The Setbacks of Summer

Ahh... Summer.  Swimming, playing with friends, daylight lasting till 9 at night, staying up late and sleeping in the next morning, Vacation Bible School, bonfires, the garden... all these wonderful things that represent summer and a relaxed pace. 

Then there is the other side.  This summer I have watched the routine I carefully built be tossed.  As we faced crisis and tough decisions and financial setbacks, the relaxed pace hasn't always been so relaxed.  Well, life happens.  But then there is the other side... the dangerous heat indexes that have us wanting to hide in air conditioning or limit our sun exposure, the sporadic (they aren't brave enough to say it often) "I'm bored" comments from the kids, the vegging in front of the TV watching cartoons on Netflix, the fact that I don't see my children spending a lot of time with God.  The carefully made plans for summer I envisioned just didn't quite happen. 

I refuse to worry or stress about those plans though. I have found ways to work with Megan here and there.  It isn't as much as I wanted, but we're learning.  I also know that a lot of learning takes place through play.  We put up a pool this year.  It isn't fancy, but it was enough to help Laura cement her swimming skills and introduce Megan to water. 

I am beginning to miss the routine of school time.  It seems that, when school is in session, we are more consistent with spending time with God, with completing our chores, and with being good stewards of our time.  Laura is to begin school in a couple weeks, half days, until August when we dive back in full time.  I am doing this to get her back into the groove.  It's also a good compromise on year round schooling.  We took off about six weeks this year for summer break instead of nearly three months.  Working half days also gets Laura used to the the increased level of Creation to Christ from Heart of Dakota.

I also will be able to take more breaks throughout the school year by limiting our summer break to only a few weeks instead of three months.  That way, if life happens during the school year and we have to make up time, it won't be overly stressful.  A part of me totally wants to school year round, but it just hasn't worked for our family yet. 

We have to do what works for our family.  As much as I want to do things one way, it doesn't always work for us the way I wish.  That's okay.  I am trying to trust God with these matters and let Him be in control.