If I were to ask about your memories of being in school, what images pop into your mind? Do you see a desk, a stack of books, a chalkboard, a report card, recess? Perhaps your impressions run more along the lines of a stern and forbidding teacher or the camaraderie of your…

Scene 1: ​The lake. My husband and I are inveterate, if amateur, water fowl watchers.We delight to observe the junior high antics of coots, the intensely punk look of mergansers and the aerial fishing techniques of osprey. But, among all the birds we commonly see, none is more stunning nor elegant…

Oooooo! Imagine a beautifully-wrapped box in front of you. Here are some clues to this mysterious gift: ​your name is on the label; the giver of the gift (whose name is also on the label) is one who loves you deeply; the wrapping is so beautiful that you are certain that the actual…

Have you ever noticed that your kids keep getting older. . .and bigger? Amazingly, the longer you parent, the older your kids will become. And, in the blink of an eye, they suddenly become adults. Just yesterday I had three little kids, and today I have three grown adults with…

What are the things that make you uniquely you? And, how do you share them with your children? Fortunately, despite the title, this is not one of those how-to-make-a-meal-from-whatever-you-can-find-in-your-cupboard-when-you-should-have-gone-to-the-store-yesterday posts. Although, if I were to be truly transparent, I might be considered an expert in putting off going to get…

Homeschool moms play two major roles for our children: Parent. . .and. . .Teacher Learning how to wear both hats at once takes experience and thought! Parenting Parenting changes our life. For years, it required every bit of heart, every brain cell, and much of our energy. Here are two…

Imagine this scenario with me: As you start today, you don’t have any pressing demands. What utter luxury! You might even have time to finish reading that mystery you started a few nights ago (you had had to stop right at the cliff-hanger!). Ah. . .what an amazing feeling to have…

How do we pass on to our children the things we love? How do we help our kids develop a taste for those distinctive traits that make up our own family’s “culture”? What benefits are there if we take the time to share various foods, places, people, and activities with…

Do you remember the saying, “Give me a fish and I’ll eat for a day, teach me to fish and I’ll eat for a lifetime”?   It is as true for laughter as it is for seafood! “Tell me a joke, and I’ll laugh for a minute. Teach me good…

What is absolutely necessary to your homeschool? What gives you and your kids joy and freedom in this educational journey? Take a look at these three intriguing essentials. I think you will be encouraged in new ways. THE FIRST ESSENTIAL YOU. Your relationship with your kids—your involvement, your love, your interaction—is the…

Are you feeling increasingly trapped by the day-to day, same-old same old of homeschooling this year? Is it more and more burdensome to pull those books off the shelf for class? Are you looking longingly at that yellow school bus? If so, here are 4 simple recommendations (that may change…

Parenting in Love I’ve been pondering I Corinthians 13:4-8 for some months, especially as it concerns parenting: Love is patient, love is kind.It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no…

Some years ago, I was invited by horse-loving  friends to attend a natural horsemanship clinic with them. They were thrilled that this traveling clinic was going to be so close to my home—because it was a lot closer for them than their home in Australia!! During one section of the…

Years ago, as a speaker at a homeschool event in Toronto, my husband and I ended up with a day to ourselves just for seeing the sights. It was one I will never forget. One place sounded particularly fascinating. Casa Loma, a “medieval” castle built in the early 1900’s by a…

Your kids don’t automatically absorb your love of a place, a food, or a subject area. As parents, it’s our privilege and responsibility to gently introduce them to these things in such a way that they, too, can begin to know and love what we hold precious. Here’s a story…

You\'re Doing A Great Job! What you are doing matters. Your homeschooling means that you have all of the planning, all the work, all the struggle, all the sleepless nights. . .to give your kids the opportunity: to know what it is to love learning, to be loved in a…

When I began homeschooling in 1985, I was naive and oblivious regarding the time commitment I was taking on. . .for the next twenty years!  But it didn\'t take long to figure out that being a homeschool mom tends to be a 24/7 career. Why? Well, it\'s because our kids…

Today, I’d like to share the top 3 traits of homeschool dads: Understanding his kids; Investing in his kids\' Being intentional at home. To bring it to life, here are three of my favorite stories—all from New Zealand! 1) Understanding his kids At a homeschool meeting in Rotorua, NZ, I…

Memories If I were to ask about your memories of being in school, what images pop into your mind? Do you see a desk, a stack of books, a chalkboard, a report card, recess? Perhaps your impressions run more along the lines of a stern and forbidding teacher or the camaraderie of…

