ONE more week til our Christmas break, and we are all glad! One of the moms in our homeschool group is from South Africa, and this is the time of year they are finishing up for the year — we decided we should adopt the South African way of doing things! {grin}
Next week is the last week of the first semester of Lindsey’s homeschool hybrid academy. She’s getting into the swing of things, but will be glad for Christmas break! After a rainy cold parade last weekend, she is done with color guard for the year. She has mixed feelings about that: happy to be done, but a little sad, too. She did earn a “letter” for the sport, so if she continues at the academy, she could get a letter jacket and already have a letter for it. If she chooses to do color guard again, she would get a pin for the letter for each additional year.
I’ve only required Kathryn to do the basics this week, no lapbook projects or any other “extras.” We attended The Nutcracker Ballet on Monday as a field trip with our homeschool group. Kathryn has been wanting to go to see The Nutcracker for years, and someday I hope to take her to see it at The “Fabulous” Fox Theater, but for now, the $12 it cost for the two of us to see this performance was very worthwhile. She and her friend Abby loved it!
Kathryn likes to choose her colored pencil colors before coloring her state map for our geography study each week. She set them up this way before sharpening them all, and then moving to the sofa with her lapdesk to do the coloring. This week’s state, by the way, was Kentucky.
On Tuesday night, our homeschool moms support group had our Christmas party. It was very fun, but the highlight each year is always the gift swap. The way our group does it is very meaningful, and it’s neat to see how everyone gets exactly what was intended for them, even though we have no idea who we’ll be giving our gift to; it’s all done by drawing numbers on the night of the party. Anyway, my gift was an ornament with a lion and a lamb that says “Peace on Earth.”
It didn’t occur to me at the moment I opened it, but shortly afterward, I remembered that I had looked and looked for an ornament like that last year to remind me of our mission trip to Africa. On the last day, we went on safari, and the first animals we came to were two sleepy brother lions. It should’ve been scary because they were very close and we were in an open vehicle, and it was evident that they were so very powerful. But I had to almost suppress an urge to go hug one and wrap my fingers in his big ol’ mane. One of our friends on the jeep with us reminded me that one day, in heaven, we will be able to do just that with no fear. The thought was overwhelmingly beautiful, and at that moment, that promise in the Bible became very real to me – and THAT is precisely the moment this ornament reminds me of.
We have a fairly busy weekend coming up, but we will manage some time for rest and relaxation, too; I hope you, too, are managing to find some peace in your days, even in this typically hectic time of year.
Jamie,
This question might seem a bit odd but…do you know where you would be purchasing your varsity jacket for your daughter’s letter? My daughter desperately wants one for high school and she’s definitely earned a letter already given her accomplishments in USA swimming. So, we do plan to do that for her but aren’t sure which company to work through. Do you know what company your daughter’s hybrid academy works with to have the jackets made? It seems like everybody’s online now so distance usually doesn’t matter.
Samantha
Samantha recently posted..Organizing Pictures of Art Projects for End-of-the-Year Portfolio Reviews
I know I had that info at some point, but I’ll have to look again and see if I can find it. If I do, I’ll email you the link!
Thanks for dropping by my blog earlier! Looks like you’ve had an interesting week too. Your blog is very interesting so I’ll keep reading!
Neo recently posted..Year 1- Week 14- Winding down for Christmas
One more week for us too! Seems like forever when we are looking so forward to the break. Love the photo of the colored pencils. Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom recently posted..Weekly Wrap-Up- Just a Normal Week
Yay for one more week of school! I love the lion ornament and the memory behind it.
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers recently posted..Weekly Wrap-Up- The One Where Christmas Break Begins
One week left for us too! My dd6 would love to see The Nutcracker, sounds like you had a wonderful time
We went to the Nutcracker this week too! Looks like a great week.
What a great week! I like the idea of just doing the basics this time of year, to make room for other Christmas activities.
Ellen recently posted..1 Corinthians 13- The Christmas Version
Oh! I have chills over the ornament meaning!!! God is so sweet to show us how He is in the details – even an ornament exchange! I am glad you came! Merry Christmas!
Love the Nutcracker. We go every year. We can’t wait until next Wednesday!!!
What an awesome memory of your ornament!
Giggly Girls recently posted..Weeklly Wrap-Up
Oh, what a beautiful, beautiful ornament! Your story gave me chills too!
I love the pencils sitting on top of the table – all orderly and waiting to be sharpened. Things like this just make me happy. Your daughter and I must be kindred spirits.
Hello Jamie,
It’s nice to meet you. Thank you so much for your comment on my blog. My husband set up those little icons for me. He does my blog design as well as others like my sister at insertgracehere.com.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family.
Ginger
Ginger recently posted..Oh Christmas Tree
BTW love how you do the weekly wrap up.
Ginger recently posted..Oh Christmas Tree