AFTERNOON WALKS

Starting back to school and making sure we get "all the things" done is harder some days than others. After a long day, sometimes we just take a walk around the neighborhood. This was a few weeks ago when the weather was a bit warmer and Sterling decided to bring along her harmonica for the walk.

Homeschool is a lot of work for all of us. It's not necessarily something that I was ever really sure I would do. It's a decision we are taking yearly and as we have felt led this past 2 years ...this seems to be the right decision for us in this season. It's work to maintain a respectful attitude towards each other. It's so much easier to let that slip with family because we become so comfortable with each other and see each other all the time. This is something that I am learning and growing in myself, and trying to teach them as well...to be respectful, and to treat each other kindly. It's hard work to keep everyone focused...especially with 2 little ones that can be quite the distraction. But even that is teaching the little ones patience and the big ones how to push through and try to keep focused. Thankfully there is grace and forgiveness that we walk through daily. There are many "I'm sorry's" and reflecting on how to make things work better, on their part and mine.

These past few weeks have been working themselves out, as the daily rhythm becomes more of the norm and what is expected. But there are still many days when a walk around the block for some fresh air is greatly needed. I'm thankful for those moments as Elle loves to run ahead of us, and before she gets too far out of sight she then comes running back to greet us. Most of the time Sterling joins her, but this day she decided to poke along with me and the two littler ones (who like to stop and touch or pick up all of the interesting things along the way) and play us a tune on her harmonica.

I'm thankful that even if I don't get every single thing done that I had hoped or wanted to, I know that God some how fills in all the holes and cracks that I miss and all will be ok. I'm learning to trust and partner with God in my role as a parent, and to know that although I'm responsible for myself and these little ones, I'm not in control. Grace...one day at a time.