Home is where you start from

Monday, July 18, 2011

Summertime learning- Magic Tree house passports & more...

I'm sharing today over at The Homeschool Village about sneaking some learning in during the Summer. Have you heard of the Magic Tree House Passport Program? Check it out, and inspire your children to read!

Summer is time for creative learning fun ~guest post @ The Homeschool Village

So, bloggy friends, do you have a deep-seated need/compulsion to keep the learning happening even during the Summer? Or, do you give your kids and yourself a much needed break? Or, do you do a light schedule with lots of down-time?

Labels: guest posts, homeschool

posted at 8:08 PM
8 comments

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

I Spy {someone is always watching me} guest post

...For your consideration: if you fudge on your child’s birth date so he can have a facebook page, are you chipping away at your own integrity in his eyes? Does the end result (a fun facebook page) really justify the means (dishonesty)? If you sneak snacks into the movie theater, even though a sign at the entrance says “no outside food or drink?” what are you teaching?
Everyday, as parents, we are faced with these tiny, little choices. These tiny little choices will add up to a weight of truthfulness and integrity.

Integrity for our boys will not start in college, when he decides whether or not to cite a reference for a term paper. I’ve learned that integrity starts at home, with the little eyes that are always watching me.

I am writing today at The Mothers of Boys Society about integrity. Click over to read the entire article.

I Spy {someone is always watching me} M.O.B. Society

Labels: devotional, guest posts, mothers of boys society

posted at 2:00 PM
0 comments

Friday, June 10, 2011

Safely His- A Moms of Boys post

Intellectually, I knew my children belonged to God, but this situation showed clearly that in reality, I still had a very tight hold on them. There was a door I needed my heart to walk through...

I am writing today at the Moms of Boys Society about trusting in God's protection.
Click over to read the rest.

Safely His -MOB Society

Labels: guest posts, mothers of boys society

posted at 11:17 AM
0 comments

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The power of words- guest post at Moms of Boys Society

My boy stood in front of me as his father told me about our son’s testing for a new belt. Waves of excitement were rolling off my son. The story was told, my son’s great feats had been re-counted…but something more was needed.
My boy was waiting for something more...

Do you realize the power of your words? I am writing today over at The Moms of Boys society, click over to read the rest.

The Power of Words- M.O.B. Society

Labels: guest posts, mothers of boys society

posted at 1:52 PM
0 comments

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Everyday is an adventure- over at M.O.B. Society today

I held my son and was instantly smitten. He was different from the start. I watched a show once about boys and girls, I remember the point being made that if you dressed a baby in different clothes, you would not be able to tell which gender. True, maybe if you do not have a baby, or it’s been years since you’ve held one; but my boy was instantly different. I could see the difference in his hands, his forearms, his little sweet baby-boy head. He was special, our bond was special, and I knew I was set on a road of new things...

I am writing today over at The Mothers of Boys Society, click over to read about how

Everyday is an adventure

Labels: being mom, guest posts

posted at 8:32 AM
0 comments

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

With lovingkindness- guest post at the M.O.B. Society

I am writing today over at the Mothers of Boys Society about love outside of our own comfort zone.

Click over to read it....With Lovingkindness

Labels: devotional, guest posts

posted at 8:58 PM
1 comments

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

A fresh start for your homeschool over at the M.O.B. Society

I love fresh starts, and I love being a homeschool mom- because I have two fresh starts every year. Each Fall brings a new school year- new plans, new books. But, each January also brings me the traditional fresh start/ new beginnings. I’ve found that January is the perfect time to re-evaluate what we are doing in our homeschool; what is working, what is not, what I need to actually open and use…

I am writing today about A Fresh Start for your Homeschool over at
the Mothers of Boys Society (M.O.B. Society)

-click on over to read the rest :)

Labels: guest posts, homeschool, mothers of boys society

posted at 9:45 PM
1 comments

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Owl Moon- posting today at OC Smartly

As a child, I looked forward to the time when day turned to night- and we set out in that magical gloaming hour when the light faded and the owls stirred. We would walk the quiet road, looking upward to the sky-

I'm writing today over at Smartly Orange County, click over to read the rest :)
Owl Moon

Labels: guest posts

posted at 2:26 PM
0 comments

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Guest Post today, "Thankful for the Pause"

This is the season we are gently nudged to slow down and center our days around home and family. In the midst of our very busy modern-day lives, Fall is the pause..the fermata in the symphony that is my family life...

I'm writing today at The M.O.B. Society - Thankful for the Pause , click over to read the rest.

Labels: guest posts

posted at 8:42 AM
0 comments

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

My Irish Valley of humiliation, over at SmartlyOC

I need to lose 10 pounds. Okay, I need to lose 15 pounds- the more honest number. I am somewhat stalled out, however. I walk/run (okay, mostly walk) everyday and do yoga- uh, sporadically. So, I decided I needed to mix things up a bit, jump-start my way to weight-loss/fitness/ and general awesomeness.

Enter, the Irish dance class.

