Tuesday

Yesterday was an ab- solutely, in- credibly gorgeous kind of day. I normally go to Ladies' Prayer and Bible Study on Tuesday mornings, but yesterday I took a drive instead and returned my boy to Auburn. I'd thought to go Monday night, but Hannah was watching the USA vs Ghana World Cup soccer game at a friend's house and James was tired from working all day. Besides that, Joe had spent the afternoon with a friend he doesn't normally see now that he's living in Auburn, and I didn't want to rush off tired myself either. Instead we took a "somewhat" leisurely drive, stopped at Wegmans so Joe could pick up a few groceries, and took a quick peek at Owasco Lake. (I have to go back there. We didn't even get out of the car...) On the way home Hannah was a captive audience and I jabbered at her the whole time. (I won't have her forever and so now is my chance.)

Yesterday afternoon brought some torrential down- pours and spiked the humidity levels. The rain came on so fast we scarcely had time to run upstairs and close the windows.

Later in the evening, when the storms had temporarily abated, we cooked a few burgers on the back porch and enjoyed leftovers from Sunday's family picnic for dinner. Hannah typically plays Frisbee on Tuesday nights, but she was home instead and declared it a Roy Rogers movie night so we holed up in the living room to watch "Silver Spurs" while the thunder storms closed in once again.

I've been reading a missionary blog lately. Finding myself inspired by Lydia and her adventure in Guatamala.

It's Never Too Late Until You're Dead

Now that I am about finished with home schooling, I'm doing some research on unschooling. I like it. I am tired of making my kids learn useless things they hate and passing up what they love in order to do it. Hannah knows grammar and can write, likes to read, does math, and enjoys American history. She tests very high on her California Achievement Tests. At sixteen we are finally at the point where I can legally stop reporting her to the school district. Although we aren't quite ready to toss the books, we are ready to put a bit more effort into pursuing the things she really loves, and I am ready to chase after some of those dreams I have put off for so long.

The List I wrote three years ago and put on the shelf is ready to be taken down, dusted off, and delved into. Our weekend excursion is not the only inspiration. That unschooling book has me doing some thinking for myself too. First on my list is to work on writing a manuscript for a picture book. I have some rough ideas, a ready audience to test my stories on, and a young daughter who also likes to write. Maybe we can actually keep each other inspired.

So, while I'm still alive and kickin', I am going to get to work on that Bucket List. It's not too long and so complicated that I can't do at least part of it. Wish me luck!