Seizing Seasonal Moments: Autumn Watercolors

Hello friends! How is school going for you?

We're about halfway through our semester now, and while I feel like we're hitting our stride in many areas and finding good, disciplined rhythms, in other ways I feel stagnant and claustrophobic. I get frustrated when I feel like we're grinding along stumbling over the same things and not making any visible progress--can anyone else relate? In my quiet times lately, one of the things I find myself asking God is to show me was any progress my kids were making, because I felt like we were stuck in this never-ending loop with no visible growth. 

In the meantime, the last few weeks saw the dramatic peak of fall colors in our part of the world, and I long to get out of the house and away from schedules and checklists to go enjoy the changing seasons--and based on all the fall pictures popping up on social media, I think most of us have felt the same!

So I decided to take the kids up the mountain for a fall-colors art lesson/field trip.

We cranked out our daily lessons and chores early that morning and then I loaded everybody into the van. We picked up lunch at Sonic and then headed up the ski hill to the highest point we could drive. I brought along a picnic blanket and clipboards and watercolor supplies and after a short hike away from the road, we ate our lunch and lounged and painted for a few happy hours. 

Isn't God kind in how He gives us little moments of gracious encouragement?

We started out simply sketching and painting. I was amused at the animated discussion on the rival merits of "realism versus impressionism" that the boys got into, based off their art class last year (Danger is an avid fan of Leonardo da Vinci while Justice is a die-hard Monet devotee; this rivalry harkens back to their Baby Einstein days). But the discussion didn't stop at painting styles. 

In that outing, we also discussed the different types of trees in our area and contrasted them with trees from other places we've lived. We examined some pine cones and bark samples and looked up some tree facts in a reference book (which I had brought along in case a question arose...like it did!) We discussed Robert Frost's, "Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood" poem (which was a recitation we learned last year) and how the yellow wood in front of us with a splitting path made the words come vividly to life. Valor started trying to count the aspen trees in the copse where we were sitting (which was ambitions, considering she can't count above 23!) and my sons discovered the fractal patterns of trees and branches and leaves, and recognized the term "fractal" from Elsa's, "Let It Go," song in Frozen.

Not a bad day's work for playing hooky! 

I guess my point is, take advantage of those seasonal moments to get some perspective. 

I was surprised at the breadth of knowledge and interest my kids displayed in that low-key outing--it was like all that hard work in multiple areas finally showed a bit of a return. They connected concepts and information we'd learned in a variety of settings (even vocabulary from random Disney movies!) and saw the benefit of having a depth of understanding! Not only did we enjoy a day in the mountains, but they were able to appreciate literary references, mathematical design truths, scientific classification, geographical novelties, and the simple joy of God's creation. 

The grunt work of education--the daily practice and increase of skills--is invaluable, but don't lose the joy of practicing learning in real life on these little adventures. Our spirits were definitely lifted with the experience, and especially as the teacher, I felt rejuvenated and encouraged. 

So go ahead, change things up a little and head up to the mountains--maybe you'll bump into us up there, too!

This post, with some alterations, is also published on the Homeschool Corner of the Crossroads Women's Ministry Blog.