I wanted to do a Thanksgiving project with the kids that focused on being grateful for all the little and big things in life. As I started to peruse Pinterest, I realized that A) I didn’t want to spend a ton of money, and B) I didn’t want to spend a ton of time. So I reached into the closet, pulled out construction paper and double-sided tape, and voilà! Our…
Last year I wrote about life getting crazy and the urge to clean off my plate. Maybe it’s a November thing, but I feel the need to do it again. I try to be as intentional as I can about my time and commitments. I do my best to say no to good things so I can have the freedom to say yes to great things. And I’m getting ready…
“Mom can we start today with painting?” I hesitated. After lecturing him last week on how homeschooling means there is no set schedule. On how he needs to be flexible in his expectations. That “school” is never really over. I almost said no. To the kid who does what is expected. Most of the time without complaining. The kid who will happily do his math, english, and copy work when I…
Sometimes I’ll be going about my day, just my normal everyday activities of teaching, writing, cleaning, cooking, when all at once my breath catches and I see Heaven shining down on my kitchen. Nothing out of the ordinary is happening, but all of a sudden it’s like someone flushed out my eyeballs because I can so clearly see a moment I want to remember. Last night it was Leila twirling in her favorite…
I haven’t been blogging as much lately because I’ve been enjoying wider margins in my life. And I count that as a very good thing. So today I pause and give thanks for the joy and peace found in little moments. For gluten-free chicken & waffles, kale chips, and a date who shares. For an excuse to be silly with my husband. For The Incredible Hulk and Purple-Haired Barbie. For…
You know when I feel the most run down? The most anxious? The most stuck? When my life has no margins. To have margins means to be thoughtful in scheduling. Not living a life so busy that everything is back-to-back-to-back-to-back. To have margins means making time for breathers throughout the day, or if it is a non-negotiable busy season, making time for breathers throughout the week and month. Making time for…
I joined Laura from Hollywood Housewife yesterday to capture a day in the life of our family on Instagram. I’ve never done anything like this before, and while my Instagram followers may have been sick of my hyped up feed by the end of the day, I anticipate looking back on this collection of photos with a smile on my face many years from now. Our family doesn’t really have…