Richardson Report

 There are two reasons I like to travel.  One, I like to see things; and two, I like to get away from normal life.  I'm always planning a road trip in my mind or contemplating possible places I'd love to visit, checking flights, looking at maps - this is what I do for fun.  But in spite of my passion for a good vacation, I also LOVE to come home and after a bit of time away it's something I desire.   Always, I want to come back home.  Is that analogous to our mortal journey?  Maybe!  I'll leave that to you. Recently our family was gone for 16 days.  That's a long time, especially considering we spent the bulk of the days in the car together driving somewhere (and the non-driving days were spent surrounded by lots of other people). Here are some thoughts from this particular trip: 1.  Water views trump all.  We rented a little house on a lake so we could play better (Bryan's idea) and the Robison's went in on that with us.  Waki...

 Two weeks ago a bunch of moms in my area got together to talk about the upcoming school year and what we each were planning.  COVID has made life a challenge for many and the idea was to exchange ideas, see if we wanted to do anything together, and just generally provide some moral support.  I was one of two veteran homeschoolers in attendance.  As I listened to the various plans - some people had really firm ideas of curricula they were using or which school program they were signing up for, others were totally adrift.  I began to get anxious about MY curriculum choices for MY children.  I began worrying about my writing program for Kenna and Natalie.  I really got concerned.  I started looking up a really renowned  homeschooling writing curriculum and thinking about buying it. But something wonderful happened a few days later.  I was out on a walk with one of those moms and some sort of question she asked prompted me to reflect and ve...

 It's almost the end of summer and I've really got to keep updated here.  The kids have been growing by leaps and bounds. Maybe a mid-year update is called for. FAITH - she did Junior Golf this year for the first year ever and she did pretty dang good.  I honestly think we have a potential golfer on our hands.  When we golf as a family she gets tired and bored quickly, but her swing is consistent and she loves it until she's done.       She also learned how to ride a two-wheeler this year and she is loving that freedom and grownup-ness.       She is thiiiiiiis close to being  a swimmer.  She's getting stronger.   Looking forward to reaching that milestone next. NATALIE - Natalie is growing up!  She is counting down the months until she can attend mutual (next January).  She's always got her nose in a book and if we can't find her, chances are she's on the porch swing in the backyard reading Percy Jackson or Range...

Brynne got her mission reassignment.  It's good.  It's time for us and for her for her to start prepping to head back out.  She leaves June 30.  Although I must say it's been WONDERFUL to have her around.  Adult children are both difficult and ultra fun.  Actually, I think they're only difficult when you're trying to figure out how much to not parent them.  Outside of that, I like having adult kids because they are also friends who come back to visit me. Anyway, the Boston, MA mission, which includes Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, is going to be where Brynne spends the remaining 7 months of active full-time missionary service. I think it will be a nice place to be and an interesting contrast to Mexico!  If you have the "Make Way for Ducklings" book by Robert McCloskey ---- it takes place in Boston.  So maybe she can meet Mr. and Mrs. Mallard at the Boston Public Garden. Meanwhile, she is soaking up friend time, workin...

I cannot believe it happened.

We are 8 weeks into the weirdest experience of our lives.  Can you believe this has actually happened?   There's too much that has happened since I last posted over two months ago to even go into everything so I'll just start where we are with a few quick catch-ups.... 1.  Natalie turned 10. 2.  We went to Idaho for half of spring break and Nova was blessed. 3.  Brynne came home from Mexico. 4.  Logan turned 17. 5.  Everything under the sun was cancelled And that's about where we stand.  Now as homeschoolers our lives didn't change dramatically like I imagine other people's lives have.  Most of my kids were already home with me for good parts of every day.  But it's still changed!  I like it a lot in some ways.  I'm miserable in others.  I feel like I've been learning a good balance and figuring out how to have my social needs met in new ways.  My kids have been more of a challenge because you just can't trust...

the last several posts have been mostly just a photo-dump.  It looks like we only take vacations but honestly I just never pull out the camera!  However, there are other fun things to share. First, in November Natalie entered an essay contest sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution and she found out in January that her essay won for Grants Pass.  She and Kenna MAY have been the only entries...although I'm not sure.  Still, she was pretty excited! Kenna was called as her Young Woman class president at the beginning of the year.  She's such a cute little planner.  She's always full of ideas and she really thinks about how to include all the girls and help them feel welcome.  It's been fun to watch her serve in this capacity and learn. This year Kenna has been attending orchestra at the middle school.  Starting in February she also began attending the next (and final) period.  That has been such a good thing for her. ...