Schoolwork Surprize

Grace's Assignment: to use 3 out of 7 vocabulary words in a paragraph

Grace's Response:

The Day of The River

A little girl, interposed between her father and mother,

being tumultuous & keen, she said to her mother,

"I can't subdue this: let's get going!"

She said to her Father, "Why wait? Let's start rowing!"

Her happiness dilating, she sang "Sanctified"

She was so happy she nearly cried!

Thank You For...

1. nearly 5 months in Halifax
2. Imma next door
3. Friends for each of us in this short stay
4. Family close by
5. Fall and Winter beauty
6. Violin lessons for Jasmin
7. Winter wear
8. Warm house
9. Fireplace suppers
10. Free skates times
11. Cheap skates for us all
12. Snow explorations
13. Sunny hikes
14. Quiet outside
15. Backyard birds
16. Squirrels
17. Starry nights
18. Lego and blocks
19. Shared meals
20. Bedtime stories from Imma
21. School for Jasmin
22. Aiden talking
23. Missed foods available
24. Beach visits
25. Winter sunrises on the way to school
26. Easy library access
27. Lots of play dates
28. Birthday parties
29. Our own car
30. Church families
31. Places with family history to share
32. Purpose beyond initial reason for our stay here
33. Rest, real rest
34. Frost patterns
35. Hosting
36. Replenished energy
37. Grace working with Dad
38. Aiden happy with Imma
39. Inner growth
40. Time with Dad before he died
41. Reminiscing with family
42. Learning more family history
43. Falling deeper in love
44. Care shown us in many, many ways
45. A place all ready to live in upon arrival
46. Only one bout of sickness
47. Place to play outside
48. School playground close by
49. Just enough winter snow to satisfy kids
50. All we have needed and more

It's taken longer this time to "get into the move" - usually months beforehand I'm thinking and planning and packing in dribs and drabs.  We are about 3 weeks away, and I'm only just starting to seriously plan, pack, think it! 
Perhaps my brain doesn't see it as a big deal because it isn't an international move involving airplanes (we're 'only' moving to Ottawa)?
Perhaps we are so quickly settled here that we don't really want to leave?
Perhaps I'm finally feeling it is  an old familiar thing and I've quit brewing over moving until right before?
Perhaps I'm tired of moving and not yet ready to face another?
Perhaps not having a settled move date or method of moving is slowing me down?
Or all of the above!  But it is coming!
Musing over the last 5 months, my first and foremost reaction is deep thankfulness to God for he has drowned us in goodness here!

When I was Eight

When I was eight

I ran barefoot

wild with joy 

Spring finally here

through still frozen mud

Grace is eight

she dances barefoot

across the pathways

our house to Imma's

over frozen gravel

When I was eight

I rescued a baby mouse

on the way to school

Kept it in my sock in my desk  

It didn't survive more than a day

Grace is eight

A praying mantis flew

into our school

 Survived a few days

but living with us was just too much

When I was eight

I traveled by plane

Canada to England

and by car and train

to visit family

 Grace is eight

She traveled 

by car, train, and plane

Malaysia to Canada

to visit family

When I was eight

my hair was short

shorn as required by school

a lice epidemic measure

dreaming of long hair again

Grace is eight

Her hair is long

Only ever been cut once

She cried 

when I cut my hair short

When I was eight

I was outside more than in

Exploring, climbing, biking, playing

called home for meals

by the blast of a whislte

Grace is eight

Inside more than out

Reading, playing, climbing

Coaxed outside reluctantly

But loves it when we go

When I was eight

I read loads of books

Puzzled with codes

Wrote lots of stories

in my own made up language

Grace is eight

She reads loads of books

Puzzles over computer code

Resists writing them down

But loves to tell/draw stories

When I was eight

a home video was rare

TV's were small

Computers just making a debut

into family homes

Grace is eight

She can watch just about anything

any time, any where

(if she were allowed!)

Screen time is engrained in life

When I was eight

Computers were boring

Difficult.  Mysterious.

I could make it type "hello"

and color the screen blue

Grace is eight

Computers are fun

A world of endless possibility

Complex. Familiar.

She can program a 

 multimedia website!

Winter Wonder

I am so enjoying rediscovering winter through my kids' eyes! 

Watching them explore new snow fall

surprise at difficulty in walking

gasping shock of snow on the face

slippery discoveries of packed snow and sleek ice

differing sounds of a snow-muffled world

unexpected heaviness

giggles and gasps of beginner sledding

Listening to them wonder aloud

Why is it harder to walk in snow?

What happens when snow falls on ice? snow? grass?

Why does snow turn to white "ice" when it's driven on?

Why do my footprints have a drag shape behind them?

How can there be different kinds of snow?

Showing them the mundane

and sharing  the beauty and delight

Snow in the headlights from a moving car

Wan winter sun rising gold

turning snow to jewels

The sparkle of frost on cars

icicles' cold beauty

Fairly-land of closeup observation of freshly fallen snow

Visible breath

Imaginative snow shapes

Crisp cold air and purple shadows

Winter wonders

ready for rediscovery!

In The New Year's Deep Freeze

Skies are blue and the trees beckon happy in the brilliant sunshine

But no one wants to go out to play

The wind whips knifing cold bone deep

We choose to enjoy the winter beauty through the windows

Instead of outdoor romps

we do some work

Be silly with the camera

Enjoy the extra warmth and ambiance of a fire 

(and a marshmallow or two!)

Copy big sisters to distraction

Read some books

And snuggle in warm dark corners

In the New Year's deep freeze