Happy New Year 2015

This post, minus all the pictures except the family one at the end, was originally posted on the SCHEA (South Carolina Home Educators Association)
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/SCHEA/487942607958859?ref=br_tf
on Sunday evening, January 4, 2015.... 

 

Happy New Year to You and Yours from SCHEA....

It's that time, whether you've already started back homeschooling or not until next week, when the routine starts back and all that it entails. I have to confess that I am scared. I am still reveling in that pre and post Christmas bliss

when we slept as late as we wanted, 

had no sporting events to zip from to and fro, had eggs for supper if we wanted to, 

 

decided on a whim to watch a movie, read a book, walk on the beach, 

 

get together with cousins, or tackle a household project (we did many).

 

The time that Hubby/Daddy had off work

 

for 3 weeks was precious, and work issues, difficult math, foreign language, and Biology labs, simmered completely silent on the back burner. No, I'm more than a little scared. We have issues to face this month: health concerns, college decisions, new groups, decisions about our future, finishing that difficult math and biology labs, and more. My homeschool is not perfect, my marriage is not perfect, my children are not perfect, and goodness knows my house is not perfect and I am far from perfection. But I don't have to be scared and my life doesn't have to be perfect, because my God is perfect and He carries me through any weakness and trial I have. 

 

He will carry you and your family too. His strength will show through all my weaknesses and affect others. That my friends is called Grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin. Because when I am weak, He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me and mine and you and yours, the Bible tells me so. That Grace is enough. Our family wishes you a Happy and Healthy new year full of learning about God's grace and just how He can Bless us when we are only obedient to Him.

Blessings on a New Year....

The Rowe Tribe

Kelly Rowe, SCHEA Board Vice-President

Front Porch Musings

What's truly important?

I reflected on this tonight as I talked with my Daddy about two of his close dear friends passing away at the ages of 95 and 91.5.  Last Sunday I spent time on my parent's front porch in the mountains watching my father work in the flower beds, listening as he told me about Mr. Johnson and his health woes; how he would not be able to be cared for any longer at home by his bride of 71 years.  We did not know during that conversation that Mr. Johnson had just passed away.  Then tonight my Daddy calls to tell me that he took Mrs. Johnson to the emergency room last night and sat with her as she had trouble breathing and that she passed away there, at the hospital, just one week after her husband. 



I looked up their announcements and sent the links to my dad.  What long lives, what service to read about -  what they've done, where they've been, who they impacted.  And I wonder?  What will my children say and think and read about my husband and I?  I knew this couple well; still have (thanks to my mom) the adorable plate set they gave to me as an infant because of my birth.  Mrs. Johnson attended one of my children's first birthday party not too long ago.  But what is their legacy?  What is mine?  What is yours?

Today, another Sunday, I sat on my friend's porch, not in the mountains this time,

but in their shadow, and I wondered again, is this it?  Is this what matters?  In the hustle and bustle,

does it come down to this, so simple?  Yes, it does.  It comes down to the breeze that calms you, the October-blue sky; the children playing football while laughing (with 11 boys around, what would you expect?), the girls holding the kittens and the rabbit, and the baby chasing the little kitty.

The muted sounds of the 2 men who shoulder the responsibility for these clans ambling in conversation down the porch a ways, and the ebb and flow of our own mental wanderings, 2 mamas of many, sometimes barely above a whisper, as we contemplate and share our words gliding and bobbing up, down, around, like a boat gently gliding in the water. 

We are sharing in the "good life".  It's not so unattainable.  Were my lesson plans done?  No.  Was my house perfect?  No.  (Still isn't).  Is the brochure for my board done?  No. Is my Convention of States calling up to date?  No. Have I started my Isagenix diet yet?  No. Am I caught up on emails?  Never.  Do I know exactly what tomorrow will bring?  How could I?  Why should I?

But I do know this.  I know Who holds the future, I Know Who holds me in the palm of his hand.  Today I was carefree.  I am praying earnestly tonight and in these early morning hours for that same spirit that was with me on the porch, to be with me when the children fuss (because they will), when I run out of milk (looking like by lunchtime), and when "the thing" happens that seems to break me, whatever that final straw may be. 

Oh, Lord, I pray, instill in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within in me.  Cast me not from your presence Lord.  Because I want my own to capture the spirit of the legacy I want to hand down.  I want my own to read, not just words in an announcement, but "in between the lines" ... Life and how to have it abundantly.  I want it not to say, Survivors Include, but rather to say, Those who have been left behind, but who are coming home with their Mama someday.... Because I want to sit on a front porch in heaven in the shadow of the Almighty and watch the children play and know I made the right and best choices.  I want to take the spirit from the front porch glider today and apply it to everyday.  That's what's truly important.

What Maine is Known For

Blueberries Galore!  Maine produces 93% of the nation's blueberries.

These berries were HUGE!  They are not the wild ones like we have been picking around the camp.  These are cultivated high bushes on a farm we went to.  It's more expensive to pick in Maine than in SC.  So, we think we'll go back to the wild small ones at the camp.  But these beauties were delicious; a gallon lasted us about 5 hours!

Maine is known for "camps" by the lake

Beautiful scenery and kayaks

Large Boulders are all over the state

Bald Eagles; we have enjoyed watching "ours"

Beautiful Babies, yes, in Maine and SC!

Old General Stores from the 1850s

Dock Sitting Relaxing Mama, this is my small slice of summer!

Gorgeous Sunsets

More pictures of the Androscoggin Lake Resident Bald Eagle

Maine is known for:  Wild Indians (yes there were Indians here at one time) climbing on those ubiquitous Maine Boulders.

Camps by the Lake

Scenery

Small Town Libraries

Barns attached to Houses

This is actually a "small" pile of wood compared to some we've seen; getting a head start on a cold snowy winter.

Outhouses?  Yes, the real deal; this was the one used by this cabin (camp) when it was first built.  The water was brought up from the lake for washing, no electricity, and this was the bathroom.  This mama is glad that indoor plumbing, running water, and electricity have been added.

This one was a 2 seater.

And Maine has.....FRIENDS!

Jeff and I remarked to each other that you probably can't find better friends than Perry and Kim Jackson.  We feel so at home with them.

Goodbye Maine!  I will miss my twice daily excursions in the kayak.