Labor day was spent with family and friends so we official started our unit on Tuesday. I tweaked the grid a bit to fit everything in and it worked out just fine. I love to see how my children are really enjoying learning.

They seemed to get a kick out of the Greek roots and learning all the English words that come out of them. Biblos: R says, “My sister reads so much I call her a bibliomaniac”. Dinosaurs of Eden is a hit so far. What child isn’t fascinated with those “terrible lizards”…

I’m excited about “God and the History of Art” I have my own art notebook and have committed to doing the lessons right along with DD and R. Our first lesson on Frustration we read about Joni Eareckson Tada and attempted to draw a picture by holding our pencils in our mouths.

There was a lot of slobber to contend with, some loose and some missing teeth, but I think the message was clear. We talked about doing our best with what God has given us. We talked about the gifts and talents God has poured out on all of us and we talked about our choice to use those gifts for God and the blessing that comes not only through us but to us.

As we read throughout the week the account of the Creation they drew each day what God had created. It’s such a neat thing how God met the needs of all the animals and people before He even created them. That just speaks to me in a neat way.

Friday came and the books were put away this was to be a day of preparation for a Sabbath celebration. We cleaned the grease board and put it away. We went from room to room together and cleaned from cobwebs to floors and everything in between. We did an extra load of laundry and actually put the folded clothes away. We started the Golden Yoich and the Challah bread.

By afternoon the house was smelling as R said, “like Thanksgiving Day” We set out the table cloth and set the table with our nicest things, the candlesticks and polished silver.

“Are Gramma and Poppa coming?” “No” “Do we have friends coming? “No”. This special time was just for them. DD’s quiet smile was enough for my heart to hold.

When O came in from work I could sense his delight and pleasure to be welcomed with the sight and scent of it all. There seemed to be an unspeakable excitement and yet peacefulness about the house as we waited for the sun to sink a bit lower in the sky. As it did we gathered at the table in prayer. O did such a great job of explaining what happens next and how it relates to us in Christ. We all slept sweetly with candles aglow and the scent of Cholent cooking through the night.

We knew Saturday wouldn’t be exactly a day of complete rest and time together as our schedules would not permit but we did spend much of the day together and tried to keep that sense of rest and peace in the home. It was a rainy day and the kiddies played outside in the puddles. I realized how difficult it is for me personally to rest. By afternoon I was almost beside myself thinking of a hundred things I could be doing. The dishes, another load of laundry, Make copies, etc. Even in prayer I tend to labor rather than focus on the goodness of God alone and rest in His presence. O made it back in time that evening for our late light dinner. It was too overcast to spot the first three stars of the evening but we gathered again at the table in prayer as darkness began to fall.

We lit the Havdalllah candle, O poured the juice in the Kiddush cup till it overflowed and extinguished the flame in what had spilled over. DD then passed around the Bessamen spice box and we savored the sweetness of our Sabbath. I still have no words to express the power of this moment.

Shabbat Shalom