Herding Grasshoppers: Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, April 11, 2016

Outside my window... spring clouds. How do they look different than winter clouds??? They just do. We've had some gorgeous days over spring break, and now it looks like we're settling in for a few days of rain. Oh well, that might make it easier to get our focus back on school work!

Hearing... the dryer tumbling... too cool to line-dry today :o(

Pondering... making a master schedule that has all the boys' school schedules, but how? Maybe I need to use overlays of tracing paper or something! (I know, deep thoughts, people!)

Praying... for all of us to work diligently at our jobs/studies. We're coming down the homestretch of this school year, and it's do tempting (at least for me!) to slack off.

Thankful... Kerry has a ton of work right now - woo-hoo! And we have found a new home for one of our bunnies. I really didn't want to put him on craigslist, so I am delighted that friends from church would like a new pet :D

Makes it a lot easier to let go of him. And the boys are being really good sports about it. We really think this bunny would like more attention than he's getting here, with the boys getting older and busier.

Wearing... layers again, with the cooler weather.

Out for a walk with Gunnar... this house always seems surprised to see us ;D

Creating... plans! I'm going to cook a turkey today, and I'm hosting a baby shower tomorrow. Those things are unrelated, but both need my attention-to-detail :D

Going... to make lunch shortly, and then Gunnar and I will go with Tate over to the Tech College. The way the city bus schedule and his class time doesn't line up, means that sending him via public transport would take about five hours. For one class. That just doesn't compute, so Gunnar and I are taking some schoolwork along and going to hang out in the library. We can get some school work done while Tate is in class :D

Reading... Don't Follow Your Heart: God's Ways Are Not Your Ways, by Jon Bloom. Loving this book. Today's reading dealt with God's providence in the hard parts of our lives. He wrote,

The God who governs the visible and invisible worlds

knows what He is doing in your life.

Amen.

Looking forward to... Gunnar's first recital on Saturday!

In the kitchen... cooking a turkey for dinner, but not a full-on Turkey Dinner. (Yes to potatoes and gravy, but no stuffing. Maybe sweet potatoes if I have time!)

In the learning room... Gunnar doing his language work. Tate is probably working on Economics. What with three classes at the high school, one at the college, and two at home, I've given him a lot of freedom to arrange his schedule however works for him. Of course, he has to keep on track with his public school work, but he may be able to work ahead in his college class and finish it early. The homeschool subjects can be postponed if he wants.

Around the house... the minions weren't quite as available this spring break as they have been in the past! Still, they helped with some chores - putting all the window screens and screen door back on, yardwork/mowing, and we did some cleaning and moved the living room furniture. Do you do that? I like to change things around every so often. I get a fresh "new" room without spending a penny ;D

And the boys did a lot of this...

One of the games they boys play is called World of Warships. And this was the April Fools theme... sea battles, staged in a GIANT bath tub! (The toys would be the size of islands. You can't even see the "enemy ships' in that view.)

The Mother Load... diminished, but never gone! My immediate concerns are today's cooking, and prepping for tomorrow's baby shower :D

Noticing that... the boybarians are growing. We set a new family record at Costco last week...

I know. It's crazy. And I still needed to go to the regular grocery store for a few more things.

Something fun to share... friends from church hosted the youth group for a cookout and Capture the Flag over the weekend. Fun time! We have such a nice group of kids at the chapel :D

A favorite quote for today... I was reading some Elisabeth Elliot, and she was writing about our attitude toward work. She said...

The principal cause of boredom is the hatred of work... As we make an offering of our work, we find the truth of a principle Jesus taught: fulfillment is not a goal to achieve, but always the by-product of sacrifice.

One of my favorite things... speculoos cookie butter. Mmmmm!

A devotional thought... I love the juxtaposition of two verses from Exodus. The Israelites sing to the Lord after their deliverance through the Red Sea. Notice how these verses begin...

Exodus 15:9 The enemy boasted...
then,
Exodus 15:10 But you blew with your breath...

He's got this.

A few plans for the rest of the week... working for a smooth transition back into our school routine!
All the usual... school/college/homeschool, CAP, violin lesson, work.
And the extra... baby shower, violin recital :D

Which reminds me... did I mention that Tate promoted at Civil Air Patrol?
Congratulations, Cadet First Lieutenant :D