Tips for "having the talk" with your kids. Before someone else does... There's just no way around it. Talking to our kids about S-E-X has to be one of the most awkward things ever. Even if you're comfortable going into it, the minute your kids figure out where you're headed you can usually count on them being all... But for the love of our kids, we simply must. We've got to talk about this stuff, and we've got to keep talking about it. Because if we
Parenting and Family
With Kate Merrick, on her New Book: HERE, NOW
Hey Friends! I'm here to share Kate Merrick's beautiful new book, HERE NOW, which I was blessed to get to read early and endorse. Isn't the cover just gorgeous!? This book is SO GOOD you guys! I want to share a few words of personal introduction, then Kate is sharing an excerpt from Chapter 4 with us! (You're going to love it!) First from me: If I'm honest, my book writing journey has at times been a lonely one. Remember, I live on an island,
Surf Updates and Inspiration from Son #3: Luke.
Sooooo....It's been a long time since I've shared a "surf update" around here! Back in the day, I shared a lot of these, and many of you kindly endured followed along with them. ;) I don't post as often anymore so I'm always hesitant to make things all about us. But... But in the past few weeks a lot of people have asked questions about Luke's competitive surfing: About his new sponsors and about his future plans. And (maybe most importantly) "could he be
End of Winter Coffee Date. Edition: We’ve got a Table with a View and SO much to Cover!
Friends...Most of you know by now how I love a coffee date! I try to do these seasonally, and by the time I sit down to write them I'm about to burst with all of the thoughts, questions, and stories to share. I can't help but smile as I begin to type...imagining you right here, and I'm leaning in to ask: Where should we even start!? How are you? What's new? Can you even believe it's March already!? Aand Shhh - We're gonna have this coffee date on the
A Few Thoughts after 12 Years of Homeschooling.
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
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
