It’s rainy and cool here in Phoenix today. Fall is my favorite time of year because we can finally go outside to play. Except for this year because we have a major mosquito problem. For the first time ever, I am praying for the rain to stop. We are covered in bites, and it doesn’t matter what time of day it is or where we go, the mosquitos are everywhere.…
Years ago I vowed never to color my hair. Never. No matter what. And when I vow to something, I hold onto that vow with all my stubborn might. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I had hit the hair jackpot. Thick golden blonde locks with natural highlights. Hairstylists loved to tell me how women paid good money to have hair like mine. “Don’t ever color it,” they said.…
Childhood is not an emergency. So why does it often feel like one? Hurry, hurry, hurry, we’re going to be late! We never have enough time! Finish your homework! Hurry up, let’s go! So many people have told me they would never have the patience to homeschool their kids. The word “brave” has even been thrown my way lately. But you know what? I have never felt more relaxed and…
Since moving back from Montana, it has been easy to grumble about the heat, the lack of fall color, the heat, the scorpions, and the heat. When I find myself grumbling a bit too much, I pause, collect my thoughts, and give thanks for all the good stuff. Gratitude softens my heart as we sit in our air-conditioned house and paint fall colors for the windows. Gratitude changes everything. I’m…
After 6 days of homeschooling, I feel like we’re finding our groove. Joe has declared his love for going to school at home, Leila is determined to put in just as much work as Joe, and I’m having more fun than I thought possible. So why am I anxious? As well as everything is going, my mind starts to wonder if I’m doing the right thing. I had a wonderful…
We are a few days into homeschooling and the Whole 30. At first I thought we were crazy to start both at once, but I am appreciating the extra energy from the boost of whole foods. We are eating tons of vegetables, good protein, and healthy fats. I don’t think I could have made it this week without this healthy food! For breakfast, I’ve been eating one or two raisin…
Our family just spent three months in Montana. Three glorious months when our kids could run and play outside all day long. We lived at the top of a hill overlooking a small town. This was our view from the front yard. Aside from being breathtaking, it was the perfect place for Joe and Leila to play outside without me checking on them every two seconds. There weren’t any cars because…