Cultivating the "Perfect" Homeschool

/
Cultivating the "Perfect" Homeschool

If you saw that title and clicked to read, it’s likely that one of two things brought you here: You thought, “What in the world? This girl thinks she’s got it all figured out. I have to see who this chick thinks she is.” OR, you thought, “Sheeesh, I’m struggling. I need a dose of whatever she’s got going on.”

Those are extremes, obviously, but for most homeschool mamas, we tend to vacillate between these throughout days and seasons. We either think we have “it” finally figured out (only to have “it” blow up in our face the very next day) OR we think we are never going to get “it” figured out, and our kids would probably be better off spending their days in school.

Since long days, learning challenges, chaotic toddlers, willful attitudes, and mismatched learning and teaching styles can leave any of us questioning our sanity (and looking for a better way), I thought I’d share how I have “it” together (FINALLY!) and how you can too! It turns out you can have an amazing homeschool experience and choose the perfect curriculum for your family.

How? There are really two incredibly important steps in coming to a place where you truly walk in confidence in homeschooling.

Read More

Mama, Your Body Matters

/
Mama, Your Body Matters

Babies. Time. Gravity. Busyness. Injuries. Disease. There are so many ways and events that can fester a special kind of dissatisfaction with our bodies. As mamas, we know the power and strength that is inside of us- that created, nourished, and cultivated life, then pushed it out into the world. We know the purpose behind these bodies, but more often than not, as the battle scars of life begin to tatter our flesh, we can question our very worth and purpose.

We battle our stretch marks. We battle the extra pounds. We battle the cellulite, the sagging jaw line, and the embedded lines that show we’ve expressed joy daily. The world tells us that these signs of life are undesirable and less than beautiful. The message to these generations is that as we grow in wisdom, virtue, experience, and strength, we are now less than we once were because we wear the battle scars of a life filled with living.

Despite what the magazines on the rack say, the Book I look to says differently. The Book I look to says that my body is sacred, chosen, strengthened, and redeemed. The only Word that matters says that I house the Spirit of the living God inside these dimpled thighs and amongst all those wayward hairs.

Read More

5 Things to Know When Your Husband is an Unbeliever

/
5 Things to Know When Your Husband is an Unbeliever

We all have unbelief—sometimes in ourselves, in our spouse, in a child… all to varying degrees. We aren’t born believers, unfortunately. God must pursue our hearts until we willingly submit to Him and lay our lives at the foot of the cross.

When the root of unbelief is in our own hearts, we need only cry out to God in earnest desire to fully believe. As the father of the sick child in Mark 9:24 cries out to Jesus, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” so too can we cry out, and He will surely answer.

Read More

5 Unique, Christ-Focused Christmas Gifts for Your Teen

/
5 Unique, Christ-Focused Christmas Gifts for Your Teen

I don’t know about you, but as my children grow older, they’re harder and harder to shop for. While my two oldest (14 and 12) will always just say, “Give me money!”, I’m not a huge fan of that. We try hard to keep our hearts focused on Christ through the advent season. I like to make sure the gifts my kids receive Christmas morning are exceptionally good.

I don’t know about you, but as my children grow older, they’re harder and harder to shop for. My two oldest (14 and 12) will always say, “Just give me money!” But if you’re anything like me, that doesn’t sit quite right. While I understand the appeal, I’m not a huge fan of handing out cash. At Christmas especially, we try to keep our hearts focused on Christ and the true meaning of the Advent season. That’s why I want the gifts my kids open on Christmas morning to be more than just “stuff.”

And let me be clear: good gifts don’t have to mean expensive gifts. What “good” means, in my mind, is that the gifts are good for them — good in a way that reflects my knowledge of their hearts, their interests, and their needs. I want the gifts we give them as parents to demonstrate in a tangible way the good gifts from God and, ultimately, the best gift of all: Christ Himself. God knows what we want and what we need. He provides perfectly in Christ. My prayer is that our Christmas gifts to our children reflect just a small glimpse of that generosity.

Read More

A Simple Biblical Solution to Distracted Living

/
A Simple Biblical Solution to Distracted Living

I want to add right from the start that I deeply believe this simple solution is an incredible remedy not just for distraction but also for anxiety and worry. Once I say what it is, you may shoot me an eye roll and want to click away. I promise I’m not crazy.

