Last year around this time, we were walking through houses, entertaining the possibility of selling our first fixer-upper and buying a home that better suited our family's next chapter (#suburbia). I was the one that had a particularly hard time with this, because I had become very emotionally invested in our first home. I turned my heart to prayer, because I was feeling so conflicted in what the right decision was for our family. When we walked through this house, I thought of our furniture. I had an odd idea of how many of my family members I could sleep in this house, if need be. I thought of holidays I could host, things like that. I pictured my home full of my nieces and nephews with couches made into beds, and the guest ...
BLOG
It smells like fall
This morning I tiptoed down my stairs, in a quiet house. My brain finally wakes me up before my children after months (years?) of practicing. Not this morning, Harlo is already up working away on something in the school room. That's when I got the first whiff. The crisp morning air hinting at fall. I've been dreading the end of summer, but at this first hint of fall, I almost immediately feel longing. Am I ready for crisp mornings, golden light sneaking up over the mountain behind our home? The dewy earth on my morning walks? Am I ready for zipping on a sweater, and four little sweaters behind me, as we head to the park for our school days? Am I ready for weekly soup nights, cozy blankets around the breakfast table, and ...
homeschool Q & A’s
Last week I was out on account of a sickness, so I am resuming my homeschool posts! I promise homeschool won't take over my blog forever! Just getting these posts out of the way, and then I'll resume to our daily musings. ;) In my last post, I talked about some of the "why's" of homeschool, and I've compiled some of the questions I've been asked a lot to answer here. How DO you homeschool? Logistically speaking, it's not hard. Check with your state laws - Utah is quite homeschool-friendly. I mailed in a simple affidavit that states I will be in charge of my child's education until further notice. Then I drove my kids away from their last day of school, and we were homeschooling! We planned what we'd do for the year with the ...
Why Homeschool?
I think I'll be having a few hefty homeschool posts coming, because it is a LOT. I wanted to address a few questions I've been asked, because most of them were questions I had myself! First of all, Why homeschool? Believe it or not, I am not TRYING to be the most unconventional person I know. I have just simply always felt guided and prompted, and I've always been willing to do what is right for my own family, regardless of what is right for anyone else's. Well, that's much of the attitude that lead me to homeschool. I find that the longer I search homeschool, the more reasons I gather of why it's a right fit for my family. So this is a complex question to answer. But the main reasons that kept me circling back around to ...
sixteen candles
Sixteen years ago, my life was changed forever forever and forever. I was thirteen, and my oldest sister Angie, delivered her first baby. The first grand-baby on our side - and since I am the youngest, the first real baby I experienced in my own family. I remember walking into the hospital room to meet my baby nephew, his mama, absolutely glowing - the most beautiful I had ever seen her - which was saying something because my sister is a beautiful girl. I was immediately moved to tears, weeping as I held my precious nephew for the first time. That magical day was just the beginning of what would be THE MOST treasured relationship of my years that far. That boy clung to his aunties as the bonus mamas they were, and I've been ...
first week
Well we finished up our first official week of homeschool! How do I feel? Full-hearted, and exhausted. A bit isolated, but more alive than ever. Each day had it's own trials and tender mercies, each day brought it's own magic and fulfillment. I was flooded with more fear, doubt, and anxiety last week than in the weeks prior, but I also felt a calm and steady reassurance, anytime I would offer those restless feelings up in prayer. My biggest blessing right now is how much my girls are enjoying our new life. They have become even more capable this past week, getting used to our 'flow' with tidiness and good habits, helping with cooking and the younger kids, and diving deep into literature and conversation with me and each ...
