Many homeschooling families begin their day with morning basket time.  What is morning basket time? It usually starts with a literal basket.  Mom has packed the basket with books.  She carefully selects books for spiritual growth, books for inspiration and encouragement, and books that tie family studies together.  Mom rounds up her young ones, sometimes at the breakfast table and sometimes later, and they pull a book out their basket and begin the day. Some families start with a hymn of praise,  prayer time , and the devotions.  This moment of intentional worship creates the school day’s center and focus. It encourages bonding between siblings, between mom and child, and more…

  Your student learns differently. You’ve studied and trained and adapted your homeschool to help your little one shine. There’s only so long you can protect them. But there comes a time when things like reading and writing take over the educational spotlight. This happened to our family last year.  We belong to a  community of classical learners and at nine our students are asked to migrate from clapping and chanting into discussing and asking questions.  While a totally optional part of the program, my student watched her peers merge into this writing and grammar intensive course.  She counted up their birthdays and noticed she was a year older than…

  A writer’s life is never boring.  Mostly because we stuff every peaceful moment with imaginary drama.  Or maybe that’s just me.  Whatever the reason I’ve got a new book to share with you.  My first Christian cozy mystery just released on Kindle, with the paperback soon to follow. Based in a small town called Honey Pot,  the mystery follows three homeschool mommas as they deal with Christmas drama while searching for a missing teenager. Though all the characters are fictitious I hope you can spot a bit of your life in one of theirs. Thanks for checking it out. I aim to make this new book a series. So, come back…

Every homeschooling family runs differently.  Each child within each family learns differently. As a Christian homeschooler,  I do my utmost to put Christ at the center and leave the rest up to Him.  Our family curriculum has changed and changed again.  Our routines are in flux from season to season.  But with our core fixed on the Lord, we can’t go too far off the deep end.   Here’s a peek into our year. (DISCLAIMER:  I am an affiliate of some of the following but not all.  I refuse to promote products I don’t believe in!)   2019-2019 What we’re using: For most of our needs, we participate in  Classical…

Temperatures are in the 3 digits.  Backyard pools and inflatable floaties are filled to bursting. Sunscreen scents the entire house, where there never seems to be enough ice or sweet tea.  What’s a mama to do? Why not chill out and cuddle up with a cozy mystery?  Cozies offer friendly places to visit, just enough drama to keep one guessing, and a happily resolved ending.  Usually, they are light on the violence, easy on the language, and leave the hot and heavy to one’s imagination.  So, go out have fun, with the kids, during the breeziest times of the day.  Then head indoors to an easy to read, hard to put…

The other day I was cooking dinner when my six-year-old son rushed into the kitchen. Beads of sweat slid down his red face. “I’m so hot. You never get me anything to drink.” I stirred my spaghetti sauce with one hand as I turned to him. “Excuse me?” His voice rose in a full, high-pitched whine. “You never give me anything to drink!” He waved his hands and dropped to the floor. I took in a breath and then released in, telling myself to keep my voice steady, calm. “I’d be happy to get you a drink. I just need you to ask.” He kicked his foot against the floor.…

Hello there, August. Bye bye July, you sneaky fast month, you. Here’ my July/August M.O.M My coffee of choice has been split between a smattering of ceramic mugs.  So, the coffee shall be the star this month.  I’ve been french pressing these days.  My smallest press gives me just enough joe for one gigantic jug.   I’ve even been known to drink it straight from the press. Oily, frothy, and feisty this method has me playing old melancholy music from my teen years.  Earbudding bits of Jeff Buckley, Nick Cave, and some Counting Crows pep me up and get my brain a’workin.   This is summer and for a homeschooling mama…