Remembering Me

Since this homeschooling journey has begun, I've been patient with the process.  I knew (thanks to many other homeschooling moms) it would be a process, and that getting into a grove would take a while, and there would be ups and downs, and curriculum changes and all that.  What I didn't take into account was that I would forget to put myself sufficiently into the equation.  My grandma asked why I was homeschooling, and after sharing all of Ethan's academic history, and my feelings and theories, etc., she said: "but when will you have time for yourself, now?"  Oh yeah.  Last year I had to fight for myself, as I emerged from two very, very difficult years only to fall into depression.  I had to relearn self-care and believe that it really was  important.  And now I do believe it, and know better how to take care of myself, but I've forgotten to do it somehow, in the midst of starting homeschooling.

Well, no longer.  After an inspiring book group discussion last night, I remembered myself.  And today, I made time for prayer in the morning, scripture reading, exercise, eating well, and even a shower!  Yes, this is good.  Thank goodness it was a day with absolutely nothing on the calendar (including the dentist appointment for E, which should have been there and which I forgot until they called to ask if we were coming!)

I'm still creating the homeschooling experience I want to have in my head.  The interesting thing, though, is that whenever I create it, my two girls who I am not currently homeschooling are part of it, too.  When will it be time to pull them out?  They have both asked to be homeschooled, but I feel like they need to be where they are just a little bit longer. . .

Anyway, other than the quick trip to the dentist for a tooth removal, today was leisurely.  E determined in the morning that we was going to get all his work done by 2:30 so he could meet his best friend online in Lego Universe, and they could play together.  Consequently, he followed through with all his assignments and came to me for the ones I hadn't already given, rather than disappearing for long stretches into his room.  He did Latin (he is doing great, and impresses me with how quickly he learns), typing, history, math, lots of reading, piano practice, scripture reading, walking 1.5 miles, vocabulary, and writing.  And he did it by 2pm.

I made chicken soup from the rotisserie chicken we got over the weekend, also, which made for an easy dinner, with plenty to share.  C and I worked on her violin practicing--in front of a mirror so she could see if her alignment and positioning were correct, and she played taka taka stop stop 100 times on the E string.  Her arms were sore afterward, and she kept complaining that she just wanted to sit down during the practicing.  But she did it.

Today I also contemplated the shift we seem to make from right brain to left brain as we get older.  Logical Song by Supertramp put me in mind of that.  As children, we live in the moment and see the beauty and unity of what is around us.  Children laugh so readily, not because life is carefree for them, but because the cares of yesterday or tomorrow don't infringe so much on the joy of the moment.  Their minds haven't learned to worry so much.  I think the socialization we receive (at least in my culture) tends to emphasize and place value on being "logical, responsible, practical" which are wholly in the sphere of the left brain.  We tend to devalue the ability to embrace the moment, to imagine what is not real, be spontaneous, be led by our feelings and just play.  (Or maybe it was just me?)  Anyway, I think getting out of balance within the brain tends to unbalance our lives.  I wonder if this is part of what James is experiencing?

Today

In this morning's bustle,
I roused sleepers, warm in their blankets.
Made hurried lunches and
and a hurried breakfast,
and hurried orders: " Get dressed!  Eat! Drink!"
that fell on ears, still languid with sleep.

Out into the cool, fresh morning
I rushed, barely glancing at the sun-laced leaves
or hearing the sweet songs of contented birds.
I drove fast to school,
with the impatience of expectations
hanging over me,
tardy-notes ready to drop on my head.

Still, Carol enjoyed the sweet anticipation
of a book fair,
and Dorothea was delighted to be riding with Dad.
Isaac pitter-patted gleefully, simply
because it was day, and he was alive,
and Ethan slept in
rousing only to wonder where we all were.

Today was a day of piano,
gymnastics, soccer, scouts, violin,
Latin, typing, reading and cleaning, but
it was also a day of gratitude,
sharing a moment of conversation with my distant brother,
cheering Sam from a rough day at work.

It was a day of contemplation
of three ruby rings for three sons of a king, (it is more important to live well than be right)
of laughter in learning, (who'd have thunk Latin could be so funny)
of sisterly sharing, (visiting teaching and book group are manna to my soul)
of order and balance and patience (we're still working to refine our homeschooling methods.)

It was another day of beauty,
stretched from humble beginnings,
to enjoy.

Friday Night Traffic

Friday night my husband and I biked along one of the trails that connects downtown Bentonville with our neighborhood. Bentonville has a fabulous trails system, and it was a perfect evening to enjoy it. We passed families with strollers, other bikers and walkers as we rode past the construction site for Crystal Bridges Museum and Compton Gardens to get to the Square.

After checking out First Friday, we headed down Main Street to get a quick bite to eat. As we biked, my heart welled up with love for my fair town. It was 8pm on a Friday night and there was not a car on Main Street to disturb our casual bike ride. WE were the Friday night traffic. True, there was plenty of traffic on the square, and a party was in full swing with a community-full of people, but otherwise the town was quiet. What a joy!

We found a place--Sabores is a new Mexican restaurant on Main and 8th, and we enjoyed the food and reasonable prices. One of the owners was helping wait tables and we congratulated him on a great place to eat.

