summer's end

Yes, I am still talking about summer. It just doesn't seem like its over here in the Northwest!
..... except for the fact that we've started school, the days are getting shorter,
and it's getting harder and harder to find a sunny spot in the backyard.
We 've had a GLORIOUS stretch of no rain. In fact some unnamed members in our
home are saying they miss the rain. I'm on the fence.
I will be happy when it returns, but I am LOVING these sunny, crystal, clear-sky, days.
This has been soooo much better than last year. Such a boost for me.

These are the last pictures taken in the country this summer, before our new school year began.
We went to Num Num and Papa's,
picked green beans and blueberries,
played ladder ball (which was SO fun),
colored with side-walk chalk,
roasted marshmallows by the camp fire,
slept in a tent in the back yard,
played dressy-up,
took long country jogs,
and ate fresh-caught northwest crabs!!

It was fabulous.

Drew wrote everyone's name around the campfire. 

I think it looked SO cool!! 

The start of our school year has been ok. 

Not great, but ok. The first week, especially, was a rough re-entry. 

I'm once again challenged with my lack of self-discipline, and my

utter dependance on the mercy and grace of God, to

help me homeschool our 5 kids. 

So often, I second-guess our decision. 

A couple of weeks back during worship, we prayed a corporate confession of sin

from The Valley of Vision. It really resounded in my heart, and in a way

summed up how I so often feel. It is my prayer for this school year.

My confession. My heart's cry:

O my Savior, help me.

I am slow to learn, prone to forget

and weak to climb.

I am in the foothills

when I should be on the heights.

I am pained by my graceless heart,

my prayerless days,

my poverty of love,

my sloth in the heavenly race,

my sullied conscience,

my wasted hours and

my unspent opportunities.

Make it my highest joy to study You,

meditate on You,

gaze on You,

sit, like Mary, at Your feet,

lean, like John, on Your breast,

appeal, like Peter, to Your love, 

count, like Paul, all things dung.

I believe, help my unbelief. Amen 

Praise the Lord. There is good news. 

I have the hope of the Gospel to cling to!! 

"Since then we have a great high priest

who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God,

let us hold fast our confession.

 For we do not have a high priest

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who in every respect

has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us then with confidence

draw near to the throne of grace,

that we may receive mercy and find 

grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:14-16

As the summer ends, the seasons change, and

my own schedule changes, I can enter into 

MY new season with great confidence! 

When I am weak, He is strong. 

Hallelujah.