Family Life | Heart of the Matter

Let Them Make Mistakes

As parents it is our natural instinct to want to see our children happy. Successful. Contented. We don’t want to see them sad, upset, or failing. Yet, that is part of God’s purpose for them. We must let them make...

The Formula Trap

Homeschooling a large family has its own challenges and rewards. On the plus side, there is a lot of fun involved. I love having a large group of people to do big projects or for playing games. I love having all levels of...

This Week At Heart of the Matter

During this Mother’s Day Weekend, grab a cup of coffee or tea and take some time to catch up on these amazing articles from this week at Heart of the Matter! HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Housekeeping Tips for...

Blessing Your Children

A few years ago I read a short devotion about a mother who daily prayed a prayer over her children—by placing her hand on her child’s head and saying a prayer for whatever their need might be that day. Then a few months...

Planning, Pondering and Perplexing

Most of us have at least been tempted to begin planning and pondering for the 2012-2013 school year. Usually this planning and pondering begins with at least a small journey of “self-analysis”. I don’t mean...

Do You Need A Roll?

I love my child’s high energy, enthusiasm, and joyful spirit. I don’t even mind that I will never have any family secrets, ever, because this innocent child will share our business with anyone within earshot and think...

What’s The Worst Thing That Can Happen?

Why is it so hard for me to trust God with the little things? The past few weeks have been killer. I has felt that the schedule and the responsibilities we are carrying are totally out of control. The margin that I try so hard...

How to get your spring cleaning done

Jenny Penton is a homeschooling mother of seven children and loves the closeness that being home with them provides. Un-schooling is how they live and learn and she blogs about their learning experiences at...

The Way They Should Go

I couldn’t keep from thinking, “What could be better than to have our first child today, on Father’s Day!” Many thoughts rushed through my mind as I contemplated the awesome responsibility that was soon to come upon me....

Adoption and Homeschooling

I am writing from China where we are in the middle of adopting our tenth child, a little girl who is nine years old. We have adopted twice before, a nearly four year old boy and a two year old boy, but this is the first time...