(Sick!) Day in the Life 2020 - with 6, 10, 12 and 14 year old girls!

No day is perfect here, nor is it ever perfectly normal.  

This year, I picked a day and chronicled it, as is.  

Thanks so much for taking a peek in to a day in our life.  If this is the first time you've stopped in, Blossom1 is 14 years old.  

Blossom2 is 12 years old.  

Blossom3 is 10 years old.

Blossom4 is 6 years old.  

The Rugged Mountain Man and I raise our girls on a few rustic acres in a charming little Hollow.  

This is our micro farm life.

I almost roll off the couch as I stretch. I'm shocked when I blearily read 8:15 on the clock!  I'm foggy and sore from sleeping on the couch so much lately.  It was a rough night of fever, medicines, and coughing.  My poor Blossom3 and Blossom4!  I had hoped they would be turning the corner by now.  They're hardly saying a word from the couch and recliner, so I tiptoe back to get dressed.  On the way, I greet Blossom1 and Blossom2.  They are reading their Bibles in the school room, not wanting to wake us.

8:30 am ~ I unload the dishwasher and try to bring some semblance of order to this place while the older girls make themselves some breakfast.

9:00 am ~ The older girls head out to do chores and feed animals.  Sure, it's much later than normal, but at least, the Blossom1 and Blossom2 aren't sick too.  I put the kettle on for tea and make myself a quick breakfast.  I have a feeling I'll need the energy to face the day.

9:15 am ~ I settle in on the couch for my devotions.  I need this quiet time.  It's my time to "lean my arm upon the window sill of Heaven."  Then, I can lean strong to meet this day.

9:35 am ~ Blossom1 and Blossom2 are back in from chores.  They know that today isn't a "five subject bookwork" kind of day.  We discussed yesterday that they would be spending some time on projects; most importantly, two compositions that are due soon.  They are working on fulfilling the Teen Bible Quiz requirements for a Discipleship Award.  They'll be writing a composition on their personal testimony, as well as a paper on their thoughts on The Grave Robber by Mark Batterson.  They get started on the laptops in the school room.

10:00 am ~ I've been fetching tissues and water and taking temperatures.  The little girls are asking for something to eat, so I put together a smoothie for them.

10:15 am ~ I check in on the older girls and grab a couple of rough drafts and a clip board.  I need to write some comments and suggest revisions.  I hang out in the living room with the little girls as I make notes with my red pen.

10:45 am ~ Meanwhile, Blossom3 is going on three days with a high fever.  I really expected that she would be turning the corner last evening.  I pow-wow with my husband over the phone.  He is equally alarmed at how long her fever is staying up and how much medicine we've had to give her to keep the fever manageable.  We decide that it's time to see the doctor to find out if there is an infection brewing.  I grab my ball cap and boots, forego the makeup, change the little girls into fresh clothes, and head to the doctor's office.

11:30 am ~ We get to see our doctor.  Thank God for that!!  Blossom3's ears, throat, and lungs are all clear.  It's the flu, which we originally thought.  We'll be riding it out... with prayer... and popsicles.

Noon ~ We're stopping at Walmart.  We're out of tissues and we need popsicles, orange juice and the like.  I really don't want to wait til after my husband gets home from work, so into the cart the girls go.  They're heavy!!

1:00 pm ~ Lunch time!  It's late, but we're glad to be back home with at least confirmation that Blossom3 doesn't have anything else going on.  The little girls settle on the couch again with popsicles.  I take a few minutes to chat with the older girls.  They've worked hard this morning, with minimal supervision.  I'm happy with the progress on their compositions and I'm also thankful for the independence they exhibit.  I rely on them more and more as they grow older.  What a blessing!

1:30 pm ~ The little girls are falling asleep, which looks fabulous to me.  Before I doze, I discuss revisions with Blossom2.  The older girls get their usual half hour of rest time for pleasure reading before they delve back into writing and revising.

3:00 pm ~ I put another movie on for my poor miserable little girlies.  I escape to the school room to go over drafts with Blossom1.  We discuss changes and questions.  My role is more of a coach, than a teacher.  I've taught them how to write.  They write their drafts.  We talk about what to improve.  We work through several drafts.  The final copy isn't printed until we're both happy that it's their best work.  They benefit so much from the instant feedback that is paramount to our writing process.

