The first seven years of homeschooling were our training years. We worked on kindness, sharing and ownership, self discipline, and obedience more often than we worked on letters and numbers. We trained our kids with long term goals in mind. When we saw areas that were frustrations or skills we needed, we set up ways to work on them.
I am beginning to understand why there is such a connection with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Over the last few weeks there have been 7 deaths in our small community. Lives altered forever. Among those were three teens that went missing over the weekend. Searchers found them yesterday, after three days of waiting, in the…
I have an overall vision for my school, which is long term, and I have year long goals as well. You could have a page for each child to create individual goals as well. When you are done put them somewhere you can access them readily. You can put them up in a public space…
You might be seeing news clips in your feed about people wearing a safety pin on their clothes. It is to show that they are a safe person. If you are in need of a friendly face, if you are feeling anxiety about the future, if you are fearful for your safety, you can be reassured…
We have just concluded a study on parenting with an adult class on Sunday Mornings. We had some great discussions about ares we need work, fears we have as parents and the power of prayer and the gift of grace. I have had a head start over many of the members of our class, by…
I am a teacher. It is what I do everyday, even when we aren’t doing school here at the house. At church I have the privilege of teaching the children every few weeks. It just so happened that I was teaching our Wednesday night class this week. I don’t find it coincidental that the scheduled…
My 5 Time Tested Books For Parents Some of these books, I have reread over and over again. Many I have shared with other parents. Several, are my favorite gifts for new parents. All of them, I offer now to you, in hopes that they are helpful to you and as always I would love…
My thoughts are very raw. My heart is saddened to tears about the events in the recent weeks, but the news about the Des Moines Police Officers slain is too much to bear. I would like to share my journal with you from this morning. I now that I’ve had time to make edits. I…
How far can you drive on an empty tank? To many of you, this question seems like a crazy question. You can’t drive on empty. Right? Then there are those of you who had an exact figure drop into your mind. I’m talking to you today sister. You are my people. Racing through errands, trying to get…
Illusionists understand the human capacity for misdirection. They are counting on it. While we are looking at the hat, the rabbit is moving in spaces unseen, right before our very eyes. In our times of direct focus and intention we can miss action that reveals the trick. Have you ever found yourself tricked, looking at…
I listen to my husband on the phone, saying I did a good job. It seems like a million years ago that the kids were having a fun time at the lake splashing in the shallows. In a moment everything changed. He says I did the right thing. I was watchful and alert and it saved my…
When you hide, no one can see that you need help I imagined a frightened child, continuing to hide, even as responders cried out, braving the flames. Tears were rolling down my cheeks. I had to go to the hallway to collect myself. This was not how I had planned to react at my children’s…
Like all responsible people this morning, I was watching a YouTube clip. A monarch caterpillar morphing into its chrysalis and it was like watching me get out of last year’s swim suit. (it has not been a good year for my motivation) As he struggled, his caterpillar skin piled up at the top of the…
Summer is sporadic, chaotic and off-balance with ten kids at home and little desire to keep them occupied. Every Morning is different and the lack of routine gets me agitated. How do I keep balanced, even when Summer is kicking the tar out of me? I carve out quite time every day. The trick is how…
[Tweet “I deal with a lot of broken stuff over here. If you have kids avoiding breakage is a way of life, but God has a purpose for brokenness”] I have dishes I never use. Yes, I have heard people talk about using the good china with the people you love and not waiting for…