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 ...
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Six Months | Life After Loss | Grieving
Days after my sister passed away, I suffered from a horrible panic attack. In those days following my sister's sudden death, I was so shaken that my body involuntarily trembled for days. I laid on my dear friend's couch - a friend who had also suffered the type of loss I was suffering. I sobbed and sobbed, asking her when I would feel better. "Six months?" she honestly offered. It sounded like a lifetime away. Surely I could not survive six months of this. Today I woke up to six months since the morning I got that earth-shattering phone call. The day feels heavy to wake up to, a reality I have been forced to carry, but each night I hope it floats away in my sleep. I think back to that day I lay trembling, tears streaking ...
homeschool Q & A’s
What does a typical school day look like? We have, and probably will continue to tweak things because we're in the early stages. At first I was trying to get going in the mornings with school, but quickly realized that would feel like schooling allllll day with the toddler interruptions. So I had the idea to work on our daily habits in the mornings, and we don't sit down to our school table until after I put Major down for a nap. So here's our natural flow so far: -Wake up (everyone can wake up slowly which is fantastic!) I try to wake up before the kids and ready my house, work, school, etc. for the day. -Walk Finn and exercise (this one is for me, but now the girls are home we do it together a lot) Breakfast, prayers, and ...
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 ...
crafts with kids | simple felt bows DIY
It's not all bad watching my little girls grow up! Lately they have taken to crafts... and specifically digging up old tutorials on my blog like THIS ONE and making my heart just explode. There was a time I crafted all the things, so it's been a fun little aspect to bond over. I knew they were getting pretty advanced, and could probably handle a hot glue gun. I used to always make the girls bows, but I guess over the years they've become more available and cheaper to buy. But Stella especially wanted to craft up some bows, so I told her I'd teach her. This was the perfect craft project for my little eight-year-old! We made Stella and her bestie, Zoe, a couple of matching bows one quiet afternoon while the baby napped. Here's ...
