So far, September has been a wonderful month, Bill's parents were here and we celebrated their 40th anniversary before they left.  Bill and I went to a pastors retreat at the camp where we used to serve as missionaries.  Friends who have been out fishing are returning from the water.  Other friends who have worked rediculously crazy hours all summer are nearing the end of the "work season".

Of course, we are just gearing up with church and all the ministries that start in the fall.  In fact, those all start this week.  And school continues to gather momentum...

We tried schooltime "contracts" in the month of August which lasted for the month; and for September, we reviewed and renewed them.  I am pleased with the idea which came from the TJEd Home Companion and specifically from Diann Jepson.  The kids have been excited to choose exactly what they study and how much studying they will do each week. They actually get fairly ambitious in some subjects that I would not have guessed.  I do discuss their plans with them and I gently encourage them to stretch themselves but I have not had to require studying in any particular subject. (read: I ask questions and bite my tongue a bit)

Do they fulfill their contracts?  Well, the month of August was fairly well done.  My plan is to review daily  the journals they keep of their activities.  They are supposed to write the subject and how much/how long they worked on that subject.  My son gets off the hook a little since he is still working enough on his educational skills that I don't want to overtax him with record keeping on top of it.  He is only required to record the subject he studies.  I didn't get my daily reviews done as much as I had hoped in August and, so far, September has been crazy with visitors and travelling.  Hopefully, we will get down to brass tacks now.