Weekly Wrap-Up: The one where two of the kids were at camp

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Weekly Wrap-Up

Happy Friday, y’all! This week was what is typically one of my most productive all year – camp week. For the last several years all the kids have spent this week at some combination of church camp, Nannie camp, or work, leaving me at home alone to enjoy quiet, peaceful, productive days.

This year? This year, Brianna has been off every day this week, only scheduled for the weekend with no money for gas or hanging out with friends, and Brian took the week off. To paint.

I’m not complaining (too much). I’ve enjoyed having them home. The week has still been fairly productive, but not so much on the quiet and peaceful. However, we did get an updated look for our bedroom and bathroom, both long overdue. And we both enjoyed spending time with Brianna, something we haven’t gotten to do in awhile

And, as usual, I am nearly giddy with excitement to see Josh and Megan again. We dropped them off Monday around 12:30 after a tasty lunch at Jimmy John’s, and we pick them up today at 4:00.

kids at Jimmy Johns

Tuesday was probably my busiest day. A friend of my dad’s (they’ve been friends since before I was born) who is as extremely talented hobbyist photographer took some new head shots for me, which I absolutely love! (Note the Fair Trade Friday necklace.)

new profile pic

Then, I had a telephone interview with Mike Smith of Homeschool Legal Defense. It will air on their radio show, Homeschool Heartbeat sometime in August or September.

I was also on the phone with the folks from Teaching Textbooks cooking up something very exciting for you! Be watching next week.

The rest of the week was spent catching up online work while Brian handled the household projects. We enjoyed a new place for dinner every night with Brianna. Two of the places were completely new to Brian and I – a new Mexican place that was absolutely delicious, and this nifty casual dining place that has amazing burgers and tater tots.

It’s an old gas station that was renovated. We’ll definitely be going back – and taking Brianna’s advice on good places to eat, since both of those were her suggestions.

Universal Joint

I also published a new article on About.com, How to Homeschool Music Instruction. You might want to pin it or bookmark it so you can find it when you start planning school for next year.

Gus

And, I can’t post this week’s wrap-up without saying that part of my week was spent grieving for the families affected by the tragic events that unfolded in Orlando this week. My girls were hit particularly hard by the news of Christina Grimmie’s senseless murder.

My heart broke for the families of the people killed and injured at the Florida nightclub. One particular story of a mom receiving texts from her son who was hiding in the bathroom when the shooter came in nearly did me in. Her son did not survive. I can’t imagine.

And the little boy who was killed by the alligator during his family’s Disney vacation. Oh, y’all. I cannot imagine their anguish.

I’m usually a quiet, peaceful, let’s-all-get-along person, but I’m going to say that if you have any comment about these storeis other than prayers and condolences for these families, please leave it elsewhere. I can’t believe some of the comments I’ve read about these tragedies on Facebook.

What happened with the 2-year-old by was nothing but a horrific, tragic accident. Could it have been avoided? Absolutely. Such is the nature of accidents.

It’s easy to look back and see what could have been done differently. But all the could’ve, would’ve, should’ve comments don’t change a thing. There but for the grace of God go I. I’ve seen photos of the spot where the boy was snatched. I don’t think I’d have thought a single thing about letting my kids put their feet in that water.

My thoughts and prayers are with every single family affected by the events this week. I’m crying with you and I am so sorry for your loss. In a few hours, God willing, I will go and pick up my children. I will hug them a little tighter and thank God for the privilege of doing so.

Hug your kids, y’all, and enjoy some time with them this weekend.

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Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.

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12 Comments

  1. You know, I’ve been saying how bad this past week has been for Orlando, but I didn’t even realize that Christina Grimmie’s murder also happened there. I can’t even imagine what any of these people are going through. I’m glad I don’t have cable because if I did, I would’ve sat around all week watching news stories about these tragedies, and I would’ve slipped into depression. When I read about the little boy, I just kept looking at my just-turned-3-yr.-old and thinking, “Good Lord, I wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

    1. I know. I have a two-year-old niece and that’s all I could think about when we were together last night.

  2. I’ve also found all the tragedies to be very sad. We’re going to the beach this week, and my five year old told me she was afraid that she was going to be eaten by alligators, so we had to pray about it and tell her that the ocean didn’t have alligators.

    1. Aw, poor kid. 🙁 I hope you were able to put her fears to rest and that you’ll have a wonderful week of family time.

  3. I cannot imagine the pain any of these families are going through and the cruel commentary by others is just heart breaking.
    You look beautiful in your new photographs!

    1. I just can’t comprehend the cruel comments. Thanks for the complement on the photos. I was so pleased with how they turned out.

  4. I hope you won’t mind this comment, Kris…if you do, feel free to not publish it.

    I just got home from a homeschool conference in Denver where Tedd Tripp and his lovely wife Margy spoke multiple times, and each time their message was about being dazzled by our Creator and His love for us as expressed in Jesus Christ. I can’t imagine how it grieves Him that people who call themselves Christians are spewing hatred. Sin needs to be dealt with, but that is His job, and He never talked to sinners in hateful ways. But He sure did have some choice things to say to those who considered themselves more righteous than other.
    May He have mercy on them and on us.

    1. Nope, I don’t have a problem with that at all. The pretty much sums up my thoughts on the subject.

  5. It has been one heart breaking week! We frequent Orlando (and Disney) often… I know we’ve stood right at the edge of that lagoon many times ourselves and my heart just breaks for all those families; most especially for the one that lost their child but all those others nearby on the beach, those that played with the family earlier in the day at the pool or park, those that will never forget this trip– not for the fun memories but for the tragedy… all accidents always seem like can be avoided in hindsight but that’s what makes them such horrible tragic ACCIDENTS. Seems like our society is so quick to judge and place blame but mostly we need to react with compassion and love. Not fear and hate.

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