Barbara | Heart of the Matter

Home » Posts by Barbara

Striving to Rest

Motherhood is hard work. Can I get an amen? I don’t care if you stay at home full time, if you work from the home, if you work full time outside of the home, if you send your kids to public or private school, or if you home school, motherhood is just plain hard. (Thank you, Captain Obvious). It is work. It is good work,...

What’s In A Name

Posted by Barbara | 10 comments

If you are anything like me, which I’m sure you are, there are times when you just haven’t got a foggy clue what you are doing, and you are pretty sure that no one has ever felt as lost as you, and that no one could ever possibly get the disaster that is your brain. Can I get an “amen”? Anyone? Thank you. I remember...

Raising Super Models

Posted by Barbara | 6 comments

When you dream of what you want your kids to be when they grow up, how often does “super model” come into your mind? No? Really. Shocking. What if I asked you how you would rank on the “super model” scale. Do you compare? Are you striving to become more “super model-ish?” No? Really. Now, lest you think I am a...

The Day I Quit Home Schooling

Posted by Barbara | 23 comments

By all measures, I have a great life. I have a simple life. I have an uncomplicated, joy-filled, hopeful life. Ah, but some days…. None of us live a life of perfect ease and bliss. There are always “things” that get in the way of total joy and contentment and satisfaction. Wouldn’t you agree? What do you do when a...

Happily See-Through

Posted by Barbara | 0 comments

We teach our kids about the omniscience and omnipresence of our God. That is, we let them know that God knows everything, sees everything, is everywhere, and so on. We can’t hide from him. He is always by our side. He is always aware of what is going on with us. And this is a comfort. That’s what we tell...

Beating the February Blahs

Posted by Barbara | 0 comments

I know. It is October. February is still in the far-off land of post-Christmas, post-New Year; we also all know that Christmas is a lifetime away. No need to start shopping yet. Right? Oh dear… But I digress: regardless of your level of comfort regarding the fact that Christmas is a mere 11 weeks away at the time of this...

What Are You Supposed to Do?

Posted by Barbara | 0 comments

There was a most interesting article that I read this week. It was an article from Macleans’ magazine entitled “How Dutch Women Got to be the Happiest Women in the World”. It is a great read with lots of fuel for thought. You should read it, but not until you are done reading my article. Ha! The article suggests that...

Wanted: Wisdom

Posted by Barbara | 0 comments

At the time of this writing, it is August first. The planned publishing date for the article is August 25th. Regardless, I can tell you that both today and that 25th of August will find me wondering if I have my September planned just so, and if I have all my supplies, and all the resources, and all the strength needed to...

Watching Movies Is Good for You…Sometimes

Posted by Barbara | 0 comments

My incredible husband and I have been watching the HBO series “Band of Brothers” lately. There are a few benefits to this activity. First, I get to snuggle with him for a whole hour while watching the DVD. Second, I get to imagine my husband being Lt. Speers running like crazy, somehow dazzling the Germans into...

How I Got Over Myself

Posted by Barbara | 0 comments

Some days are like this, yes? You wake up determined to feel sorry for yourself and all the hard things you need to do. You see the “to-do list” and even as you are scratching one item off, three more get added. The workload of a stay at home, homeschooling mom is daunting. Add to that the burden of those who work from...