We all need encouragement.
It is important to feed our own souls, and then to pour into others through encouraging actions and words.
Homeschooling is HARD work, and we need support. Today’s post is designed to give you a little shot in the arm of that encouragement and beauty that we all need. In fact, I believe it’s the most important investment we can make as homeschooling parents - investing in our own education and mental and spiritual health.
My husband and I took some this week to be very intentional about mental health - and adding some joy to our lives.
These past few months have been difficult. In addition to the quarantine and all that comes with it, I’ve also been trying to help my dad, who lives in an Assisted Living and has been in and out of the hospital twice since Covid hit. He’s doing much better now, but I feel very helpless being 8 hours away from him - and even if I lived around the corner I wouldn’t even be able to get in and visit him.
The music appreciation membership at SQUILT Music has grown exponentially in the past few months, too. What a blessing this is - but I’ve had to adjust my time and offload some household duties to other people around here (which probably needed to happen anyway!).
Back to the intentionality and joy - we got together with some dear homeschool friends and enjoyed an evening of fellowship, laughter, wisdom, and just good friendship. It was balm for our souls.
My husband and I always get our picture taken on our front porch - it’s fun to see the same backdrop - with the couple getting a little older (and hopefully wiser) each year. We’ll be celebrating our 23rd anniversary very soon - we never ever imagined we would homeschool our children, but we both agree it was the best parenting decision we ever made.
So take heart: the work unfinished at end of day, the lists unchecked, the dreams unrealized, may be the measure of your love.
The Gift of People’s Presence
Such a beautiful post written by Ashlee Eiland - talking about the simple gift of our presence. Homeschooling is the perfect way to simply be PRESENT for our children, isn’t it?
“Summer Moods”
This is a lovely podcast with poetry read aloud - from the Circe Institute. Listening to beautiful things encourages me. Even if you don’t share this with your children, take a few minutes to sit outside and just listen to this poem. Beautiful.
5 Ways to Encourage a Fellow Homeschool Mom
I wrote this post a year ago - and I anticipate that in the next year there will be so many homeschooling parents that need our support! I hope this post gives you simple ways to do just that.
Walk With the Wise: Choose Well Who Influences Your Decisions
Sally Clarkson is a wise source of information. This post will bless you.
And - in case you’re wondering - the favorite book I’ve read in the past couple of weeks is Love Lettering. It’s sweet, endearing, and unputdownable (yes, that’s really a word!). If you want to keep up with my reads, follow me on Instagram @Homegrown Book Picks.
