Days Fifteen and Sixteen: Truth Or Dare and Blessings

She'd planned everything from the menu, my grocery list, team-building games and contests, question and answer times, outdoor fun, Blessing Day and now, fourteen girls squished their bodies round a circle, atop sleeping bags, pillows and couch cushions, filling the room with their laughter and giddy shouts. They were playing Truth Or Dare and I had to smile as I heard dares of sticking a hand into the fish tank for twenty seconds or licking a spoonful of spices. Molly has sweet girlfriends and all that silliness is about as carried away as they get... besides chatting in low whispers till one o'clock a.m. Since Molly is becoming a teenager, we allowed a big sleepover party and, as it turns out, only half were able to spend the night--another sign of great kids and families. Never offended, always grateful for the standards kept.

Almost 13!

Truth Or Dare?

Late night sparklers since it's also Victoria Day weekend!

 

Warhead candy eating contest--no sour faces allowed, and no spitting it out!

Blessing Day returns for the 13th year! Off to bless our staff with cookies and juice on this very busy long weekend.

Cousins love cookies!

Stopping thirsty workers who appreciate a moment's break for a refreshment. 

Helping to put away abandoned carts.

Plenty of babysitters around.  

More cousins loving Blessing Day cookies.

 Handsome Owner/Operator

Everyone is amused by the raspy little "God bless you!" from Ashanti.

Last two friends to go home. Some painting on the driveway.

I'll be writing more about our girl when she actually turns thirteen, but for now I'll just say that this fabulous kid picks pretty darling friends :)

Day Twenty-Six: Making Art and Memories

"The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children."

                                                                                                                             -Elaine Heffner

 

Messy tables, spilled paint, popcorn prayers, fingerprints on the wall, finding the other shoe for the field trip, mixing and rationing supplies for creating when there's not enough, dressing up, Bible songs, writing speeches, baking pies, creating a General Store, playing games, and exploring the woods... these beautiful experiences are the art of living.

 

As we near the end of the 31 Days of Homeschooling Goodness, I felt that it might be inspirational to share some of the most enjoyable things we do together as a family and as a homeschool group. These photos make me smile. When I scroll through them on my computer or the children see them in our book, they inevitably exclaim, "I remember that!" or "Mommy, can we do that again?" There is nothing more memorable than adding the more time-consuming, inconvenient things to your day--even if it's once a month. Making art and memories are the experiences that my children will never forget. It is these which they'll share with their own children. And if that's the case, I want to make many, many more of them. 

 art evening for moms at my house

 

 

 Unbelievable talent between my friend Tanya and her husband who create so much art and share it! 

 ready listeners 

the lovely Tanya inspires us

art as a group

 proudly displaying his art

 using Tanya's idea and creating this fabulous mask and headdress

 dressing up, always

nature notebooking

 our General Store for learning the concept of money

 

 

 

rolling out the dough

 

baking pies

 finding interesting creatures

 winning speech meets!

 Yay!

 Mama has a lot of homeschooled grandchildren :)

 playing games for a change in pace and practice of a concept

sewing with a furry friend

 field trip with homeschool buddies

 

 

celebrating the art of living--given by the Creator of it all!

 

More Than Friendship

It was our annual Friendship Club (Ministries) barbeque and my children wouldn't let me forget the whole week before. Grandma and Grandpa had been there early, preparing for our developmentally disabled friends who arrived with just as much fervor as my kids. This year, once again, Herb came with his hilarity-producing games that drew participation by everyone. I wouldn't be exaggerating by saying pure joy erupted in that place!

 

(Oh, how I'd love to post photos of the "Friends' lovely faces but I must protect their privacy so my kids and the "mentors' will have to suffice.)

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Serving our "friends", as we call them at our weekly, school-year-long club, is a blessing that overrides the preparation, time and effort. Our relationship is more than friendship, it's a beautiful dance whereby we embrace ones who understand struggle and move together in the harmony of a God-written song, which blends us in unity. I LOVE that my children have been taught the dance by their Creator too. They'll ever be unified with "friends" wherever they go in life, helping them and being changed by how they help us to understand what true friendship looks like.