It was a Feast of Goodness.

I decided to title this A Quiet Growing Time so that we can talk about each in its turn and break down some of the ways I have (and am still using) the first 6 years of my 2 boys lives (ages 4 and 6) to prepare us—for formal schooling yes, but even more so for a full and beautiful life even outside of school.

For the last few years, she has created a list of things to do to bring Joy to the darkest of days (literally dark here in Michigan!). I am sharing them here as a chance for you to craft your own Joy Challenge. Some years it is a list in my planner, others it is a daily planned entry item in my To Do list and once it was a grab jar- each item written on scrap paper, placed in a jar, for a random daily choice…

As an infant, my daughter was determined to investigate the dog food dish. She continued to crawl toward it despite being redirected, repositioned, and told “no”. My husband was going to let her get into it because she was so determined and I adamantly said, “NO! She must learn to respect our no because we know what is best and what is not.”

What is a “living book”? This might be a common question asked for a conference that is founded upon what living books have to offer us! Michelle Howard, one of our keynote speakers, author of the multiple award winning Truth Quest History guides, living books librarian, pioneer and cornerstone of the living books movement in America says it best in this article! If you want to get fired up and inspired then read on…

Come with me to Ambleside. A visit to the House of Education, St Mary’s Cemetery and a hike along the River Rothay.

I was reminded how important is this choice to home educate. To be counter cultural and to raise kids who think and act outside of that box. RESOURCES had been gained and I was well on my way to planning and preparing for the next year.