Joyfull Living

One of the biggest surprises since we began homeschooling has been how much I have learned!  I love reading history lessons now that I am older and want to understand the 'whys' and 'how's' instead of a bunch of facts, dates and names!  Another important lesson is that I can't effectively teach if I don't have good understanding myself.  Often I must review the lesson to refresh myself before I teach it to my son.   While raising our children, sometimes the day to day duties and needs to be met would be about all that I could handle.  As our two older boys  have grown and are now on the threshold of being on their own, I find myself wishing I had done a few things differently.  Maybe some more time training them, being deliberate in teaching and preparing them, things I should have said, or have not said, it could go on and on!!   A recent article I read shared some descriptions about children.   1 You have a child who plops down on the couch wa

Other than 'joyful' one of the favorite words to describe my life would be 'settled'. Relaxed, content, at ease, slow paced are some of the characteristics I strive for. There is no constant desire to change radically, but new habits are embraced at times and made room for in the lifestyle.    As we approach our 24th anniversary next month, I'm reminded how we purchased our first home, which is the same home we have lived in the entire time!  Shortly after we moved in, some neighbors moved in.  They are also family being husband's cousin and her husband.  This arrangement worked out well for so many years as we had put down roots together, shared meals visits, raised children together, weathered sickness, troubles, trials, kept in constant contact and were always there for one another.   As life does, things change and my dear neighbors are living in another state right now.  I'm so proud of them for seeing an opportunity and grabbing hold of