Today we got back to school after taking a week off at the end of term. It feels like an especially good time for a recap.
Read
I finally finished The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs, which fit into the 17th century category in my Books of Centuries reading challenge. Moreover, I wrote quite a few quotations into my commonplace book. For example, “It is but one side of a Christian to endeavour to do what pleases God; you must as well endeavour to be pleased with what God does…”
My kids really liked this non-fiction picture book: The Black Mambas: The World’s First All-Woman Anti-Poaching Unit.
Do
In November I took the kids on a winter bird walk at Indian Creek (they also got to make bird feeders out of pinecones, peanut butter, and seeds) and two concerts (SLU String Orchestra and SUNY Potsdam Mariachi Band). I also had my overdue dentist appointment (still no cavities, thankfully), during which the kids were watched by a couple from church who showed them some YouTube videos that set off a chess craze!
The highlight of the month was the Millers’ visit! I’m so grateful that they stayed for a week and we had lots of time for different activities and conversations.
- I hosted the Schole Sisters Retreat for homeschool moms at the Ogdensburg Public Library for the second time.
- My sister and I went to Sweet Emilie’s for brown sugar lattes and then a long walk along the river.
- We took a field trip to Nicandri Nature Center and the Seaway Visitor Center at Eisenhower Lock (timed to watch a ship go through the lock).
- The joint Thanksgiving Eve service with the RP and OP congregations was a blessing as always.
- We headed to Ottawa to visit the Canada Museum of Science and Technology, which is reasonably priced and has lots to do for all ages.
After the guests were gone we had a shopping day in Watertown. I picked out new glasses; we found snacks, groceries, and toiletries at Ollie’s; I grabbed cardstock from Staples; and we bought some clothes and puzzles at the Salvation Army.
Eat
- I’ve shared a lemon curd recipe before, but here’s one that uses whole eggs instead of egg yolks and is still absolutely delicious.
- For a world geography project, Juliet made a Middle Eastern meal using this cookbook: dates stuffed with cream cheese and almonds, cucumbers with feta, pickled beets, mixed salad, open meat pie dolloped with yogurt, and almond pudding.
- In Ottawa we had to stop for bagels, doughnuts, and shawarma. All highly recommended!
- For our second Thanksgiving of the year we had chicken pot pie, cranberry sauce, brussels sprouts, kale salad, fancy pop, and Stewart’s ice cream.
Meditate
“May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans!
May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!” – Psalm 20:4-5