I was thrilled to get to spend a few hours catching up with dear friends today.
Eleven years ago this month, we had our very first Five in a Row co-op day. We read Cranberry Thanksgiving and were done by lunchtime.
I remember the kids making bookmarks by stamping them with cut cranberries but my only other memories of that day are of how shy the kids were with each other (of course, I was shy, too) and the thought that this group seemed very promising.
It turned out to be the only group we stayed with all through the years. We drifted in and out of various other, larger, co-ops but they all paled in comparison to what we had with this group. It was a good fit in those early months because it expanded on our main curriculum. It remained a good fit not only because the families all became friends but also because there was a lot of brilliance in the minds of these women below. They had amazing ideas accompanied by great follow-through and I credit them with making our homeschooling journey not only more successful, but also a whole lot more fun.
(I'm stealing my friend Cheri's picture since, bad blogger that I am, I didn't even take my camera along.)
As we continued to meet, the ideas expanded and became day-long events each month. Our planning sessions helped us get to know each other better and become good friends. We'd often be brainstorming ideas when we should have been heading for home, because we'd spent all the planning time talking and laughing together. As the kids grew, we moved away from the FIAR curriculum but remained a literature-based group, reading a book each month and doing corresponding activities. We're down to three families now, but have no plans to give it up yet.
Time moves on, circumstances change, and it had been a few years since we'd all been together. The idea of a reunion was mentioned and we all managed to make some time today to get together and play catch up. It's hard to believe the youngest of our kids is now 12-he was just a baby when we met. The oldest of the group is now a couple years into his enlistment in the Marines.
I am so thankful God brought us together all those years ago. I left our reunion once again feeling so thankful for the blessing they have each been to me and so happy to have been able to spend a little time with them-just like old times.
Eleven years ago this month, we had our very first Five in a Row co-op day. We read Cranberry Thanksgiving and were done by lunchtime.
I remember the kids making bookmarks by stamping them with cut cranberries but my only other memories of that day are of how shy the kids were with each other (of course, I was shy, too) and the thought that this group seemed very promising.
It turned out to be the only group we stayed with all through the years. We drifted in and out of various other, larger, co-ops but they all paled in comparison to what we had with this group. It was a good fit in those early months because it expanded on our main curriculum. It remained a good fit not only because the families all became friends but also because there was a lot of brilliance in the minds of these women below. They had amazing ideas accompanied by great follow-through and I credit them with making our homeschooling journey not only more successful, but also a whole lot more fun.
(I'm stealing my friend Cheri's picture since, bad blogger that I am, I didn't even take my camera along.)
As we continued to meet, the ideas expanded and became day-long events each month. Our planning sessions helped us get to know each other better and become good friends. We'd often be brainstorming ideas when we should have been heading for home, because we'd spent all the planning time talking and laughing together. As the kids grew, we moved away from the FIAR curriculum but remained a literature-based group, reading a book each month and doing corresponding activities. We're down to three families now, but have no plans to give it up yet.
Time moves on, circumstances change, and it had been a few years since we'd all been together. The idea of a reunion was mentioned and we all managed to make some time today to get together and play catch up. It's hard to believe the youngest of our kids is now 12-he was just a baby when we met. The oldest of the group is now a couple years into his enlistment in the Marines.
I am so thankful God brought us together all those years ago. I left our reunion once again feeling so thankful for the blessing they have each been to me and so happy to have been able to spend a little time with them-just like old times.
How special that were able to get together! You all have shared so much together. I always love your posts about your FIAR days.
ReplyDeleteDeanna
What a blessing to have the support and creativity of a group of friends!
ReplyDelete