Watercolored Rhythms

It has been that season, once again, when I take a step back

to evaluate my life, our homeschool, and how I spend my time.

... Often, a difficult season as I examine myself...

but a fruitful and necessary one, as well.

 There have been so many changes in our lives

these past couple of years, especially, 

and I am still learning how to reconcile 

the different aspects of our journey...

As I was researching various topics,

I came across an interesting idea that I was glad to try...

a little added fun, creativity, serenity and beauty 

to my plan-making process...

... watercoloring...

A schedule... routine... 

order of the rhythms of our days ...

needed to be planned...

and what a delightful way to do so!

idea borrowed from here

left to right: yearly calendar; weekly rhythms, and daily

Shalom!

~ Christina

"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time."

Colossians 4:5 

Learning Moment Memoirs

This week, as we learned at home...

 I was blessed to find our youngest,

who does not, yet, completely delight in reading -

and is still learning to do so -

sitting outside alone feeding from Yah's Word...

... something that delights a mama's heart beyond words.

In our learning of history this week,

we discussed early forms of writing,

like hieroglyphics and cuneiform.

The girls enjoyed attempting to write 

on their clay (a.k.a. silly putty) tablets...

"My name is Carolynne. I drank a smoothie today."

History in the making. ;)

We, also, discussed the process of mummifying,

looked at photos of a real mummy and the canopic jars

that I had taken from my trip to Michigan

when I went to the art museum.

We, also, had a volunteer for a mummy wrap... 

well, sort of...

He was voluntold...

but didn't object...

A teddy bear and an ace bandage...

not such a bad mummy.

We discussed the pyramids, as well,

and the girls produced some lovely illustrations...

Lest we look back and think otherwise,

we did do more than history lessons...

Math drills in skip counting online

Reading about the sun, moon, and Earth's rotation

Learning about earthquakes

We, also, enjoyed a video about Bach this week

and some of his compositions...

As well as miscellaneous seatwork,

daily counting of the Omer, Scripture readings, 

character discussions, daily life problem solving,

errand running, home keeping, and more.

I love being at home.

Thank You, Abba, for helping me this week.

Blessed be Your Name!

Shalom!

~ Christina

Aquarium and Beach Trip

We enjoyed a change of pace last week

and took a trip to the aquarium

and then to the beach with lunch

and a desire to get our toes wet...

though many got more than only their toes wet. ;)

We've been here for two years

and hadn't, yet, made it to the aquarium

so we were glad to do it!

Tooth pics :)

see-sawing

bicycling to produce water flow in the fountain

Learning about fish and sea creatures

clown fish

pot-bellied seahorse hanging upside down

watching the seahorses

we don't remember what they are- lol

 

jellyfish

a diver feeding the fish in the aquarium

watching the fish

sea worms (mom's name for them)

Reading about whales and listening to their calls

watching and petting - sea cucumbers and sea urchins

looking out at the ocean

Wetting their feet and more in the Pacific :)

Come, let us sing to {YHVH} יהוה! 

Let us raise a shout to the Rock of our deliverance.
Let us come before His face with thanksgiving; 

Let us raise a shout to Him in song.
For {YHVH}  יהוה is a great Ěl, 

And a great Sovereign above all mighty ones.
In whose hand are the depths of the earth; 

The mountain peaks are His also.
His is the sea, for He made it; 

And His hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95:1-5

Shalom!

~ Christina

Learning Moment Memoirs

Lately, we have been trying to get back into the swing of things.

Though we learn various ways in our homeschool,

I have been aiming to 'pick up the pace' 

with more focused seatwork time.

So I am hoping that by beginning to document our studies, again,

(which I tried to do at my previous blog)

that it will help me to hold myself a little more accountable...

so... here I am... documenting. :)

In addition to our nature walk 

that I shared in my previous post,

this week, we continued to count the Omer.

It has been a blessing developing the daily discipline 

of counting together and reading various Scripture passages during this time.

The children have been taking turns cutting and sticking

the omer stickers to the chart we are using 

and it has, overall, been a joyous time together!

We have, also, been enjoying our study through Leviticus

and various worksheets, copywork, activities to accompany...

This week, one of the topics we read about was clean and unclean animals.

I enjoyed seeing the girls illustrations...

In our history studies, we read about the early nomads, their lifestyle,

and how they settled in the Fertile Crescent.

We, also, discussed how they irrigated their crops,

building shadufs - a lever-type simple machine...

so we built one, too.

It was nothing like the ones of ancient times

but we worked with what we had around the house...

a basin (tub - our "river/pond"), a smaller bucket to draw the water,

a broom for the lever, and a chair...

In addition to watering our half-dead plants,

they enjoyed an afternoon of fun, playing in the water. 

Also, this week held Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The children and I discussed the Holocaust

and watched this video together -

Ani Ma'amin (I Believe)

- with information and photos from the Holocaust,

listening to the song Ani Ma'amin playing in the background.

The song was a common song sang by those in the death camps.

"Ani ma'amin b'emunah shleimah beviat haMashiach, 

v'af al pi sheyitmameiha, 

im kol zeh achakeh lo b'chol yom sheyavo." 

"I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah, 

and though he may tarry, nevertheless 

I await his coming every day." 

 It was a heart-wrenching video.

In addition to 'getting on the ball' with our homeschool seatwork,

I have been aiming to devote more time to my personal reading.

So I've enjoyed working through my current stack of books...

:)

Tomorrow, we look forward to preparing for Shabbat...

even the preparation day is a blessing!!

Shalom!

~ Christina

"The Torah of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces."
Psalm 119:72

To Walk and Wonder

It was a beautiful day... 

The kind of beautiful day when one is compelled to take a walk,

soak in the sunshine, breathe the fresh air,

and marvel at Yah's creation...

and to share the experience with those close to one's heart...

Yeah... we marvel...

And we marvel more...

 

And we explore...

... to, yes, marvel more...

And explore... explore...

And marvel all the way home...

Take a walk. Breathe the fresh air. 

See and marvel at our Creator.

Praise Him for He is worthy.

"For since the creation of the world 

His invisible qualities have been clearly seen, 

being understood from what has been made, 

both His everlasting power and Mightiness..."

Romans 1:20

Shalom!

~ Christina