To the mom who feels forgotten, You go on social media, longing for connection. And you see pictures. Pictures that were you once upon a time. Sometimes, you miss it. It was a lifetime ago that you had it. The camaraderie of coworkers. The dinners and events. Phone calls and meetings and the whirlwind of … Continue reading To the Mom Who Feels Forgotten…
"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." ~Aristotle This year, we're reading Home Education in our homeschool group. Home … Continue reading Charlotte Mason and Habit Training (Thoughts on “Home Education” – Part 2)
Every December, I pack in the activities: Christmas parties, homeschool get-togethers, crafts, free concerts/plays, local Christmas events, and on it goes. If I can make it, I'm there with my kids in tow. By the time Christmas arrives, I'm exhausted. Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. But a few days before it even … Continue reading Why We’re Slowing Down this Christmas
We bought the large cotton sack six years ago from a beautiful woman with a beautiful heart who was raising money for charity by spreading the gift of giving. On the bag, in golden letters, are the words: "What can we give to the King?" The day after we got our sack, I eagerly … Continue reading What Can I Give to the King?
Last week, I had the privilege of speaking to a group of homeschool moms. As I was praying about what to share, I realized that the most important thing I can share with anyone is what Jesus has done in my life. Our stories of redemption and grace hold incredible value. So I shared. I … Continue reading An Omer of Manna: Finding Joy When Life is Hard
It's messy. Even on the best days, homeschooling is messy. I'm not just talking about the books strewn across the table, the toys strewn across the living room and the dirt, grass, leaves and shoes strewn across the front entryway. It's the conflict that can arise when four people are together—all day, every day. Yes, … Continue reading Why Did We Choose Home Education?
Gulls swoop and wheel in the air, screeching loudly. Two men grunt as they pull in a large net from the water. Slimy fish flop frantically inside the mesh, sides heaving and scales glinting. One of the men looks up for a moment to watch the gulls. He sucks in a deep breath of the tangy sea air before saying, “Good catch today.”
Six years ago. The street was slippery with rain. As my car slowly climbed the hill, the mist grew thicker and thicker until I could hardly see the lines on the road. And then, out of the fog, yellow-gold leaves began to fall onto my windshield. Leaf after leaf fluttered down, startlingly beautiful on an … Continue reading Leaves in the Mist: Ordinary Extraordinary Expressions of a Savior’s Love
The dryer buzzes loud in the morning silence with another load to be folded. There are piles of already-folded laundry on the living room floor next to bags that have yet to be unpacked from a weekend away. Our school day is starting soon and the girls should have been awake and ready long before … Continue reading You are not enough … and that’s okay.
The first day of autumn. The milkweed is beginning to puff with seeds. It won’t be long now before they brazenly burst, and the breeze will carry wisps of white bearing kernels of life. Everywhere, the asters are blooming boldly—purple New England and white heath. There’s chicory, too, first brought by the early settlers as … Continue reading Goldenrod Days: New Seasons and Letting Go
