Pruning seems like the right metaphor for our family in 2024. Last year, I (Barry) gingerly snipped a few branches on each of our young apple, peach, and pear trees. This year, I grew wiser and more ruthless, whacking off what seemed like a shocking amount of branches. The fruits of this cutting lesson were manifest in our first real crop of apples and peaches.
Christy and I have also made some painful cuts on the farm by scaling back our gardening ambitions. We have recommitted to pruning out the little sprigs of time we waste here and there on our devices. We also regularly face pruning dilemmas with my work responsibilities and running. Ansel and Amelia have pruned free time as they work on homeschool and music practice instead. Even Conall and Mabel are learning to help more with family chores and participate more fully in family endeavors.
What fruit have these pruning activities yielded?
-The three older children started learning how to downhill ski at the Camden Snow Bowl (just 10 minutes from our house!)
-The kids have all participated in swim lessons at our local YMCA and have made great progress
-Ansel and Amelia are learning piano, Amelia is about to have her Suzuki book 1violin recital, and Conall is starting cello! Mabel attempts to play all of her older siblings instruments, especially Amelia's "'lin" (violin).
-we hired an architect and ultimately finalized plans for our last (?hopefully!) big renovation push on our house
-began work on an apartment/guest space above our garage. It should be finished this year, so consider yourself invited over for a visit!
-Absolutely soaked in the delight of having a two-year old in the house!
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-Christy continues to lead out in a homeschool nature group
-We joined a Charlotte Mason homeschool co-op where the kids have participated in art, civics, and made lots friends
-harvested a great crop of strawberries
-made our annual camping pilgrimage to Metallak Island on Richardson lake, Maine.
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-spent many hours reading and crafting by the fire as the weather grew colder
-have filled our days to the brim with both the hard and the incredible good of homeschooling our children
Pruning is hard. We don't always get it right. But the fruit is worth it, especially the spiritual fruit of Divine love in our hearts and the character's of our children as they grow. We pray that all of you will taste at least a hint of that fruit in the coming year.
With Love,
Barry, Christy, Ansel (9), Amelia (7), Conall (almost 5!), Mabel (2.5), Pepper (our dog), Ginger and truffle (cats), and 5 chickens :)
