I love fall! Maybe it's because I grew up in 'the north woods' of Wisconsin. I am not sure. But I never outgrew my love for the season of pumpkins, crisp leaves, and hot mulled cider. So much emphasis has been placed on halloween that the celebration of fall itself has fallen to the wayside, with the exception of one day in November. I find this saddening.

My family has grown to expect fall harvest time to be a celebetory time at our house, second only to Christmas. We host a fall party for our homeschool friends at our place every year. Everyone brings a fall treat to share and we create crafts-a-plenty. Usually we do pumpkin carving. (I think the kids have more fun with this activity in a group. It also seems to reason that messing up one driveway makes a lot more sense than five or more.) One year we did corn husk dolls. (Not recommended for the novice crafter) But this year, since our group is getting into their teens, we are changing our fall focus to more 'sophisticated crafting'. This year we will be making fall wreaths for our homes, fall coasters, and possibly squirrel feeders.(we'll see if the squirrels deserve it) There will also be plenty of leaf jumping and outdoor games if weather allows.

I am thinking this will be the funnest fall gathering yet! It's not every gathering that us moms get to have as much fun participating as our children, create home decor with loving memories we can display each year, and 'teach' at the same time.

What kind of harvest has God provided for you this season?

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The end of the spring semester in our home means the end of the homeschooling 'year'. (Although we don't really go by our local school schedule, we do follow a general college semester format) And for the first time in ten homeschooling years, I was feeling burnt. I mean really burnt. It's just been so much - the piano and choir, church and martial arts, theater and 4-H.  Let's not forget the lesson work. Each of our girls know that resposibilities come first. That means there's lots to get done each day before breakfast even happens.

And I can't help but wonder how (or why) I have let their 'stuff' take so much of my time and energy. Because all us moms know that having our children involved, no matter how much we pay someone else to teach or lead an activity, means we are also involved. It's more than driving time and gas. It's assisting the teacher, gettting the supplies our children need, and supporting them through every week of what they do.

But today as I sat at and listened to my daughters play at their piano recital I realized that this is not their day, it's mine. They know what they've done. They don't really care about showing everyone else, but they want to show ME. And I have the chance to see just how far down the road they really travelled this year, and I got to walk with them. Today, I felt truely blessed.

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