The mountain campsite, nestled in evergreen trees, beckoned. I pulled our forest green van into the designated spot. Friends who arrived before me had already pitched our tent. Nothing was left except to pass out hotdogs and marshmallows, a much-anticipated part of the experience despite its lack of nutritional value.

As we sat underneath a canopy of stars that night, listening to the crackle of the fire and watching the children lick their sticky marshmallow fingers, my soul settled in.

The next day, after a morning of fishing and an afternoon of building villages made of rocks and pine needles, we took a hike. The early evening air was warm enough to be comfortable and cool enough to refresh us. My nephew bounded ahead with my younger boys on his heels. He delighted in identifying the flora and fauna and cautioning us against getting too close to the Poison Oak.

I breathed deeply, enjoying the scent of pine. After a fairly sharp ascent, we turned a corner. I paused, overwhelmed. Wildflowers dressed in lacy whites, bold yellows, and delicate pinks and purples cascaded down the mountainside and a little creek gurgled and danced it way beside the trail, its melody a giggle of the joy flooding me.

Perhaps this particular camping trip stands out in my memory because the lavish beauty of the foliage was a welcome feast after three years of drought. I remember feeling totally refreshed.

Today I'm reminded of the importance of times of renewal. Like the foliage that bursts forth in the mountains after a season of good rain, refreshment allows our souls to blossom and become alive. Periods of hard work and busy schedules act like a drought in our lives. We need renewal if we're going to be fresh and growing instead of stagnant and brittle.

As homeschooling moms we need to pay attention to our personal stress barometer. If we're constantly worn out or irritable, it might mean we need to stop everything and do something that refreshes us.

Sometimes, renewal means taking a break from school. As a homeschooler we are in control of our schedule. Some of us school year round while other prefer a more traditional school year, but in both scenarios, it is important that at some point we provide both our children and ourselves with a sense of closure and freedom. We moms need some time when school isn't a drain on our thought life and emotional energy. Our kids need it, too.

My oldest child had a bit of a difficult school year. She started high school with a bang, but was soon tired and unable to keep her normal schedule. Tests at the doctor's office revealed a virus that had passed, but left her body worn-out. For three months we cut back on her schoolwork and let her get extra rest. She seemed to be recovering when she suffered an injury at gymnastics. The next six months included numerous trips to the physical therapists on top of her other commitments.

Through the summer Sarah and I have been staring with distain at the math and science that we weren't able to complete during our regular homeschool year. We've whittled away at it, feeling the constant tug of its demands. And Sarah has been tired again.