Summer Time and the Living is easy...

This summer we had so much time to work together, play together, and learn together. After a busy school year we were all ready for sleeping in in the mornings and focusing on things other then text books.  To highlight different summer activities in this post I will start with morning activities and then move throughout the day.

Mornings started with breakfast, dressing, and chores.  Each child had to take care of their own bed and area around their bed and put away their clothes as they do every day, and then they would also do whatever household chore was assigned to them for the week. 

After chores we would start Bible time.  Our theme for the summer was "What is God doing through His people around the World?" We learned the names of each continent, about the cultures found on those continents, and about missionaries who were serving in each continent.  The kids made collages representing each continent, watched powerpoint presentations about different cultures, and learned Bible verses having to do with missions.  The kids loved learning about the variety of mission work that people can be involved in, from church-planting to medical to Bible translation.  They even received emails from some missionaries asking them to pray for a specific pressing need. 

We decided to put into practice what we were learning and do a project together to help out Messiah Needy Children´s Orphanage in Africa.  Emily, Lane, and I taught them to knit with two needles and with a knitting board and they made beautiful washcloths/potholders out of yarn.  The younger kids helped cut  circles out of cloth which I then sowed together to made cloth washcloths.  Juan is pictured here making his potholder.   

The end result was beautiful.  The kids felt so pleased that they were able to help other kids who come from similar backgrounds but who´s living conditions are much poorer than theirs.  They understood the truth that anyone can help another person no matter where you live or what your situation is.  At the end of the study they unanimously wanted to continue helping out others around the world, so we started a fund for a doctor in Honduras who needs medical equipment and they are putting pesos in it every week from their allowances with the goal of sending her a good amount of funds at Christmas time.

 Of course summer would not be summer without lots of play time, so after Bible time the kids were free to play outside or in and would spend a few hours playing soccer, doing puzzles, playing board games, skating, etc.  For one week they also attended our church´s Vacation Bible School (photo above) which they loved.  We also read books and I loved how they would sit and listen intently and beg for "just one more chapter".

   After play time followed lunch, rest time, afternoon chores, snack time and then more play time.  Some days we would go to the park, others we would play board games together, still others would be free outdoor play.  The Olympics on tv was a great catalyst for new game ideas and the kids would race everywhere they went and try out different sports that they hadn´t thought of before. 

Evenings were spent watching movies, having dinner, showering, and enjoying the coolness that rainy season brings.  A very memorable summer for everyone.