Homeschooling thoughts this year...(I usually do one homeschool post per year. Here it is. :) ) --also a note on ads in the PS at the bottom....Recently someone asked me how long I've been homeschooling, and I calculated that this is my 12th year. Wow! That makes me feel tired crazy (so many things, but mostly) grateful. In case you don't know my story, I'll begin by saying that I never dreamt of being a homeschool mom -- even up to the year that we
Encouragement and faith
The Biggest Goal I have this Year
How we can be world-changers. You and me.Recently, I've talked a lot about New Years' goals and all kinds of ambitious plans here on the blog. If you're an Enneagram fan, you're not surprised that I'm an Enneagram 3...also known as "The Achiever." And I confess, I love it. I love dreaming, writing, creating, and sharing. And when it's done, I can't wait to do it all again.But over the past few weeks I've been shifting my priorities a bit, and in case
Happy New Year! Guess What’s Coming in 2019?!
Hey Friends!! Happy New Year!!Don't you just love a clean slate? A fresh calendar...a blank journal? Do-overs and fresh starts are my absolute favorite. I hope you're as excited for 2019 as I am.New Years is extra special around here, because it also marks this blog's BIRTHDAY! We're 8 years old today!! For those of you who have been around since the beginning, you know how far we've come. (If you haven't, trust me -- we've had our fair share of awkward stages along the way.) But
Merry Christmas from Hawaii {greetings, photos, and a note to read before the New Year!}
Merry Christmas -- or Mele Kalikimaka, as we say in Hawaii -- from our home to yours...I hope you are having a wonderful, peaceful (we can try!) hope-filled Christmas season. I love to imagine where each of you are and what Christmas looks like in your world. I know (from taking an unofficial Facebook poll) that many of you will have a white Christmas this year, and our family is totally jealous really happy for you. It's summertime for my southern hemisphere readers, so your Christmas
What I’d Say If We Could Meet for Coffee…. {Virtual Coffee Date, Holiday Edition.}
Grab a cup of something warm and join me for a holiday heart-to-heart...(and a Starbucks giveaway! at the bottom.)If you've been around awhile, you know I love coffee dates. I mean, I love coffee, but even more, I love to have coffee with a friend. Maybe it's because I homeschool my kids out in the country (on an island, no-less) so actually getting out to meet a friend for coffee is kind of a big deal. As in: It rarely happens. :) So, when it does, it can be quite a scene. Usually
How We have Raised Kids Who Love God.
I hear from a lot of parents who really want their kids to grow up to know and love God. I want so much to support families in this way, so I thought I would share a bit of what we've done with our boys, in case it might encourage a few people...As most of you know, my husband Dave and I have four sons. As I write, they are ages 19, 17, 14, and 8.And as I write, all four of them really, truly, independently love Jesus. (*Levi, my youngest, is just eight, so it's fair to say his faith
Six Things To Do Every Day–Especially When You’re Busy.
6 Important things to do, especially during busy seasons. {**Be sure to scroll down and read a little note in my PS at the end! :) }It's that time of the year again, when everyone seems to be running in different directions. School. Work. Sports. Activities. Sometimes it feels like we're a bunch of ships passing in the night. These are the days we tend to skip workouts, eat meals on-the-go, and fall asleep saying our prayers. I have personally ended more days than I care to admit
A Year of Island Inspirations! (Sign up below!)
Add inspiration to your days...all year long. (scroll down to sign up!)There is no doubt, Hawaii is a special place. I know many of you have visited the islands, and have told me you immediately felt a connection. Some of you say you feel more at home in Hawaii than anywhere else, or that a visit to the islands changed you in some way...maybe profoundly. Some of you live here, and -- like me, you're still discovering this magical place. Others of you, from all over the world, tell me