As the dusk was darkening on toward night, we biked back towards home, zipping along the dark paths daringly, enjoying the cool of the evening and the joy of living in this corner of heaven.

First Fridays on the Square

First Fridays

First Fridays are yet another example of Bentonville awesomeness. Last night it was Art Walk, and it was packed. People come to mill around the square, enjoy the weather, enjoy each other, enjoy the booths set up with arts, crafts, and an assortment of local businesses.

Last night the local elementary school had tables with crafts the children had created by class, patterned after crafts from around the world. There was a South Africa table with beaded necklaces (very pretty!), a China (?) table with hand dyed silk scarfs, a Bolivia table with felt wall hangings showing traditional scenes, etc. etc. Proceeds went to Heifer International, another fabulous product of Arkansas. There were also magicians and a local theatre troup and martial artists, and of course about a thousand people milling around the little town square. Ah, the heart of Bentonville is alive and well!

My favorite First Friday of memory was Oktoberfest last year. Being a dry county, root beer was served (how awesome is that!?). There was a yodeling contest (hilarious!) followed by a mandatory funky chicken dance. Yes! The whole crowd on the square was doing the dance. Hurray for Bentonville, where people aren't too proud, and laughter is more important than looking "cool." I love this small town.

Video proving the chicken dance to come soon.

Courteous Driving!

As I waited to pull out of my kid's school parking lot today, I was reminded again of another reason I am so grateful to live in the blessed corner of the world: courteous driving!

The road that I have to pull out onto from the school is one lane each way, and in the morning the in-bound lane is backed up a good ways. Traffic moves, but slowly, and I have to make a left turn into that in-bound lane. If I had to wait for the traffic to pass, I would never make it. There is no turning lane, and I have to depend totally on the kindness of drivers in oncoming traffic. Because of the frequency of traffic coming the other direction, I can't just pull out and "put my nose in" as my husband says, because I would be blocking the lane of oncoming traffic. Every time I need to turn, though, without fail, a kind driver slows to let me in. I have come to depend on it and have never been disappointed or left to wait minute after minute as the traffic shuttles by.

Thank you, Bentonville drivers.

Spring in Bentonville

Free compost days, nesting birds, mom and pop shops and Walmart. !

In case Bentonville flowers weren't thriving enough, each Spring and Fall the City Compost Facility, where all our yard and tree waste have been going all year, gives away free compost.

As I drove by today, trucks and trailers were lined up to get their fill of the richness. And I am already seeing it in flower beds around town, dark with nutrients recycled the natural way. Maybe I'll pick some up on Thursday. . . a good way to celebrate Earth day! I can throw some into my own composter as well and get my personal compost off to a good start.

Can I just admire Spring some more? Having come from a desert state, the sheer power of the earth and sun and rain and such continue to astound me. Here, in a few short weeks the world goes from gray to green. Already the underbrush in my wooded areas is knee high, and I know it will be above my waist before much longer. Plants, flowers, tree and all manner of growing things appear as if my magic. Spring really is a miracle.

In my door wreath a house finch family is growing. The mother had made the nest and laid the eggs before I discovered it, or I would have discouraged her from that particular location. But it was done and I have really enjoyed watching that little family through the window in the door. "Little mother" is gone now that the chicks are hatched and getting feathers at an amazing rate; she is apparently off making another nest elsewhere. "Daddy bird" is doing the feeding now, and soon those three little babies will be on the wing. It has been a joy to have the chance to watch their family so intimately through the glass.

Ah, Bentonville. My sweet, quiet little community. How I love sharing Spring with you!

Yesterday I picked up my lawn mower from its Spring tune-up appointment. I took it to Bates Small Engine repair, a true Mom and Pop shop. I knew to take it there because of the number of lawn mowers that are lined up outside waiting to be serviced. There is no other signage or advertising that would indicate its presence, that I noticed. Inside is a greasy handed, long- bearded gentleman in his 60s, I'd say, who sorts through stacks of repair parts that are piled high on the counter in the dirty, dimly lit workshop. His wife is behind the counter to take your name and jot down on a tag what is needed. Above the counter, on a hand written sign it states "Estimates are NOT free" and on another "Rate: $40/hour." The couple work well together, and when I pulled up in my minivan with two kids in tow, they helped me unload the mower and get it tagged. They told me they were running two weeks behind, and that if I'd come in January it would've been quicker. No doubt. When I swung by yesterday, it was ready, as they'd said, and again, they helped me load it. What a gift to a community, to have knowledgeable, down-to-earth folks, doing their thing and contributing their expertise. I look forward to going back, probably in January.

My next stop was Walmart, for shoes, eggs and bikes for the kids. Buying bikes with kids in tow at one of the busiest times of day was. . . bordering on insanity? "What do you think this is, a three ring circus?" laughed a gentleman from church who I ran into as my kids were riding their new bikes through the grocery aisles. Apparently. Then, with a grin, he asked "are you going to buy those bikes? That's my department, so you would be doing me a favor!" Ah, only in Bentonville do you run into (not literally, but almost) your friend, who is responsible for purchasing the goods that are now it your shopping cart. I should have told him I wanted more selection, but since my kids has almost run over him, and were about to crash into an end-cap, it wasn't an ideal time to ask for favors.

Well, there are my Bentonville thoughts for the day. More Spring pictures are coming soon!