Four things that have suffered as a result of my work outside our home:

1) home cooking
2) increase in library fines which used to be nil
3) inability to manage a dual grocery list--items needed from two stores written side by side
4) blogging

Four things improved by my work outside our home:

1) I'm in better physical shape
2) I love my work at the farm.
3) We have a little bit more money
4) We have fun eating out more often

Of course, eating out more often sucks up the extra money, as does the library fines and the inefficient shopping. And eating out more often surely does not contribute to better health. One thing relatively unchanged by all my time away is the children's education, which hums along according to the needs of each kid. Which certainly would not be true if they were younger.

H is getting a lot out of basketball camp. It really stretches him physically and emotionally. Its tough to surrender to what you don't know and be terrible at something in order to learn, especially in a public forum, especially as such a tall guy among little kids. I admire what he is doing. Plus, he is learning something really fun, once mastered.

R recently mentioned that she's enjoying biology these days. When asked to clarify what she meant she said she's been going through the biology classes on Khan Academy and likes them. Its a study that can lead to a medical degree. She would be a fantastic doctor, because she's brave and steady and deeply compassionate.