Summer 2024 Reflection - Geographist

Before we finish looking at Biblical nations, I thought it might be worthwhile to take a few weeks to pause and reflect over one of the most noteworthy summers that my family has had.  I've asked each member of the family to record their thoughts in a few paragraphs, so each week one of us will take the stage (figuratively speaking) and share our activities as well as what we believe will be the takeaway.  If you need a refresher on who you'll meet along the way, go back and check out the Diary of a Homeschool Dad from a few years ago.  I hope you enjoy - either way, the study of people groups will continue in a few short weeks! 

I'll begin...

As the only member of the Geographist family not attached to a school schedule, my only clues that summer has arrived typically involve higher temperatures and the increased presence of smaller humans around the house during the day.  This year we initially didn't expect to have a family vacation during the break because of all the commitments and activities, but fortunately Mrs. Geographist was able to reschedule a trip to southern California that originally been planned around July 4 for just her and Curly.  Suddenly a trip at the end of May was available for Whirly and I to join in!  The last time we visited the City of Angels, something called "Covid-19" started ransacking every bit of normal we knew, so this time around we opted to stay east of town in Palm Springs...just in case.

It was a great vacation, with trips to a bunch of theme parks, the pool, and the famous San Diego Zoo.  I was amazed at how quickly the climate zones shifted - staying out in the desert where the temperatures shot above 100° each day, it was incredible how fast everything cooled down when we traveled into the mountains or towards the coast.  Our times visiting the House of the Mouse in Anaheim typically started in the upper 50s, and never got as high as 80°.  We celebrated the wife's birthday along the way with a visit to a really nice Italian joint in San Diego.  One fun memory I'll always remember is of my middle daughter getting so wrapped up in old reruns of Hell's Kitchen, which ran on an endless loop on one of the resort channels.

Upon our return to the Lone Star State, where Girly was busy working (I won't steal her thunder in case she wants to share all of her own details), Whirly and I promptly began our Black Belt testing process.  For seven weeks, six days each week, we showed up to train and test from 5:45 - 9:00 am.  And each workday, as soon as we were done, I had to hurry back home to either start working or get cleaned up to commute downtown to my office.  For the eighth and final week it was necessary to take time off work because in addition to the morning session we also had training over lunch and an afternoon session from 1:00 - 7:00.  Thankfully, the support team of parents and loved ones from all of the other candidates pulled their resources and provided dinner for those of us who were parents, just so we weren't going to bed hungry or relying on fast food.  It was the most intense time of devotionals, exercise, and testing (mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual) that I've experienced, and the sweet victory of earning a Black Belt at our graduation at the very end was beyond my ability to describe.

Along the way, however, we had a rude visitor that tried to gum up the works.  Hurricane Beryl rolled through the Houston area and disrupted our power and our plans.  Our home was without power for four days, costing us some fencing, a small tree, a bit of food, and one poor fish that was just trying to do his job keeping the turtle tank clean.  Mercifully my mom, who lives in the neighborhood across the street and has a whole-house generator, took us in so we could have a place to hang out and sleep in air conditioned comfort.  We lost two days of martial arts but got to meet new neighbors along the way, so I'd say we came out of the whole thing in pretty good shape.

And now we come to the end of a summer I'll always remember fondly.  We made so many tight friendships and had fun memories, but the goals we reached have become stepping stones to even greater future plans.  I can't wait to see what more comes of it all!