August ...the end of our "corona-cation"

We had 5 months of "corona-cation" due to Matt

finishing up the school year teaching from home

then being home for normal summer break.

I know most families were itching for everyone

to go back to school/work, but not us ...

we loved all being home together so August

was a mixture of end of summer fun and

challenging transitions because the new

school year looks different for all of us.

We spent a beautiful summer afternoon having

a picnic, fishing and swimming at my

Uncle George's pond.

We slept outside under the night sky with a campfire

and special snacks watching the shooting stars

during the Perseid Meteor Shower.

We have been working overtime on picking and

preserving food ...all hands on deck effort!

Peaches - canned, frozen and dehydrated

Sweet Corn in the freezer

Matt and Grace returning from one of their 

blackberry walks ...frozen for winter eating.

We spent a beautiful day hiking at Minister Creek.

It was a challenging 6+ mile hike with steep climbs,

narrow trails, massive boulders to maneuver through,

and a fabulous overlook. I think it was my favorite so far!

Nathan published and delivered a "neighborhood"

newspaper called 41 North for the 10 weeks of summer.

He also asked neighbors, family, and friends to join 

in collecting snacks and drinks for our local

fire department and ambulance volunteers.

These drinks and snacks are a boost to the

volunteers when on long calls.

But what gives them an even bigger boost

is knowing that people in the community

care and appreciate their service!

The kids and I rode along to Erie with Matt one

day during his teacher in-service days

spending the day at Presque Isle bike riding, picnicking,

reading, and looking for cool rocks plus

beach glass.

Then entered a challenging time of transition

and adapting to new routines. 

(this time has been quite overwhelming

for me hence such late publication of this post)

Matt is teaching students in class live 

and at home online

AT.THE.SAME.TIME

while wearing a mask and/or face shield.

Don't forget cleaning desk between classes!

We have a clean mask basket in the mudroom

for him to grab one each morning as he leaves ...

and a dirty mask bucket in the laundry room ...

add "wash masks" to my weekly task of

ironing Matt's clothes.

Nathan started High School this year. {gasp!}

We have loved the way we have homeschooled through

8th grade but wanted something different that 

would better prepare him for college.

So Nathan is still at home but is enrolled in an

online school and attends 4 live classes

and 2 async classes each day.

Learning to be on someone else's schedule,

to navigate "online" school,

and to balance the work load has been

all consuming these first few weeks...

but each week gets better!

And Grace has been telling everyone that she is 

attending an "all girls boarding school" this year.

I am still homeschooling Grace and excited

for the plans we have to study zoology

and the book list lined up for horse novels.

Let me end this post by encouraging you

to say "I trust you God" along with me

because I know that I need to keep

my eyes on Him, not my problems,

stress, challenges...

I doubt I'm alone.

Keeping our eyes on Christ not our problems...

this is faith!