ever known, but abounding with beauty and variety that keeps my eyes exploring and my lungs deeply filled. Today is a beautiful day.

Compliments to Jack for the beautiful photo!

Elk Mountain ... So Glad We Found You!

It has been an interesting summer for us. Being in a new place, we have found nearly everything a challenge. And in the craziness of it all, we kept finding time short and energy even shorter when it came to getting out our hiking boots and taking them for a spin.

{this moment]

. . . . . . . . . . 

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

with Amanda @ SouleMama

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Homeschooling, Socialization, and the Vet

Ask any homeschooling parent, and they will tell you that the one thing people ALWAYS ask about is socialization. Children need intense age-level peer interaction, right?  The idea of homeschooling seems to fly in the face of all that is appropriate for proper socialization.

Or does it?

So Long, Shadow

As parents, we like to think we have a handle on things. We like to think that we know what is right, what will work well, and what we should help our children avoid. We are charged with keeping our kids safe and making decisions that protect their hearts.

And sometimes, we fail.

The Plan

Here I am. I have a plan. It is a good plan, or so I think. It is a plan based on a tried-and-true approach. It is my plan, and I'm comfortable with it.

And then, I read THE book. Not a book that necessarily changes the plan, but one that puts a filter between my eyes and my good plan, and highlights all its flaws. Been there?

{this moment}

. . . . . . . . . . 

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

with Amanda @ SouleMama

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(from a few weeks ago ... I'm a little behind on my posts!)

Jack Came to Town, too!

As my parents' visit came to an end, we had a two week visit from our middlest son Jack to anticipate. Jack also was making his first pilgrimage to Canada, so we started the sightseeing once again. 

"Middlest?" you ask. Well, we have three sons ... an oldest, a youngest, and a middle-est!

Mom and Dad Came to Town!

It is time to do a little catching up! We've had a busy couple of months, filled with fun and beauty, seasoned with our share of stress and the annual summer depression (on my part). But fall is here! Cool nights mean more blankets and fires in the fireplace. The sun is setting earlier, so we are cozying up more in the evenings. And I finally have the desire to catch up on everything that I've allowed to pile up over the last couple of busy months.

So, without further ado ...

Mom and Dad came to town!

{this moment}

. . . . . . . . . . 

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

with Amanda @ SouleMama

. . . . . . . . . .

Free Journal!

All you blogging friends, take a look at Kristi's blog today. She is offering a free journal to anyone who will share on their blog about what they are up to in Uganda with The Akiru Project. 

So ... tell the world!

Photo courtesy of Lynnette Hunter @ tenaciouslace.blogspot.com (check out her etsy store as well!)

Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock

Time flies when you're having fun! That's what THEY say ... whoever THEY are. Well, so true. It has been a while since I've blogged, mainly because we were too busy having fun to write about all the fun we were having.