We’re entering our sixth year of homeschooling. More than half of our homeschooling years, so far, were marked by crisis and trauma. The feelings of my inadequacy to keep up the academic home front were strong. However, I knew in my gut that homeschooling isn’t just school at home, it is a family philosophy of sorts where...
We had a youth (we’ll call him Jay), who aged out of an inner city foster care system, live with us for the better part of the last year. When we started this journey (even after taking in three older children through adoption), we didn’t even know what we didn’t know. Because this also happened during...
I am blessed to have a family who loves God, loves others, and especially loves kids. Poppop (paternal grandfather) embodied all of those. Recently, a field named in his honor for all his years of service to the Eastwood Recreation Council was re-dedicated to him. A new accompanying playground, dedicated to another long-time community servant,...
One could go crazy bouncing between the sunscreen-all-year-round-anytime-you-go-out-of-doors camp and the we-need-more-vitamin-D-in-our-lives-and-sunscreen-is-in-the-way camp. I haven’t really given much thought to it because I’m really not together enough to sunscreen my kids religiously–or even semi-regularly. I do know, however, that when I decide we need sunscreen I want one with minimal to no toxins. The last...
At the risk of sounding repetitive (see #6), listen to or read (depending on your learning style) the song that is my new parenting anthem. MY LIGHTHOUSE by Rend Collective In my wrestling and in my doubts In my failures You won’t walk out Your great love will lead me through You are the peace...
Love God, all you saints; God takes care of all who stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone. Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon. Psalm 31: 23-24 (MSG) A particular holiday can either be joyous and celebratory or evoke emotions of grief...
So if you really want guilt-free chocolate covered strawberries, you can dip them in 90% dark chocolate. (If you want organic, you have to go 85% or unsweetened). However, the whole double-boiler thing, the mess, then waiting for them to cool and harden is really beyond what my limited time for feeding my face can...
On this day in 2009, this was happening… After a week of non-stop picture taking, this is literally the only photo of all 5 of us. #photographerfail Oh, how we didn’t know what we didn’t know. #adoptionnewbies Today Ty is the tiniest powerhouse of a 9-year-old. Tipping the scales at about 43 pounds, he can...