Back to School

We love this time of year. The weather has been spectacular and we have been doing a lot of family reading out under "Birch" (the globe willow in the backyard that was named by the kids). There is just something about trees. Maybe it's the added oxygen we receive when we sit under Birch, but our family just feels at peace. We learn so much out there reading "out of the best books". This summer we read Johnny Tremain under what became known as the "liberty tree". The kids and I gained a greater appreciation for life during the colonial period and came to understand why the revolutionary war was fought. The kids will tell you it wasn't about tea or taxes: it was "so that a man can stand up." We recited Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech there (sorry to the neighbors who probably heard me yell), as well as "Paul Revere's Ride" and the "Concord Hymn." Captain Moroni (Daddy) and Thomas Jefferson (our good friend Seth) came to present the Title of Liberty and the Declaration of Independence under this tree. It is amazing how the entire family learns, each at our own level. Brian and I are amazed at how much we learn as we teach the children. The funny thing about home schooling is that we really never go "back to school". The learning happens all the time, all year round, and it is our favorite work of all.

Why blog?

This blog was created in order to keep family and friends updated on Wilhelmsen happenings. But, perhaps more importantly, it materialized because I needed a way to connect with my network. This network consists of friends and sisters who are dear to me, but not always so near to me. Even those of you who live within a stone's throw I don't seem to see often enough just because we are all so busy doing our "work". I hope that you will want to check in often, get a chuckle, post an insight or highlight in your own life, and feel that even though the miles may separate us we can always remain close.