In previous posts, I have talked about the incredible impact it makes when a teacher knows her students.  But this topic is so essential, so vital to really wrap our minds and hearts around, what I think we need is some good old-fashioned birdwatching. Yep, that’s what I said:  birdwatching.…

I know it is so much easier to say, \"Be thankful for your little ones now, they will grow up so fast,\" than to do all the work of caring for babies and toddlers. It is MUCH more difficult to actually be thankful when you are in the midst of…

Do you ever feel like you have way too much to do? Do you valiantly attempt to do it all anyway? It’s part of the homeschooling mentality—that sense of juggling twelve balls in the air at a time—cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring, nursing, teaching, shopping, listening, laundering, reading aloud, picking up, devotions,…

Many years ago, I was hospitalized with a bad case of pneumonia. In response, our small church in South Dakota graciously bought me a small rubber plant to brighten the hospital room. Normally, I’m a lover of bright-colored, audaciously gorgeous flowers, but since this wee plain plant was given in love,…

Learning Our Own Lessons As you walk out your unique journey on this earth, you gain deep experience and wide knowledge through the “lessons” of life. As a homeschool mom, many of your lessons come through the day-in and day-out challenges of teaching your kids at home—that place that also…

Of all the spiritual lessons I\'ve learned, one of the most important is choosing to give thanks. When we teach our young children to say \"please\" and \"thank you,\" it is a lesson in politeness. When God teaches us to say \"thank you\" in the midst of our messy lives,…

When I was a wide-eyed college student, without a clue of how to raise healthy, happy children, I heard a Christian professor speak passionately on the value of creating traditions in a home. He shared the Christmas rituals of his own family, and then described that these yearly activities function…

Forging a family tradition takes time and effort. . .May my faltering experiences with this bring you hope and encouragement in this season. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come…” As the disbelieving eyeballs of customers and tellers at our local bank peered at us in astonishment, my children…

Have you noticed that your kids are more fidgety, more distracted, and less enthused about studying Daniel Boone than they were in October? Why is that? Actually, are YOU less enthused about math and science and history right now? Do you find your thoughts running more and more to Christmas—when…

Christmas is over. Whew! All the work and flurry ended a few days ago, and, hopefully, you weren’t so exhausted that you missed the celebration. You may be wondering if this is a time to get some rest. . . Hmmm. School doesn’t start for another week. This in-between week,…

If I were to ask about your memories of being in school, what images pop into your mind? Do you see a desk, a stack of books, a chalkboard, a report card, recess? Perhaps your impressions run more along the lines of a stern and forbidding teacher or the camaraderie of your…

Time alone with God. . . Does that spark in your mind an image of some sort of spiritual retreat center, where you could have a weekend (or a day!) all alone? Maybe in the mountains, a place where you could take walks and think thoughts without having a million…

​If you are being crushed by pain, disappointment, or discouragement, there is an unusual choice that can lead to joy. . .enjoyment. . .even great joy. To help explain what I mean, let me share a story. In 1991, life was hard. My husband’s career goal—being a long-term band director…

If you and I could sit across my kitchen table from each other, and you were to say, “I’m just not sure I can keep homeschooling. . . I feel like such a failure. . .”, I would tell you with great empathy that I had felt the exact same…

I’ve been pondering the concept of kindness this weekend. It’s not something we see modeled in our culture, it’s not an attribute generally valued in movies, in magazines, and certainly not in current political speeches.Yet, it can change your world—and transform your children’s lives. One of the most stunning characteristics…

  If you are homeschooling and facing financial challenges, I have good news to share with you! But before we get to the punchline, let’s take a moment to look at one of those extremely encouraging verses to ponder when you have extremely limited resources: “Better is a dry morsel…

Pressure. It comes in different forms. Temporary pressure can be good if it helps us cross the finish line, turn in the assignment on time, or put the last touches on the doll house for a beloved daughter\'s birthday. Longterm pressure can be relentless, crushing, and debilitating. With a close…

  Nine years ago, I posted a reflection on how we view the circumstances of our lives—whether we are able to see beyond the normal to the extraordinary background of God’s love deepening and infusing our lives in breath-taking ways. Perhaps now, more than ever, this is a good reminder…

It\'s MARCH!! So, even if there\'s snow on the ground, ice on the streets, or rain on our heads, we know that spring is on its way. And that certainty—that winter is giving way to spring—gives us hope, doesn\'t it? That\'s what happened to me last weekend. I was seeking…