>Adventures of Summer(2007)

>



I am posting this today….even though it happened last summer, we are headed out to this little piece/peace of heaven in just one short week…..
Today my four year old is singing “going to the beach, going to the beach, going to the beach next week” to a catchy tune I recognize but can’t name. Kind of like people you see from highschool, but more on that later.
Recent Adventures
Laguna Beach, Florida A few seasons ago we decided that we wanted to study Marine Biology. This can be a challenging endeavor with children from the age of 14 down to three, but alas I decided I was up to it. The first step in this process was finding a good guide. I tend to be more of a do it momma than a be lectured to momma so textbooks are not usually my first choice. I was surprised to find…..http://www.jeanniefulbright.com/apologia.htmlSo, with that we began adventure. It wasn’t long into this small chapter of our Science Ed. did we realize we were going to be forced to go to the beach and discover this for ourselves. Our first trip was to the Tampa Bay/Clearwater area. We went in February so the weather wasn’t expected to be great. However, the family was blessed with 3 balmy days in the 7o’s. The bug had bitten. We all had the chance to really see the tide changing during the day, taste the salt water, and watch glorious sunsets over the water.With resolve we returned home to Memphis, studied for a few more months and in August we were off to Laguna Beach Florida. In laguna beach we saw a shark on the very first day just a few feet from us. We weren’t afraid, the memory of all of our study kicked in and Sarah Kay (6th grade) reminded us that we were more likely to be killed by a falling coconut than a shark, I must say that wasn’t much comfort with the shark in the water just a breath away from my children.The second day of our trip started with exploration. We found two great sandbars right there on the beautiful emerald coast of Florida. While wading out the children and daddy all found a quick sure step into the world of snorkeling. Treasure found included sand dollars (live ones),hermit crabs in the natural habitat (not the plastic habitats we are used to seeing) and hundreds of small (palm sized fish) that swam around our feet constantly. On the last day Donnie shared that the sand colored flat things swimming away when we kicked up sand were probably rays of some sort (glad he waited).On the third afternoon of our stay our cottage neighbors arrived with a few hundred pounds of Mahi–Mahi and Red Snapper. The language barrier was quickly crossed and all of us had a blast watching as the fish caught just off of the very coast we had been enjoying was prepared for dinner. We even saw one that was snatched by a shark on the way out of the water on the way to the boat (as evidenced by the remaining head). It was at this point I was decidedly set against seeing anymore sharks near our feet. The best part of the entire evening was being able to watch the sweet lady of these hungry fisherman cook up the fish, whole (with the eyeballs and all) with a dash of garlic and served with fresh lime and homemade Mexican rice. They then sent plate after plate of fish home with our greedy little hands. A blessing indeed.The pike family is studying birds next….watch out Audubon Society here we come.
POST NOTE- We never really got to the birds (we did go to an Audbon site and spent an entire day with the naturalist). We instead, studied Astronomy this year after a short science break.
We will be in the salt water in one short week.

>On Purpose Peace

>Biology, Medieval History, American History, Algebra 2, Pre-Algebra, Physical Science, Long Division, Hooked on Phonics….Lions and Tigers and Bears oh my, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Mondays if you please, Classical Ballet and off to HiS Choir to sing…. these are things I am doing this week and preparing for…for NEXT year. Overwhelmed? Yes.

I simply never imagined my life like this, I didn’t dare to imagine life very much before the kids and for the first 7 years of parenting I imagined sleep. I am my mother’s only child, and I wasn’t that interested anything growing up. I have 6 children who long to learn and be, actively be. Sometimes, I let my mind wander to a place where I can be somebody different, doing things that others see and say thanks and good job for what I have done, where someone reads inspirational things I have written or a short story I have stashed away. I imagine writing about my experiences in a way that will make a difference then I realize…..my experiences are making a difference. I try to remind myself (before yelling about the stinky van or the messy house or the cramps that I am having, yes I am human)the children and who they become will have been my greatest most valuable contribution to change in this world. If I pour myself into children and encourage them to be peaceful, hopeful, humans, it will not matter if I accomplish anything else. I will of course accomplish other things, but this will matter most for this season, that was my choice, is my choice, when I conceived them and every day there after, now that is radical pro-living, I don’t imagine doctors, lawyers and such (though I wouldn’t object), I imagine mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, adults who love their community actively, who know it is important to vote (even in the rain). I hope for children who will love what they do, no matter what it is, who will want to come home and eat meals together, who will have children that have hope. So, all the things I am doing, will not make or break us, really I just need to be aware, aware of their spirit, to encourage them to know all they do is important, even when it is wrong, every action makes a difference, it causes a ripple in the space they fill that will move the people around them in one way or another.

I am not prone to sending out peace, not without actively reminding myself, I am practiced at being a over-demanding, often cranky, loud momma.

Today(or in the morning since it is bedtime) I will be peaceful on purpose. Here’s a thought, peaceful bedtime, may mean peaceful sleep, which in turn could lend itself to a peaceful day. I will let you know how it turns out.

These are my thoughts today.

What are yours?

Go share them with someone you love.