A little break.

This week I have been enjoying a week off...of sports.  Volleyball and MWR baseball ended last week.  They were wonderful seasons and we met and enjoyed the company of great moms and kids.  However, I am glad to have a little break from the rush.  While Quintin still has work and I am doing things like a 30 minute drive to pick up "can't miss" deals I found on a homeschool FB site, we are slowing down some. 

Homeschool is slowing down, too.  We are technically not done since we are a half year behind in English and Math, but I kind of want to say...the heck with it...we will pick it up after a break.  However, we will continue English and Math through the summer and take a break from all the other subjects.  Because of this I've had a great opportunity to read aloud so much more!  Picture books to the littles (and whoever else wanders over to listen) and a stack of chapter and nonfiction to all.  The Peterson's Guide bird coloring/sticker books have been fabulous during reading time.  The kids love them and even use them outside of read aloud time. 

Currently we are reading:


Honestly, they have nothing to do with one another and a "good" homeschooler would be concerned with such things, but Ha!  I don't care!  We are reading great books and learning many things and really enjoying it.  These are books that have been sitting on my shelf making me feel guilty for not reading them yet and now we are!  Each day I read a chapter or half chapter of each depending on the length.  We just finished Amy Charmichael from the Christian Heros Then and Now series and absolutely loved it.  Well, mom did love it for sure.  I cried so hard at the end and the kids were all freaked out. 

Maybe I'll bring out drawing paper and we'll draw and paint and write about them.  Or maybe not.  We'll just keep coloring in birds and listening quietly. 

Yesterday I told Ashton that I could spend all day reading aloud, playing board games and going outside for walks or to crochet while they play.  Ever since we have slowed down with the schoolwork and done more "fun" things around here I've been so much more at peace.  It's a nice feeling. 

Recently I cleared off a bookshelf that had been in my room and moved it out to the living room.  It has 3 long shelves.  To encourage reading I've been standing books up display style on it.  The shelf fits about 12 books that way and I try to get over to the library every few days to switch out the books.  It's been working great.  Well, returning the books to the shelf isn't perfect, but we're working on that!  

Mama has been reading a couple of books lately, one for fun and one for education.  The fun book is just a Christian fiction book called Full Speed Ahead by Karen Witemeyer.  Her books are hit or miss for me but they always make me laugh.  This one seems to be a hit so far and I'm enjoying the brain break while reading it!

 For inspiration I have been reading Prayer and Peanut Butter: The Mother Book by Barbara Claussen.  It's...awesome.  Written by a conservative Mennonite mom of many, I was not sure what to expect, but it has surpassed what I could have hoped for.  There is so much encouragement teamed with practical advise and gems of wisdom from older women and pastors that I am finding a ton to underline, remember and read aloud to Dan.  It has been restoring my vision for my home, reminding me what a privilege and joy it is to have children and encouraging me in diligence while not once making me feel guilty or scared.  I seem to really appreciate Mennonite books on mothering.  In general they have large families and the mothers are wanting to do their best to be good home managers and to love their children and husbands.  While I know a lot of women work outside the home it's nice to read to book aimed at stay at home moms of many like me.  It's reminding me to value my work here instead of want to escape all the time...a recent struggle of mine!!  And I crack up when I read how a bad day begins with a broken iron and lost belts!  I don't even know if we have an iron!  Lastly, it has encouraged me to wake up early to have quiet time with the Lord and spend some slow, quiet time by myself before everyone wakes up.  It makes such a difference...and I knew that!, but a gentle reminder always helps. 

Tonight the babies and I are heading to a birthday party.  I am not feeling social so it's hard for me, but the mom only invited a few people and it's one of Evangeline's dear little friends.  She lives over on the other side of the island and I have never been to their house so I'm nervous.  Usually, I am happy I went after it is over and I keep reminding myself that.