The end of the school year for us is one day away, and I'm still having thoughts...
After a whirlwind beginning of June, I found myself still lagging and continuing to add school time to the beginning of the summer break. In my frustration, I tried to remind myself that this is homeschooling. On PEI, we don't have to submit anything to the government to prove that we have finished a year at the right time, and that is a blessing to someone like me who seems to be all the loose ends at the er...end.
Now we are transitioning into summer. I have our books for next year save Greek and Grammar. My third child will be starting narrations next year, which I am so very excited about, as her mind works in mysterious, funny, and surprising ways. A says things and makes connections that are totally unexpected.
I am now one of those homeschool moms, and I'm not mad about it in the least. I caved and bought a printable planner at the end of last year, and indeed, it was helpful. I had many thoughts about what I wanted to change in our homeschool, and I just needed to get them all in one place. This will be my second year using Seasons of the Kingdom and I love that it has a section for everything: a fasting calendar, a planner for every child, and a Notes section at the end which I co-opted into a practice journal!
As for myself, I have a ton of hobbies I don't have enough time for. Often I am frustrated by the amount of time I get to spend on them. I like to knit, paint, draw, not to mention practice piano, and singing. It's hard to get anything started when family life is all-consuming. Thank goodness I have a supportive husband who gives me time despite his own lack of time.
A friend of mine from uni so kindly sent me this watercolour book. Dare I call it watercolour for busy moms? The outline is done for you, the palette is also chosen for you, one just has to copy the suggested picture. So satisfying
We're also starting a reading challenge at church and I am so grateful the book I chose to read first seems to speak to me in this current time. It is called Exploring the Inner Universe. It is a transcript of a long interview between Dinu Cruga and Archimandrite Fr. Roman Braga. In it, he speaks to Cruga about hesychasm and finding God in the prison camps of Communist Romania. In this utterly devastating time in Romania's history, Fr. Roman triumphed. In many of the pictures and videos I see of him, he has a warm smile. His incredible message of finding God in your heart captured me, and I'm sure many others, and he is now soon to be glorified! Another thing I admire about Fr. Roman is his optimism about Orthodoxy in America. As Orthodoxy is still quite young in America when compared to Romania, for example, he says that it will take time and patience for it to form its identity, but no doubt organization and charity will be its hallmarks. Something to take to heart!
When I think of all he has undergone, my troubles seem small, however, I do believe God in His mercy sees them all. No prayer is too small, and I pray that my small prayers will be blessed.
The back cover of Exploring the Inner Universe
Scenes from yesterday's hike. Minutes before mosquitoes started eating us alive. Nevertheless, a truly memorable hike for the way the light of the setting sun filtered through the trees, creating a warm effusive glow in the forest. What a blessing to have places to go to like this!
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