BFIAR: Blueberries for Sal

Because we did not finish Before Five in a Row during the school year as planned, I decided to do a few books over the summer and next year as we're feeling stressed and need a change of pace. 

In June we rowed Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey.  This was a childhood favorite of mine and it was such a joy to share it with my boys.  

Our companion books were about blueberries, mountains, and bears:

• Blueberries for the Queen by John and Katherine Paterson (this was a sweet book and true story!)
• Up the Mountain by Charlotte Agell
• The Walkers Go Hiking by Morrell Gipson
• Do Bears Sleep All Winter? by Melvin Berger

To start the week off, we went to pick blueberries at Blase Family Farms in Rockwall!  It was hot, but so much fun!  Joshua loved knowing he was going to use these blueberries to make special treats.  We also listened for the "kuplink kuplank kuplunk" sounds. 

We made blueberry pancakes, smoothies, popsicles, and muffins! 

Our muffins didn't turn out at all, but it was a great opportunity to teach the boys about perseverance and trying again.  Even the second batch wasn't perfect, but that just means we can make more muffins!

We completed a little book about prepositions, putting little bear in various places.

beginning sounds worksheet

Joshua drew a mountain and we added Little Sal and her mother, Little Bear and his mother.  Then he used fingerprints to make blueberry bushes.

This row was a lot of fun... and yummy!! Mommy definitely needs to hit the gym. 

grafted

I am loving, let me say it again, LOVING this tabs system for reading the Bible. It has brought me such joy and delight and I truly look forward to it every day.  God is just so cool!

It amazes me that the Bible, written thousands of years ago, can still apply to us today.  And no matter how many times we read it, He will always be faithful to show us something new.  There's enough material that it never gets old!

We heard a sermon in church on Sunday from David Barton about how well our founding fathers knew the Bible.  It blew me away!  We know so little and it's one of the reasons our country is spiraling out of control.  God has been faithful to show me that what He says in Joshua 1 is foundational to our success in life: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."  This is our family verse for this year, and the tabs system has helped us implement God's command. For the first time in a long time, we are BOTH reading His Word daily, taking notes, and being careful to apply it to our lives... something only God gets credit for!

Today I was reading in Acts 13 about how salvation is offered to the Jew first and then the Gentiles (vs 46-47). The Lord showed me this is how I should view my relationship with Joshua. He has been chosen by God to be grafted into our family, to magnify His kindness and sovereignty.  He is NOT an afterthought, or second best.  I am to welcome him with open arms, just as the father to the prodigal son did. It was never God's design for us to raise someone else's child. But He is a redemptive God with unfailing, unconditional love for all.  I have been grafted into His family and receive all the benefits as a daughter of the Most High God.  No amount of love, blessing, or promise is withheld from me, even though I am not a Jew.  As a Wright, Joshua now shares in the root of our family... which means gaining a daddy, mommy, brothers, extended family, love and acceptance, and most importantly Jesus Christ... all things he did not have before.  Nothing is to be withheld from him.

These were powerful words for me today as I continue seeking Him and His purpose in bringing Joshua into our family.  I know it serves many purposes, including our sanctification and to show us our Father's heart.  He is so, so good!

I love the words to this song "No Longer Slaves."  How humbled and grateful I am to be a child of God. My prayers are that Joshua will know the depths of the love of his heavenly Father and that our bond will be strengthened and irreplaceable.

You unravel me with a melody, You surround me with a song 

Of deliverance from my enemies, 'til all my fears are gone

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

From my mother's womb, You have chosen me, love has called my name

I've been born again, into Your family, Your blood flows through my veins

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

You split the sea so I could walk right through it

My fears were drowned in perfect love

You rescued me, And I could stand and sing

I am a child of God

I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God