Two of my daughters are involved with Irish dance. It’s very physical, looks fun, has great music and looks very genteel. I like the way the dancers glide around and make it look so effortless. Effortless- I know it is not, I watch my daughters practicing daily.

So, I was decided- here was a fun way to burn some calories. An added plus would be the reels and jigs I could whip out during Christmas parties, etc.

The first class

My first class was very tough, half-way through my legs were like jelly. The next day I had to ice my aching ankles and calves- I declared victory! My plan for rapid getting into shape and general fabulous-ness was right on target.

Enter, the second class.

I arrived for class, and hung out with the other dancers- sipping water bottles, warming up, stretching. I decided I liked this culture…being one of the dancers- I had no illusions of doing competitions etc.

-but wouldn’t it be great to be part of this group of athletes? Working hard, using our muscles, being graceful. It was flash dance people, flash dance! I was feeling it. I became resolved to stick with it, and become a serious dancer/athlete.

{Litheness, I had a new goal- I want to be lithe, gosh darn it!}

My instructor was not so patient and slow-going this time. I was very quickly taught two more dances (when I was having trouble getting though dance number one in time to the very fast music). Then, horror of horrors…I was taken out to join the young dancers and expected to dance all 3 dances with them. Two of the dances I had just learned. Or, attempted to learn.
And, I had to do this -to music.

Did I mention how fast the music is?

From my back row position, I attempted to keep up, forgetting many steps- not able to jump very high and count and breathe -all at the same time.

From my back row position, I fell more and more behind in the dances. I became confused on which dance we were actually doing. I became confused on which was right and which was left. Which way were we supposed to be facing?

From my back row position, I could see all the other girls dance on, as I had to stop to just breathe.

From my back row position, I was able to ponder and reflect the folly and faux pas of wearing shorts with the word “dance” on your bottom.

*It was brought home to me that if an athletic teen Celtic dancer cannot pull this look off while doing a jig. No one can.

I was renewed in my resolve to never let my daughters own such an article of clothing. I was now, resolute.

This was the one gem I took home with me from this experience into dance. The only gem.

*Because, I quit.

I’m 30 something and I’m done with humiliation.

Resolved: Yoga is the sport for me.

shared originally over at Smartly.com October 12, 2010

Labels: guest posts, Jen's world

posted at 1:13 PM
0 comments

What a boy needs-over at The MOB Society

I See him in his room,
forever frozen in my memory at age 7 or 8. He is all elbows and feet. His bangs- too long, hanging in his eyes. He’s playing with Legos. Alone. I remember it all now, he was such a lonely boy.
He was my brother for 6 years...

I am writing today about What a boy needs, over at
The Mothers of Boys Society. Click on over to read the rest.

Labels: devotional, guest posts

posted at 12:23 AM
0 comments

Monday, September 27, 2010

Over at Moms of Boys Society- The Little Red-Headed Girl

...Would *she be there? -(The little red-headed girl). Every other sentence began with anxious questions about when we’d see her again, would she be at such-n-such place…?
His Dad and I looked at each-other with bemused expressions. I was wondering- “when did this happen?” and, “help, I’m not ready for this yet!”...

So, moms- are you ready for your boy's first crush?

I'm writing about such a mom moment over at
The Moms of Boys Society -M.O.B. Society today

*The Little Red-Headed Girl @ The M.O.B. Society

click on over to read my post, and to enter a neat giveaway today.

Labels: guest posts, mothers of boys society

posted at 9:58 AM
2 comments

Friday, August 13, 2010

Guest post today

Falling into homeschool
We never planned to be the weird homeschooling family. We sort of fell into it, really. The year before we began to even think it, I had-in all sincerity, asked my sister-in-law, who had announced they were going to homeschool…if, -get ready for this…-if she wasn’t afraid of making her kids weird?...

I am guest posting today over at I Never Grew Up -about homeschooling. She is doing a series on school choices and inviting guest posters to write about public schooling, private schooling and homeschooling. The series features sincere and thoughtful writers. Click over!

Labels: guest posts, homeschool

posted at 1:43 PM
5 comments

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

My Russian Winter, over at Smartly OC

"They wanted to take photos in front of an orange tree, could I point them to one? ...It was Christmas time in Orange County, citrus trees everywhere were heavy with fruit. To my new Russian friends, it was miraculous..."

I'm writing over at Smartly OC today, hop over to read "My Russian Winter"

Labels: guest posts, Russia

posted at 4:17 PM
2 comments

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Fall 'stained-glass' leaves project- just for fun!

..Craft Fridays are a little lighter, school-work wise. We continue with Math, because here, everyday is a Math day...and usually a few other subjects, but I lighten the load, to leave room for a fun craft. Many of my craft ideas are improvised from memories I have of school crafts...

to read more of this post, and to find the directions for making this 'stained-glass' leaf project, click *here-Crafty Fridays* found over at Work and Play Day by Day where I am guest blogging today. And please leave her a comment, even if it's just a small 'hi'...comments make bloggers happy :)

Labels: guest posts, homeschool

posted at 2:17 PM
3 comments