Tag: rhythm

The Season of Letting Go

tammyharms

“Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.” -unknown

I’m reflecting on that today.

Two years ago, fall ushered in the golden ginkgo leaves in Chengdu. It was such a beautiful, breathtaking display.

Our complex made pictures out of the Gingko leaves!

This year, we woke up to our second fall in South Texas. A second of something in this place. Although we don’t have the bright colors of the Ginkgo trees in Chengdu, or the Aspens in the Rocky Mountains or the bursting display of color in the Missouri Ozarks, there is a slight chill in the air, and blankets are being drug to the porch.

The birds are putting on a show as they migrate through our city. My eyes are caught upwards as they spiral down to land for a break at the wetlands across the street.

In our yard, the rabbits and chickens seem to take on new life as they frolic in response to the break from the oppressive heat.

There is excitement in the air. An expectation of what is to come. I light a candle and a boy bounces downstairs in response to the scent that whispers that fall is here.

The rhythm of the changes in seasons causes me to pause and reflect on what needs to change in my life. What do I want to take with me into this next season, and what do I need to leave behind? This particular season comes riddled with the oppressive weight of COVID, politics, and unrest. I squirm at the hint of conflict, so I have been squirming a lot lately. But, I’m learning to balance gratitude for what was, while trusting the Lord as I push forward into the unknown and uncertainty of what is next. I’m asking the question, what do I need to let go of in order to make room for something new?

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Morning Time

tammyharms

I am not a morning person. I thought that it would automatically happen when I grew up, but alas, it has not. When I had children, I quickly realized the importance of getting up before them, and the effect it had on our day.

As we started homeschooling, I felt like we were struggling in our transition from waking up, to morning chores, to starting school lessons and activities. After a bit of trial and error, I feel like we have found our rhythm.

First, I get up and start the coffee and get a healthy, protein packed breakfast going. I like to sit and do a morning devotional or bible study and order my thoughts before the kids are up. I turn on music (usually a Pandora station like Indelible Grace, David Nevue, JJ Heller, Ellie Holcomb, Bethel, or NeedtoBreathe), then wake the boys.

They come downstairs for breakfast and I read aloud while they eat. This works well for us because it limits chatter that can easily turn to careless words that can easily spiral and throw our day quickly off course. This time really does set the tone for our day. Currently, I am reading from Character Sketches. It is an older book, but all three of my boys are captivated by the fascinating animal facts, beautiful illustrations, and stories from Scripture.

The title page reads:

From the Pages of Scripture

God’s biographies reveal the secrets of warning and instruction for our daily lives. ” Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11

Illustrated in the World of Nature

“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you.” Job 12:7-8

Dedicated to the vision of God raising up a vast host of men who are committed to His standards and their responsibility to build character and to meet the basic needs of each one in their families.

Volume I studies the character traits loyalty, responsibility, courage, determination, orderliness, initiative, and decisiveness by highlighting an animal that exhibits these traits in nature, followed by a character sketch of a historical figure from the Bible.

You can view the complete set at the Institute in Basic Life Principles and on Amazon.

A few other options for read aloud’s that we have loved:

Hero Tales

Love Does for Kids

When I am done reading, I review their daily schedule with them, then the boys are responsible for cleaning up the kitchen, and beginning their morning chores. For our family, that means brushing their teeth, combing their hair, getting dressed, making their beds, and completing their animal chores, which currently includes a dog, a cat, 3 rabbits, and 4 chickens.

After the morning chores are complete, the younger two (3rd and 6th grade) then ease into handwriting while we all regroup and get ready to tackle the assignments for the day.

How about you? What is your morning routine? What helps your day get off to a good start?

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