Our lifestyle is one where we all embark on life’s adventures as a family. We work, learn, play and live together as a family.
This is not always an easy thing to do. Sometimes we are each running in our own directions or simply don’t agree on specifics. For the most part though, we are a united family.
Our lives consist of self employment, homeschooling, teaching the children skills they will need in adult life, martial arts, some old fashioned approaches to home management, gaming, reading/writing and also some lofty ideas on self sufficiency, natural and balanced living.
Today we are struggling to live a fulfilling life in the suburbs of Louisiana during a rocky economy. If you are trying to manage to find balance and happiness in hard times, may you too find success.
I challenged myself to a summer of reading. Perhaps this won’t get plants maintained, fitness levels up or the house cleaned but it will help me to enjoy my life and to expand my mind.
I won’t be reading only fiction this summer. I have committed to learning new things and to learning how to improve my life. Children are not the only ones who can be homeschooled! Self education is an important undertaking for any adult who wants to continue to grow.
Back when the year was new, many people made new year resolutions. Yes, you remember the beginning of the year. Look, around those boxes you yanked out of the closets in an effort for new organisation and possibly over that new exercise machine you used twice.
Or maybe those or my boxes and never used fantastic new systems. Hmmm.
I am sure I should tackle my low energy with a push to do a little more to build up to great new things.
In the spring, I resolved to begin walking into the center of town with my youngest child. We visit the library weekly, stop in at the market and sometimes visit the playground or snowball stand. This has been a real change for us in schedule and routine activity. We are really enjoying the time though rain and very hot days can change plans.
Check back and I’ll share some of the new things we have been able to do because of our walk.
As summer wears on in the deep south, I find myself lagging in energy. So many great ideas for home projects and lessons sizzling away in the sun.
My greatest obstacle next to energy is feeling as if I need to do things on grand scale and be amazing at it…especially since I am committed to sharing what I do with others online.
My projects sometimes get forgotten, my lesson plans don’t look worthy of posting, I don’t have a neat classroom to photograph and my garden is not breathtaking.
What can I possibly offer to anyone else out there searching for the way?
Ohhh….yeah…I am a real woman, wife and mother.
I can inspire you to be real, to not beat yourself up over not being perfect and to keep on past the difficulties that are sure to come up. We are real people and we really can achieve some of our goals.
So here I am, after a moment or ten of self doubt getting back up on my feet to forge ahead on my chosen path of whole life living. If you happen to see me fall again, be careful not to trip over me but if you could help me back up, I’d appreciate that.
As I was sifting through information on tea, I came across a a site called Noble Rose Press.
What makes this company so delightful?
It was created by two young women who were home educated. As young girls they enjoyed listening to their mother read to them. As young ladies, they developed interests in literature, history, illustration and homemaking.
They have put their skills and interests together to create a an enchanting line of historical paper dolls.
Daughters of His Story Paper Dolls are based on women who exemplified virtuous womanhood. These dolls are not only inspiring in their dress but each set includes a short biography and a time line so that they become a tool for learning about the women they represent.
This is a wonderful way for homeschooled ladies to share what they have learned with others. Purchasing their product is a wonderful way for those of us who homeschool to inspire our own daughters to embrace grace and modesty in a modern world.
“It’s very easy to get excited about the prospects of selecting a curriculum. The difficult part comes when we look at the vast amount of choices available to homeschoolers today.”