The Blog
Take the challenge today!I’m so glad you’re here! If you’re looking for recent blog posts, you’re in the right place.
My Joshua Journal – An Angel in Heaven
I was in my third month of expecting my fourth child when I had a very disturbing dream. I dreamt that I miscarried in very vivid detail. I remember looking in the mirror the morning after, feeling satisfied that all was well. I had seen my doctor several weeks before...
A Thomas Jefferson Education
Next to my Ph.D. in psychology, this book is most responsible for my fascination with how to motivate children to learn. Although certainly not the first voice in asserting that our educational system is broken, nor the first to argue that a classical education is...
My Joshua Journal – A Weighty Issue
Me in early 1986 at my highest non-pregnant weight I had tried just about everything to lose weight from the time my high school nurse expressed shock that I weighed 128 pounds as a freshman. I already got lots of exercise being on the track team, but I added more...
How Do I Get My Kids to Focus on School?
Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Thomas Edison have something in common besides being renowned for their genius: they all struggled in school. Their teachers thought them stupid, but most likely they were distracted by their own divergent thinking. Some of our...
Organizing with Kids – Little Boys’ Bedroom
Are you starting to wonder if I HAD any clean rooms when I started organizing? This was my youngest sons' bedroom before I started the simplify101 organizing with kids class. Problems here are once again laundry and poor storage for things like sleeping bags, toys,...
How Do You Stay Motivated to Homeschool?
My friend who will be homeschooling in the fall for the first time asked me this question. As that is one of the purposes of this entire site, it isn't a question I can answer in one post. But I did have some thoughts! Choose curriculum you love. If you love it, even...
Organizing with Kids – Girl’s Bedroom
When I started my simplify101 class, I thought I was going to organize one space. I wasn't sure which one and I didn't take the best photographs. I ended up tackling all of my kid spaces, and I wanted to share the results with my daughter's room. The problem here is...
Get Organized and Get Motivated
I have often made the mistake of thinking that organization was everything. It isn't! While getting organized won't make you a great homeschooler, it can help. I used to hate my homeschooling space. It was cluttered, chaotic, and downright ugly. If you have...
Organizing with Kids – Toys and Craft Storage
Have I ever mentioned that I homeschool six kids? As a result, I have stuff. A lot of stuff. Not only do we have a lot of toys and games (multiply just six gifts a year times six and you'll see my problem. Of course, they get more than six gifts each!). I have spent...
Organizing with Kids – the Bathroom
Summer is organizing time for me. Homeschooling six kids means LOTS to organize. This summer I signed up for Simplify101's Organizing with Kids online class. I have absolutely loved the ideas and the inspiration. I thought I would share my projects with you. The first...
My Joshua Journal – Home for Him
When I got married and finished my Ph.D. in psychology, I wanted to start a family. My plan was to work part-time. I really thought it was the perfect plan. At least until I had a baby. I couldn't fathom turning my baby over to someone else. I cried when I was on...
My Joshua Journal – Fear Not
From childhood, I suffered from night time fear, but not of the dark or monsters. Mine was a more sophisticated fear. I was terrified that someone would break into my home and hurt me or my family. My parents were sound sleepers and I was convinced that it was...