September 7, 2021- Tuesday
A First Day of School Nature Walk
Sticking with tradition, we attempted to start school today – the day after Labor Day. It is my 6th year homeschooling. I knew I wasn’t ready, but ready or not here it was. I didn’t have our usual Amish Cinnamon Rolls made, fun first day activities, or even a finalized plan. I spent my final ten days of prep in bed, recovering from COVID. It was a doozy! I know I have turned the corner, but my energy level hasn’t yet accepted that truth. I woke up after my youngest, who had already done all his chores and even emptied the dishwasher for me (not his chore). He has been doing that lately. He takes after my husband – kind, sweet and hardworking. My ten year old daughter shined in her own way as she made us breakfast while I laid on the couch. I did manage to read our bible story, which we do most mornings without fail. This year we started a new science devotional, Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science. It is short and sweet and the kids enjoyed it. My most impressive feat was a short nature walk on the prairie trail that my (kind, sweet and hardworking) husband mows behind the house.
The goldenrod is in bloom and covered in soldier beetles, just as it was last September. This is our second autumn in Nebraska and I find myself already knowing what to anticipate from nature. The towering green plants are now capped in tiny golden flowers, turning our sea of green into a sea of gold. The goldenrod and sunflowers demand attention this time of year, and are nicely complimented by the purple asters and tall thistle that are also in season. Tall thistle is native to the prairie – not to be mistaken for the invasive musk thistle. If you want to know how to tell the difference – it is in the leaves. The musk thistle leaves are green front and back, while the native thistle leaves are silver white on the underside. The milkweed pods are pregnant and about to give birth to countless seeds that will take flight when the wind is just right. The graceful monarch’s dressed in their elegant orange, black and white attire, grace us with their presence as they flit overhead and prepare for their long flight ahead to the forests in central Mexico where they hibernate. I suppose they are much like the milkweed that sustains them, and will take flight when the wind is just right.
Our nature walk proved to be enough for today and I found myself back on the couch. I turned on our current audiobook – The Penderwicks at Point Mouette (the third book in the series), and took my daughter up on her offer to prepare us lunch. I also surrendered to my neighbor’s offer to bring us dinner. It can be hard to receive help – but it is so important to learn to receive. I drifted off to sleep as the Penderwick’s trailed off in the distance… The doorbell rang, dinner had arrived. My friend didn’t bring just one dinner, but three! Can you imagine! Three dinners that I don’t have to cook! Note to self… make freezer meals for friends in need when I am feeling better.
We left the southwest casserole on the counter for dinner so it could thaw a little and put the other meals in the fridge. I went back to sleep. I let the kids watch Wild Kratt’s – maybe it could count as a feeble attempt at science. I woke up five episodes later – yes five! I put the casserole in the oven and snuggled back onto the couch again. My husband arrived home an hour later to a warm dinner, happy kids and a rested wife. Somedays I have more to give than others… today is one of the others. Yet, in the midst of the trial, I am so thankful. Thankful for home cooked meals I didn’t cook, children who know how to let their mama rest when she tired and a husband who works hard and makes our dreams a reality. I am thankful that we homeschool – so we are flexible to heal when we need to heal, rest when we need to rest, play when we want to play, and learn when the conditions are optimal.
As we all gathered in the family room after dinner, my husband mentioned that his boss wants to go on a trip with the wives, and asked him to dream up where he’d like to go. Without much thought, he settled on Ojo Caliente in New Mexico. It is one of our favorite places, and we haven’t been since we had kids. In fact, we haven’t been too many places since kids – unless of course they were in tow. I will call my mom and see if she would like to come visit and babysit while we are gone. New Mexico is calling and I must go.
Tomorrow I hope to feel better than today… maybe we can try school again.
