ASL perfermance at 4-H Share the Fun

Princess K and her "Partners In Crime" performing at the 4-H Share the Fun competition. They placed second in their first ever public appearance as an ASL team. Proud Mama moment!!

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Check out this blog for a change to win a super cute handmade purse. She has a ton of other great items in her store as well

ziggurat!!

After today's study on Sumer, Princess A constructed her version of a ziggurat. Tomorrow it's on to pyramids, they we'll get to mummify something...wonder who, I mean what, we'll pick for that project.

Camp Half-blood photos

Dying quite bravely...

The Princess is an archer...

Lazy Days of Summer?

I have never really been sure of the origin of that phrase, but it does not fit our lives at all. So far this summer we've worked. First there was the fireworks stand. (A great lesson in patience and getting along.) 5 people in a camper for 11 days in the middle of an empty field with nothing to do is definitely character building. Learning to step outside of your anxiety to talk to strangers, having to borrow and carry on the fly to get totals for customers, and not having everyone available to "do it for you" or just some of the lessons learned by the royal offspring.

After that it was time for Princess K to head to Camp Half-blood. If you've read any of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books, then you know what I'm talking about. Two weeks in the scorching heat learning to fence, throw javelins, march, dance, and a myriad of other Greek skills, keeps you hot and tired...but having fun :0)

Now its time for the Queen to set up the school year again (DIDN'T WE JUST FINISH?!?!?) I learned of a new system called Workboxes (see info on the book here) and we're really excited to get started. I'll have to post pictures when I get things set up.

The problem with hammering a square peg into a round hole is not that the hammering is such hard work...it's that you're destroying the peg."
Author unknown

Of all the reasons I could list to explain why I home school, the quote above probably does the best job of saying it for me.There are other paths I could have chosen. There are probably easier ways to get my children "educated." Anyone who has ever home schooled knows its not the easiest job in the world. Sadly, I must admit, I've done much "hammering of square pegs." Some hammering was done in ignorance, some in frustration. Thankfully, I'm always reminded (although not always gently) that my purpose is not to drive my "square" children into round holes, but to guide them down the path God designed for them. Everything I see as a defect, He sees as potential. Everything I see as an insurmountable challenge, He sees as an opportunity to excel. What looks to lack to me is abundance to Him....and He grants me the privilege of helping to guide these wonderful gifts out of my children.

I know that as a wife, mom, teacher, cook, laundry lady, and all the other hats you wear, its easy to feel discouraged and overwhelmed. Its easy to look at those square pegs of yours and wish they would just fit right into whatever hole is the closest. On those days, I'd like to encourage you to call another mom who will lift you up with encouraging words. I'd also like to ask you to grab my hammer from my hands when you see me standing next to the wrong hole wielding it with wild eyes :)

Wordless Wednesday