Yep. We're homeschooling this year. Like the 'withdrawing the kids, buying textbooks, and going to Homeschool Day at Six Flags' kind of homeschooling.
This was not my plan. But we chose to homeschool because it seemed like the most faith-filled response.
"Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord and… " Can I tell you I am glad the psalm does not continue, "And this law he reads for an hour every day before his tasks"? Thank you, Jesus! I love to read the Word. I love to have quiet time. … Continue reading How Quiet Time had Become an Idol
There are many stages of life when I had felt overwhelmed before. Like when I was a busy college student; when I was working full time, adjusting to marriage, while also learning to manage a home, plus the office for a non-profit; or then when I was at home with my first baby. But my … Continue reading Why I Was Overwhelmed with Two Kids but Thriving with Four
The connection of discipline She's struggling. I watch her--bouncing from one thing to another, harassing her sister, discontent with what’s in the pantry, and looking for trouble. She needs something--more than a snack, more than something to do, more than an attitude adjustment. There is something not settled in her heart that is causing her … Continue reading The Purpose of Discipline: Connection
The book of Psalms starts with this blessing: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful. Interesting negative blessing. Blessed is the one who does not do these things. I'm pretty good at not following … Continue reading Who Are the Scornful, and Am I One of Them? Psalm 1, part 1
Pruning is a careful but severe act. A branch that is pruned does not look the same. The branches that are pruned sometimes look hopelessly dead--for a time. The gardener doesn't only cut stems of the branch that are unhealthy but ones that are perfectly good. These cuts are not to harm the branch but … Continue reading The Fruit of Pruning
Christians are a people of contradiction: Rejoicing but mourning, satisfied but empty, strengthened but weak, righteous but sinning. In faith we hold an impossible tension between the now and the not yet,Citizens of a kingdom united, yet fractured,and so preeminent that it can hold all the pieces. We worship beside people who often think and vote differently. Can we still … Continue reading The Gift of Tension
What we chose and why My goal was to choose as many "plug and play" subjects as possible, that lined up with the academic level they will need to complete for their grade, and were not outrageously expensive. I wanted to combine what grades we could to save my sanity. I did not want to … Continue reading Our 2020-2021 Homeschool Curriculum
Creating our "gap year" curriculum When we decided to withdraw our kids for their 4th and 6th grade year this year, I barely knew where to start. Choosing the right curriculum and method for your students can make or break your school year. The pressure was compounded for me since we are not planning to … Continue reading How to Choose Homeschool Curriculum
Since we’ve started this homeschool journey, several friends have talked to me and asked how I did it. How did I withdraw? What do I need to send to the state? What’s next? Who keeps track of this stuff? First, every state (and some school districts) have different requirements. Here is a handy-dandy resource for … Continue reading What is Required to Homeschool?
How do you narrow down the multitude of choices? Choosing a homeschool curriculum can be overwhelming, and in this season of social distancing we can't even gather in curriculum fairs or conferences to look at books in person. When I started looking into what I would use to teach my girls, I opened christianbook.com and … Continue reading How do I Narrow Homeschool Choices?
Hello Mornings has helped thousands of women to create a consistent morning routine. I am humbled and excited that the blog today features my words. I’ve struggled with the daily routine (or lack thereof) these many weeks that we’ve been home from school and work, and nearly all our activities have come to a screeching … Continue reading Hello Mornings blog post — How to Plan in Survival Mode
Are you ready for my biggest help (besides Plan To Eat) in simplifying my meal planning? Meal planning by the month. Frankly, I got tired of every week making a new list and a new plan and a new evaluation of what I'm doing with my life. I know, monthly sounds overwhelming and it is … Continue reading The Most Ridiculously Easy Monthly Meal Plan
The only thing Plan to Eat doesn't do for me is chop my vegetables.