First Day of School (last week)

My Mom reminded me that only Caleb got pictures posted on the first day of school. So to do due diligence, here are all three on the first day of public school, last week.

"Really, first day of school pictures again? I'm in Jr. High now."

Calm, cool, and confident waiting for the bus. I chose this picture because she has really never looked back.

Goofy, and a little smug, in her pj's.

Matchbook Found

Look what our contractor just found in the wall!

Here is a closer look at the two panels. Notice the four digit telephone number. Also, the printer (Atkins Printing Service) is still in business. The hot dog shop is not.

One of the things I love about homeschooling

Today, Marc had the kick-off breakfast for United Way. Anna got to go with him.

Here is a picture of Anna participating in the hooplah:
http://twitpic.com/2mp1hi
And here is a picture of her sneaking in some time to do what she loves:
http://twitpic.com/2mooka

Because of our choice to homeschool, and because of Marc's approach to work and family, our kids have had dozens of opportunities to be involved with what is happening in our community. They have seen adults pulling together to get something done, have seen adults celebrating what has been accomplished, have seen first hand that our donations are going to hurricane relief or the homeless shelter. Organizations like Rotary and United Way aren't just a meeting that Dad goes to with other adults. They have seen and experienced what it is to be a contributing and involved citizen. They have seen that a difference, even if it's a little difference, can be made and is important.

And thinking about it, those are some of the most important lessons that I could offer my kids.

Prayer for our Kids

Yup. This is the week that I send my baby to kindergarten and my oldest to Jr. High. So when this song came on my ipod this morning, I have to admit to getting a little weepy. (Perhaps I should build margin in for that this week.)

I first heard, and fell in love with, this song when I was preparing to head to India 15 or so years ago. The song was largely about me and my journey. About what I felt commissioned for.

Now, I am hearing it with a mothers ears. I am hearing it as a parenting commission, and as a commissioning that I can pass onto to my kids. It is the prayer I will be praying for my kiddos, especially this week.

Let Mercy Lead 

Rich Mullins and Beaker

Aidan you're young
But Aidan you're growing fast
Me and your mom
And all the love we have
We can only take you so far
As far as we can
But you'll need something more to guide your heart
As you grow into a man

Let mercy lead
Let love be the strength in your legs
And in every footprint that you leave
There'll be a drop of grace
If we can reach
Beyond the wisdom of this age
Into the foolishness of God
That foolishness will save
Those who believe
Although their foolish hearts may break
They will find peace
And I'll meet you in that place
Where mercy leads

Aidan the day
Aidan the day will come
You'll run the race
That takes us way beyond
All our trials and all our failures
And all the good we dream of
But you can't see yet where it is you're heading
But one day you'll see the face of love

Let mercy lead
Let love be the strength in your legs
And in every footprint that you leave
There'll be a drop of grace
If we can reach
Beyond the wisdom of this age
Into the foolishness of God
That foolishness will save
Those who believe
Although their foolish hearts may break
They will find peace
Where mercy leads

Sunflower

Remember this little guy?

 

Grew up so nice and tall and proud and well on the way to becoming a tall sunflower.

Here it is now....

















No, not the one behind, nor the little bit of grass in front. It's gone. Bugs, apparently, have no respect for the potential of a sunflower.

So, in spite of my very Organic Gardening upbringing, I have gone to the dark side, and begun to spray POISON! It is with a mixture of guilt and glee that I spray the leaves of the remaining plants about once a week.

And just to give perspective on how tall they are now, here is my new comparison (isn't she cuter than that rock, anyhow).

Track Star

At her first track meet (7/1), Anna was thrown into a chaos that was punctuated by gun shots. It was a first track meet for all of us and Marc and I did our best to keep up with all the action and to shepherd our kids from one event to another, and to lead them in cheering for their teammates.

Caleb ran the 200m and threw the shot put. He didn't place in either, but he had also been at music camp all week, missing the practices just before the meet.

Anna ran the 100m threw tears. She was overwhelmed by all the action and noise and directions coming from every direction. She and I talked and I gave her the goal to just run and told her that even if she continued to hate track all summer, we would hate it, and finish it together.

After the 100m, her javelin event was called. All the ages competed at the same time so we watched the youngest to the oldest take their throws, some of them for their first time. Marc, one of her coaches, and I watched with outright amazement at her natural ability and very good form.

Today we found out that she had placed second in her age-group for javelin. From tears to cheers and feeling proud. Guess who is looking forward to her track meet this week?

Sunflowers

Three Weeks of Growing

Week 3 in the life of a sunflower

No kidding! This is the same sunflower that I took a picture of  taken 7 ago!

Treasure Hunt, Waterville Style

Waterville Public Library has some awesome programs planned for kids this summer. The first adventure began this past week with a Treasure Hunt in downtown Waterville. We followed the clues to find 10 'x's' around town. Here are a few pictures the we took on our adventure.

Waterville Pirate Treasure Hunt

More about the Sunflower Bed

Years ago I talked about this cool book:

It is full of fun gardening ideas. Even more, it is beautiful to look through.
One of the things I learned from this lovely book is to mark out my garden using kitchen flour.

So here is a picture of the sunflower bed just before the seeds went in the ground.

And here is the garden after the seeds have been bedded and watered.

 
Here is one of the first babies, just a week after planting.

I put a rock next to this baby. My hope is to take its picture at least weekly.

It is going to grow to somewhere between 8 and 12 feet!