What does Summer Break mean to you? How do you separate that time from the rest of the school year? As a homeschool mom, I have the added challenge of making that time feel different to the kids than the rest of the school year. Sure, we take a break from our school work, and…
By the time April & May show up on the calendar I am ready to start my summer planning. If I am NOT the one deciding what my summer looks like then it gets decided FOR me. I stumble into August completely exhausted and worn out. I have no energy to start the school year…
[Here is a favorite from the archive. I hope it helps you as we move through this season.] It is spring. The Palo Verde trees are blooming and it is heating up during the day. As I rummage for my flip-flops in my closet, I begin to think about our summer plans. What will this…
I have been reading about and studying Sabbath for a few years now. This whole idea is so countercultural and radically different from what our society holds as important. The rebel in me loves to be a bit different and do something that most people consider odd. I also love doing a deep dive into…
Most of what I see on Instagram or Pinterest is about how Spring is a beautiful time of year. I do not agree. Spring is hard for me. If I am being completely honest, spring is a lot of work. It is finishing the school year well, deep cleaning the house, organizing my home (and…
We all have areas in our lives where we want to get things done quickly or “get in the zone” faster. Routines are the effortless solution. When we automate pieces of our lives with routines we: remove decision fatigue, we become more efficient, and we can relax into the rhythm of the tasks ahead of…
This process keeps me focused on what needs to get done. My weekly review helps me see the white space areas of my week. (Or of lack space.) I am able to make margin or say no to things that are crowding me in. Q: How do I organize my week so that it…
Life in the past few months has been exceptionally hard. This season that I am in right now is full of days where I wake up and just focus on the next few hours. In my house there are interrupted schedules, strong emotions, and lots of family. I am not ready to write about my…
I’ve been nudged by my inner voice to have time away from my phone for years. But I’ve always brushed it off as being too extreme or too legalistic. Then I made the decision in the summer of 2020 to put my phone away each night. So, I took the leap and tried it. It’s unbelievable…
What is restful to one person might be stressful and overwhelming to another. A calm and smooth transition to one person might seem abrupt and difficult for someone else. We all slow down in different ways and at different speeds. We can be kind and gracious to each other with understanding. The way that each…