My Favorite Season is Here!

In the picture above you see the girls with their cousin Ariana (back, left side).  We were visiting at Ariana's house where also Grandmom and Granddad Short live.  The girls had spent the night so that Alpheus and I could have our home to ourselves to celebrate 12 years of married bliss! <3  Yes Alpheus and I were married in my favorite season.  I just love the trees changing colors and the cool weather that isn't freezing, but is nippy enough to wear long sleeves and enjoy hot chocolate!

Another reason that I love fall is celebrating the blessings of God in the harvest.  I love the fruits and veggies that are coming in just now. Apples are my favorite and though I don't like pumpkin as a food, I enjoy this colorful fruit as decoration.  We also enjoy studying about the Pilgrims in November and remembering their faith as they traveled to a new land.  We love chasing leaves as they fall or just walking on them.  This year we won't have as many to rake since we cut down so many trees in our yard, but we have plenty blowing over from the neighbors yard to make a pile for the girls to play.  I love having a warm fire at night and we hope to have a fire pit this fall to burn some of the bark from our trees just to enjoy marshamallows and hotdogs "on an open fire."

Another thing we love about this time of year is celebrating Reformation Day!  We have been teaching the girls the history of the church since the time of apostles.  It is so interesting to see how God kept His Word spreading to the uttermost parts of the earth and the transformation of the Holy Spirit on the lives of people from hundreds of years ago, especially to the time of Huss, Luther, Zwingli, Tyndale, Calvin, and others.  What a precious gift these men gave to us to have the Bible in our own language, to be free to all to understand and follow, instead of being kept to only a few learned men.  To think that most people for many years had no idea what the Bible actually said.  What a lesson to us to take our freedom of reading God's Word seriously!  May God reform and revive America by His Word this year.  This is what we celebrate on October 31 for on that day in 1517 Martin Luther wrote 95 Theses of objections which is seen as the official beginning of the Protestant Reformation!  Some time we plan to use this program to teach about the Reformation.  http://www.doorposts.com/details.aspx?id=46 

This year we enjoyed traveling back to Florida for a week.  The girls always looked forward to the church's fall festival and so we try to go back around that time of year!  The week was filled with so much fun and fellowship, that even though it was HOT and not at all like FALL, it was a true blessing.  I will post more pictures as I can to record the blessings of that week. 

Until then, may you have a happy fall celebration!

Homeschool Lesson Today: Perseverance with a side of PE

Here is Mary happily riding her bike with training wheels.  On the right is Sarah struggling to persevere as she learns to ride without them.  This is actually her second time learning.  How can that be? Well her first time was late last fall and sad to say, we hadn't gone since.  There is no where near our home to ride and so we must hook up the trailer to Mater (Daddy's work truck) and I have to take the passengers in the van, so it is a two parent operation.  We are going to be more diligent in getting Sarah the practice she needs to keep her skills this time.

It hurts me when my kids struggle to learn things, and in this area I feel particularly helpless.  For those who may not know, I never learned to ride a two-wheeler myself.  Similar situation - our home for most of my life was not conducive to beginning riders, especially if they were timid.  If you enjoying learning to ride by the roll yourself down this grassy hill method, then you, like my twin brother, would have learned at my house.  I didn't.  Anyhow,  I leave these lessons to my darling husband and he is a very good teacher, thankfully. 

Today was hard for Sarah though.  She was struggling.  She had moments of tears and frustration and wanting to quit.  But Daddy and I team tagged, giving encouragement and helpful hints, and just waiting patiently while she fought to rule her fear and try again.  In the end she did persevere.  In these last shots you will see much smiling and happiness.  Her perseverance paid off!  Our perseverance as her guides and teachers paid off.  It would have seemed easier to let her just wait until she was "ready" and not push her to try again, but I know that is only a temporary pause before the task must be faced again.  It was a good lesson for everyone.  Mary saw that once Sarah faced her fear she was able to accomplish her goal.  Mary also saw that when it is her turn, Mommy and Daddy will do all we can to help her not give up! 

Sarah trying again!

 Looking more relaxed and starting to like it!

Daddy giving Mary a ride

 Lydia's turn now - hold on girl!

Sarah is picking up speed and has come over to join us because she is not so scared now.

Lydia was having a ball and giggling!

Loved watching all the girls having fun!

 Daddy coming around again with Lydia!

Getting ready for the high five!

High Five!  So glad I got the shot! :)

 This girl gets an A today! :)

 Keep smiling girl - you're next! :)

 Daddy coming down the hill with Lydia - she giggled and  laughed the entire way!

Once you have learned how to ride, the Virginia hills can be fun!

Btw, I rode a three wheeler when I wasn't taking pictures.  Lydia rode in the basket in the back!