And They're Off

Off to the races, that is what it feels like here.  We have started school and have eight days behind us,  headed for lap 9 of 170 of them.  No, I am not counting down, it is just so amazing to watch the days tick on and next thing you know they are starting a new school year.  There is something so special about getting back into the swing of the school year.

Each year I keep surprising myself as I open up a book with the new grade curriculum for each child, "really, is this how old they are now."  Sierra is now a junior, and our time with her is quickly going by.  Surely, she won't sneak out of the house as fast as Alex and Latisha did but if so, wow!  This will be a new adventure for her as she is taking a college course.  Sierra is considering going to college and this will give her a glimpse into college.  She only attends class for a couple of weeks then the rest is mostly on line, but it is still a new adventure.

We opted out of homeschool coop this year.  It just seemed like last year was such a struggle to stay caught up in our lessons.  Danika really enjoyed coop but is filling her time with more youth activities.  This is her second year in youth, yep, there went another sigh for this mama.  Cassandra started school the day the books came in the mail.  I had to stop her until I was ready but now she is a bit ahead and she loves that.  She is such a go getter.  Aidric is thrilled to be doing daily preschool lessons.  It is totally not necessary but he insists.  He wants his school time too.  I am so thrilled to watch him saying his abc's and now counting into the 20's.  He tries so hard to keep up with the big kids.

Our sad time came with Isabella's "school."  We have had an amazing friend, Alli, come for the past year to work with Isabella.  She is starting her own school and will not be able to work with Isabella except for a little here and there.  Alli, will be greatly missed by all of us but especially Isabella who runs around the house with such joy when Alli shows up.  I tried to really down play her moving on because I really am hopeful she can still come occasionally and am really excited for her next adventure, but there was definitely a little sadness as we sad goodbye today.  Cassandra on the other hand tried to keep making it like she was never coming back.  Alli, I so wish you the best and a huge thanks for your help and love for Isabella.    (Alli, if you read this focus on your school and no worries about us. :) )

For me, life is good and I love teaching my children.  I am so blessed to be able to educate my kiddos and look forward to this next year with great expectations.  Things are busy as we get back into the swing of things, but I love the schedule and watching my kids learn.  Have a great day and God bless.

Alicia

Aidric with a sample of his hard work! Doesn't he look so proud?

Isabella showing off her new braces.

Cassandra with her books

Sierra took a selfie before she left for her class.

Road Trip 2015: Adventure 1

Graduation was upon us and it was time to hit the road.  We decided to make it a sight seeing trip.  Several adventures wrapped up in a nice long vacation.  Of course we had lots of little adventures along the way that we had not planned on, but isn’t that how life and traveling with children goes.  Last fall we decided to see if our motor home would sell.  It gets such terrible gas mileage and sure does slow down our trip, not to mention it is hard to drive in any city.  David put it on Craig’s list at a higher price then we had expected and it sold within a couple days.  We took that as, it was time to move on.  So, as we have been planning this trip for the last several months I have been quite concerned with how we would do, being in a car for over 60 hours of traveling.  Well, I will share with you the ups and downs of our trip in the next few days, along with what we learned about navigating different national historical sites along the way. 

First Adventure. 

Our first adventure took us a couple days to get to.  We have a Yukon XL.  We loaded up Wednesday night.  Thursday morning we headed out, only 10 minutes behind schedule.  We traveled about 3 ½ hours to David’s dad’s house, picked up his up his utility trailer, and found the trailer was a little bigger and heavier then we had expected.  Our traveling time slowed a bit but our first night we made to the middle of Wyoming and spent the night with David’s brother and family. 

The next morning off we went to our first destination, Mount Rushmore.  The weather report had said it was going to be cold and rainy on Saturday, but it must have come a day early and we drove though the rain and cold on Friday.  Friday night we found an amazing hotel.  What I have found on this trip is it is better to prebook your hotel room before arriving to you destination.  We had prebooked a family suite at the Best Western in Hill City, South Dakota.  It had a separate room with a king bed and the kids were in the main room with two queen beds, a sofa, a table, and a kitchen area.  The room had a large bathroom with a sink in the bathroom and a sink out side the room, not to mention a sink in the kitchen area.  It was cheaper than getting two rooms and was large, clean and comfortable.  I would highly recommend it. 

We stepped out of our car and Sierra felt very week, cold, and shaky.  It was late and had been a long day of driving so I just told her to take a hot bath and relax.  The hotel had a beautiful pool but with Sierra not doing so well and we were all tired, we didn’t get to go swimming.  The next morning Sierra was still not feeling well but was a trouper.  The inclusive breakfast at our hotel was wonderful.  A waitress took our order and came out with more food than we could eat.  We headed to Mount Rushmore, only 15 minutes away.  I had been there once with my grandparents when I was a child and as we approached the mountain it was thrilling.  The park was just opening as we arrived and was not busy at all.   What a neat sight.  The weather was beautiful and we were so blessed with a lovely day.  No rain till we left. 

We spent about two hours at Mount Rushmore.  There are a few walking paths, but the path we could have pushed the strollers on was under construction, so we just went to the main picture site and enjoyed the Presidents.  Below the picture platform was an information area, complete with a short movie and miscellaneous relics from the building of the sculptures.  Aidric’s favorite part was the imitational blowing up of the different parts of the mountain.  So thrilling.  It was fun to see.  We then made a few sandwiches, piled into the car and headed on to our next adventure.

nap time

Oil!

