Teaching the Children: Inauguration Day
For the second time in United States history, a President will serve for two non-consecutive terms. It is only the third time Inauguration Day and MLK Day coincide (the second inaugurations of presidents Bill Clinton in 1997 and Barack Obama in 2013 being the other two occasions). Homeschooling allows...
Tire-some 2024 Review
This was NOT a good year for our tires. Actually, the trouble began at the end of 2023, with a bolt in a tire. In February, we had our first “changing a tire on the side of the road” incident. I was able to pull into a gas station....
Teaching the Children, Beyond Election Day
As I think about, pray about, and teach about the election this year, I am not focused solely on Super Tuesday. I’m not even worrying about the outcome or its implications. Rather, my focus is teaching my children about OUR election. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,...
Another Day at the Maze
Each fall, we meet other homeschoolers at a local corn maze. The temperature in October in West Texas ranges from already bitterly cold with biting wind to still blazing hot with not even a breeze. No matter the weather, we set out to have a good time. We go...
Little House Road Trip
It’s been a while since the kids and I took a trip. This one included three states and 1134 miles. The first time I read through The Little House series with my daughter, I looked up historical markers and museums connected with Laura Ingalls Wilder. I discovered the closest...
Homeschooling 101
Comparison is the thief of Joy. When I get in a “My kids are behind” mindset, I shift my focus to the ways they exceed. My job is not to raise people who think like everyone else, regurgitating the popular answer of the day. My job is to give...
Shiny and New
When you clean and declutter, something transformative happens to that space. Sadly, I didn’t take before and during pictures of my recent schoolroom transformation. Even sillier, I couldn’t find older pictures of the school room. To add insult to injury, unless the kids are using the computers, they prefer...
A Year of Reading
In 2021, I listened to 29 books on Audible. Most of these listens were with my children and a few were on my own. In addition to Audible listens, I also read through the Bible in a Year. We also read many physical books and articles on a daily...
Lessons from Percy Jackson
Not to be left out of this year’s reading (listening to) books while traveling, Dietrich chose the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. We listened to these books on our longer trips, to and from visits with family, often finishing them while driving around town or sitting in the...
Grace-Filled Homeschool
Homeschooling gives us the freedom to set our own schedule. This is especially beneficial when our world is rocked by loss, whether expected or not. This freedom also allows us to take trips during less crowded times and serve others at a moment’s notice. When people ask how long...