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Did you ever notice that, as adults, when we reflect back on our childhood, some of the memories that make us smile or laugh out loud are the ones that were NOT necessarily so happy when we were actually going through them?    

I remember our first family trip in 1972. I was 9 years old and finally going to Disney World. My parents, four siblings, and I packed the family station wagon (complete with paneling), hopped on Interstate 75, and headed south to a destination designed to make memories that last a lifetime. Unexpectedly, a terrible thunderstorm met us in Kentucky and hitched a ride on our bumper all the way to Orlando. The worst lightning bolt struck when we attempted to check into our hotel and were informed that our "confirmed" room was given away. "Get a sleeping bag and sleep under the stars," we were told. It was 2 a.m.! Where were we going to buy seven sleeping bags? My dad sat outside our packed car and cried. Oh happy day!

But nearly 40 years later, it's not Mickey Mouse that we recall with a smile, but the nameless clown that threatened to destroy our trip. 

I'm even starting to see this with my own children. When they take a walk down memory lane, they laugh about the "organic years" and the time I accidentally made my young son drink a whole glass of fresh carrot juice with ginger because he felt sick. He held his nose the whole time he gulped it down. Oh, happy day!

We're still not sure it cured his illness, but he never again complained about being sick! And 10 years later, that young son is now a Marine and the taste of ginger puts a smile on his face.

Without a doubt, we had our share of fun birthdays and trips to the zoo that were designed to make happy memories, and we succeeded. But for some reason, the happiest memories are the times we overcame adversity and grew closer together as a family. Oh happy day!  

~Karen "Spunky" Braun

www.spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com
or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SpunkyHomeschool 

Hope you had a great Fourth with your family. My family had a great and exhausting time with grandparents and cousins. We all played hard, stayed up later than normal, soaked up the sun, watched fireworks, and lit some of our own. The Fourth of July is a great time for memory harvesting. Actually, I'm pretty much a memory expert. Not only do I have thousands of great memories on my shelf, but I've also kind of made it my field of study.
 
I want my children to have lots of great memories . . . because those memories serve as guides and reminders of what really matters. I know that as their lives get busy later on, and they're torn between jobs, busyness, and family, they'll choose family-not because I did such a great job teaching them about the importance of family, but because they'll have so many fond memories of campfires, movie nights, and sleeping under the Christmas tree. These memories reinforce what's most important.
 
I could share all kinds of things that a lifetime of collecting and observing memories has taught me, but let me just say this: The secret to creating great memories is SHOWING UP. Just be there with your kids, keep the distractions to a minimum, and memories will happen.
 
Now, if you're always too busy doing school, work, or your stuff, you'll miss out on some of the best homegrown memories ever. And that is sad.
 
So here's what I would do for a guaranteed memory-making summer moment. I'd clear the schedule, buy some super-cheap leftover fireworks, catch some lightning bugs, have a campfire, and play some games. I'm telling you it will be a night that will never be forgotten and will help your children remember what matters most.
 
Note to Dad: Everyone knows the best memories happen when Dad is there. So don't botch it by being too busy. You make it happen.

Be Real,

Todd

Ruth Beechick, Curriculum Specialist 

and

Debbie Strayer, Homeschool Consultant 

Perspective is a wonderful thing. We have gathered many happy memories over our years of homeschooling. Rather than just give you my perspective, I asked my children for some of their happy homeschool memories. All of their thoughts connected to things we did together, from the simple to the elaborate.

My daughter remembered reading Swiss Family Robinson aloud together over several weeks and then putting together a "Swiss Family Robinson" dinner, complete with an all-island menu of coconut, fruit, and other finger foods. We sat on the floor, used our hurricane candles, and watched the movie together. It was a perfect end to a great story!

My son always loved making and doing things, so one of his favorite memories was making a papier-mache angelfish when we studied the oceans. It was his favorite fish, and he took great care to make it as authentic as possible. It hung in his room for many years, next to the baseball trophies. Though it took time to complete, I would read aloud to them while they worked on cutting, drawing, painting, and stuffing their fish. What a delightful time!

One of my favorite memories, and theirs as well, is sitting under our tiny tree in the backyard. We would take a blanket (which we had to move as the sun moved to stay in the shade,) our schoolwork, drinks, and snacks out and enjoy the beautiful clouds, birds, and whatever else passed by. We could have done school more quickly inside, but it was a simple way to send the message that it was not just the work but also the time together that was important to me.

The common thread through these memories is not what we did, but that we did them together. I have always noticed that the Lord seemed to delight in giving me simple but special ideas for making our time together memorable. Cookie cutters to make sandwiches in shapes, a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows when it was cold, lying on our driveway at night wrapped up in sleeping bags to look at the stars-all of these have woven together to make a beautiful quilt of memories for us all.

~ Debbie