the beauty of homeschooling

Unlike most families,

we are finishing up our school year this month.

Why, you ask?

Well, for several reasons.

1. "Fall" in southwest Florida (aka October,November, December)
is undoubtedly the nicest time of the year weather-wise.

We like to capitalize on that
and be free to enjoy the fleeting moments of nice weather while we have them.

Long walks, bike rides, mornings at the park...fabulous.

Summer, on the other hand, is brutal.

When the thermometer hits 90 degrees before 9am,

there's usually not a lot of incentive to be outside for very long.

And, in light of the fact that Sam gets dehydrated faster than you can say "hot and humid,"

we practically have to strap a water cooler to his back to keep him hydrated in that kind of heat!

2. This time of year, November and December especially, are stuffed with holiday activities!

Parties and Fall Festivals, excursions to the pumpkin patch and live nativities.

Instead of trying to cram school in there too, we will use the time to do some community outreach, bake some goodies and maybe create a lap book or two.

3. Because we can!
One of the most appealing aspects of homeschooling, to me, is the flexibility that it affords.
I love that we can study at 9am or 7pm,
in the sunshine or under a tent made of sheets and chairs.

That, my friends, is the beauty of homeschooling.
  

parched

I stretch out my hands to You;

My soul longs for You, as a parched land.

Psalm 143:6

 

 

For several months now my soul has been parched.

 

Dry.

Thirsty.

Dehydrated.

Withered.

I've been wandering around like I was in the desert

when water was easily available to me at every turn.

But I was too busy,

too tired,

too nauseous,

too distracted.

Until last night.

Last night at church, the Lord broke through

and started to rain on my parched soul.

It softened the hard, dry places

and the tears began to flow.

Tears of gratitude and repentance,

unworthiness and hope.

And I was swept away in the flood,

the deluge,

the down pour,

the torrent of His love.

Kim Hill says it best in her song "Rain of Your Mercy"

I see the clouds out on the horizon

I feel the wind blowin' in my face

I hear the sound of a rollin' thunder

I know a storm is about to break

It's the rain of Your mercy

It's the rain of Your mercy

Now I've always heard about Your greatness

How showers of life flow from Your heart

Your death on the cross proves how much You love me

But I'm still surprised at how good You are

In the depths of my sin

Your mercy comes in

And shows me the depths of Your love

And it humbles my heart, tears me apart

Moves me to thank You my friend

For the rain of Your mercy

The rain of Your mercy

Is fallin' again

(Is comin' again)

I'm bein' washed in the water from heaven

Sweet tears of joy pourin' down on me

I lift up my head, drink Your forgiveness

Your spirit is here to set me free

 

If you find yourself parched right now,

let the Rain of His Mercy fall on you today

and be refreshed.

cupcake heaven

Have I mentioned that Marko likes to bake?

Well, he does.

And he's really good at it.

Cakes,

muffins,

spiced breads,

and, as of this weekend,

cupcakes.

Delicious cupcakes.

This weekend we had a surprise 60th birthday party for Marko's dad

and Marko made 120 cupcakes.

Chocolate Mocha cupcakes with Cinnamon Mocha frosting.

Blueberry Pancake cupcakes with Maple frosting (don't knock it til you've tried it!).

Cream-filled Chocolate cupcakes with Cookies 'n Cream frosting.

Peanutbutter cupcakes with Nutella and Whipped Cream frosting.

And my favorite...

Cream-filled Key Lime cupcakes with Cocoanut Meringue.

Oh yum!

The picture doesn't even do them justice.

They. Are. So. Good.

Excuse me, while I go eat the rest of them.

just to make you smile

Ok GO video set to TobyMac's "Hey Devil".

sam says

The other day Sam was telling me something and (positive that I wasn't listening to him) he kept repeating himself...over and over and over. Finally I looked him in the eye and said,

"Yes Sam, I heard you the first twelve times!"

Always the literalist, he responded,

"But mom, I only said it three times."

One of things that makes me laugh most often, is when Sam gets his words mixed up.

The other day, worn out, he exclaimed,
"I'm sooo white!"
(wiped)


And then, I heard him singing at the top of his lungs,
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, meat, patience, kindness, goodness."

What do your kids say that tickle your funny bone?

raw(e) yellow

Rubber ducky,  you're the one...

This week's theme for the RAW(e) challenge is

yellow.

Float on over to Sailor & Co. to see the rest of the yummy yellow-ness.

rice krispie treats (not a recipe)

Rice Krispie treats are evil.

In a good way though.

This is the one treat that I can't get enough of.

This ooey-gooey, sweet and crunchy yumminess.

I could easily eat the whole pan by myself (but I didn't!).

This time, I had a little help.