A.W.O.L.

So it's been nearly two months since I last posted something on my blog. I know some of you are thinking I have gone AWOL, when, in fact... OK, yeah, I guess maybe I have gone AWOL. But I have good reasons! There have been kids to play with, camps to attend, vacations to plan, children's church to teach, and a plethora of other "things" going on, too numerous to mention.

During the month of July, Brient and I went to 4th and 5th grade camp where I taught Bible lessons three times each day and then led praise and worship each night. It was an AMAZING week of sharing God's love with some great kids! And then at the end of July, we went back to camp meeting to teach the children's program at night for all the kids who were there. It was so much FUN!! But by the time all the planning and all the doing was done, I was POOPED!! Stick-a-fork-in-me kinda done!

Also during the summer, I have been working on a game plan for our beach vacation!! We are going in September, and I couldn't be more excited! My mom is going with us, and we are THRILLED! The kids have wanted to see the REAL beach, because they tell me that the man-made beach at the lake is not the real thing. Agreed. So I want to take them to see the real waves and smell the real salty air and swim in the real ocean! OK, well, we're really going to the Gulf, but who's keeping track anyway, really?

And I have spent many, MANY hours working on my plan for our homeschooling this year. Usually, I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl, but last year, that just didn't work so well for me. I felt like I was always frazzled and in a panic and rush. So this year, I am going out of my norm and actually - GASP - planning. YIKES! Can't believe I even said the word! Usually, the mere thought of planning our school year makes my heart start racing and my blood pressure go up. But I have been praying over this and reminding myself that God is a God of order and I am created in His image. Still praying over all of it. It's a work in progress.

We are also participating in our homeschool co-op again this year. I offered to teach the same 2 American Girl classes I taught last year, which means I have been spending a fair amount of time planning what we will do in each of those classes. Those are still coming together. In truth, those classes have been at the BOTTOM of my list of things to plan. But I am determined to have at least the first entire semester planned before we start. By the end of last year, I was pulling things together for my class the night before co-op, and THAT was stressful! I REALLY want to avoid that again this year, so I am still working on our lessons.

So my entire summer has been spent planning - planning for church, planning for 2 camps, planning vacation, planning for co-op, and planning our next school year. Quite frankly, I am SICK of planning, and I'm just ready to be DONE! I am ready to just get on with everything already!! But because of how wrapped up my brain has been, I have been totally UNinspired to write ANYTHING for my blog this summer. UGH! Hopefully more great things to come soon... (when I finish all this planning!)