One spiritual habit that has changed my journey is seeking the joy of the Lord.  That sounds a little nebulous, doesn't it?  Maybe a little too common sense?  Let me explain.   I grew up in a traditional, Protestant church - and for the record I still go to a traditional, Protestant church.  I saw theology, but little of the experience of God.  Today, I also see many churches that focus on the experience of God and pay little attent... Read Full Story

 I was reading an article in Harvard Business Review that caught my eye.  (Yes, I subscribe to Harvard Business Review and probably will until my death... you can all stop laughing now:-)  The article is titled "The Five Minds of a Manager" by Jonathon Gosling and Henry Mintzberg.  By looking at the juxtaposition that the current culture puts business leaders in (collaborate vs. compete, be global vs. be local), the authors have isolated five primary "m... Read Full Story

Our friends at The Old Schoolhouse Magazine have created a beautiful 175-page holiday magazine with lots of tips and templates for crafts and activities, articles on making Christmas this year a beautiful and peaceful experience for your family.  They share ideas for freezer meals to ease your workload during the busy holiday season, and for those especially ambitious, this resource will even teach you how to make butter. My favorite part - ide... Read Full Story

I know there are some of you out there who aren't big on lesson planning and others who are addicted to it.  However, even if you aren't big on structure, you can still benefit from incorporating some consistent lesson planning techniques into your homeschool. Someone once said that 'failure to plan is planning to fail.'  Homeschooling is no different. Even though we can march to the beat of our own drummer (and let's face it, that's why many of us enjoy it... Read Full Story

I have a free book challenge for all you moms out there.  The purpose of this challenge is to inspire you during a time of the year when we can all get a little overwhelmed. First, read this absolutely terrific post at "Our Report Card."  Cry, laugh, go hug your kiddos.  Then, let it inspire you to write your own letter to your kids.  Post your letter on your blog and drop me the link in "Comments."  ... Read Full Story

Can music really make kids smarter?  The Foundation for Music Literacy says "yes!"  We have all heard how music lessons can increase SAT scores.  Music is full of patterns and associations that alter the brain's make-up with newer and stronger connections.  This report backs that up with quotes and figures from various research journals. It also includes a couple of pages of quotes about music such as this one ... Read Full Story

In a time of cultural degeneration and societal turmoil, our responsibility to raise children who can lead, and lead rightly, is huge.  I don't think I need to tell this audience of the importance of teaching children integrity and intelligence, as well as what it means to live in a true republic.  The goal is articulate, wise, kind, and true-hearted citizens capable of guiding others to the right.  Doesn't that all sound terrific?  I bet you are all nodding your hea... Read Full Story

The school year is underway and the holidays are just in front of us.  It's time to get down to the nitty-gritty of our daily schedule, and it makes sense to begin at the beginning.  Morning.  For some, morning means waking up to the dawn from a refreshing night's sleep.  Ready for the day, you bound out of bed, looking forward to whatever may come.  For others, morning goes hand-in-hand with feelings of dread and/or chaos.  Whichever side of the fen... Read Full Story

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, one of my favorites:-), is hosting a summer reading program with Splish the frog.  Click on the graphic to go directly to Splish's blog.  There, you can get the details of the program as well as take a peek at the reading lists of kids and their moms. Now for our reading list for the summer, lots of exciting reading on ancient times, some great, clean fiction, and books on everything reptilian (the latter interest was added yest... Read Full Story

Eating healthy is absolutely critical to functioning well as a mom.  Not only does the proper nutrition enhance our immune systems and prevent disease, it also enhance our well-being and energy levels. To that end, I am always trying new recipes that combine lots of good foods, especially vegetables.  The other day, my cupboards were bare (at least for me because I have to eat gluten-free - that's right - no wheat:-()  I was making acorn squash as the vegetable for dinne... Read Full Story