September 8, 2021 – Wednesday
What is it for Today Daddy?
I did better at school today than yesterday. It may not go down in history like the time we kicked off Preschool and 1st Grade at the Hot Springs Pool… I set the bar kind of high that year. But, a redo was instore. I am still recouping from COVID, but found increasing strength today. I brewed a cup of coffee and grabbed my recipe book to search out a special breakfast that could rival cinnamon rolls. As I prepared raisin scones, my son ran circles around me, emptying the dishwasher again (still not his chore), taking out the trash, and wrapping up morning chores (something he is in the habit of doing before breakfast). My daughter prefers to wake more slowly, snuggle one of her beloved chickens, and then wander over to breakfast. While the scones were baking, I took a few sips of coffee and sat down with the Lord to ask “What is it for today Daddy?” That familiar question was how I started most of our Preschool days. I didn’t know what I was doing back then and was fully reliant on the Lord for wisdom and guidance. (read invite to homeschool and god equips the called) That is probably how we ended up at the Hot Springs Pool for the first day of school – He is such a fun and good Father. I am not sure I would have thought up that one on my own. And if I had – I may not have given myself permission for such an indulgence.
Over the years I found myself getting into more and more of a routine as I became comfortable with homeschooling. While being comfortable is, well, comfortable, I don’t believe that God is as concerned with our comfort as He is our growth. Comfort and routine can often result in self-reliance. Since my goal for homeschooling has always been to be fully reliant on God, this year I am stepping out of my comfort zone and our routine, and focusing again on my reliance on the Lord, our Headmaster. Yes, I know more about homeschooling than I did six years ago… and perhaps feel like I need Him less, but the truth is… I need Him just as much. My increase in knowledge should not change my dependence on the Lord. So this year, my focus is to reinstate my reliance on Him daily - with greater intention.
After getting some direction for the day, I lite a candle, set the table, and arranged the warm scones artistically on a plate. I placed their first day of school signs and interview sheets on their placemats, grabbed my bible and called them to breakfast. My daughter went to put her chicken away, my son ran over from his piano practice, and we started our day with prayer and a song. As a cacophonous version of “This is the Day the Lord Has Made” rang out, I reflected on how much I loved that song as a girl and how it still speaks to my heart. I pray it has the same impact on the hearts of my children over the years. There is so much strength in rejoicing and giving thanks for each and every day! For bible, we simply picked up where we left off. We have been reading through the bible year after year since preschool. We started off with The Jesus Storybook Bible and slowly graduated to our current bible The Child’s Story Bible by Katherine Vos. It is a beautifully written story version of the bible – equal in caliber to Egermeiers Story Bible which we read for years. Somedays we simply read the bible, other days the Lord will provide inspiration for greater discussion. Today, I just read the bible.
Gathering for Circle Time is my favorite part of the day. Circle Time began in preschool with songs, dances and various other activities. Today it takes on a slightly different look with Shakespeare and Mozart, to Spanish and History. Last year we dove into A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with inspiration and guidance is from Ken Ludwig’s book How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare. You can learn more about this amazing resource on the Read Aloud Revival Podcast #171. I couldn’t believe how my children took to memorizing Shakespeare. My little boy even went so far as to say “I love Shakespeare Mommy.” The icing on the cake was the free production of Twelfth Night in the park this summer by our local Shakespeare Company. Much to my amazement – Twelfth Night also happens to be next in line in Ludwig’s book. As we dug into our first Twelfth Night passage today, we already fondly remembered the characters from the park production, like old friends that had come to visit. God is so good!
After Circle Time, my daughter wrapped up her chores. She would put them off until tomorrow if she could, whereas her brother would complete tomorrow’s chores today if he could. He thrives in marking off his to-do list, while she would prefer to not mark off anything. I am learning to work with their different learning styles and preferences. I am praying for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance on how best to minister to their individual hearts.
Once the chores were done I released them to recess while I prepared lunch. We gathered on the front porch for a simple lunch of chicken salad, crackers, homemade pickles and Colorado peaches, as we listed to our Penderwick’s audiobook. After lunch we pulled out our nature journals and drew our discoveries from yesterday’s nature walk. I have to be honest that I was intimidated to continue nature study after moving from Colorado to Nebraska. I wrongly assumed that nature study in Nebraska couldn’t compare with the beauty we discovered in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. While it is not the same, it is still beautiful. In fact, it is all so new and different. I am finding there is so much to discover! As I drew the thistle growing wild in the prairie, my daughter painted a watercolor rendition of goldenrod – the state flower of Nebraska. My son was drawn to the Goldenrod Soldier Beetle that is found in abundance this time year. As they placed their journals in the sun to dry, they grabbed their kites to enjoy the beautiful fall breeze that graced us with its presence today. The cloudless blue sky seemed to welcome the decor of their kites. The warms sunshine on our faces is a welcome gift of autumn. This is indeed the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it!
“‘What day is it?’ asked Pooh. ‘It’s today,’ squeaked Piglet. ‘My favorite day’ said Pooh.” This quote by A.A. Milne was one of my favorites when my children were small. Oh how I cherished each and every day! I still do.
It was an early March morning, one I remember so vividly. We spent the morning gathered around the breakfast table reading the Bible, memorizing scripture and skimming the surface of liquids and solids. Once the wiggles set in, I knew it was time to head outdoors. I gathered up my then two and three year old, and we set off on an adventure. We had two ponds behind our house. As we approached the first one, we noticed its edges were just beginning to reveal the effects of the Rocky Mountain spring thaw. The frozen center held tight to the anticipation of the inevitable spring just around the corner. We explored craw daddies along the shoreline, tossed rocks onto the frozen center to determine the weight it would take to break, and watched the Canadian Geese land and skate across the ice like skilled figure skaters. The example of the solid pond slowly returning to its liquid state was a beautiful demonstration of our ability to learn science through nature study. I was content with the day’s lesson and decided we would continue to keep monitoring the pond until it fully thawed.
Months later on a cold Colorado January night, our patience, perseverance and faithfulness were rewarded, as hooting lured us outdoors. The synchronization of the moonlight and leafless trees, made the invisible – visible. A season of barrenness revealed the bounty that was always within – a great horned owl! Majestic, awe inspiring and mysterious – this beautiful creature had us captivated. The condensation that once formed a cloud as we exhaled, ceased as we held our breath in anticipation. Moments later a distant mate answered the call, and a harmonious courtship ensued. We stood their shivering only to be released from our trance as the owl silently took flight and disappeared into the dark.
From that night forward, we became increasingly proficient at spotting our resident owls. We would begin to anticipate their hooting courtship each January. Yet, their babies remained unseen. The evergreens do not reveal their contents in the winter as do their deciduous counterparts. Patience, perseverance and faithfulness were once again rewarded, this time in the final hours. Fast forward five years. All of our belongings have been packed into boxes, as we anticipated a move to the Midwest. We went outside to soak up all we could of springtime in the Rockies. As the children ran with their oldest sister under the pine trees, they discovered a tiny, white, down feather… and then another. Much like the owl pellets that drew our attention to the trees years ago, the white down seemed to be an invitation to look up. Not far from the scattered down, high up in the evergreens, they discovered two fuzzy white owl babies! It felt like the grand finale to a five year study! God is so good and He always finishes what He starts. Was our curiosity quenched with the satisfaction of a completed lesson? Hardly! It had simply ignited an unquenchable fire that will last a lifetime.