Some new "I likes":

~ Whoonu is a great way to have fun around a table! Recommended for sure.

~ Stencil sheets in pink grapefruit are refreshingly bright and happy. Color can be a pick-me-up!

~ A new recipe for Creamy Lemon Squares about to be tried on a crowd. Will give a review if I remember. ;)

~ Friends who will come and cook with me in my kitchen for the day. Always a welcome treat!

~ Having a daughter down the road who dropped everything to help me shop for said cooking spree. Fun!

~ Our history plan for school this year will be the study of our family's history followed by the history of our home. We're going to have a great time!

~ His mercies, which are new every morning. Never old, never tired, never irrelevant. New. Always the best of all!

Fresh Winds Blowing

God is good to visit with new beginnings. Sometimes I wonder if they'll really come, but they do. If we wait, anticipate, long for, and yield to the Spirit, He comes, bringing winds of refreshing.

Fall has become a routine-setting season. For the past few years I've doggedly played along, making schedules, reorganizing cupboards, setting a new pace. But the sense of freshness and excitement hasn't permeated the discipline. Now don't get me wrong, folks, discipline has its place -- but me? I like excitement more.

I'm excited this fall. I've reclaimed some old goals, gotten back on my game with a vision for administration around here, and I love the homeschool history syllabus for the year. Not to mention I'll be directing a full length Christmas musical for 100 students or so. Some might think that sounds horrific, but it's energizing me!

At any rate, the wind is here. And I'm putting out my sails and going for it!

Four Pillars Revisited -- Again

Topsy-turvy. Pushed and pulled. Strung-out, tired-out, blown-out.

Sounds like there's a need to re-prioritize to me. So, that's what I'm doing. That's what we're doing. I'm blessed beyond imagination to have a husband who hears my cry, sees what I'm suggesting, and works with me to see it come to pass.

1. Love for the Lord:
Individual quiet times happening in all our lives.
Family devotions daily.
Youth group once a week.
Routine attendance and service in a local church.
Healthy hobbies and use of free time to encourage solid Biblical worldview.
Homeschool.

2. Love for family.
Fresh dedication to oversight of sibling relationships.
Renewed commitment to one-on-one times with individual children.
Weekly extended-family meals.
At least three suppers together, Mon-Thur. breakfasts and lunches. Sunday for hospitality.
Homeschool.

3. Love of work.
New chore chart.
New daily schedule.
Concerted effort to get some big projects finished.
Homeschool.

4. Love of learning.
Choose curriculum. Plan unit study.
Include field trips and projects.
Plan extra-curricular activities (book studies, dance, violin, piano, sports, art, etc.)
Choose books for reading during routine lunchtimes.
Be excited about learning and growing -- for myself and each child.
Homeschool.


Can you tell that I think homeschool is an excellent way to incorporate these things into our daily lives? It's the best opportunity going!

Am I excited about a new school year? You betcha!!

Sabbath for Sinclairs, Too

We need -- need -- regular times with no work, no demands, nothing to do. Regular times. How do I know? God said so.

This is not a forte in my world. We tend to be workaholics over at the Sinclair household. Sometimes I look around my neighborhood, listen to friends' stories, observe acquaintances' use of their days off; I stand back and marvel.

"They are here shopping at Wal-Mart, strolling the aisles and not rushing through. Together, hanging out, doing nothing in particular. Huh. And look at this -- they just dropped in at their friend's house randomly. That means they were just out driving around a bit with no destination or deadline. Huh. And check this out: they were hangin' out with each other, decided to go to a movie and have ice cream. Huh."

We have often recognized that quality time with children cannot always be planned. Spontaneity is often a part of special moments and happenings in a child's life. In order to cash in on such significant times one must invest quantity of time. It cannot and will not be confined to that lunch outing you plan once a week. Their moment of need or transparency or hurt feelings may not happen right then. You very likely will miss it.

Stuff like that is not limited to children only. We all experience things at random times. It behooves us to invest quantity time in precious relationships if we hope to share quality moments.

Also, our souls need routine breaks from the constant planning, pushing, and producing that we maintain throughout the week. It is simple. We are not running on Eveready batteries. Without recharging, the bunny will run out at some point. It will just plain run out.

So prepare, Sinclair household. This fall we will study anew God's commandment to honor the Sabbath. It is time once again.

What Do You See?

I lay in bed spouting off about Babes In Toyland, a Christmas musical I'm considering for a CFA production, and how we would need to tweak the Friday Program schedule to fit it in.
"You're sure ambitious," hubby replied.
"Hmm. I don't think so," I responded, looking around a bedroom with half-painted walls, a project that has been in process for a month now.

Guess it's all a matter of perspective.

Funny thing how so many things are like that.

Hooray for hot muggy days! After spending most of June and all of July inside a theater without windows, when Annie finished I hoped that there would be some summer left. This can go on for several weeks, thank you very much!

Hot and sweaty as I weeded the garden, humid and balmy on the side porch as I click my nails on these keys, enough days like this and I may feel that I didn't miss out on too much. Especially if I get to do some cookouts and lawn tea parties. Hoping!

Inboxes

My g-mail inbox is symptomatic of a person whose children are adults with busy lives. An almost vain attempt to keep tabs on everyone's happenings, I am never sure of who has read what or responded most currently. The "family" mail threads can become so long that they get tangled and snarled like the overly long thread on my needle when I'm hoping to avoid re-threading during a hemming job.

Recently my son has been asking for fashion input and help. Shopping has never interested him, and online shopping can actually be even more tedious for many. No touching, trying, or sampling can leave you feeling a bit insecure or dubious. So, links are passed along by those who enjoy shopping, and opinions are plentiful about what is or isn't liked.

Fashion links, planning rides for vacations, arranging birthday parties and other celebrations, forwards of photos for home decor, questions about who is free to babysit, when is someone going to Potsdam, G&G are here now - come on down to visit, Mom - do you remember what time that meeting is, etc. etc.

It is a veritable online frenzy! Phew -- I'm not sure if this has simplified or complicated life. How is your in-box these days?