Life in General!

    Hello!  I am so excited to be writing to you, again!  It is almost mid-July and getting closer to the beginning of another year.  These are some things that I do to get myself ready for another year.  This year, 2023, is the beginning of my 23rd year of teaching (7 in a school and 16 homeschooling).  Here are some things to keep in mind and do before the first day. 1)  Declutter!! I know that this is easier said than done.  Believe me!!  I love ALL my things.  That being said, the stuff that accumulates can rob us of so much.  It robs you of your peace, joy, and time.  So, begin in a small area and work on a section at a time.  Marie Kondo, a popular organizer and inspiration to me, has been an encourager to me with a statement that I heard.  "Does this spark joy?"  Read more on this site -- https://konmari.com/marie-kondo-rules-of-tidying-sparks-joy/.  I know that you may be thinking that I am a fruit loop for even saying this, and you are right!  Hahaha!!  Seriously, I

Well, the answer to that is not easy.  It depends.  I think that when you have toddlers and older kiddos, you need to have a time that is a quiet time and use that for your harder subjects that your older kids need you to help them with.  That isn't an easy fix, is it? But I see you, dear mom or dad, with your toddler that is running the school hahaha!  They are probably right now standing in a chair with disheveled hair, maybe has some clothes on, one sock, and is definitely clutching something in their chubby, little hand. How do we do this?  How do we teach our older kids when we have these monsters, I mean, precious angels?  The answer is we just do it!  You and I both know that they toddler years, while difficult, are fleeting.  These babies are only little for a short time.  Here are some things that I did and some of my friends did that helped me when I was needing to teach my older kiddos. 1.  Pray and devotion time -- Before you start your day, pray with your children and