'Tis the Season. . .

. . .for festive lights, generosity of spirit, shopping, and burnout.  Yes, burnout is no longer looming on the homeschool front. . . .it has arrived, brought suitcases, and moved in.  My goal for the immediate present and near future is to reclaim the joy of the season, so we can focus on the great gift the Advent season represents.  Any ideas?  (Actually, I know the answer:  SLOW DOWN.)

Autumn is fully here, and our giant liquid amber tree has lost nearly all of it's brilliant seasonal garb.  As the many leaves fell I discovered that I LOVE raking.  Like washing dishes, it's one of those repetitive chores that is so wonderful to mingle with meditation (and the house or yard looks better when I'm done!).  Wayne hung the white icicle lights on the house, we have a lovely spruce tree, and all the homey touches that we've grown attached to over the years. Our pellet stove provides warmth on chilly mornings, and we enjoy retreating to the family room and kitchen, where it's cozy.

It's also the season for fund-raising and musical programs.  There are three music programs this week, and the first one was last evening.  Last weekend the three of us went on the annual handbell tour to the Bay Area.  There are 13 handbell players, and we transported five of them in our car.  Between Friday at 3 pm and Sunday afternoon we put over 500 miles on our car. It was a lot of fun, and we especially enjoyed Pier 39.  

We toted Hershey around in a bag.

Monday night held the violin recital. Emily played in the group pieces, but didn't have a solo this time (if she had, we probably would have had to peel her off the ceiling and carry her to a soft room in a straight jacket).   Tonight is the hospital's annual Christmas dinner, which we always enjoy.  

Tomorrow evening is the junior academy's Christmas program, and Emily takes part in the choir, band, and handbells.  She is also accompanying the school in a string ensemble as the school children sing songs from "The Messiah."  On Friday is a low-key "piano party" where the piano students can share what they've been learning.

 First semester is virtually over, or will be in a couple weeks, and Emily is ahead in her core subjects.  We're able to slow down during this difficult time, and not lose too much ground.  We had a shift in history class, and are having to compress some chapters into a too-small time slot, so we can define this year's history as "World History".  That will be do-able, as Emily is such an avid reader.  The burnout problem isn't that the classes are too hard or too demanding--it's more a burnout from going to the school four days a week and not having time to dig in and do the classwork.

Pathfinders has been cut from the schedule--it was a difficult decision, but seems the right thing to do.  The composition of the club went from Emily and a 12 year old girl to Emily and about six kids 10 to 11 years old.  The next step will be to decide which music classes at the school are not necessary, and talk to Wendy, the music teacher.  The handbell choir is going to Disneyland, and I think Emily is committed to that for the year, but band and choir are not necessary.

What we're seriously short on is FUN.  Just playing and having fun.  We'll seek that out, and let you know how it goes!

The photo at the top of the page was taken by Diane Conn.  Her website is:  www.ConnPhotography.com