Family Life | Heart of the Matter

A Future and a Hope

My daughter’s high school graduation fell on the very day a pastor proclaimed in a national campaign the world was going to end: May 21, 2011. “At least by 6:00 p.m. I will already be a graduate and the whole family will be...

Summer School for Mom

It’s not hard for me to look at my bookshelves and see what curriculum just did NOT work for us this year. There’s always something that just wasn’t a good match. I expect it, actually. I’m happy we have so many things...

The Teen and Parent Relationship

Having a lot of children and meeting all of their needs is definitely a challenge. Having three teenagers adds even more of a challenge. One of the components to a home that thrives is having open communication. I want each...

Softening the Summer Schedule

I am always excited for summer to start. Because I’m not a year-round homeschooler, I not only look forward to a change in our schedule but I love all the opportunities my sons have to engage in new experiences. In a typical...

Starting a Business: Part Two

In our last segment, we talked about prayer and planning. I hope that you have continued to seek the Lord in the past few weeks. The Lord rewards those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 If the Lord is saying yes, or if...

Songs for a Mother’s Heart

On Having it All You said that we could have it all, we didn’t have to lose The job, the spouse, the babies: Every mother has to choose. I drop my daughter off among the twos, Come back, and find she’s been lost among the...

One-on-One Time With Mom

As a mother of a large family I am often asked how I can truly be a good mother to so many. Can I really know who my children are, what their needs and desires are when there is a limited amount of time each day? Can I really...

The First Five Years

I was talking with some parents trying to get a feel for what the most important thing their child(ren) learned before the age of 5. I got a lot of “potty training,” “socialization,” “reading” and “how to be away...

Knowledge Without Wisdom

What is the goal of homeschooling? The love of learning? Kids who achieve great academics and go on to big colleges? Instilling Biblical principles along the way? Along the way? NO! It must be more than that. Our end result...

Can I Do it All?

Is it possible to be a full-time “payroll” mom and homeschool at the same time? It certainly doesn’t fit my picture of the ideal homeschool scenario. Yet sometimes (most of the time?) God pushes us outside our comfort...