(47/52) SCHOOL'S SECOND QUARTER...

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower,
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

High King of Heaven, my victory won

May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun

Heart of my own heart, whate’er befall

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

 

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

(41/52) SCHOOL'S FIRST QUARTER...

The heavens declare the glory of God,

    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

    and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

 whose voice is not heard. 

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

    and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

    and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

    and its circuit to the end of them,

    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,

 and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

 and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

 in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors?

  Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
 let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,
 and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

(35/52) SCHOOL DAYS, SCHOOL DAYS...

"the most effective way to do it, is to do it." -amelia earhart

it's no secret we love summer.
so as the start of school was looming on the calendar,
we lived in denial for awhile that a schedule was really going to return at our house.

but then the last of our books arrived,
all supplies were purchased and organized,

and a night of meeting the teachers happened.

dear friends' names showed up on each kid's class list,

both got assigned to delightful teachers for their school days,
and a bit of excitement slowly began to replace the denial.

we laid out first day outfits,
eagerly packed backpacks and lunch boxes,

and celebrated with a back-to-school family dinner.

since the first day of school is the one time a year all five of us are up together in the 6 o'clock hour 

we document it and we did the same when i actually got ready for co-teacher training day.

but usually you'll find me teaching at home in my favorite uniform of all and comfy as can be.

two mornings a week our breakfast table now holds polished students ready to go learn.

and two mornings it is filled with bedheads diving into their learning at home for the day.

every morning i thank God for each person in our family and the gift of this day.

one week in, and i've already decided it's once again a three-way tie for my favorite student.

each comes with their own unique challenges and their own unique gifts.

i pray for strength as i spur them on to learn well, and to also grow well into who we were each created to be.

(22/52) SCHOOL'S OUT FOR MOMMAS...

school's out for summer.

which means school's out for us mommas too.

on the last day of school five of us hit the road for some celebrating of our own.

five moms (& co-teachers), who have (& teach) fifteen kids between us.

our kids' poems had been recited, final assessments taken, and papers turned in.

we had completed a year's worth of home day lessons (it really happened).

what seemed impossible in august, was cheerfully counted as successes in may.

so we kissed our smartypants kiddos goodbye for a bit, and giddily drove to bastrop for a few days.

we slumber partied, swam, slid, exhaled leisurely, lounged fireside, 

shared, danced, laughed, cried, prayed, dined, sipped, read, challenged, planned,

celebrated miracles, explored, and completely relaxed. it was such a gift.

and then upon returning home we scooped up some favorite students

and went on a day trip to a nearby waterpark.

we celebrated, laughed, and slid some more. and it was also such a gift.

(21/52) ANOTHER YEAR OLDER AND WISER...

completing SECOND GRADE means knowing 

how to multiply and divide.
how to complete complex patterns and story problems.
the parts of speech and grammar basics.
how to write a summary well.
how to write your own plays and act.
all about outer space, constellations, planets and more.
how to do a cartwheel.
how to wash and fix your own hair.
historical events from B.C. to A.D.
how to read scripture and why it is important.
latin vocabulary and prayers.
how to mail letters independently.
how to boil noodles and make cookies.
how to be a true friend.
how to share your gifts.


completing KINDERGARTEN means knowing
the days of the weeks, months of the year, and seasons.
the books of the old and new testament.
how to write your own first and last name.
how to write sentences.
how to read picture books and chapter books.
reading a menu and ordering at a restaurant.
about the continents and oceans.
about animals near and far.
the different kinds of coins.
how to add and subtract.
how to make soccer goals.
getting ready for the day independently.
how to put up your own clean clothes.
how to share well with your tablemates and siblings.
how to be a loyal friend.


completing a year of being a SIDEKICK means knowing
how to draw circles, color, and paint well.
how to do zumba and soccer.
getting better at climbing.
how to cooperate with peers.
knowing most of your letters.
how to share and take turns.
how to spell your own name.
how to sort and count to 13.
it's important to obey and learning how to do it.
how to pick out growing food snacks.
how to pick up and put up your own things.
the names of all of our favorite stores and which errands have lollipops.
how to function on very few naps but daily chill time.
how to sleep through the night with your siblings.
how to make up original songs, stories, and jokes.


another year older. another year wiser.
another year taller. another year becoming.
another year of being loved beyond measure.

so long school year, hellllllllllllloooooo summer!