Countdown!

Elaine and I on our Florida visit in April 2008

We're getting down to the wire.

The girls and I are leaving early Thursday morning to begin our journey to Florida. It seems hard to believe that it's already almost here! I've been working hard to tie up loose ends before we go. There's a lot to do before Thursday and there will be even more to do when we return but I'm not going to think about that part right now (says Scarlett).

I've been pondering our school routine and how I want to handle it in Florida. The past two years I have lugged everything with us and insisted on school as usual. This year I'm willing to think outside the box. What blessings are we missing in Florida because I'm a slave to the schedule? Probably more than a few.


Soooo, I am considering bringing a few basics that I want us to focus on and taking a short break from the rest (which will be waiting for us when we return). That would mean two things: a lot more fun in Florida AND a very full spring schedule. I need to talk to the children and see if they're up to facing the grind when we return. (Am I up to facing the grind? No fair! Trick question! Heh, heh...)


The other motivating factor is that my wonderful sister (who we are going down to visit) is recovering from surgery and not doing well. My father died when I was only three and a half. Both my parents were widowed when they married each other and my Dad was quite a bit older than my Mom. Elaine is his oldest daughter from his first marriage and she has always been generous in sharing memories of our father that I've been so hungry to hear.


I think I want to be more available to her, additional family that lives down there and others who will be visiting for my niece's wedding in Melbourne. I'll bet I could come up with an educational field trip for every single day that we're down there who knows what other kind of opportunities might await?