LIGHTS

31.  LIGHTS-homeschool co-op and it's leaders.

Our first day at the local homeschool co-op was today.  What a great group of kids and moms!  Em is taking a bible class with the youth pastor, PE, and world geography.  Her favorite was PE!  Rach's classes are Spanish, PE, and oceanography/lapbooking.  Her favorite was Spanish class, and her Spanish name is Josephina.  I get to play too!  I'm a helper in Chemistry lab and oceanography/lapbooking.
After classes are done, the kids are able to play games with their friends in "chess club."  There is, of course, chess available to play and a variety of other board games to choose from.
The morning FLEW by, we had so much fun!

Today's science lesson

30.  Moth dissection!

26.  Filtered rays of sunlight through the trees.
27.  The change of seasons.
28.  A new set of wheels.
29.  School activities and busyness.

How does she do it?

I don't know how she does it, but Ann Voskamp has put words to my thoughts...again. 


 When perfectionism and to do lists are overwhelming, Ann's blog post is well worth the read.  Or maybe I'm the only one who gets overwhelmed.

At the end of the day, Ann tells her husband:

“I guess it’s just coming to realize…” I lean back into him and I didn’t know the words until they slipped out true, “God doesn’t ask me to be perfect; He asks me to praise.” I don’t have to have smudgeless windows and empty laundry baskets and gleamy toilet bowls! I don’t have to have a perfect life, all problems solved! I think I hear the Hallelujah chorus! I simply need have a grateful heart to give Him glory. Gratitude in all things is the only thing God asks. Can I take each seeming problem and turn it back to praise? That alone is the one thing needful.

As I go into the next week of starting school "full time" and all the busy-ness that the next ten months hold, I'm praying that I can indeed turn it all back to praise.  That I don't get caught up in trying to be perfect.  That I will take the time to be fully present with those around me, especially the ones I live with.  

22.  A centerpiece of pretty weeds, arranged by my youngest daughter.

23. My oldest's soccer game.

24. Cooking dinner for my husband and family.

25. Laundry, dishes, dirty floors.

The way life should be...

21.  These girls ♥ 

22. The rocky coast

More...

13.  A garden that is producing good food.

14.  The whir of the washing machine.

15.  Watching the hummingbirds visit.

16.  Learning and growing.

One Thousand Gifts...con't

9. Visiting with friends.
10. Running in the cool of the morning.
11. A birthday reminder to savor each moment with loved ones.
12. A turkey family seen on my run.

5. The sunshine after a hard rain.
6. A quiet house with still sleeping children.
7. Early morning coffee.
8. The purring of a soft kitty next to me.

One Thousand Gifts

I've been reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are.  I'm about halfway through and I think I'm going to need to read the book again once I'm finished because there is so much to digest!

In chapter 3, Ann's dare is revealed.  She begins making a list of a thousand gifts, blessings, thanksgivings. This whole idea keeps swirling in my mind. Could I dare to make such a list?  What would that look like? It seems daunting.  But, I'm going to start my own list of gifts, things to give thanks over.  I'm going to use the blogging venue to write it all down.   Will I get to one thousand?

1. My husband who works in rain, snow, wind, & sun.
2. A newly ten year old, spirited daughter.
3. An eight year old daughter who is writing hymns.
4. Family & friends to love and encourage.


This is just the beginning, there is much more to come!