Behind the Garden Walls
Oct. 17, 2007
School at Last!
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On Tuesday we had our very first school day with a new core. It is so good to be back on a schoolday schedule. I missed school! Here is how our days go: I am up at five. First exercise, showering, sprucing up the bathroom; then get a start on making breakfast and supper as well, starting a load of laundry; then devotions. These quiet hours are like jewels. At seven, rousing the rest of the family and serving breakfast. Very busy, well nigh hectic. At eight, Bruce holds down the fort, dressing the little ones for me, while I go on my daily walking/shopping/praying expedition. One day a week I plan to take a child with me, so everyone get turns. So far Verity and Mercy have each had one. The older girls do their chores while I am gone. At nine, I finish any morning chores that I left hanging, and we get a start on school. First prayer, then math. Peace has a Singapore earlybird math book and pattern blocks, which she loves. I go through it with her. I have a feeling that the rare bit of individual attention she receives from this time will outweigh any value of mathematical knowledge. But if so, it is time well spent. Then through Mercy's lesson with her, and being available to help Verity throughout. Next up is handwriting. I have so neglected handwriting in the past. Even when Verity had the book, I was not diligent about it and we may as well have not done any at all. So I am starting all three older girls off from the very beginning with Italic handwriting. All three doing the same thing, and I sit with them and help them. So far it is working well. When we finish math and handwriting we take a twenty minute break, and then it is time for all the read-alouds. The fun stuff. First we read the Bible. Right now we are studying South American history and geography. Reading about Simon Bolivar. For science we are studying the human body. And our fiction is an adventure story of a trapper in the early 1800's. We wrap up around noon, when Daddy comes home for lunch. The kids play outside while I keep busy with the babies and household stuff....then at one thirty Daddy heads back to work, and we read a Bible story before naptime. Naptime....I have a bit of computer time, a bit of a nap, a bit of time to help the older two with any school projects they might have. Then after naps, afternoon chores and supper prep. Supper is at seven, then family worship, and then bedtime for the kiddos. And then comes my time for spinning and knitting and visiting with Bruce....all too short, and to bed by ten-thirty. I love the new structure of the days. I am thankful for all the peaceful times in the day that God allows. I am glad for grace to get through the impossibly hectic times and forgiveness when I stop trusting God during them. I am thankful for a husband who is willing to help me so much, because I sorely need help. Change is so hard, and this year has been one of many changes. Many times I have felt as if I were in over my head, and I am. In a way, we all are. It is good to feel it, because it makes us lean on God. Life continues to change, but in a very real way we are now finally settling in to the changes that have already occurred. And that is very, very good. |
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