Helpful Habit: Getting Away

These last weeks I’ve shared the basic habits that bless our homeschool. One of the habits that is most important, especially for Mama, is getting away. Now, you don’t necessarily have to spend big bucks on a get away. You can plan an at-home retreat. Or Just Step Outside. Wow, what 15 minutes of alone time – even at home – in the morning or late at night can do for a mama! It’s good to keep a daily habit of stepping out of the urgent, into the quiet, out of our regular spot and look to our source of strength. Jesus set the example. (Luke 4: 42-43)

The month of May has been full of so much goodness. So just this last week, we got away. We borrowed the mountain home of my aunt and uncle. We just took the already bought groceries and…

We headed to the hills. We let that newly arrived package of Tapestry of Grace remain in its box (that was a bit hard). The higher elevation gave me a new perspective. A new view of things. And while the view was wonderful, remember that a family get away with a passel of children is rarely relaxing. I wish I had reminded myself of this prior to departure. I learned:

• being away from your comfort zone sometimes makes children uneasy
• we really need that outside play time in the Georgia red clay but we took lots of mountain nature walks
• long stretches of rest – for the parent – are virtually impossible
• there are still character issues to deal with on vacation. Timely article from Doorposts on Dealing with Quarrels 🙂
• Plus one from Ann hit home for the Mama that keeps blowing it.

But, these four days were still refreshing. Because the Lord answered our prayers and packed our week full of get away goodness. Because I was thinking about Hodgepodgedad and Eldest Boy at the Creation Museum – on their father/son get away – his 12-year-old trip. (You Must Do This). They sent updates, took a side trip to Joyce Kilmer National Forest to hike the trail of those enormous trees. We looked forward to photos they emailed.

And FaceTime a couple of times a day! Youngest girl sure missed her brother!

And also because, meanwhile, back at the mountain house, I grabbed snippets of alone time. Morning quiet time on the deck. Late nights watching the twinkling lights of the valley below. Mid-afternoon writing time with my laptop.

And, I counted blessings. Rather than frown at my early riser, I smiled when he said, “Good morning!” all cheerful. And sat up in bed, cranked open the windows and we listened to the birds welcoming the day just as cheerfully as Lil’ Buddy was. We felt the cool, mountain breeze.

It was a full, blessed week…

Because Nana was with us, we did lots and lots of art projects. So many to share with you in the future. Here’s one for the weekend: Watermelon: A Pastels Tutorial

We took morning and afternoon walks on the mountain road.

We made up stories.

We baked to keep busy.

We made Seed Tapes.

We read from some wonderful Book House Books.

We watched birds and spotted both a scarlet tanager and a flock of cedar waxwings to add to our Beautiful Birds Nature Study.

It was a wonderful start to summer break even with all my failings and all the parenting challenges. An official start to summer, of course, because we had s’mores.

We just got away. After all that May goodness, this Mama needed to. Now I am reading about others cleaning their homes and planning out the next homeschool year. Me?? I’m still in recovery mode. Tired and smiling.

And this weekend we celebrate even more goodness! The dozen years we’ve had Eldest Boy! His birthday weekend. Off to bake that homemade cookie cake he requested.

Twelve candles! (This morning’s cinnamon roll birthday stack.)

If you missed the rest of the Friday series, click Helpful Habits.

How about you. Have you had s’mores yet? Celebrated a birthday this month? How do you make it a habit to step out of the urgent and get away?