Summer – it’s supposed to be some kind of a break isn’t it? A break from the norm, going to the beach, gardening (one of my favorite pastimes), vacationing, etc. But it doesn’t seem to be so at our house. Oh, we do the summer things. It is a break from the norm … but it’s CRAZY BUSY!
Every year, we go to Word of Life Family Campground in beautiful Schroon Lake, New York, for a week. It comes right after we have wrapped up school, and my quarterly reports are due to my school district, along with my letter of intent and annual assessments for the year. I think I’m going to lose my mind every year, and this year was no different.
The laundry that fell behind during “busy June” now needs to be caught up (actually, it is rarely caught up - shhhh). We not only needed to pack, but we needed to know what we are lacking so we can purchase items we may need. Also, get the dog to the vet for the rabies shot, brush her out really good because it's shedding season. Oops, her license is expiring. Renew that ... Teenage son wants more driving practice ... the list seems never-ending.
We have been spending a week at Word of Life Family Campground for the past 10 years, and have stayed in a tent the past two years. We love tenting, but it is a lot of work! The week is full of great bible teaching – the cream of the crop of bible teachers. We had Ray Pritchard and Jimmy DeYoung as our main speakers. I tried to do all of our meals at the campsite, so that was a lot of beforehand preparation. I did as much at home as I could, then froze it so all I had to do was warm it up at camp. So it wasn’t so bad, but it was still a lot of work – hauling the dishes up to the bathhouse, where there’s a utility sink with counter space – keeping the cooler cold with fresh ice daily - makes you appreciate home, that’s for sure. And it helps you to know you can do more than maybe you think you can do. I thought on the way home from camp, after packing up three tents, all cooking utensils, propane grill and stove, fishing poles, air mattresses (with help, of course)… oh, so tired … they should sell exit T-shirts that say “I survived my week of tenting at Word of Life Family Campground.” Even as the thought entered my mind, I remembered – “I had the same thought on my way home last year.”
I have had one week to recoup. Sort of. It’s been a week of laundry and getting things back in place. And sleeping. Sometimes three (short) naps a day. Am I getting too old for this sort of thing? Thankfully, I am finding my energy is returning. I feel ready to tackle the rest of summer with it’s projects and fun.
I said all of that to say, I can’t wait for school to start so we can get routine back! I love the start of a new school year. It’s never really new, we just pick up where we left off. But there’s always a chance to readjust or try something just a little bit different. I’m not trying to hurry summer. The most difficult (but rewarding!) part is over. I plan on enjoying the garden, getting to the beach at least once (I wish there were family friendly beaches!), and I long to spend endless hours with my boys, in a creek with minnows and crayfish, and salamanders; relive my childhood a bit.
But when fall comes, I won’t bemoan the end of summer. It will be a continuation of learning – always learning, but in a different season, and with a bit more structure. We would also really love to visit the Creation Museum – whether to end summer, or kick off school.
And the seasons, they go round and round … home where WE belong.
Deb Turner (Homeschooling From the Heart)
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Featured Graduates and Alumni
TOS Current Issue
Jul. 16, 2008
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