Friends and Field Trip

My buddy Shannon and I have been having babies and homeschooling simultaneously for the past 14 years.  We live about 3 hours apart.  For the first time ever (why it took us so long, I don't know...), we met in the middle for our first field trip of the 15-16 school year.  We went to Mass, had a picnic, played in a very small but very nice "children's museum", ate cheeseburgers and fries, and went mini-golfing.  What a fun day!!  We can't get enough of our dear friends ("cousins"), so we definitely could have stretched this day out even longer...  Crash fell asleep in the van at 6:30 and woke up the next day at 8:00am.  Serious fun.  

Chautauqua, The Home Stretch

This journey began with an audition in Chicago - one she attended really with only the expectation of gaining audition experience.  The competition was steep.  We never really entertained the thought that she might get accepted into the 5-week, intensive training program with some of the best ballet teachers in the country. 

But she did.

Then the doubts: can I really do this?  Can I be away from home for such a long time?  Can I handle the training?

But we prayed, her dear grandparents offered assistance, and she made the leap.  

So, here we are, at the end, with only a few days plus 2 big performances left. And she has done it.

We've learned that God sometimes places us in situations where we never dreamed we'd be.  She has learned that she can go to a strange place where she knows no one, and she can survive...  Indeed, she can thrive.  

She has learned that sometimes God works in very mysterious ways, allows experiences sometimes unpleasant, to help us grow.  Two years ago, in the throes of yet undiagnosed food allergies and the anxiety that exacerbated and was exacerbated by that illness, I started seeking out alternatives to her ballet training situation.  We didn't really understand why she was feeling so bad at the time, but we knew something needed to change.  And change is hard, hard, hard, but we ended up in the loveliest of ballet schools where she and 2 of her siblings are exceedingly happy.  

Last week, this child who struggled so to find peace in all that sickness and upheaval was able to express gratitude for all of it, that it led to her new school, new friends, and kind teachers who encourage their students to pursue opportunities such as the one she's had this summer.  

Dear child of mine, we are so proud of you for overcoming your fears and stretching yourself to go into the unknown.  While you've certainly grown as a dancer, you've also learned some important life lessons about challenge, perseverance, and staying close to our Heavenly Father wherever you are.

You've muscled through some homesickness, self doubt, and sore legs 😊.  You've marched into class every day for the last 4 1/2 weeks with your head held high even when you really needed 2 more hours of sleep.  You have done it. 

We can't wait to see you on the stage.

Travel Buddies

In a hotel room with all my boys today, and 2 of the three are waking up slowly.  Suddenly, the room fills with uproariously laughter.  Music to my ears.  Then Kid 118 says, "Mom, I think Crash is choking on euphoria!"  It's these little things I don't want to forget...

Cucumbers! And ballet!

It's mid-July and the weather still feels like Spring (plus muggy) but that's ok because our garden is growing like crazy!!  All the rain plus fresh compost in our raised beds = another year of monster-size plants!  All except our token tomato plant which is the evening snack of choice for somebody - I'm guessing a deer.  

You can see above how excited we get about fresh veggies in these parts. 

In other news, it's one week since I dropped oldest child off at a 6-week ballet intensive 2 states away.  She's with her saintly grandparents, so we worry not, but we do miss her presence, for sure...   Seems as if she's having a great, plus exhausting, experience with some amazing teachers.  First performance is Sunday, which we will miss, but grandma and pada will see.  Thank goodness for DVDs.  

Here she is on the beautiful campus where she's staying:

Have a lovely weekend!!

And there went June...

 

 

Rain.  Lots of rain followed by floods - not near our house, but in neighboring communities, it was quite bad.  It's better now. Three camps for 3 kids (2 ballet intensives, one basketball).  VBS, in which Joy and I handled story time and the three middles attended.  4H projects - not quite finished, but progress made.  One day trip to the children's hospital for check ups - good results there.  Fifteenth anniversary for Daddy and I.  Left kids overnight with our capable, recent-college-graduate babysitter.  Plants growing in the garden.  Yoyo learned to ride on 2 wheels.  Joy spent 8 days on vacation with friends.  2 graduation parties for nephews.  Where have the years gone?  Joy started her first high school science class - getting ahead in an effort to finish 2 courses this year.  Ballet training 20-25 hours per week necessitates creative academic planning.  One trip to vet ER.  Kitty is just fine.  Daddy flew to PA for a couple days and returned safe and sound.

For all these things, we give thanks.

(photo credit:  Joy)

Piano Recital 2015

These kids and their faithful piano teacher have officially survived another recital!  They're all smiling because it's over.  

There is something particularly nerve-wracking about music recitals...  I know well from all the years I prayed for illness the night before my piano recitals.  But, nothing feels better than successfully completing something difficult.

They all did great!  Congratulations!!

Milestone

Our firstborn baby is now officially a high school student.  We're so proud of the young lady she has become.

Yesterday, we gathered with our local homeschool community for mass with our dear bishop in honor of all the 8th grade and high school graduates.  

Afterward, we crossed the street for commencement.  Pomp and Circumstance always makes me cry.

Daddy India did a fantastic job as the Master of Ceremonies.  Earlier in the day, he practiced reading all the seniors' bios (written by their parents), so I got all my tears out ahead of time.  Sort of.

Father Jacob Meyers, a young priest from our diocese, inspired the kids to make good friends in relationships founded in faith in his commencement address.  

What a happy day!!

Four more very short years to go in this child's homeschooling journey.  Pray we make excellent use of every single fleeting moment.