Summer :)

Summer ... even the word alone is exciting never mind all that comes with it!
We are beginning to wrap up our 'rookie' homeschool year and we are all excited for some time of relaxation, vacation time as a family and .. of course, learning! The learning never stops :) We are going to be doing the 'Kids of Integrity Challenge' from Focus on the Family Canada. If you haven't heard about this ... check it out at www.kidsofintegrity.com
The stuff they have put on their site is great ... family plans for all different traits of integrity. We are starting with kindness and obedience; but they have lots of others to choose from too! It is a great way to share the characteristics of Christ, and build godly character in your children :)

Hannah is completing her kindergarten year and has learned so much! We learned about metamorphosis and the life cycle of a caterpillar/butterfly, learned about ocean life, swam with sting rays ('in their natural habitat' - as Hannah would say), pet a sea horse in the gulf of Mexico, caught a caterpillar and watched it spin its chrysalis, planted a garden, and threw in math, language and all that other stuff too ;) It has been an incredible year!! I can not believe that grade 1 is a summer away!

We are planning a kindergarten graduation for Hannah in mid July ~ when her Auntie Ros and Uncle Anton are back in Ontario from their work trip ~ and we are already talking about all that next year holds! What a joy this is!

I have also been thinking that if we just give our kids a 'head knowledge' of things then really we are not meeting all their needs! Many of you know that my dream is to own some property and build/have a house where we can plant a garden, have some chickens, a goat ... lots of fun things and REALLY teach my children HOW to live! It's a blessing to have a grocery store to go to .. but I want them to know how to grow food, harvest, do canning and be prepared for winter months ... how to make a garden, how to look after animals, the list goes on!

I know ... this sounds crazy to many!! But honestly, I truly feel this is the leading of the Lord is our little family's lives. That He is pulling on my heartstrings as a mom that my girls need more than adding, multiplication and such ... they need a biblical worldview of life! And I just feel so blessed that He has called me to do that for them! Now, can I or do I do that on my own? No way! My girls have so many wonderful influences in their lives .. family, friends; people who love them and are praying that my girls will 'walk worthy of the Lord Jesus.'

Now, am I saying that we throw math out the window ?! Hannah might like to some days :) but of course not! But there are so many wonderful ways to do math!! How long do we have to make our garden if we want to put this many vegetable seeds in it? How many days will it take for our seeds to germinate? (prediction) Let's count the vegetable seeds ... how many go in each little spot? See what I mean ... we can do all these things and still be doing 'school' I LOVE IT!!

I know that some people will think that I am crazy but I really feel a stirring inside me! It is this assurance that my girls are learning, and LEARNING!! Even if you don't homeschool ... isn't it great to know that your kids are learning in everyday experiences?! I think that is amazing! Can't you tell :)

Anyways, I know that I have rambled on .. but that's what has been on my heart ~ :)