Last week our family was invited to a first-time homeschool support group only a few minutes away. There were five moms and twenty-one children--and a dear old grandmother who could not speak much English, but shared loving hugs and kisses all around.
A mother named Audrey was in charge, and she did a superb job of having organized activities for all the children.
The first activity was to promote teamwork. Audrey divided the children into teams of two, and let each table of teams observe a tray of small items for 40 seconds. Then the teams had a short time to write down everything they could remember.
Here are most of the boys at their table, scratching their brains.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen another mom coordinated table activities for the little ones who couldn't read or write yet.
Carrie and Amanda won the first two activities! They were a great team!
The next activity was for each team to sort a cup of macaroni, red beans, and chick peas. 
Who can get them sorted into three piles first?
After teamwork activities, more cooperation and cooridination are required. This activity has two teams at once working to scoop cotton balls off the floor--with one partner of the team blindfolded and the other giving directions! Danny was teamed up with a 16-year-old, and instead of telling him directions, he pounded the floor wherever there were cottonballs. He's definitely a kinesthetic and auditory learner! Everyone had a ball cheering each other on.
During an instructional activity, the children took turns playing "Who Has the Ball?" Then there was a delicious snack and time for mom and children to visit.
A new friend, sister in Christ, and organizer of this first event--Audrey Zarkovski, whom I've met in Safeway a few years ago. Just when I felt I couldn't make it any longer without some sort of understanding support, God is providing other families with similar needs and vision-- choosing to homeschool but recognizing our need for support and fellowship and interaction with other families of like faith.
Last night, all of us went out for exercise in the snow, by shoveling about 20 or 30 wheelbarrow loads of snow from this 6-ft drift in the goat pen. We spread it over the dry and barren spots of the back yard.
Hannah wanted to help, too! She insisted she did not need mittens. Later when she went inside, Sam found her in the kitchen with muddy mop water all over the floor, sunflower seeds all over the floor, and who knows what else was going on while we were dutifully wheeling snow here and there!
The tunnel the children made in the huge drift before making a mighty crash through it!
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