huntington summer evenings

I wrote about it last summer.

And again I just have to say.

Summer wouldn't be summer

without this lovely tradition.

The music, the picnic,

wandering the grounds

of the beautiful Huntington Library

into the evening..

It's a little piece of bliss.

And I look forward to it every year.

soaking in summer

We are going to squeeze in every last fun, 

relaxing activity we can before school starts

in just under three weeks.

So we ventured back out to one of the Huntington evenings
for a picnic with music by a string quartet from the Pasadena Symphony.

My husband was working so it was just me and the kids.

They always love walking around till the sun is setting.

And we're literally kicked off the grounds.

We rounded out Sunday with a visit to the beach.

And thankfully I brought one of these...

A Lamplighter Theatre production on cd called "Hedge of Thorns" 

to listen to as we navigated some heavy traffic.

I brought another with us in Hawaii.
If someone interrupted, others were saying, "Shhhh, I can't hear".
If we had to get out of the car, they were anxiously awaiting returning to the story.
And as soon as it ended they asked, "Do you have another?"
I knew we were on to something.
I don't know how I had never heard of these,
because the stories were written over a century ago.
But I'm so grateful I know about them now.
They're truly beautifully produced.

I found them at a table at the Christian Homeschool convention called CHEA in Pasadena.  It was just two days before we left for our vacation which is why I haven't written about it here.  Hopefully soon I'll share my curriculum choices and plans for the fall.  

The Lamplighter series was one of the completely unexpected finds that I am most excited about.  I was instantly drawn to the illustrations on the covers.  Loved them alone.  But as I talked to the girls working at the table and asked other parents who were buying the books and stories on cd they all raved, and I mean really raved about them.  I would ask parents how old are your kids and which ones do you like and why?  I was happily surprised to hear a huge age range.  Now I see why.  Even as an adult I'm completely drawn in, even moved to tears.  My kids are riveted, all three of them.

We are completely and totally hooked.

They are well written, wonderfully acted by British performers, engaging for all ages with biblical lessons in ways kids can relate.  Issues that we have seen in our own home addressed in a story form with valuable outcomes and teachable moments.  I'm so very impressed and now I wish I had bought more.  Because I'm realizing the price was nearly half off at the convention.

The sets were pretty expensive and I knew my husband would say what did you do?  But after hearing the first one alone, he said he would have completely approved.  So now I know.  And now I'm sharing with you...and I'm hunting on ebay and used homeschool curriculums.  But I suspect those who purchase these, they hold onto them, because I'm having a hard time finding any listed.

Ok, well that was a digression.  I think we're all hoping we have a few more of these days left before we're back in the groove of driving Jackson to school and homeschooling the girls here.  I'm in major planning mode.  Praying away the moments of "Oh my goodness, what are we about to do?" and leaning into the Lord.

If He chose this path, He will pave the way!

huntington summer evenings

Last night kicked off the Huntington's summer series of picnic's with live music.

I have a long standing love for the Huntington Library.

My parents gifted a membership to my husband and me after our son was born.
And my mom saw that I was struggling, a lot.

That child had colic for about seven months.

There were food allergies and diagnosis' of 'failure to thrive.'

My journey into new mommy-hood wasn't an easy one.

He was three weeks early and I literally worked till the day before he was born.

My water broke at 4 a.m. Saturday morning.

That day we were supposed to go to a wedding.

The next day, my work baby shower.

But the Lord and our little guy, they had other plans.

Which were exciting, and glorious, and filled with life changing blessings.

But without a network of mom friends.

In fact, I knew NO moms at all.

And suddenly home all day,  I felt very much like I was losing

every sense of self I had with a baby that cried nearly round the clock.

I am totally digressing right now.

Back to the point.

The Huntington Library.

That membership in 2002.

Well it was my lifeline.

We would walk through their gardens.

My baby would be mesmerized by the trees, the light, the shadows, the air.

And I, I felt like a grown up.

It was a beautiful time.

I instantly feel peaceful here.

It has been a constant through the years.

No matter what season.

We've studied, and learned, and run, and played.

We've celebrated birthdays, brought friends, and kicked off the holidays with special events.

It was the first big field trip we took out of the house when my third was just a week old.

In order to let the other two explore.

Here's a little trip down memory lane....
Sorry I couldn't help myself, but trust me when I say it could be waaaaay worse.
I didn't even break into the pretty nature pics.
But at least you'll get a tour of some of the grounds.

To say we love it here, is an understatement.

It holds special memories.

Memories that I love we're still creating.