4:00 pm ~ Since I'm spending so much time fetching water, snacks, medicine, and the like, I alerted Blossom1 earlier today that she'd be handling supper tonight.  I'm dropping a chicken half in the Instant Pot so that she has "rotisserie chicken" for the White Chicken Enchiladas she's making.  I take a few minutes to "tidy up."  I operate best with order around me, so I try to work on the kitchen and living room for a few minutes, picking up tissues, folding up blankets, and washing a few dishes.  I also snatch a few minutes to meet with Blossom1 and Blossom2 about their compositions.  In the middle of it, I also decide that lukewarm baths are in order to try to bring the little girls' temperatures down.  I spend the next few minutes bouncing between the older girls at the laptops in the school room and the little girls in the bathroom.  They also fill me in on other bookwork they've managed to fit in today.  Not bad for a "sick" day here!

5:00 pm ~ The older Blossoms head to the living room to hang out with the little Blossoms for a few minutes.  I park myself at the laptop in the school room to do some work of my own.  I'm co-teaching a dissection class for local homeschooled high school students.  The cow eye is on the docket for the next class.  I have most of my notes and lab report hand outs completed, but I'm realizing that the little girls are still too sick for co-op the next day.  I type out more notes and thoughts so that my co-teacher can fill in for me.  Overall, I'm pleased that I was finally able to pull together a more logical lab report for the students to complete.  I'm bummed that I'm missing this dissection!  Last week's earthworm was so fascinating!

5:30 pm ~ Blossom1 is starting supper preparations.  Blossom2 is de-boning chicken.  I bounce around the house doing the Rugged Mountain Man's next day prep.  I still like to help get his mornings off to a smooth start with the coffee maker all ready to go and lunch packed.  I also tend to the little girls here and there too.  More ice water coming right up!

6:00 pm ~ Mmmmmm, those White Chicken Enchiladas smell delicious!  Since the little Blossoms are (still!) on the couch, I set the table and we sit down... just the four of us.  I'll be glad when all six of us are at the table again.  We're thankful for comfort food and conversation.  Afterward, the older girls and I clean up the kitchen.

6:30 pm ~ While Blossom1 and Blossom2 finish the clean up, I take a few minutes to chat with the Rugged Mountain Man.  It's nice to connect when things have been so helter-skelter lately.  He also shares his thoughts on the girls' compositions.  Part of calling writing assignments complete around here is that Daddy does a final read-through.

6:45 pm ~ The little Blossom are perking up a bit and asking for me to play some games with them.  They are getting tired of just sitting and lying around.  I camp out in the living room, playing Guess Who and reading aloud.  I pull out a special read aloud just for the little Blossoms.  Their tired red watery eyes lit up a few days ago when I started reading them Mike's Mystery, The Boxcar Children #5.  I get comfortable on the couch to read a few more chapters.  Frankly, I'm just glad to hear their little voices as they muster the strength to ask a few curious questions about Benny and the gang.

7:15 pm ~ The troops are getting hungry again, so I make a snack.  It's turning into family time.  I snuggle on the couch with the little girls.  Mufasa, our inside bunny, whom my cousin jokingly calls a therapy bunny, is cuddling on various laps.  Blossom1 and Blossom2 are hanging out with us.  Jake and Rory, our massive dogs, are trying to get in our laps too, to get a good scratching.  Daddy is settled on the couch, alternately chatting and reading the Lord of the Rings. I'm glad we can still sip the good out of these sick days.  As I'm lying here, a verse comes to mind... something about a cup of water.  I find Matthew 10:42 and I smile at the reminder that even a cup of water for little ones is significant.  God sees it and assures me that I'll be rewarded for all those seemingly insignificant services I've performed over the past few days.  That thought is a balm to my weary spirit.  I decide to make it my lock screen to keep that thought front and center.

8:30 pm ~ The little Blossoms are settled into the recliner and couch already.  That was easier... mainly because I never dismantled "the sick camp" this morning.  I'm pretty sure the whole house looks like a sick camp, but I'm relieved they are dozing off.  I'm hoping this rest is helping them kick these nasty fevers.  I get changed into pajamas and I'm making a beeline for the couch.  I'm TIRED, but I get waylaid in the school room where the Rugged Mountain Man and the older Blossoms are hanging out a for a few more minutes before they hop into bed.  This bedtime is a bit early for them (and me!)  Though the couch is calling my name, I realize that I really need to spend some time with the older Blossoms, so I stop to chat a little and to tell them how I'm thankful I am for how hard they worked and how independent they were today.  I try to remember that teens and tweens especially need to hear us say the positive things we see in them.

9:00 pm ~ It's me, the couch and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Thanks for reading this real glimpse into our life.  Check out more Day in the Life posts here.
Day in the Life 2019
Day in the Life 2018
Day in the Life 2017

Dominique

PS - At the time of this writing, the little Blossoms are on the mend, with fevers trending down and activity levels up.  Thank God!.

