Wow, our school year has come to a close. Do you hear me, people? A CLOSE. Well, offiically tomorrow, but what do YOU think most kids do the last day of school? I could see Joseph’s and Michaela’s brains slipping out the car windows into the hot summer air as we sped along I-40 on our way home from end-of-year testing on Tuesday. Get more work out of them? Yeah, right!
Me? My mind was on whether or not there was a Goodwill in the town they were being tested in.
You know there was.
Look. I know I said I was going to put the brakes on. I said that. Yes I did. But what else could I do during the several hours they were being tested? Here were my options.
a) sit in a 100-degree car and wait
b) go shopping at Goodwill
I ask you, what would you have done?
And I think you would be proud to know that I did not shop the entire time they were testing. For quite some time I sat in the consultant’s parlor and did some reading and writing. (But that was only because they were not done testing when I got back to her house.)
I am tired. It’s a happy tired, but tired nonetheless. Am I the only one who feels this exhausted after working and schooling and keeping house all year? I think not. So, this post will contain a bit of everything, but I’ll try to make it coherent.
Hamlet
Yes, we finished Hamlet a few weeks back and it was a wonderful experience! All I can say is Shakespeare was a genius writer and had great insight into human nature. Joseph loved it!
We did watch a movie verson of Hamlet, the one with Mel Gibson, and I’m glad we did because I had not pictured Ophelia being quite as insane as she had actually become. We watched it after we’d read the entire play. Michaela was not allowed to see it. She saw a little at the beginning and then was excused. There are some very intense scenes near the end of the movie that I’m glad she did not see.
Test Scores
In a nutshell, after a whole year of work, Joseph still spells like a third grader. It just runs in hubby’s family to not be able to spell. I would take credit for the spelling horrors if they were from my side of the family but I must give credit where credit is due. It comes from hubby. Believe me, there are plenty of blundering things that come from my side of the family. Miss Priss spells like I do. Two grade levels ahead. Same with math. 
In other areas Joseph has continued to grow. He’s made great strides in math. The amazing thing is that his reading comprehension has only increased. It was third year college last year. It’s fifth year this year. So in spite of Joseph’s spelling woes, I am thrilled with our testing. He comprehends, he calculates. And, I still have hope that if we do ONLY spelling this whole entire summer, every day, the way I plan to do it, he’ll be somewhere acceptable by the time I hand him his diploma this fall.
Why am I sharing this? Because I know I’m not the only one who’s been blessed with a child who struggles with spelling. And I fully believe that if God created him, which He did, He has a useful place for him to fill, whether he can spell well or not.
Gardening
My mind is ablaze with garden ideas, and these days I am nearly ablaze while working in the garden. It’s been HOT. Nevertheless, I have forged ahead, moving borders, weeding and enjoying. We have also been taking nature walks (great “Prairie Tuesday” fun) to cut plant specimens from the roadsides.
Hops Clover
It is so much fun to place the plants into a book to be pressed while in the meantime we find the names — common and scientific, and write down some information about each plant. After the plant has dried we place the specimen and the information into a laminating pocket and laminate it for the plant notebook we’re making!
I can’t believe it’s bedtime on Thursday evening. Tomorrow is a work day, but I’m thankful to have work at home. (Girls, I tell myself this every week and I’m sure you all are cheering me on. TYPE TYPE TYPE.)
We had homemade pizza tonight, and Reed’s Extra Ginger Brew. Yum. That’s all I can say about it. It’s real ginger-ale.
My pizza has spinach on it. The children like meat. I like veggies. Some of us are on fire with our spelling skills. Some of us cannot spell at all. We are a big genetic jumble. But we all love each other to pieces. Ain’t it great?
I’m sorry we did not get to do Prairie Tuesday this week. I was hoping for today, but this week has just been too busy with end-of-year festivities. I plan to continue having fun with it through the summer. Michaela will be required to read and we will keep up with penpals. Joseph, of course, will be spelling. 
Happy Thursday,
Lynn
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
Of course I would have gone to the Goodwill… any *sensible* person would have done so, dear. Why, if you had chosen to stay in the hot car, you might have gotten ill. You might have gotten heat stroke! Which would have required a doctor visit, possibly hospitalization- certainly some sort of medication. (all very expensive things, I might add.. mmhmmm, especially when you count in missed days at work!)) You certainly would have gotten dehydrated by that heat.. then you would have needed to stop in somewhere for a drink… and of course you would have needed to purchase drinks for the children as well- and probably snacks too. Or, or or maybe even a meal!
Yes, Lynn… I think you spent your time very sensibly and *frugally!*
Oh and we are doing school all summer this year… we got dreadfully behind when I was working outside of the home, and I am determined that this summer we will finally make it all up. Feel free to pray for us;)
Diane, I knew all my friends would see the great logic in my decision.
Ohh and I know the woes that go with working and homeschooling.
Hugs,
Lynn
Lynn, I just want you to know what an inspiration to me. How you take normal everyday things and turn them into something beautiful. Like the pressed flowers. What a great idea. And how you LIVE your school days instead of it being something you just do. Your children are beautiful and I know you are so proud of them. After work Friday take a long weekend off. Rest girl-you have done a great job!
Oh, and I second Diane, going to the Goodwill was really the only logical thing to do.
MamaHen, thank you so much! I will think about your kind words as I type today! Of course, Goodwill was the only logical thing to do. I’m glad we all agree.
Lynn
Lynn,
Isn’t it wonderful to be finished this year? Yipee!!!!
Goodwill, of course, that is exactly where I would have gone also
Great minds think alike!
blessings,
lady m
LOL, Goodwill is always “good”.
Love your picks.
We go slowly all year with breaks as needed here, but my little P
is so much younger than yours, so the “work” is not so hard.
I L-O-V-E your plant notebook idea..very cool.
Dear Lynn,
Of course, of course, I would’ve stayed in the hot car, what are you thinking
? You found a tea strainer just like the kind I’ve been eyeing in the Victorian Trading Co. Catalog~ congratulations! The plates are just beautiful, and the books look quite inviting.
You are really good advertising for laminating machines. That would be way better than contact paper! Or nothing, which is how we were instructed to do our specimens at the School of Natural Healing.
I’m so glad the testing is over. What a sigh of relief. Enjoy your summer break (As if you needed permission)!
Love,
Marqueta
LadyM, I just knew everyone would feel exactly the same way! On to Goodwill!
Kate, I’ll showcase our plant book with a post soon!
Marqueta, I only wish the tea strainer wasn’t so worn, but I can picture it as a part of a set of windchimes. Hmmm. Not sure what I’ll do wit it, but that’s on the list.
The plant notebook is fun. I LOVE your post today.
Lynn
Hey, I love shopping at Goodwill. I go there all of the time and buy Clay books and movies. I love Princess of the Universe picture. I remember doing this when I was young. Frankie and I found a racoon, a fish, a baseball cap, and a end of a pencil. Hope everything is good with your family. My kids get out of school Wednesday and my last day is Friday. I am so ready for summer. I hope to get caught up on my school work so that I can take a break from it over the summer. Talk to you soon.
Vicki
Bryan is a horrible speller too and I think Houston just may be following in his footsteps.
Oh- and I would have gone to goodwill too!
Vicki, I was so excited to see a comment from you!!! I wish we could visit Goodwill together. Maybe we can some day. You and Frankie found a bunch of stuff in the picture! I will look and see if I see those things. I hope you all are well too. Love you.
Jen, that makes me feel better. Anytime I know of a man who is a hard worker and a good provider and then I find out he’s a bad speller, it gives me hope for Joseph to survive and thrive out there!
Lynn