Edisto Beach

The Hoovers invited us to join them at the beach again, and it couldn't have been better timed.  After our busiest semester since coming to Kennesaw, we were more than ready to escape the mundane rhythm of work and life at the new homestead, and embrace an extended Sabbath rest.  There was very little checking of e-mail and using of technology (aside from looking up good books and posting some Instagram photos), and a lot of reading, writing, painting, fishing, and beaching, and visiting.  It was lovely.

One of the beautiful things about coming back to the same house on the same beach year after year (a blessing I never experienced growing up), is watching the cousins grow in maturity and friendship.  Every morning, by 6:30, the boys were awake and down by the lake fishing.  This time they could independently carry on in their adventures without the help of the adults, and they could pretty much stay down at the lake fishing all day (with only a few interruptions for eating and beaching).  It was remarkable.

The girls had their own sweet thing going on - rotating between listening to the Wingfeather Saga, building forts, fishing, and general imagining together.  Saturday night I had the privelege of walking to the pizza shop with the two older girls, and it was such a delight to hear their chatter - planning birthday parties, talking about their friendship, dreaming about a 10 year-old canoeing adventure with their Mamas.  I am overwhelmed with God's faithfulness to us, and with the beauty He is weaving together within our children.

Miles and Raindrop definitely march to the same creative drummer - listening to stories together and rolling around in silliness. They have their own unique thing going on, and I hope it can continue as they grow older.  It's fun to see a shift taking place - where Raindrop can flow in and out of the big girls' play, and Miles in and out of the big boys' play.  I am convinced there is something special that happens when brothers and sisters grow up in close friendship with their cousins.

Baby is Owen is not so much of a baby anymore, and it was delightful to see the older children taking turns pulling him on the boogie board and making him laugh.  He is growing into his own fun, playful, adventurous, opinionated self, and it made us all look forward to meeting baby brother in just 3.5 months!

I also look forward to the return of our India relatives, and more cousins growing in friendship together!

Baby bump 

Sibling love

Green-shirted brother-n-laws

Silly cousins

Beautiful, amazing sis-n-law

Family rest

Grandparent fun

sweet girls!

Ocean splashing.

Display

At the end of our school year last year, I did nothing to acknowledge all of the Art that was produced at Masters' Academy.  We were preparing to buy our first house, packing things away in boxes, and generally not in a displaying state of mind.  I always regretted that, as the children worked so hard on their pieces, and they were just shoved away in a box never to be re-opened.

This year I decided that as soon as school was over I would work diligently to discover some creative way of displaying all their art from the year.  I wanted something that would not hurt the paint, or put too many holes in the wall, something that looked beautiful, and something that could be taken up and down and reused.  I thought through a lot of options, but I finally decided to go with relatively cheap black foam display boards and mavalus tape.  I am not sure how long we will leave the displays up, though I want it to be at least through the Summer.  

There is something so significant in taking time to remember the work we have done and appreciating the things we have created.  I want the kids to enjoy walking into the library every day, and to look on the walls and smile as they remember this past year of learning.

This is how they hang together on the wall.

NINE!

I do not want the Summer to begin without acknowledging that my eldest child, the first-born of my womb, is now 9!!!  That is one year away from double digits!

When I think about the ways she has grown and changed this past year, the word that stands out to me is "settled."  Settled can be defined as adopting a more steady or secure style of life.  What I love about this definition is the way it balances work and choice with rest and security.  Over and over again, you have a daily choice to adopt - that is the work part of the definition.  And as a result of the work of adoption, you have the gift of security and steadiness.  

This reminds me of the Biblical idea of Shalom - an idea of peace and wholeness.  It is a direction all Christians are facing, and a destination that can only be reached in Christ.  I have seen our Songbird move towards Christ and wholeness in so many ways this year.  Not that it has always been a continuous upward trajectory (we have had our moments), but that at the end of the year she has reached a much more settled spot than when she began - a spot with more and more echoes of Shalom.

One of the things that has grown peace in our Songibrd is her love for reading.  She was a bit older when she began to really dive into independent reading, though she would always sit for hours listening to a good story.  And now that the world of imagination has opened up for her through reading, I have seen her take initiative and develop new tastes and passions - things she has chosen on her own - apart from us.  I just love watching this growing independence, seeing her uniqueness blossom, listening to her share a good story she just finished reading to her brother and sister.  The gift of story has such a settling effect (so long as it isn't too scary), and it is a joy to watch Songbird set out on her daily story adventures. 

Another thing that has grown peace in our Songbird is friendship.  She has many far-away friends whom she loves dearly as sisters, but since our move to Kennesaw, finding local friends has been a harder process.  I have been so thankful for our bi-weekly writing co-op where sweet Ruth has taken Songbird under her wing.  Even though Ruth is 4 years older, she truly enjoys spending time with Songbird, and offers so much wisdom along with a positive example of what it looks like to grow up in Christ.  Her sister Ella has also been a blessing, and the entire writing co-op gang.  I feel like taking time to read as a large group, breaking bread and sipping tea together, fishing and playing at the lake has been a wonderful bi-weekly rhythm for all our children.  And if they've learned something academic on the side, that's great too :)

Songbird has also grown in peace through music.  We were able to give her official piano lessons this year, and she loved every minute of it.  I'm pretty sure I never heard her complain about practicing or going to lessons.  In fact, she often spends 30 minutes at a time coming up with a new song or a new set of chord progressions.  Singing has always been a source of comfort and joy for her, but now she can add piano to the mix.

I am so honored to be this strong, creative, imaginative farm-girl's Mom.  The other day Hubry was walking with Songbird through the woods, telling her that she was always welcome to live in our home if she wants, so long as she contributes to the work of the home.  She said our yard was too small for her, that she would work for several years as a vet, save up her money, and move to a large farm.  Then we were welcome to move in with her, so long as we helped out on the farm. :)

Songbird, we love you!!!