One of the things we’ve been blessed to do over our 20 years together is to travel. Sometimes our trips have been semi-grand vacations, but more often, they’ve been treks through backwoods places and country roads as we hop in the car with Dad while he visits customers. Inevitably as we ride, we always laugh […]
How to Make Friends in 2012
Have you ever looked at your spouse and wondered what on earth you have in common? My husband is an extrovert; I am an introvert. When I worked in corporate America, a key component of my job involved a study of “type,” and how various traits and perspectives could be used to make people work […]
I Need College Prep, Not Bible Study!
More than once I have heard other Christian home educators make a statement similar to the following: ‘I am Christian. I just want to teach what is needed for college and then teach what is in the Bible on the weekend, not during normal school hours. I want my children to know who God is, […]
The ONE book you couldn’t live without
Yesterday, I met a group of moms for a lunch and play date at a nearby park. This group was a bit different in make-up in that the organizers of the lunch were not homeschoolers. Our kids have been fairly active in a local church ministry where the youth minister meets with a different group of […]
Fall Semester, Part 2–Ready, Set,…
By God’s grace, during our “break” this week, I have… graded all the older kids’ assignments graded all my “big kids’ ” assignments cleaned 3 rooms in the house washed, dried, and folded all clothes–twice (thanks to hubby’s help) placed all assignments up until Thanksgiving week into planners read with the kids (about 1/2 of […]
The Hunger Games: A New Classic?
According to Wikipedia, in 1920, Fannie M. Clark, a teacher at the Rozelle School in East Cleveland, Ohio, attempted to answer the question of what makes a book a classic. She consulted a group of eighth-graders and asked the following question: “What do you understand by the classics in literature?”Answers included “classics are books your fathers give you and you keep […]
The “In Spite of” Life
Many of us live “in spite of” lives. In fact, I believe that an “in spite of” mentality is necessary if we are to stay upon that course which we believe in our hearts is God-ordained. This is a truth that is as important to our homeschooling journey as it is in any other […]
What’s New? From Our Point of View…
It is a beautifully sunny, 74-degree day here in coastal Texas, and with the oldest at college and our son at the dentist, the youngest decided to school outside. Funny, this was my vision when we first began homeschooling—days outside on a picnic blanket, completing schoolwork and viewing exotic animals. (You can stop laughing now). […]
A Blessed Heritage in Kid’s Language
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court. Psalms 127:3-5 In my […]
Our School in a Notebook
Not too long ago, I read a great article from a friend on recognizing and recuperating from homeschool burnout. I’ve had that season in my life, but what struck me in reading through her post this time was a quote from Miss Charlotte Mason: The object of children’s literary studies is not to give them precise […]
Inspiring Greatness
Today, the 8-1/2×11 coloring page is way too small for this budding artist, so he decides to express himself on your white wall. Yesterday, she approaches you with 10 shirts, 3 pairs of ever-so-slightly different pairs of jeans, and 5 shoe options to create that perfect outfit because she has “nothing to wear.” But could […]
Enjoying the Simplicity of Life
My blogging buddy Danielle (whom I have actually met in real life) posted a wonderfully profound blog entry on loving the simple in life. It took me back to where my life has been over the last few months. I stepped away from some work this summer that was really wearing me out. With a […]