In my life this week...
I missed posting an update last week, and I was tempted not to post this week. It's been such a busy few weeks, and it's hard to summarize it all.
Last week started off with scary weather Monday night. We're about 20 minutes south of Vilonia, which was nearly destroyed by a tornado. A little later that evening, another tornado destroyed part of the high school that's about a 1/2 mile from our house. That same one continued on through the base. (It's 1.1 miles from our driveway to the back gate.) Lots of homes and several planes were damaged. We were out there the next day and saw cars still overturned in the Commissary parking lot, a kid's Power Wheel's Jeep that had been lifted quite a distance from the housing area, a hangar that's now missing a roof, trees uprooted, power lines down, and more. After seeing all the damage that happened with the small tornado here, I can only imagine how the total destruction from the tornados in Alabama looks close up.
This week is starting off awfully wet. The rain just keeps coming. We were partway to church yesterday morning when we had to find an alternate route because of flooding. Many roads are flooded, many other areas look to be in danger of flooding soon, and the major highway from our town into Little Rock is closed.
In our homeschool this week...
We're really pushing towards the end of the year. Addison handed me her completed grammar workbook about a week or so ago, saying that she just kept working so that it would be finished. Now we just need to keep pressing on in the rest of our subjects.
Places we're going and people we're seeing...
Our calendar for this week has mostly just the normal-ish stuff -- therapy appointments, baseball games, etc. Perhaps we can settle back into some sort of routine.
My favorite thing this week...
I went to the library by myself this week and picked out a huge tote bag of good picture books for Lauren. Usually, she's picks out books so quickly that I only have a few seconds to grab one of my own choosing. I've been telling her at least once a day that we need to read one of the ones out of Mommy's tote bag, and we're both enjoying reading good books together.
What's working/not working for us...
Lauren's therapy appointments are driving me crazy. She used to have therapy 5 mornings a week at roughly the same every morning. Due to some therapists moving recently, they changed around her schedule. She has one morning free now, and the times change for all the other days -- some are at 10 (before lunch), some are at 12 (after lunch), and others are in-between. I just can't get our days to fall into any sort of rhythm when we're always coming and going at different times. I've requested that her appointments have more consistency when they start the new summer schedule in a few weeks.
Homeschool thoughts/questions I have...
I've narrowed down most of my plans for next year, and now I'm wondering how detailed I want to make a schedule next year. Since I'm combining/rearranging several different things, I won't have my preprinted schedule with 180 days worth of work neatly arranged for me to check off. Do I want one, though? I usually end up changing stuff anyway, getting behind in some areas, etc. I know that the kids need weekly schedules to follow each week, but I don't know if I need a year-long path of daily assignments written out for me to refer to when making those weekly checklists.
A photo, video, or quote to share...
I'll share just two of the pictures from the recent Leadership Training for Christ competition weekend. It will get its own post later (with tons and tons more pictures).
It sounds like you've had some unsettled times. I think those are more challenging, because it's not like you have any one thing to point to and say, "I'm upset about this...." It's just an unsettled time. I think our country as a whole is going through that. Our climate seems unsettled, our world events seem unsettled, and the nations themselves are in upheaval. But we are so blessed to have a Heavenly Father who does not change....who is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can let Him calm us and fill us with His peace. I hope things get in a better routine for you and all continues to progress with Lauren, my friend! :)
ReplyDeleteWith planning I have a yearly overview of what I want to cover but I only plan out a term at a time roughly and then only 2 weeks in exact detail at a time. Sometimes (ok, often) at the end of term I review how we are going and need to decide what to speed up or drop from my annual plans.
ReplyDeleteI use Homeschool Tracker Plus and having to reschedule a whole year in different subjects would stress my little Type A brain considerably. Planning with a little slack seems to work better.
Hoping Lauren's appointments get a little more regular in timing, and please take care of yourself in all that to-ing and fro-ing.
Best wishes
Jen in Oz
Your week sounds a little like mine with the unsettling storms. Yet I only wish I had a child who had completed a subject for the year. ;) I hope your appointments and schedule settles down into something more workable for you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am considering how I want to plan next year myself. I am considering breaking things down by what I want to cover each quarter. Then break down by the week and leave it at that. With 4 kids to plan for, if we can simply check off as we go, I think that will suffice. :)