The days are long, but the years are short
The second half of the year equals the new school year. Allie moved up to grade 8, Mia to grade 3 and Eddie in his final year of the M.Div. course – last but one semester!
How did all that time go by? In retrospect, it feels like it was only recently that we came from India for Eddie to pursue his theological degree.
The days are long, but the years are short.
Gretchen Rubin
Memorable Lasts
Owing to this being our last year in the States, we decided to ‘Be Present’ and enjoy all the big and little things that the Lord brought in our path. Allie went to the Girls Camp at ‘Living Waters Bible Camp’ in Wisconsin. We went to the State Fair as has been our practice in MN.
This year, I worked hard on our summer garden (I made a trellis for the beans, tended to all the plants, weeded the garden, watered it, and fed it), and the result was satisfactory—lots of produce: beans, strawberries, cucumbers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, scarlet runners, and flowers like zinnias, petunias, nasturtiums, cosmos, and pansies adorned our backyard. Allie had a small patch where she grew ‘Pinky Popcorn.’
As is customary during fall, we piled up all the leaves and Mia had a great time jumping in it.
Our sweet mentors, Dr. David Howard and Jan, took us to an apple orchard during fall and the Christmas Concert at Bethel University during the Christmas season– gifts we don’t deserve but are showered with. Dr. Howard mentioned that the best seat for that concert was the third row in the middle section of the balcony. They purchased tickets to those seats so we could have the best concert experience. How thoughtful!
Traditions Bolstered
To make traditions are not as difficult as maintaining them. When I put together traditions for my home, I was only thinking of one individual piece at a time. But when all these individual pieces come back-to-back, it is a struggle to keep the traditions enjoyable and stress free! But somehow, by the grace of God, and thanks to the kids being older, these traditions have been less stressful for and more enjoyable for us. From new traditions like making the pecan pie and listening to the Narnia series during Christmas season to old ones like celebrating Reformation Day, making Kuswar, Hosting friends, and cooking with friends, life has been busy yet fulfilling.
Fresh Ventures Undertaken
Amidst this fulness and beauty of life I have been able to undertake a few fresh ventures. Pickling cucumbers, learning to Dutch and French braid Mia’s hair (As a side note, I thought Dutch braid was French braid done wrong – my ignorance – until I learnt that it as a kind of braid in itself), making and storing chicken broth, trying my first cheesecake, and trying my hand at sourdough bread have been thrilling. That’s a lot I learnt in 6 months’ time, and I love it.
I also started a Co-op with Allie’s friend (who is also homeschooled). Every Wednesday, the co-op studies the Bible and then learns watercolor painting. This has been such a sweet time of learning. We studied the book of Philippians- the joy on the kids’ faces when they understood truth in scripture is matchless. The kids have come a long way from watercolor theory to painting fall trucks and pumpkins!
Blessings Beyond Measure
We were invited to spend a few days at the Dingmans cabin by the lake in Wisconsin just before the school year began. I will never forget the sunrise and sunset at the lake, my first pontoon ride, the kids’ first tubing experience, sighting a juvenile bald eagle in its nest, spotting the ‘Woody Woodpecker’ (Pileated Woodpecker), the first cabin experience, the meal with the Dingmans, and their hospitality. A Blessing.
This semester, Wednesdays have been full and heart-warming. From the morning Co-op to the afternoon cooking with the ‘Kitchen Crew’. The kitchen is a place where my girls have learnt to work under someone else’s authority; a place where they have learnt new skills of cooking, washing, organizing and cleaning; a place where there is fun and fellowship amidst work. The Kitchen has become to us a major part of our week that we look forward to.
Allie has been taking Latin this year from LOGOS online school. She has loved it so far and looks forward to it every day; she enjoys her class, her teacher (Mrs. Margret Larson), her friends, and learning the language itself. She is quite good at it too. Who knew Latin would be so much fun for her? Thank you, Lord, for your direction and provision!
We got to visit Detroit for a church event and even got to hang out with friends.
Books Read
The book to read is not the one that thinks for you but the one which makes you think.
Harper Lee
Apart from the various books that I read to teach my children (School books – History, Algebra, Physics, Chemistry and the like), this semester I took time out to read the following books:
- Spiritual Mothering – Susan Hunt
- Women and God – Katheleen Neilson
- Broken Bread – Tilly Dillehay
- Seeing Green – Tilly Dillehay
- My Dear Hemlock – Tilly Dillehay
- Let the Nations Be Glad – John Piper
‘My Dear Hemlock’ was my favorite!
New foods that tickled our palate
We got adventurous with our food this semester and tried Korean food for my birthday. I love, love, love it. In fact, all of us enjoyed it thoroughly.
A friend of mine makes homemade kombucha, and it is delicious!
This Christmas season, I tried eggnog for the first time, and I like it. Eddie and I enjoyed it, but the kids did not care for it much.
+1’s
Allie turned 14. Eddie and I grew another year older. We also celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary this year. Thank you, God, for your faithfulness in our lives.
New Games Learnt
Dutch Blitz, Danger Danger, and Mafia are the games we learned. Dutch Blitz is long but a lot of fun; Danger Danger is quick and nerve-wracking; Mafia is a game you can gauge another person with.
Upcoming events
God willing, Eddie will finish his M.Div. and Th.M. programs and graduate May 2025. Pray that he will be able to pace himself well and finish all the work required for both his degrees. The Th.M. requires him to write and defend his thesis.
As we foresee, we will have to pack, sell, dispose, and move to India. May the Lord lead and guide us even as we move to the next that God has for us.
