This is what I did today.

It has been a long time since I have made anything for a little girl. Really the boys don’t care about clothes..give them jeans and a tshirt and they are good..or in our boys case..give them nothing to wear and they are even better. It has been a lot of fun picking out material and putting it all together. I have one more sundress for Moxi and then some shorts for the boys. I just can’t take things to her and not for the boys..besides..I’m having way too much fun.

For 16 years I homeschooled our girls. We were always blessed to be part of a homeschool group and most of the time we were part of a co-op. Our girls went to a class or two with other homeschool children. They were part of a yearbook or field trip or graduation or jr./sr. banquet or basketball game. They had friends who had like interests and who schooled in the same way.

About 5 years ago God started really burdening my heart to get something going in our local area for families who homeschooled. I talked with my daughter, Brannan, and other families and really prayed about how and where to start. I really started seeking out guidance on how to do this.

In 2009 a group BRANCH was started. We started with 3 families. Being that I only had one year left of homeschooling I wanted to get it up and running while I was an active part. Last night was co-op parent night. The children gathered to show what they had learned in co-op class as well as their individual home class. I was so proud to see this group growing.

I have received blessings from homeschooling that can’t be counted. I have received blessings from being part of past homeschool groups as well as this current new group. Last night I received a wonderful blessing of being given a certificate acknowledging me as the founder of BRANCH along with a gift certificate.

Thank you God, for pressing on mine and Kevin’s heart almost 20 years ago to homeschool our children. Thank you for pressing on my heart to help start a group that will encourage homeschool parents, where other homeschool moms can meet and glean off of each other and form a place where their children can meet and grow and learn and make friends.

There are times in my day that I rethink the things my grandchildren have said to me and I just giggle out loud as I’m going through my day. Several times we have gone to visit and have stayed in a hotel..this gives us a time “away” while still being with our kids and grandkids..but it also lets us all take advantage of swimming in an indoor pool. We’ve done this enough that Israel, our 2 1/2 year old little guy, thinks we have two houses. On our last visit he wanted to go with us to our hotel house and swim. When I told him we were going to our real house where Aunt Chynell and Cherokee were, he then said he wanted to go with me so he could jump on the trampoline. I reminded him we don’t have a trampoline..to which he promptly replied with “well we are boykids and boykids need a trampoline”..hmmm..I’ll have to make note of that.

  On our overnight stay with the family conversations went something like this…

Geema, take a picture with me holding Moxi.  ~  Nate

We gotta take this picture and send it to Uncle Marty..he just loves toes..hehehe  ~  me and Brannan

Geema..can I take a picture of Moxi?.. ~ Nate

Geema..can I take a picture of Nate?  ~  Iz

 
Geema, can I take a picture of Izzy?  ~  Nate

while laying down and looking at the ceiling and pretending to see clouds with shapes…
…I see a cloud that looks like a fan  ~ Iz

And the largest closest clearest rainbow I’ve ever seen. It was like we could reach out and touch it.