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Slow down and enjoy this time
Have you ever noticed that your kids keep getting older. . .and bigger? Amazingly, the longer you parent, the older your kids will become. And, in the blink of an eye, they suddenly become adults. Just yesterday I had three little kids, and today I have one applying...
Slow down and enjoy this time
Have you ever noticed that your kids keep getting older. . .and bigger? Amazingly, the longer you parent, the older your kids will become. And, in the blink of an eye, they suddenly become adults. Just yesterday I had three little kids, and today I have one applying for a Ph.D. program, another applying for a Master's degree, and one walking through the unimaginable grief of losing a child. I...
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Slow down and enjoy this time
Have you ever noticed that your kids keep getting older. . .and bigger? Amazingly, the longer you parent, the older your kids will become. And, in the blink of an eye, they suddenly become adults. Just yesterday I had three little kids, and today I have one applying...
How Parenting Can Change Learning
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...
Handcrafted homeschooling
Years ago, my husband and I visited Toronto, and 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 by a prominent Toronto...
Balancing Character and Academics
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...
If You Feel Like Quitting
It's MARCH!! So, even if there's snow on the ground, ice on the streets, or rain on our heads, we know that spring is on its way. And that certainty—that winter is giving way to spring—gives us hope, doesn't it? That's what happened to me last weekend. I was seeking...
Eyes to See
Nine years ago, I posted a reflection on how we view the circumstances of our lives—whether we are able to see beyond the normal to the extraordinary background of God's love deepening and infusing our lives in breath-taking ways. Perhaps now, more than ever,...
Feeling like a homeschool failure?
If you and I could sit across my kitchen table from each other, and you were to say, “I’m just not sure I can keep homeschooling. . . I feel like such a failure. . .”, I would tell you with great empathy that I had felt the exact same way and that I, too, had been...
Parenting with God’s 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 angered, it keeps...
What’s In YOUR Cupboard?
What are the things that make you uniquely you? And, how do you share them with your children? Fortunately, despite the title, this is not one of those...
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...
Dealing with Pressure
Pressure. It comes in different forms. Temporary pressure can be good if it helps us cross the finish line, turn in the assignment on time, or put the last touches on the doll house for a beloved daughter's birthday. Longterm pressure can be relentless, crushing, and...
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...
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...
Joyful Parenting
Imagine a beautifully-wrapped box in front of you. Here are some clues to this mysterious gift: your name is on the label; the giver of the gift (whose name is also on the label) is one who loves you deeply; the wrapping is so beautiful that you are certain that...
Wearing 2 Hats as a Homeschool Mom
Homeschool moms play two major roles for their children: Parent. . .and. . .Teacher Learning how to wear both hats at once takes experience and thought! Parenting Parenting changes your life. For years, it will require every bit of heart, every brain cell, and much...
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...
When Money Is a Challenge
If you are homeschooling and facing financial challenges, I have good news to share with you! But before we get to the punchline, let's take a moment to look at one of those extremely encouraging verses to ponder when you have extremely limited resources: "Better is...
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.”...
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...
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...
The Buttermilk Lesson Or. . .
How do we pass on to our children the things we love? How do we help our kids develop a taste for those distinctive traits that make up our own family's "culture"? What benefits are there if we take the time to share various foods, places, people, and activities with...
Homeschooling: A List or an Invitation?
Imagine this scenario with me: As you start today, you don't have any pressing demands. What utter luxury! You might even have time to finish reading that mystery you started a few nights ago (you had had to stop right at the cliff-hanger!). Ah. . .what an amazing...
Refresh Homeschooling with 4 Simple Steps
Are you feeling increasingly trapped by the mundane sameness 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 recommendations (that may...
With time and effort
A few years ago, I was invited by visiting friends, who are horse-lovers, 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 to attend than from...
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...