School is Out

It was really sad to lose my caterpillar family, but not near as sad as what other people are experiencing around the world with loss of homes and family members in Burma, flooding in some places, drought in others. My heart goes out to these people. It has put my loss in perspective. And I'm forgiving the neighbor man. He must have thought he was doing us a good thing. He didn't know what he was really doing.

The high today is around 46 degrees. Fahrenheit! Last night it snowed at my friend's house, just up the hill, and it was still snowing when I talked to her on the phone later in the morning. It is raining and windy here, and just a few days until the first day of summer.

We have finished up homeschool for the school year and it's time for a new schedule. Forest is going to keep reading all summer. Emily Rose has lots of fun learning projects she is itching to do. I'm convicted that we need more of God in our life, more of the Bible and more time for prayer. So we are trying having worship three times a day. Daniel prayed three times a day. The Bible says we should pray continually. But I have found that if we don't have time set aside for the family to come together before God, we don't do it. Honestly, we were struggling to make it once a day, which didn't make me happy. I think our sights are set so low, so I've raised them here and are worshiping together three times a day. I think it is having a good effect too. There isn't so much time between times of prayer. We are praying more for each other, the struggles of the day, our character flaws, for more of the Holy Spirit, and for other people in need. It is a good thing. We are singing more in the day too. That is also a good thing.

Here's our schedule/framework for the day, in case it might be of help to someone else. I don't like to plan it too tight the whole day through. We need time every day that is flexible. We may get off the time a little bit, but we still follow through the order of events. There are three times a day to get back on track.

5:30 Mama's up for personal time with God; shower, dress
6:30 Kids are up. Forest starts breakfast. Emily Rose has personal time with God.
6:45 Mama to the kitchen. Emily Rose empties dishwasher.
7:00 Breakfast with family
7:30 Family Worship.
8:00 Emily Rose piano practice. Forest and Mama clean the kitchen.
8:45 Mama and kids go for a walk
9:30 Studies: Forest - Reading and phonics, Emily Rose study of choice
10:30 Activity time: Projects/play/service/usefulness
11:30 Lunch preparation. Mama and kids. Clean as you go.
12:00 Lunch. Wipe table. Dish in Dishwasher so not much cleaning is needed.
12:30 Worship.
1:15 Cleaning projects/laundry/other cleaning
2:00 Yard and garden work, if needed
2:30 Activity time: projects/play/service/usefulness
5:00 Supper preparation. Forest Empties dishwasher.
5:30 supper
6:00 Mama and Emily Rose clean the kitchen - everything! Shiny!
6:30 Play/projects/service/activities
8:00 Worship
8:45 Kids in bed. Tuck ins and prayer.
9:00 Forest asleep. Emily Rose lesson study. Parents in bedroom.