Down the Mountains, Through the Valleys

There are mountains and valleys to learning.

One of the best, and some would say worst, parts of homeschooling is being a part of the journey up the mountains and through the valleys.  Steady plodding is our approach to the valleys, the mountainous inclines, and the momentum-inducing mountainous descents.

One of our girls was dealing with a lack of self discipline.  We needed to crack down on this tendency before it became something that damaged her entire educational career.  We knew the "crack down" would be hard.

After a few weeks, the fruit has been worth all the tears we pushed through.  Thank the Lord.  He works every day miracles in our lives - even if it is "just" in our school days.

As I was grading her work the other day, marveling over the progress, wondering at the changes, I was reminded by this fact ~

Different people are good at different things.

That will always be true.

We are teaching her to discipline herself to seek out information on her own.  To push through when it feels hard.  To realize that discouragement isn't the end of the journey. 

Surely, she will be better at some skills than others.  Now she is learning that she can push through, figure it out, put her best out there, and improve what she did yesterday and the day before that, whether it comes naturally or not.

God only knows her journey... He's walking it with her.

Photo credit: Blossom1

Fun Shoes and For Real Lessons

For the Fine Arts festival on Saturday, Blossom1 was sporting her rainbow Converse and Blossom2 flaunted her flames Converse. 

'Twas a diverse group of students, but they pulled together as they sang, played, acted, mimed and danced with all their hearts.

So much in life is about growth.  The Rugged Mountain Man and I were ecstatic as we watched the girls and their youth group grow.  We could see such a huge difference from last year to this year.  They tried new things.  They faced their fears.  They looked the audience in the eye(s).  They worked hard.  They practiced until they were tired of the songs, skits and routines.  Then, they practiced some more.  They grew.  

They learned those valuable life lessons that teach that the only way to the reward is through the hard work... all the way through until the finish line.  

Now, on to districts!

Happy Valentines Day!

We attended the co-op Valentine party the other day.  I've realized that it's one of my favorite events of the school year.  

I enjoy standing around chatting with my friends.  I enjoy watching the girls catch up with their friends.  All of the kids display their creative Valentine receptacles and boy, they can get creative!  From battleships, to drum kits, to minions, to all the fun the Blossoms created, I love it!  

They exchange simple sometimes homemade and sometimes store bought Valentines.  

One might wonder why I look forward to this event so much.  It's very low key.  No fancy decorations.  No signup sheet.  No one cares if there are 5 kinds of cookies and 3 pans of brownies.  We're together.  

Then, I realized; this is our tradition.  

Dominique

So Blue

~Winter Beauty~

By Blossom1

The Very Useful Tea Time

My hospitality repertoire is evolving.  More accurately, I believe it's growing up.

I used to think that tea time had to be an event, a big deal with scads of pre-planning, baking, and fussing.  I now realize it's a tool.  It's the people and the time together that make tea time meaningful.

Meeting to plan a co-op class became cozier with china and Rice Krispy treats.  Even though we were scouring the internet for the best deals on preserved specimens, it was still lovely.



And, the other night, when I was upset because our evening was so busy that the older Blossoms had to forego family supper, we came home from practice and sat down to family tea time.

It was relief to my guilt-laden mind.
It was bonding for our family.
It was balm to our souls.
It was enjoyable!

We even tried to give Daddy the manliest china tea cup we could find!

Sure, it was just a pot of Winter Spice herbal tea and a few graham crackers, but we were together.  

Plop your tea pot in the middle of your mundane and sip together!

Dominique

You may wonder about the paper plate in the corner of the table.  The young man had opted for game-playing with the Blossoms instead of a spot at the tea table.  While he steadfastly refused the tea and RK treats, he just couldn't resist the leftover Texas Sheet Cake I had in the kitchen!  Perhaps I'll share that recipe with you all soon.

What Can I Give - Empty As I Am?

Periodically, I ask myself, "What can I do to bless my husband?"  

Nothing was coming to mind.  

I know there are things to do.  I know that I can be a blessing to him.  

At the moment, my tank feels empty and it feels like "one more thing."  

He isn't "one more thing," but it's so easy for me to let that attitude creep in.  

That's when, in that moment of quiet reflection, I felt this:

"What can I do to bless my husband?"

I can be happy.  

It seems insurmountable at times, 

considering the mental load that a mother carries all day, every day.  

The choice is there.  The grace is there!

I've been considering how my own daily attitude can be a blessing to the Rugged Mountain Man.  

It's certainly food for thought.  

Dominique