October 2020

This year has given us challenges we never thought we'd face... hardships we weren't sure we could overcome and loved ones who were taken from us too soon... This morning I sat near my window with the bustling of my kids preparing for the brand new school day and thought to myself... we made it through another challenge... it's a bright new day after the storm... we've persevered... we've got this♥

 “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”~ Steve Maraboli

 

"This too shall pass."~ Lindsay's Granny

 

 “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”~ Helen Keller

 

“No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That's the only way to keep the roads clear.”~ Greg Kincaid

 

“My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon.”~ Mizuta Masahide

 

“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”~ Margaret Thatcher

 

“On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin.”~ Gregory S. Williams

 

Worth returning to... Resources we love... not just online! :D

I've been editing our resource list and pondering the return to "normal".  I have enjoyed this edit to our resources and have been carrying the same "edit" to other parts of our lives.  Focusing down the list... what do we really love, enjoy, find contentment or passions in... what helps us reach our current and future goals... what fascinates, expands our understanding or helps us explore our interests... what gives our lives meaning and fulfillment?

Lots to ponder and "edit"!  Here is an updated list!

The resources my learners / explorers use! (being updated as I go) 

It is paired down and filled out with many sources of educational content but more so edited for the most meaningful content!  I wish resources to add enrichment to our lives and not be wasters, taking time from our years... again... sorry... so much to ponder and then again... not sorry... love to ponder and make more meaningful changes... lots of love♥

 

Pondering our mindfulness moments?

A mindful moment is time you take to show yourself love

Breathing meditation
Yoga or stretching

Nature walk in your own backyard
Add to your gratefulness jar or wishing jar
Try one of the exercise or yoga videos online 

Record your thoughts or feelings in your journal
Take a relaxing bath or shower

Catch up on your reading or read to someone

Start or continue to follow your interests or hobbies

Show yourself the love you show others and you'll be a happier, more content caregiver.  You'll be able to be more attentive and give more of yourself.  I am sharing these mindful moments with my little loves... showing them love... and self-love to take with them, wherever their journeys lead... let them lead in love.
❤️

Adustments to the new normal...

     Turns out, the new normal took quite a long time for us to adjust to and get into a "flow".  Our days are much more fluid in transitions now but it is now May 7th... so it took a while.  A day in our lives looks much different than it did before, but it is finally okay.  We fumbled and fell and tried again... changed this and that and this other thing that was clearly not working but... we made it to May 7th feeling more normal about today than we ever have.  My husband, myself, our four kids (now homeschooling), the eight grandparents with varying needs... we're starting to find our groove, find the flow, find our normalcy in this strange time in history.

     Today started out like most of our other days and reflects the fine tuning to our relaxed scheduling.  We learned, time blocks flexibility are key.  

     6 am(ish): We get up, two of the kids have their showers, the other two help with bedding and laundry.  Then we don't look at the clock while we continue this daily process...

•  Get dressed
•  Get breakfast and tea ready (group activity)
•  Gather in the living room with tea and breakfast for our morning enrichment : This can be, Ted Talks, articles of import, our group pleasure reading or interesting news of the day.  Morning enrichment is meant as a stimulating jumping point from which to leap into daily studies...  An awaking of sleepy minds :)
•  Clean up and dishes, move over the laundry accomplished first thing in the morning and tidy.
•  Everyone gets on their outside clothes and we do a hiking trek at varying speeds and intensity around our homestead.  We have a "training" path we have developed over this time to help my daughter prepare for "girl strong" and it has been beneficial for my boys to have daily fitness breaks.
• After we come in from our nature trek, we gather in the library for a "Sunshine salute" which is a series of yoga poses to stretch out from our training session.  
• We are now ready for our first study block.  We have designated that this study block will last a duration of one hour.  All the kids get their learning material for the first block which largely depends on the studies being assigned by their teachers.  We receive daily instruction and our first block is all about meeting or exceeding the instruction requirements.  I sit at the end of the study table (our dining room table), to be available to help anyone who needs assistance.  Depending on the day, I may not actually get to sit, but float around the table helping with seemingly endless amounts of assigned tasks.
• When our 1 hour alarm goes off, we pause our studies to grab our outdoor gear and head off to do our second nature trek, followed by our sunshine salute. 
• We are then ready for our second study block, also one hour followed by the same fitness break and lastly our meditation moment that will last roughly 5 minutes.  The added meditation moment after yoga, is meant to help the kids relax their bodies and minds and signal a finish of our studies for the day.
• We only do 2 study sessions now where it used to be 3 because it has overtaken our days not allowing for dinner prep or anything else.  Some days would take our studies into the evening hours before bed and that was completely unacceptable. 

