Congo + Culture
The Advice of an MK (Missionary Kid)
James, Joel & Anna are still traversing the globe emotionally and socially. Physically we have lived in the same United States for over a year now, but only settled for six months and still missing what feels like home: Africa. Some days the red dirt and smiling friends are far Read more…
Congo + Culture
Previously on tenfootfamily…
What do you call those little clips from your favorite show that catch you up quickly on important plot developments? They might be annoying to some, but useful to others. The reason you missed our plot developments from the past 4 months has been that we didn’t write them down. Read more…
Family
School pictures are here!
Trying to keep it serious with our wonderful teacher Katie. Here are a few ‘outtakes’ of this year’s school pictures. With Anna in Kindergarten, we have three full-time students! Having a stellar 4th grade year so far, our almost 10-year-old James looking dapper (and growing up too fast for Mom’s Read more…
Family
Why? becomes What?
A wise friend advised me that when Anna turned 3, she would begin the ‘Why?’ stage. Why do you cut carrots? Why do we use forks? Why do I have to wear that? Why do we eat vegetables? Why? Why? Why?! I really tried not to resort to ‘Because I Read more…
Family
smiles and milestones
Everyone together after church Now you’ve had all the best ones from Sunday. I’ll need to dig out some other good ones! In other news, today Anna officially finishes preschool, Joel finishes Second Grade, and James finishes Third Grade. Part of me feels next year with a 4th grader will Read more…
Family
Nostalgia & Pain – Part I
That old familiar friend stopped by this afternoon. Nostalgia visits often, but particularly around landmark events. Next week is the end of this school year. Ah, how much we have all learned. The end of this school year marks the end of me teaching a preschooler (I always dreaded the Read more…
Congo + Culture
Randomess
I meant to title this ‘random-ness’ but mistyped ‘randomess’, and our life is messy, so I’m keeping it. Life in the raw and real with all the messy parts is life ready for redemption. The kids have just finished their homeschool assignments for today and are making quick work of Read more…
Asperger's
Keeping up with the Jameses
Most parents who homeschool seem to want one of two things: To give their child all the good parts of a ‘normal’ education (without wasting their time on the stupid parts), or to unschool them and let them follow their own interests and motivations to in-depth studies of just about Read more…
Family
Busy Boy Goes to School
Several of you have busy little boys like our Joel. He preferred motion to stillness from the womb! Once he learned to walk, he never stopped. So when it came to schooling, I knew we would struggle with a conventional 6-hour-desk day of learning ( you may recall…).Here’s an update Read more…