Let kids MOVE!

What on earth do we do with those kids who seem to constantly fidget and bounce and doodle and roll and jump and run and dance? Prepare yourself, because this might seem simplistic. The answer to the question of dealing with kids who won’t sit still is: Let Them...

A Child Who Survived the Holocaust

What does it mean to be a survivor? We use it in many ways: those who beat cancer; those who pull through a life-threatening accident; those who overcome crippling abuse; and, those who go through war atrocities. As we learn their stories, our hearts are gripped by...

The Adventure of Art

When it comes to the arts—and how to nurture your child’s inner artist—I have some opinions.   At one time, all three of my children were majoring in the arts in college: one studying classical ballet, one studying piano at a conservatory, and one studying...

The world-changing gift of languages

The world is bigger than us.  That should be obvious, but sometimes we live with cultural blinders. What I mean is that we go through our day, thinking thoughts in our own language within our own culture.  And we don’t really pay attention to the reality...
My Sound of Music Experience

My Sound of Music Experience

In the spring of 2000, my family (Bill & I, plus our three teenagers) went to the FPEA convention in Orlando, Florida. FPEA has always been one of our favorites, but this time we were particularly excited as Bill Anderson, the author of Musical Memories of Laura...

The Idea That Started It All

Have you ever wondered where speakers come from?  I mean, how do THEY get to stand up and speak THEIR minds? What motivates someone to do what most consider the scariest activity on the planet—speaking to an audience? Well, I can’t answer for most speakers,...