Due to the realization that it is, in fact, September and it is, in fact, cold and cloudy, I am finally putting pen to paper and doing some planning for our school year.  Sigh.  We just feel like we've been waiting for summer to start and ... it never really did.  I feel like I've missed an important part of my life.  Stupid, I know.  O.k., enough whining.  And I certainly don't expect ANY sympathy because most of the U.S. is HOT still!  So, please forgive my immaturity when it comes to needing summer.  My inner California girl just won't grow up, no matter where I live.  Maybe listening to the Beach Boys will warm my soul.  Just seeing a surfer might help.  Pathetic is the word that comes to mind. 

O.k., now here's where I'd like some input.  I would really like to get a Bible Study that my 12 year old son can do on his own.  I think it's a good time for him to start some deeper study of the Bible and he needs more than what we are doing on Sunday as a family.  So, does anyone out there have any suggestions?  Someone once mentioned the book, "The Praying Kid" by Stormy Omartian (was that you, Emily?)  Any thoughts on this book?  I appreciate anyone's advice.

I also bought a neat package that teaches calligraphy with pens, paper, tools, everything.  I finally brought it out today and left it on the table, where the kids would see it.  I told them we would be doing this when we started up school again and they all seem interested.  Mostly, we are just picking up from where we left off a few months ago so I needed to bring in something new for good morale.  (Morale:  "A state of a person or group's spirits and confidence."  Just what we need!)

I want to start history with my younger two but I haven't quite figured out what time period or where in history we are going to start.  My oldest needs no instruction, in fact, I could probably just have him teach them which he does quite frequently.  I'm so thankful he is such a sponge for info and reads so much on his own.  The downside is that he spoiled me - I thought homeschooling was so easy because he learned so quickly.  My other two kids actually require me to teach them - how dare they!  (LOL)

That's as far as I've gotten for now.  Any advice would be appreciated.  I've been doing this for 8 years and I still feel like a novice at times.  Can you relate?  Oh, yes, I need to pray about our school year - that should help clear things up.  It's so easy to forget that we are not on this journey alone.

Thanks again for all the nice comments and the prayers for my friend.  Hope all is well in your part of the world!