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Why My Dad Made Me Read Every Historical Marker (And Why I Still Do)
Growing up, family road trips had one very predictable feature. My dad read every historical marker. Actually, let me rephrase that. He made all of us read every historical marker. We would be driving down a country road when suddenly he'd pull over and say, "Let's...
Why My Dad Made Me Read Every Historical Marker (And Why I Still Do)
Growing up, family road trips had one very predictable feature. My dad read every historical marker. Actually, let me rephrase that. He made all of us read every historical marker. We would be driving down a country road when suddenly he'd pull over and say, "Let's see what happened here." As a child, I wasn't always thrilled about the diversions. I wanted to get to our destination. I wanted...
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Humor at Home
Do you remember the saying, “Give me a fish and I’ll eat for a day, teach me to fish and I’ll eat for a lifetime”? It is as true for laughter as it is for seafood! “Tell me a joke, and I’ll laugh for a minute. Teach me good humor, and I’ll laugh for a lifetime.”...
Essentials of Homeschooling
What is absolutely necessary to your homeschool? What gives you and your kids joy and freedom in this educational journey? Take a look at these three intriguing essentials. I think you will be encouraged in new ways. THE FIRST ESSENTIAL YOU. Your relationship with...
Refresh Homeschooling with 4 Simple Steps
Are you feeling increasingly trapped by the day-to day, same-old same old of homeschooling this year? Is it more and more burdensome to pull those books off the shelf for class? Are you looking longingly at that yellow school bus? If so, here are 4 simple...
Parenting with God’s Love
Parenting in Love I’ve been pondering I Corinthians 13:4-8 for some months, especially as it concerns parenting: Love is patient, love is kind.It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily...
With time and effort
Some years ago, I was invited by horse-loving friends to attend a natural horsemanship clinic with them. They were thrilled that this traveling clinic was going to be so close to my home—because it was a lot closer for them than their home in Australia!! During one...
Handcrafted homeschooling
Years ago, as a speaker at a homeschool event in Toronto, my husband and I ended up with a day to ourselves just for seeing the sights. It was one I will never forget. One place sounded particularly fascinating. Casa Loma, a “medieval” castle built in the early 1900’s...
Sharing Your Passions with Your Kids
Your kids don’t automatically absorb your love of a place, a food, or a subject area. As parents, it’s our privilege and responsibility to gently introduce them to these things in such a way that they, too, can begin to know and love what we hold precious. Here’s a...
Homeschooling with Perseverance
You are facing extraordinary challenges, regardless of how easily your kids are learning their school work. Parenting itself is more demanding, more fraught with difficulties, than ever before. . . and homeschooling adds layers of complexity, stress and labor beyond...
Keep Things in Perspective
You're Doing A Great Job! What you are doing matters. Your homeschooling means that you have all of the planning, all the work, all the struggle, all the sleepless nights. . .to give your kids the opportunity: to know what it is to love learning, to be loved in a...
Give Yourself a Break!
When I began homeschooling in 1985, I was naive and oblivious regarding the time commitment I was taking on. . .for the next twenty years! But it didn't take long to figure out that being a homeschool mom tends to be a 24/7 career. Why? Well, it's because our kids...
Winning Traits of Homeschool Dads
Today, I’d like to share the top 3 traits of homeschool dads: Understanding his kids; Investing in his kids' Being intentional at home. To bring it to life, here are three of my favorite stories—all from New Zealand! 1) Understanding his kids At a homeschool meeting...
Balancing Character and Academics
Memories If I were to ask about your memories of being in school, what images pop into your mind? Do you see a desk, a stack of books, a chalkboard, a report card, recess? Perhaps your impressions run more along the lines of a stern and forbidding teacher or the...
Homeschooling with Little Ones
I know it is so much easier to say, "Be thankful for your little ones now, they will grow up so fast," than to do all the work of caring for babies and toddlers. It is MUCH more difficult to actually be thankful when you are in the midst of the challenges. I remember...
Relationship lessons from. . . Birdwatching?
In previous posts, I have talked about the incredible impact it makes when a teacher knows her students. But this topic is so essential, so vital to really wrap our minds and hearts around, what I think we need is some good old-fashioned birdwatching. Yep, that’s...
The deal with growing
Many years ago, I was hospitalized with a bad case of pneumonia. In response, our small church in South Dakota graciously bought me a small rubber plant to brighten the hospital room. Normally, I’m a lover of bright-colored, audaciously gorgeous flowers, but since...
Doing the Priority — Relationship!
Do you ever feel like you have way too much to do? Do you valiantly attempt to do it all anyway? It’s part of the homeschooling mentality—that sense of juggling twelve balls in the air at a time—cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring, nursing, teaching, shopping, listening,...
Lessons YOU’VE Learned
Learning Our Own Lessons As you walk out your unique journey on this earth, you gain deep experience and wide knowledge through the “lessons” of life. As a homeschool mom, many of your lessons come through the day-in and day-out challenges of teaching your kids at...
Giving Thanks
Of all the spiritual lessons I've learned, one of the most important is choosing to give thanks. When we teach our young children to say "please" and "thank you," it is a lesson in politeness. When God teaches us to say "thank you" in the midst of our messy lives, it...
Christmas Traditions
When I was a wide-eyed college student, without a clue of how to raise healthy, happy children, I heard a Christian professor speak passionately on the value of creating traditions in a home. He shared the Christmas rituals of his own family, and then described that...
Creating A Family Tradition
Forging a family tradition takes time and effort. . .May my faltering experiences with this bring you hope and encouragement in this season. "Joy to the world, the Lord is come..." As the disbelieving eyeballs of customers and tellers at our local bank peered at us in...
Is it time for Christmas Break?
Have you noticed that your kids are more fidgety, more distracted, and less enthused about studying Daniel Boone than they were in October? Why is that? Actually, are YOU less enthused about math and science and history right now? Do you find your thoughts running...
The Flaw in Hurry Up & Rest
Christmas is over. Whew! All the work and flurry ended a few days ago, and, hopefully, you weren’t so exhausted that you missed the celebration. You may be wondering if this is a time to get some rest. . . Hmmm. School doesn’t start for another week. This in-between...
3 Tips for Breaking the Wall of Inertia
If I were to ask about your memories of being in school, what images pop into your mind? Do you see a desk, a stack of books, a chalkboard, a report card, recess? Perhaps your impressions run more along the lines of a stern and forbidding teacher or the camaraderie of...
Time Alone with God – For Mom
Time alone with God. . . Does that spark in your mind an image of some sort of spiritual retreat center, where you could have a weekend (or a day!) all alone? Maybe in the mountains, a place where you could take walks and think thoughts without having a million...
Unleashing Joy
If you are being crushed by pain, disappointment, or discouragement, there is an unusual choice that can lead to joy. . .enjoyment. . .even great joy. To help explain what I mean, let me share a story. In 1991, life was hard. My husband's career goal—being a...