5th Grade Finale

August 2012

June 2013

The bell will toll today signifying the close of another school year and the beginning of a long awaited summer for HS.  He began his 5th grade year with excitement of moving upstairs to the "middle school" wing and finished at an elementary school that he transitioned to after being moved from Hawaii to DC midyear. He had a phenomenal year academically. We couldn't be prouder of his determination and focus. It was a rough transition from private to public school, but he put his best foot forward.

It was also a year of firsts...

*Band- much like the sorting hat in Harry Potter, the instrument that HS would play "chose" him after two weeks of trying out different instruments. He is now the proud player of a trumpet.

*Safety Patrol- the does open wide for 5th graders. An increase in responsibility made HS feel part of the school fabric.

*Transitioning for each class- by far the best part of his 1st half of the school year. We couldn't believe how much he liked switching classes and keeping up with the multitude of teacher personalities. It was clearly transitioning between classes that he missed with his school among other things.

*Private to Public school- even given the rough transitions expected with a mid-year move for a military child, the hardest was this first. He has never experienced a public school and it has been since I taught that I have had any contact with this side of education. We were not pleased with what we encountered and have already switched him back to private for next year. Although the school system and school are perfect with their scores, much is lacking in our nation's public institutions.

*Bus rider- bouncing his way to and from school for half the year was a great way to chat with friends.


It is with a smile that I say summer is beginning.
I can't believe we have a son who is in 6th grade!
Time to relax, enjoy the summer, and be ready to embrace middle school!

Lookin' Up

It is always so peaceful around the hale.  With two very strong willed children living under one roof you never know exactly what you're going to get.

Some days try my patience as I struggle to hold it all together as they nit pick each other about just about everything. Other days it is like riding a roller coaster. When at the highest points life between them is amazing and then within a millisecond the bottom drops from the fun of playing together and they are crashing into fits of rivalry. And then, well, there are the moments that no matter what, no matter what he says, LD relaxes and just allows herself to be a lil sis completely in awe of his humor, brains, creativity, and love for his clan.

Yes, it is within these moments that I can't help but thank God for my blessings. My they always take those moments to remember to lookup to one another for their strengths and hold each other up when weak.

Wordless Wednesday {Spontaneity}

Wordless Wednesday {Emerge}

Happiness

Happiness is

Twirling in the summer air as the vibrant green grass tickles your toes;
Singing a song from the bottom of your heart as the words create prose;
Flirting with the birds as they fill the air with their repose;
Smiling as the day begins to unfold the joys that it will bestow.

Sublime Shenandoah

What a wonderful, wonderful weekend! How fun was it to take in the beauty of the region, enjoy a picnic, take a hike, and rock to and fro as we listened to cicadas humming! We left mom and Papa and are already plotting our next adventure.

As the heat becomes a summer furnace of humidity in the east, state park cabins beckon for explorations and more memories.

The Shenandoah is simply sublime. It is an oasis nestled away calling out to give rest and peace to the city dwellers.

Some will ignore the call.
We will answer gladly.

Downriver Wonder

Canoeing down the Shenandoah River is exhilarating, relaxing, challenging, and frightening all melded together. After a fantastic breakfast,HH, HS, and I set out for an adventure Downriver. It has been a long time since I have been in a canoe. I've kayaked plenty over the last number of years, but as my sis will tell you, my ability to be a good paddler in a canoe is overturned by my desire to also be...well..in charge. It's hard to put all your confidence in the stern man. I wanted a relationship builder for the three of us. How else to do this than head out in a canoe with my dear men?

The five stages of canoeing downriver:

Exhilarating-
The South Fork of the Shenandoah is well known for its canoeing. The river meanders like a long snake twisting and curling up along the Shenandoah mountains. Class I and II rapids are inner disbursed with areas of tranquil flow. I love that they thought about sharing the experience they had with me. HH and HS two weeks prior to us canoeing together had enjoyed a trip with HS's Boy Scout Troop. With 12 miles of river and about 4 hours of paddle time ahead of us, we were excited just to get in the canoe and start.

Relaxing-
In the moments we weren't paddling, it was amazing how calm and relaxing the river proved to be. Cattle munched on grass near the riverbank and mooed as they cooled themselves in the water. Turtles soaked in the rays from branches and stumps peering from their perches as we glided past. Spectacular colorful dragonflies flitted and zoomed around the canoe showcasing brilliant hues of color. Herons hunted and flew with their lumbar bodies soaring near the surface of the river as fish darted beneath.

Challenging-
With only a map and our instinct guiding our path down the river, we paddled our way towards "The Ledge" and "Mill River Run" navigating around tips of rocks and inner tube partiers. Determining the best route must come from the mutual effort of teamwork. HH was in the stern and was responsible for turning and moving the canoe. HS sat in the middle and assisted in the paddling. I sat in the bow and acted as the scout and paddled my heart out to keep the canoe going quickly through the rapids. My eyes were constantly scanning the water for obstructions or hidden dangers.

Frightening-
One section of the river allows you to chart away from the river and follow an old mill's run off. "Hazard Mill" is aptly named. HS was determined to attempt it after the older scouts came back from their adventure raving about the experience they had. As we came upon the turn-off leading us onto the run, I gave one last Scout advice. The water appears low. Well, we headed in anyway. The views here were gorgeous. Larger than life heron stood guard as though sentinels of a hidden world. We navigated as well as we could. We got stuck several times and had to pull our senses together enough to press on down and through the Hazard Mill as it spilled us back into the tranquil pace of the Shenandoah. The water in Hazard Mill flowed fast, the rapids foamed, and we were a drift as if we were a small Autumn leaf swirling in the current.

Wonder-
The beauty of a river is visible from standing on the riverbank. However, the wonder of God's touch is more visible from immersing yourself into the very soul of the river. The Shenandoah River is filled with wonder. With each bend a new glimmer of beauty was laid in front of us. It felt as though time were standing still. The beat of dragonfly wings,the thrill of exploration, and popping of water as it splashed off the bow of the canoe filled us.

As we finished our journey, I glanced at the two gentlemen who wanted to share a previous memory they had together with me. I am so glad they wanted to enjoy the river with me. It was a day of Downriver wonder.