All Past Posts

Have you ever wondered where speakers come from?  I mean, how do THEY get to stand up and speak THEIR minds? What motivates someone to do what most consider the scariest activity on the planet—speaking to an audience? Well, I can't answer for most speakers, but I...

For the past few weeks, I have been sharing back stories for the 62 bloggers on our Experience History Through Music launch team.  By request, I would like to share it with you: So, more back story. . .this one brings us up to the present—with a bit of a miracle...

I love this week's topic. Experiencing the bubbling up of real joy is one of the most precious, wonderful gifts life has to offer, isn't it? Joy is possible at all ages, in multi-faceted ways.  Consider these few: successfully riding a bike for the first time;...

Sitting by the beach at Lake Erie only a few days before Mother's Day, I am pondering the concept of "choice" in love.  In the English folk song, "Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier"—which was a favorite tune during the American Civil War—a young woman determines to...

I have been thinking a lot about the realities of life for a slave in America, prior to the Civil War.  Research on the slave spiritual, Wade in the Water, reveals a connection between the experiences of the ancient Israelites as they fled enslavement in the...

Ok, I'll admit it.  I love to sing.  I've sung onstage, in church, in the shower, at meals, in the car, and at Starbucks in Auckland, New Zealand, and, most recently, in a fabulous performance of Beethoven's 9th.  Singing with my guitar, my husband, my...

The word “freedom” is a loaded term.  In America, it evokes images of everything from the first day of summer vacation to the slaves being freed after the Civil War, and everything in between. Since you and I have never lived under the helpless, hopeless,...

You know, I love reading about the courageous adventures of pioneers who crossed rugged mountains, forded torrential rivers, and made it through dangers and trials all the way to their new homes--people like Sweet Betsy From Pike . . I love reading about them from the...

There is something remarkably healthy about being yourself. Whether quiet or talkative, constantly moving or peacefully still, seriously studious or spontaneously fun-loving--being the unique person you are adds a vital richness to those around you. You can bring to...

4 mph. That was about how fast the mules and horses, harnessed to barges, moved people and goods along the canal.  I once had a friend tell me old family stories about moving to the far west -- Ohio! -- by means of the Erie Canal.  He described how his...

As a nation, we have had many moments of inspiration beyond the writing of our national anthem.  What happens to your heart as you read these important words from U.S. history? "Fourscore and seven years ago. . . "  Abraham Lincoln "Ask not what you can do...

Being free to be who you are is liberating. And it reflects the amazing creativity of the One who designed you. It is easy to talk in generalities, isn't it? Be yourself. Embrace your identity. Wear your uniqueness. Big talk. But what does it mean? As you and I both...

Face it.  All of us will encounter disdain at some point in life, whether at home, church, school or work.   But, disdain need not define. Being a DOODLE means that we accept who we are, embracing our strengths, even celebrating our uniqueness—just as...

When Yankee Doodle was originally penned, it expressed the arrogance of certain British officers who looked down their nose at the local-yokel colonists. These colonists had come to support them in the French and Indian War, but their informal dress, lack of polish,...

 Last month, I came to the realization that I had no idea what I looked like.  No, I am not talking about my nose or eyes or height. . .the mystery of my mien (def: person's look or manner) went a little higher.  The root of the matter, frankly,...

Life happens. I'm sure you know what I mean. There you are, with good intentions and great ideas, and suddenly, POOF! All your time, energy, brain-power, and effort evaporate into nothingness. Happens to me every year during the homeschool convention season!! But,...

I used to live next door to an amazing artist, Alexis Wilson Russell, a vibrant painter and committed Christian. Her Cherokee husband (now deceased), was a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus, and, together, they had ministered in many nations of the world—before ending...

Music! For some of us, this is the word that makes us glow inside. Music can powerfully stir our hearts, vividly connect us to memories, and help us express emotions ranging from joy all the way to grief. In a profound and practical way, music adds a depth of richness...

Writing might not be your child's passion, it might be mechanics or science or swimming. . . But whatever it is, if they engage it, they will work harder than you can imagine—and find rewards far beyond an "A" on some test. In January, 1999, my thirteen year old...

Today, I'd like to introduce you to a good friend of mine.  Terry Small is "The Brain Guy"—and one of the most engaging speakers on the planet!  He talks about learning and about the brain—how dry is that, right? But I have watched him hold an audience in the palm of...

You know, I hadn't watched TV since 1992 until this past year. Wow, what a statement! It rather resoundingly puts me into that category of "weird people," doesn't it? However, this post is not actually about the pros and cons of TV-watching. So, to continue. Though I...

I made a mistake yesterday. Actually, I've made the same mistake time and time again.  And, as I thought about it this morning, I thought YOU might take some good from my mistake. So, here it goes. I had been speaking at a wonderful homeschool convention in...

You know the old adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?”  Well, thank heavens, I’m not a dog.  Though this tired cliché is often used to describe what we can NOT do, I’m here to tell you that there are specific pathways we can walk in order to love learning,...

So, I have a story. On August 28, as we were driving to speak to a homeschool group in Ohio, my husband and I stopped at a rest area on the interstate.  There was a prominent sign for tourists at that particular rest area, describing the historic nature of nearby...

  “The question is not, -- how much does the youth know? when he has finished his education -- but how much does he care? and about how many orders of things does he care? In fact, how large is the room in which he finds his feet set? and, therefore, how full is...