God is good. All the time. We've had a great week this week. Tuesday evening we went to Grand Junction, Colorado and traded our old Suburban for a 1973 Dodge Sportsman camper. It runs and is just what we need to make camping a regular part of our weekends this year. The kids already spend time out there with there little friends who are part of the community here this summer. My dh is working on cleaning it out and tuning up the engine. There is sleeping accommodations for six, which will be perfect for our family, but we'll need a tent, probably if we ever invite any little friends to come with us.
Mountain Princess will start physical therapy this week for her back pain that she has had for the entire winter and spring so far. Her x-rays showed that she has spina bifida occulta, which my colleague and a specialist think is not the cause of her pain. This frightened me at first, but now I have peace about it. My daughter's doctor hasn't talked to me about her opinion of it yet, but maybe that is because she doesn't know what to think...
On the Homefront:
Little Jo-Jo is growing up. We've spent a lot more focused time on him and the girls regarding first time obedience. That is a goal of mine for this summer - to become more consistent in my yeses and nos. Jo-Jo is still working on potty training, but he still doesn't initiate going to the toilet on his own. He is, however, keeping his undies dry for longer periods of time.
The girls are having to learn how to relate to a third friend in their circle of playtime. They both love her, but are having a time learning to relate with the three of them together. Mountain Princess is also learning that she doesn't like playing some of the things she enjoyed when she was 8 or even 10, and is making the adjustment to grow up. She is spending more time reading or writing on her own when the younger girls are playing with paper dolls and Littlest Pet Shop toys. She even went so far as packaging up all of her paper dolls that she's made to give away.
Last night the girls finished their season with Audience of One. They performed their dances in a fund-raiser for the summer season, which will be heading off to Romania and Hungary. The dances went great. I was heart-broken to hear my 10 year old, Snow Crystal, didn't have any friends in the group, and to watch her stand off on the side by herself. She told me that she had asked a few of the girls to be her friend and that they had said that they would, but that they always ignored her anyway. Neither of the girls want to take part in the group next fall. I'm relieved to not have to drive into town for this each week. Snow Crystal is bonding well with the little almost 9 yo girl who is here for the summer, and for that I rejoice. They will both be in the fourth grade next school year.
Snow Crystal is fourth from the left (actually on second row), and Mountain Princess is the second one from the right on the first row.
Mountain Princess is the first one from the left.
Snow Crystal is the third one from the right.
Bubbies, my 4 yo dd, on the same note is bonding well with the sister of Snow Crystal's friend, who is also four. They are very enjoyable to watch as their love for each other and their friendship just bubbles all over the place!
In the School Room:
Well, we didn't get done as planned. The state reports still need some pages to be completed. Mountain Princess has one verse left, then she will be finished memorizing every verse in the book of James! I will give her a movie for every chapter she can recite with minimal help. She's already received one for the first chapter. The others she can easily earn with just a little concentrated effort this summer. We finished Little Britches. The girls did one day of Nature Journaling out of the three days we had available to do school.
Preschool: We had a couple of good days.
On the Mission Field:
The first week of the One DTS went great. There are about 11 students, and they all seem to be great people. We are seeing God moving in amazing ways in their lives already.
The teams in China/Mongolia and in Pakistan are doing well. They only have a couple weeks left before they return home.
In the clinic I had some great opportunities to encourage a few of my patients and their families. That is such a rewarding part of my work here.
In the Literary Scene:
Besides "Little Britches" that I read aloud to the girls, I also read "Treasures of the Snow" by Patricia St. John on my own. It is a great story of forgiveness and God's healing. Mountain Princess is reading that for her assigned reading now too. I also made my way through a few more chapters in "A Charlotte Mason Handbook" reading about teaching little ones to read, composition, spelling and vocabulary. It is good to remember these things as I set up my year for the girls for next year.
Feeding on His Faithfulness,
Carol
If you would like to join me in this theme, just write up your own weekly summary, using mine or your own categories. Then click onto the Mr. Linky below (or leave me a comment if Mr. Linky doesn't show up with a link to your post) and leave your name and the link to your summary. I'd love to read your weekly summaries too! I hope to post mine on each Friday or Saturday. At the latest it will be on Sunday. If you get yours done before I do, just leave your link in my cbox and I will put it up for you when I get mine done.
My family loves our motorhome, it has made camping so much easier and we can take it to stay in when we go to visit family. Makes it very nice as they don't have to worry about accommodating us and we can send our children to the motorhome if we have to. Enjoyed your post!
What a GREAT blessings to have such a neat camper ! I would love one one day. But till then we will be content. I pray you all have a ton of fun in it for years to come !! Will you be using it coming up to Canada ??? [0=
I loved seeing all your pics of the girls performing and hearing all the latest news of you guys.
That's a wonderful camper! Maybe I should try to think of something we have to trade for a pop-up. At any rate, you are going to have a great summer. Where do you plan to camp? I enjoyed your entire post. Did you like Little Britches? We read the next book, too, Man of the Family. It was good until the end. That's all I'll say!
Blessings,
Jenn
Hi Carol!
What a cool RV! Lots of good family time ahead.
I know all too well the friendship issue...its hard. And as a mom my heart aches sometimes. God was good to send a friend!
Praying for proper dignosis and answers for your dd.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/solidrock/
Nice camper - I hope you have lots of fun with it this summer (I think it looks pretty good considering it's age - afterall, all's we have is a tent).
It sounds like a pretty good week - nice pictures of the girls in their production. Isn't it hard when those girly friendships don't work out - I'm glad your girls are finding friends though.
It fun to read about your week. You always seem to stay busy. We're always busy too I guess. I just wrote up my weekly report too. I hope you enjoy your camper a lot this year.
I'm sorry your daughter didn't feel included. That happens sometimes. I hope you find an activity or a friend that fits with her. That's interesting that all the sudden she is getting less interested in toys and whatnot. I can't imagine that happening with my girls, even Mariah (my step-daughter) who is 10. She loves all the toys.
Mr. Linky is not showing up for me to put my link on but I wanted to comment anyhow. I am so jealous that you got a camper, I have always wanted to get an RV to go camping in but we can't ever afford one. Lord bless your travels in it! My oldest daughter experienced the no friends at a dance studio she used to go to. The girls completely ignored her and it broke my heart to watch it. She is now dancing at a different studio and every single girl there is as friendly as can be and she also found her bestest friend there as well. It can be hard sometimes because kids can be cruel and caught up in themselves but it is learning lesson on how Jesus wants us to treat others, with love. =0)
Congratulations on the van--it looks awesome, and I'm imagining the fun you're going to have! I'll come back when I have a bit more time and read the whole post. In the meantime, here is my wrap-up post.:
Looks like you guys are in for a fun-filled summer! I love the camper. By the way, we've been discussing first-time obedience too. It's true that we, as parents, have to be swift and consistent with consequences. Otherwise, they will surely "drag their little feet". - Karen
One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty, the beauty of the Lord. To inquire in His temple, the temple of the Lord.
This is my everyday thoughts about being a mother to three little ladies (12, 10 and 5) and a two year old son. We serve God full-time, and I am a physician assistant. I have the most awesome husband in the world. I am trying to seek and serve God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength.
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