So what’s the solution? Knitting.

Yes, I said knitting. And yes, you may be rolling your eyes already. But give me just a minute, because I truly think this matters more than you’d expect.

Now, keep in mind that knitting is not the only solution. Rather, I would propose that all “handicrafts” are a potential solution—one that is Biblical. And I have proof! (Don’t leave yet. I’m at least a marginally sane person.)

Read More

Beautiful Feet Books Geography Through Literature Review

/
Beautiful Feet Books Geography Through Literature Review

As my blog has grown, I’ve had the opportunity to do a few reviews. I’ve learned that it’s important to me that I really LOVE anything that I review. I don’t want to hand out a negative review, but I’m also going to be 100% honest. I’m thankful my caution has paid off, and I’ve received a product for my honest review that I can say I HONESTLY love.

Beautiful Feet Books is known for it’s simple, easy-to-implement, open-and-go curriculum guides combined with exceptional literature. When the books are this perfect, you don’t have to add much to it, especially in the grammar stage.

I chose to use Beautiful Feet Books Geography Through Literature program with both my 6th and 9th grader girls. My oldest daughter already has much geography included in her Tapestry of Grace core curriculum, but I thought it would be wonderful to have an additional “fun” thing to do with her as well. So, aside from our “Lunch Basket” (what we call morning basket), this is the only thing we do all together.

Read More

How I'm Breaking FREE From Anxiety + Fear

/
How I'm Breaking FREE From Anxiety + Fear

You don’t have to see to the unforeseen when you serve a God who sees it all.

I like to say that I’m not a “paralyzed worrier,” but a “prepared worrier.” I’ve spent a lot of time planning for things most people never even think about.

  • Fire plans

  • Husband dying plans

  • Child dying plans

  • Burglar plans

  • Job loss plans

  • “Anyone I care about dying” plans

Really, for almost every conceivable scenario—even those so remote they’re rated at less than 0.01% chance of occurring—I have a plan. (And yes, of course I have the stats to back that up.)

Read More

I love Jesus, but I cuss a little...

/
I love Jesus, but I cuss a little...

... you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.... (Romans 6:16-17; partial)


I have become obedient, from the heart, to the calling before me- the righteous standard of a perfect and holy God. Or have I? I was listening to In His Image by Jen Wilkin last night, and she gave a metaphor that crushed my toes. She said, "When we are faithful to God in smaller temptations, we build strength to face the bigger ones. No one indulges an explosive fit of anger, who has not first indulged a thousand smaller aggressions. If we habitually flee from the temptation to commit minor sins of anger and selfishness, we are less likely to fall for temptation in greater sins of anger and selfishness."

Essentially, she likens our propensity to go all in with our sins to weightlifting. We are incapable of lifting those huge sins if we haven't been training with the smaller ones all along.

Ouch.

This immediately convicted me in the areas of anger and profanity in my own life.

Read More

All About Reading: How it Works for Our Family {a detailed review}

/
All About Reading: How it Works for Our Family {a detailed review}

When I first began homeschooling, the responsibility that intimidated me more than any other was teaching my own children to read. I’ve always been an avid reader, and I desperately wanted to instill that same love of books in my kids. What I quickly realized, however, was that my passion for reading did not automatically qualify me to teach someone else how to read. Loving books and teaching reading are two very different things.

With no background in early literacy instruction, I knew I needed a program that could walk both me and my children through the process step by step. We tried several programs in the beginning, but they either bored my daughter to tears with endless drill-and-kill worksheets or pushed forward so quickly that she felt overwhelmed, while I was left lost and scrambling without a clear plan.

That discouraging season eventually led me to All About Reading (AAR).

Read More

The Beauty of Tapestry of Grace in the Rhetoric Years (a very detailed review)

/
The Beauty of Tapestry of Grace in the Rhetoric Years (a very detailed review)

Homeschooling high school was always something that I looked ahead to with both excitement and fear. When my children were in elementary grades, I felt confident teaching according to a classical model, but as they grew into the middle and high school years, I felt intimidated by the challenging literature and history—and by my own lack of knowledge in these areas.

Read More