Restoration Place

The Big Fall List

To celebrate the change from summer to autumn we made our Big Fall List yesterday.

It's made with a cardboard box leftover from a new range hood. Jacob took all the staples out and turned it inside out and it was big enough for all four children to write and draw on.

Our list includes lots of typical autumn doings, like going apple picking and drinking hot yummy stuff, but also some of our own unique favorites such as "hawk searching." We know hawks and other birds of prey are easier to see when perched in a tree which has lost its leaves and we're constantly on the watch for them.

What does your Big Fall List include?

Sweet Birthday

Yesterday, my birthday, was a day full of my favorite things. Breakfast in bed prepared by my oldest child, nature, birds, good friends, family, special gifts, and treasures. I'm continually astounded by how full my life is with God's blessings and surprises.

I could barely contain myself when I saw my children's faces looking at me across the birthday cake. The day really belonged to them: they were so thrilled for me that I was celebrating another birthday, and I soaked in the joy they experienced when I played the part of the birthday Mama with relish.

Sorry for the poor qualities of the photos. I'm dreaming of a new camera.

Cake & Creek Picnic

It wasn't what you would consider an ideal September day for a cake and creek picnic last week (cool, breezy, overcast and threatening to rain) but it had been far too long since we had packed up a thermos of hot Mighty Leaf vanilla tea, a chocolate cake (bought so that we could leave the house immediately), and nature journaling supplies, and so we went.

It was one of those times when I say to myself: This is what we need to be doing more often, this is what brings freedom and joy, this is the sort of experience that will be imprinted on the children's hearts.

I must ignore the demands of the house, the (in retrospect, minor) frustration over pulling together all the supplies and the cleaning up afterward, and whatever else I allow to get in the way of spending time together like this, and make these special hours happen more often.

Over and over again, I realize so much depends upon me and my attitude, self-discipline, choices, and on and on. Ugh. In my moments of exasperation and tiredness I want to go run and hide, but there are so many life-giving moments, with God's help, in which I can participate and that gives me so much joy.

Creating moments of joy are what it's all about for me lately.

 

The Terrestria Chronicles: The Sword, The Ring, and the Parchment

Since finishing Pilgrim's Progress recently, we needed something else to fill in the gap in our morning stack. I checked around and found excitement for The Terrestria Chronicles.

The Terrestria Chronicles is a seven-book series written by Ed Dunlop and published by Dunlop Ministries. Dunlop's site says the allegory series "...was written with a three-fold purpose: to honor Jesus Christ as King, to challenge young readers to love and serve Him, and to teach them to guard their hearts for Him. The focus of the series is always on the King."

The first book in the series is The Sword, the Ring, and the Parchment:

 

We just finished reading chapter five, and we're hooked. Though the writing feels a little forced at times with its wordiness and ornamental descriptions, it's a compelling story. We plan to read the entire series.

The children are eagerly creating picture narrations as I read aloud each morning, though there are a few coloring pages available. We haven't used them yet, but as soon as I remember to I'll print them out.

 

 

 

Ben's detailed picture.

I've got The Quest for Seven Castles and The Search for Everyman, books two and three of three of the series, already waiting on a shelf. But we're going to take it slowly and savor the journey.

Fresh Light

Seen in the woods this morning.

I've missed blogging. I really enjoyed and needed a vacation from it, and though I miss it and I'm full of photos and ideas about posts, I'm not quite sure how to get back into the rhythm of it.

Blogging takes time and focus. I don't like to do it for the sake of filling space, but rather with a heart for sharing about our family and hoping it might in some way inspire another home educating mama, as I have been so inspired and encouraged by others.

I think we've settled into a good flow of home education and household care, and though it's going well, I'm realizing anew how very much it takes to remain engaged--moment after moment, day after day--with this life. Kind of feels silly to even say that, because everyone has a full plate in one way or another, but this life has become much more stretching that I thought it could be.

Though I'm stretched, there's fresh light and life in this season, and I'm standing in it. I might even occupy this space again. ~smile~