Beauty in the Ordinary
I realize my blog title is a little misleading. Let me explain. This is the time of year we’re all looking to refresh, to start anew, recommit, and create new ideas, routines, rhythms, habits, spaces, and goals. Attached to this new start – permeated with possibility – is the practice of choosing a word for the year. This word is… Read More
Here we are again, knocking at the door of the beginning of a new Church season – Advent – which begins in less than a month on November 29! Every year, for the last 10 years, I have been building an Advent and Christmas Planner and sharing it. In truth, this planner has been in existence longer than 10 years,… Read More
2020. I think we’re all about done, am I right? And goals? Those were shaken up and tossed out around April of this year! Good news – it’s time to start thinking about 2021, and fresh starts, and new goals! This is the time of year that goal setting systems are releasing, and I’m reviewing a relative newcomer – Makselife… Read More
I’m speaking again! This time, I’m going LIVE on August 6 at 4:30 pm EST and my talk is: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty: A Morning Basket for All Ages Register here. The talks will be free and recorded (if you miss the live) will be available through August 10, but you can sign up for the VIP pass and have… Read More
Any Homeschooling 101 series involves sharing about the basics and some steps to get you started, but there are always questions! You’ve got the concept, but you’ve also got questions! Over the last 20 years, I’ve heard some of the same questions many, many times. They are the questions you ask sincerely and you’re looking for reassurance that homeschooling works,… Read More
What’s Your Homeschool Method? In considering homeschooling, knowing the different methods – and there a few of them – is an essential first step before choosing books and curriculum. Some of these methods come with curriculum that will need to be considered carefully as part of your family budget, and others will require more of an investment of time. I… Read More
If you could peek into my inbox right now you’d see a plethora of inquiries about homeschooling – both particulars and general requests. I value the connection and personal communication I’m able to share with those of you that write me, but at the time of this writing, I have so many emails and requests that there is no hope… Read More
One of my objectives this summer is to explore education starting with a wide, panoramic view, and walking down to the fine detail of the application of education with a view toward supporting those of you that may be new to, or veterans of, homeschooling. I’ve shared and written on the topic of home education here for many years. What… Read More
If my email inbox is any indication, a lot of you are considering homeschooling. And, with information in hand, an enormous number of you are stepping forward! Homeschooling is booming! Many of you had a trial run with Covid 19’s help and found you enjoyed homeschooling and the extra push has given you confidence to step forward. Some of you… Read More
Summer is a time I love to review products for you – it’s a time to share so you can consider what might be the best tool for you – your life, your season, your family. I’m eager to write on some of the topics you’ve requested! But before I do, I have an exciting review to share with you!… Read More
It’s no secret by now that planning on paper is a way of organizing and taking care of myself, my family, and the many different things I juggle. My life is very full – joyfully so! I often hear, “I don’t know how you do it all,” and my honest answer is often, “I don’t know either.” I just keep… Read More
It’s been a minute! Know that I’m often thinking about writing here – I just don’t always have the time to spend here! It’s a season. And I know that, and I truly respect that. I’m old enough to really appreciate the season I’m in, because I’ve seen enough of them come and go! I know by now that each… Read More
It’s planner season!! That exciting time of year when we begin to look at the new planners and agendas that will be the paper tools that walk us through another year. And, I can’t be the only person ready to close the pages on the first part of 2020, can I? Or at least, I’m ready for possibilities again, some… Read More
Here we are, wrapping up a school year and anticipating the next year. Except this year ends with the strangest educational arrangement – and one I never thought I’d see – every single parent is now a home educator. In my letter to reluctant homeschooling parents, I shared a crash course in homeschooling, dis-spelled a few myths, and gave you… Read More
Here we go. Where the rubber meets the road. I’ve heard from so many of you after my post sharing ideas and tips for bringing kids home from school and doing *school at home* on Friday, and I hear you. You’re overwhelmed, nervous, and trying to wrap your head around a lot in a very short time. I’m so glad… Read More
The events and news of the day is startling. Words and phrases like Coronavirus, Covid 19, pandemic, incubation, social distancing and self quarantine dominate the vernacular. And it’s beginning to intrude in all of our everyday lives and routines in very significant ways. For those of us with children, it’s causing a big shift in our “normal.” I’ll leave the… Read More
There is something about the beginning of a new year – it’s so fresh and full of potential and the hope of new beginnings. It’s an invigorating feeling! Each new year, I like to take a look at my organizing systems and note what’s working and update where needed! I like refreshing my organizing systems regularly because life is never… Read More
Life as a homeschooler isn’t what I imagined it would be all those years ago. I suppose it takes a few years and enough failures to be humble enough to see the simplest lessons. If I were younger and reading my own words today, I’d still be filled with all the hope and joy of youth, and also the sometimes… Read More
As we round the corner to wrap up 2019 and begin 2020 (my stars!!) many of us are thinking about our goals for the next year. I’ve shared before that I’m pretty good at setting goals, but not the greatest when it comes to follow through, so a few years ago I discovered the PowerSheets Goal Planning system and I’ve… Read More
Once upon a time there was a peaceful homeschool. The children were cheerful and loved their reading and their work. They completed assignments with ease and initiative and still had plenty of time to identify and sketch every form of flora and fauna in the backyard. Mother happily worked from task to task and child to child each day, dressed… Read More
I received some new Erin Condren products and since I love sharing through photos – my little spot here on the interwebs is where I decided to share with you! I was so excited to see some of these new products – so first, a big thank you to the team at Erin Condren for sending these items my way… Read More
Before I start this post, let me just say that I didn’t intend to be away from my blog for such a long time! It was a tremendously busy summer with a lot of travel and an exciting doctor’s appointment (in El Paso, TX) that I hope to share with you someday, and then all of a sudden it was… Read More
Many of us know Erin Condren for her LifePlanners and amazing planning accessories. And y’all know I have been using the Erin Condren planner system for years! But there’s something new on the block from Erin Condren, and I haven’t been this excited about a new planner product in a long time. And the reason is that this isn’t for… Read More
In the world of planners, there are daily planners, there are weekly planners, and there are monthly planners. Each of these different types of planners fills a different need, and today’s review shows a monthly planner from Erin Condren – the Deluxe Monthly Planner from Erin Condren – which launches June 4, 2019. Quick housekeeping: the links on this post… Read More