Our family at Mount Rushmore

Aidric setting off dynomite

Cassandra taking a turn

Moving Along

Ahhhh, things are just moving along here.  Progress right?   We are well into our new semester, and school is going well.  I look at this semester and am wowed by another school year half over.  My children are learning, completing assignments, and growing up. They will never be in these grades again.  I enjoy watching them learn and cherish our moments together.  Not every day is smooth, but on the perfect days I have such a feeling of satisfaction over all we accomplish.

Books, books and more books.

The wedding preparations are also coming along.  This being my first child to marry, I am learning so much.  So many decisions, planning, crafting, creating, fittings, and budgeting are getting done and things are moving right along.  The other day Latisha, a couple of her bridesmaids, and myself went to get Latisha's wedding dress fitted.  It was very fun.  I was surprised how every alteration made was a different charge, so we had them do the parts we weren't comfortable doing.  She was a little hesitant but was happy to cut the cost a bit.  The bridesmaid's dresses need a little adjustments too.  We are adding wider shoulder straps and hemming them a bit.  One dress is done, now only 3 more to go.    

Latisha and I  picking up the dress, she looked absolutely beautiful but we're keeping the dress a secret.  :)

work day

The other day we had some friends over to work on wedding projects.  We spent the afternoon making bridal shower invites, rsvp cards, tags for the sparkling cider, and folding wedding invitations.  Latisha was so happy with all we got accomplished and we had fun doing it.  What a great way to brighten up the dreary weather we have been experiencing here.  Hope all is well with you all.  God is good.  Have an amazing day.

Alicia

Changes

Off my son goes on his next big adventure.  He is going to a Christian University this year that is over 1500 miles away.  At this college he will be able to be ordained in our denomination and receive the music degree he is seeking.  I'm excited for him but quite torn up inside.  I sure hope it isn't this hard each time one of our children leaves and that they don't have to go so far.  I am grateful for the experiences ahead of him.  I pray for his safety and that this will be a wonderful time of growing in Christ.  I was looking at my post from a year ago.  Alex was entering a college in our area so he didn't have to go away.  My heart went out to the parents that were leaving their children.  Now I can understand first hand the separation  they were experiencing.  I don't hand my child off to a college and leave it at that.  I am a praying mom and though he is away, my prayers will never cease.  My job is not done just shifting a bit.

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?  there is no searching of his understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall;  But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;  they shall run, and not be weary ; and they shall walk, and not faint."  Isaiah 40: 28-31

I read this today and it really blessed me, may it bless you also.

 Have a blessed day.

Alicia

Student Orientation

Off we go.  Official parents of a college student.  This weekend was orientation at the University my son is going to.  It was so special.  I think I have taken for granted the big deal this is all around the country as parents take their children, the blessings entrusted to them by God, to a school and drop them off to be indoctrinated by that school.  I went to the first day with Alex.  I was all cheery and wondering if it were necessary for me to be there.  I looked around and saw anxious parents with concern, apprehension and excitement for their beloved offspring.  I was so thankful that I am not dropping my son off somewhere as I watched the parents letting go and saying good bye.  Our transition is relatively easy compared to these other families.  I too am filled with apprehension after 18 years of training and homeschooling my child, doing our best to raise our child in the paths of righteousness, it is hard to let go and entrust them to the teaching of another.  But isn't this what we are to do when we feel that this is the path God has for them.  Letting go is hard for me, how much more emotional it is for the parents that are dropping their seed off.  Have we prepared them for the path ahead?  Are they going to have hurts, disappointments, and trials ahead that we can't protect them from?  And most importantly will they stand for God no matter what they see or hear?  Our job as parents isn't over it is changing.  I pray all the harder.

At the church service at the University they had a "Cords of Covenant Litany."  What that was, was a written dialogue between the students, family and friends, and the University.  The students read and stated how they were seeking meaning and purpose and academic, spiritual, and social growth.  The parents spoke of entrusting the school with those they have been entrusted with and asking the school to model Christ for their child.  Then the faculty and staff responded with a covenant to be a community of faith and learning... committing to equip the students to be God's creative and redemptive agents in the world.  Sobs were heard across the auditorium as this was read and reality was hitting home.  I am so blessed by this statement and pray that this is truly the heart of this University.  After the service there was a bbq for the students and families and then many goodbyes were said and more tears shed. 

I remember my family leaving my brother at college many years ago.  It was so sad to say goodbye to my brother and I tried my best not to cry.  As we drove off and left my brother there was much silence in our car and I could no longer hold back my tears.  What a turning of the page.  I pray that the page we are now turning is for God's glory and am thankful we still have our son here with us and no good byes are being said. 

I read a quote the other day of a professor at a secular university who said he could care less all the years of training parents have given their children, now that they are at his school it is his turn to untrain all their parents have taught.  How scary.  My prayer is that God will bless and protect all our children and students that head off to pursue a degree they believe God wants them to seek.  May we as parents not hand them off blindly but continue to seek God on their behalf and may our children be so close to their Savior that they will not be turned from their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

God bless.  Have a great day.
Alicia