Anchor:  a person or thing that can be relied on for support, stability, or security; mainstay: Hope was his only anchor.

When we work to become the author of own family life, we take on the authority to provide our spouse and children and ourselves stability.  An effective way to do this is through the use of rhythm.  If you have small children, it takes time to build a family rhythm that encompasses the year.  If you are homeschooling older children and also have younger children not yet ready for formal learning, the cycle of the year through the seasons and through your religious year becomes the number one tool you have for family unity, for family identity, for stability.

July is my most hated month after February.  There.  I have said it out loud!  I feel as if I start with a good amount of energy at the beginning of the month, and then by the middle of the month it is just so hot and whilst we are happy in the lake and pool, we are also a little tired of going to the lake and the pool.  That part hasn’t been so bad for me this year, but there is still always the challenge of children’s behavior in July.  It seems as if after awhile the expansiveness of the month just catches up to children, and bickering or other unpleasant behavior begins. 

So, my efforts this month have really centered on not overdoing.  Which was challenging, as both older children had a jumping camp for horseback riding and it was our month for Vacation Bible School as well.  Overall, however, I think we have fared better than previous years and did a good job taking it slow otherwise  with our hot steamy days at the barn, beach and  pool.

We had some beautiful festivals to anchor us, including:

4 July- the beautiful celebration of America.  I hope my American readers did celebrate!

11 July- St. Benedict of Nursia.  I love this book by Tomie dePaola  here .

19 July – St. Macrina .  There is children’s book about St. Macrina here

25 July – St. James the Apostle

Ideas for Celebration:

• Swimming at the beach or in lake or rivers
• Grilling and barbeques
• Catching fireflies if you live in an area where there are fireflies
• Finding a place to pick sunflowers – sunflower fields are just, just starting to bloom here
• Having a lemonade stand
• Camping and going to National Parks

The Domestic Life:

I always find July a great time to take stock of linens and items we might need for winter.

Homeschool Planning:

I am done with fifth grade planning and rapidly finishing kindergarten planning. I have most of the fall semester done for eighth grade and a good portion of the spring semester planned for eighth grade.  I also went ahead and laid out blocks for sixth and ninth grade so I can collect resources as I go along this year, especially for ninth where I don’t really own any resources yet.  I have also done that already so I can start thinking about high school credits and how that will go – giving myself the year jump. 

Since here in the Deep South, school starts back in August and some outside activities will start this week or next in preparation for the school year, I am also thinking about choosing my time outside the home wisely.

Self-care:

I have a lot to say about this..I always took great care of myself until my early 40s, and now I am feeling the drive to return to that now that I am nearing 45.  More about those impulses soon.

I would love to hear what you are up to this month and where you are in life!

Many blessings,
Carrie