Tuesday  – We had to keep our plans flexible today as we were hoping for a family outing in the afternoon but it didn’t come off so at this stage we are planning for breakfast out bush tomorrow morning.

We picked and packed more mangoes.  The weather is getting a bit hot for the fruit still on the trees.  But there is still fruit worth picking so we will still work at it.  Jess and Josh are doing most of the work.

Trying to get down to the Mangoes early in the morning (before it gets way too hot) has raised a few discussions about being flexible with our routine.  I introduced to the older two children to the difference between schedule and a routine.  I want them to function on a routine but I want them to balance the routine (one thing happening after the other) with the idea of rearranging priorities according to what is happening in the day.  This has had to be discussed a few times and no doubt will continue to be a point of discussion.  I have worked so long and hard, I guess, at a routine that it is now a challenge for them to see when is the time to break it and when it actually helps them achieve all that they need to achieve.

Daniel and Nomi spent a few hours this morning making a robot with boxes, masking tape, old camera and old computer boards.  They talked in terms of measuring and guessing and comparing so that was Math for the day.  They also talked in terms of their design and improving it so that was a good Technology session.

Daniel is being very aware of his speech lately.  I have caught him slowing down to pronounce ever so carefully words that he knows he has practiced in his Speechie sessions.  He slows down before the word comes out of his mouth. 

Josh worked on his Science and Math.  Jess worked on her Math and Piano.  She is trying to learn a Christmas carol before Christmas time.  Nomi and Daniel continued to work on their story whenever the computer was free.  Nomi also did some drawing and painting.  Late evening Nomi and Daniel pulled out Daniel’s “special” Lego and Jess blogged.

One thing that I very rarely blog about is the children’s own personal devotions.  Josh and Jess are very consistent with this habit and Nomi has just begun to take ownership of this time.  I try and sit with Daniel most days. 

Josh and Jess are responsible for finding their own reading material.  They choose a variety of material – sometimes a devotional book and sometimes just the Scriptures by themselves.  Over the years they have both memorised a lot of Scripture during this time – they have just done this as a part of their desire to have God’s Word in their heart.  This week Jess taught Nomi how to find a passage in the Bible; how to find the book of the Bible you are looking for and how the chapter and verses are laid out.  It is amazing, you presume they understand something like that, something that is so much a part of our family life and yet they don’t always just absorb it!    Nomi is reading through a Kids Devotion book that is based on character development – being more and more like Jesus.  Daniel has the Bible stories read to him – usually from his children’s Bible.  We discuss a personal application and then I write down his narration into his “Jesus book”.

So overall it has been a very successful day.