     I am pleased to reduce study blocks so we can do more unschooling activities in the afternoon and restrict the amount of assigned work blocks.  Even though we are together, we miss family time and down time with family.  It will also allow the kids and myself more time for dinner prep which sometimes suffers and family time.  We now have free time in the afternoons and whatever that will look like is up to the family!  They have been using it for art explorations, reading, games, activities, outdoor play, movie time, free imagination play and anything that tickles their fancy!  

     Home schooling is now more reflective of our family values and allows for more mindfulness activities, time with nature and following our hearts. 

My Gratitude Jar♥

We highly recommend "My Gratitude Jar"
by Kristin Wiens...

You can find the link listed below...

When we take time to be grateful we feel happier...

We challenge you to all make your own Gratitude Jars!

Please show us pictures of your finished jars ♥

You will need pieces of paper so that you can write all the things you are grateful for on the pieces.

Decorate your chosen jar and put the strips of paper with things you are grateful for inside.

When you need to remember what you are thankful for, you can pull the strips of paper out and remind yourself why you should be grateful.

Let us know things you are thankful for...

Wishing you all very hygge, bright blessings♥

Long Story Shortz - My Gratitude Jar - Written and Narrated by Kristin Wiens

Make sure...

Every minute someone leaves this world behind.
We are all in “the line” without knowing it.
We never know how many people are before us.
We can not move to the back of the line.
We can not step out of the line.
We can not avoid the line.

So while we wait in line -

Make moments count.
Make priorities.
Make the time.
Make your gifts known.
Make a nobody feel like a somebody.
Make your voice heard.
Make the small things big.
Make someone smile.
Make the change.
Make love.
Make up.
Make peace.
Make sure to tell your people they are loved.
Make sure to have no regrets.
Make sure you are ready.

~Joe Becigneul

For my littles♥

 

Go, Go, Grow

Heading out to the garden
(Heading out to my garden)
With your seeds in your hand
(With my seeds in my hand)
Got your goulashes on
(Got my goulashes on)
And your watering can
(And my watering can)

Find a sunny spot
(Find a sunny spot)
Dig a little hole
(Dig a little hole)
Plant your seeds right there
(Plant my seeds right there)
And watch them go, go, grow

Little seed, what will you be
A daisy, a pumpkin or an apple tree
Little seed, one day you may be
A poppy, a carrot or some broccoli
Little seed, what will you be
A watermelon or some strawberries
Little seed, just what will you be

Take your watering can
(Take my watering can)
Give it a little tip
(Give it a little tip)
Not too much water
(Not too much water)
Just a little bit
(Just a little bit)

In a couple of days
(In a couple of days)
A little sprout will show
(A little sprout will show)
You gotta cheer it on
(You gotta cheer it on)
Come on, go, go, grow!

Little seed, what will you be
Some roses, tomatoes or some celery
Little seed, one day you may be
Corn, cucumber or some rosemary
Little seed, what will you be
Some squash, snapdragons or a vine of peas
Little seed, I can’t wait to see

Hey, did you know
That we are all just like these seeds
That need to grow
So make sure that you,
Eat your fruits and vegetables
And little seeds, take care
And you will know
That everyday you’ll grow, grow, grow!

So, little seed, what will you be
A baker, a dentist or a hockey goalie
Little seed, what will you be
A nurse, fire fighter or a secretary
Little seed, what will you be
A gardening parent with a family
Little seed, what do you want to be
Oh little seed, I can’t wait to see!

~Bobs and Lolo :)

We Will...

There are 15 days until the Spring Equinox... 

My little ones will once again relish in the joys and freedom of mud and puddles...

They will run wild in the wakening forest to speak the language of trees...

They will create sweet music echoing the songs of the birds...

They will inhale deeply refreshed with a morning breeze filling their lungs...

They will help the busy bees pollinate a new season by letting dandelions grow...
They will happily dance along gathering wishes to scatter on the wind on a lazy evening...

They will sip the sweet syrup freshly made from the sap of the majestic maple...

They will treasure and revel in the blooming of each fresh new spring blossom...

They will dance in the rain and marvel at the power and beauty of nature...
They will bask in the light of millions of stars and blow a kiss to follow a wish...

They will be wrapped in the warm, loving glow and blessings of family and friends...
They will share in memories and values in this beautiful, hygge moment of spring renewal♥ 

~Sherry Johnson, 2019