This is just a photo dump of some of my more recent Bible Art Journaling. Enjoy.
Retired Homeschool Mom
Retired Homeschool Mom (formerly Learning Together) ~ thoughts on home, family, friendship, creating, homeschooling, marriage, faith and life in general now that my nest is empty but my days are still full!
Saturday, July 8, 2023
It's Me. Hi. I'm the Problem, it's me.
Hey there. Nobody reads this anymore because I haven't posted anything in YEARS. But hey, maybe I could give it another go.
I actually started a new blog on WordPress about 2 years ago, but it has been hard to keep up with it! It takes way more effort to post there, it seems. I need to have good photos and pinnable content. I'm not throwing in the towel yet, but maybe writing here will give me a push to start writing there again. Who knows? You can see it here - www.retiredhomeschoolmom.com
I'm not a pro blogger. I just like someplace to write my thoughts, document occasions, share my experience and wisdom. That kind of thing. I'm a retired homeschool mom who still tries to keep a toe in the homeschool world, to be a mentor and resource. But I also have become very involved in a "senior" women's group at my church; I have spent a year having and recovering from 2 knee replacement surgeries; I am still dabbling in artistic things from time to time; I spend as much time as I can with my grown children and my two little grandsons; I have to spend considerable energy these days on staying healthy; I plan to jump back into volunteer work with refugee preschoolers this fall, after missing the past year because of knees; I am loving my water fitness class at the Y; I daydream about remodeling my house.
There is a pot of bolognese sauce simmering on the stove and a pot of boiling water waiting for the lasagna noodles. The birds are busy at the feeders, and the squirrels are busy grabbing up the seeds that fall to the ground underneath. Thunder is rolling in the distance. Mark is finishing up with painting our bedroom, and we'll be putting a new rug down and moving the furniture back in tomorrow.
God is good, all the time.
I hope you are doing well today.
Friday, October 1, 2021
Fall is My Favorite Time of Year
Ah,Fall.
Here in the South, it sometimes feels like the summer heat and humidity will never break and we are destined to sweat forever, but then suddenly... the humidity drops. The temperature stays in the 70's for a few days. The air starts to feel..... crisp! And glorious autumn makes an appearance. Sometimes for just a few days at a time, as though testing the waters, skittering back and forth from hot to warm to cool.
But eventually, the coolness settles as the days shorten, leaves start to turn yellow and bronze, and pumpkins stand sentinel at doorsteps.
Monday, November 23, 2020
Retired Homeschool Mom
I have a new blog!
Actually, I've had it for several months now. It is over on WordPress and is called "Retired Homeschool Mom". It is the "next step", now that my children are grown and I'm no longer homeschooling. I still mentor and love to encourage homeschool moms, so I will continue to post about homeschooling things. But this season also includes things like grown up children, grandbabies, volunteer work, stretching my creative muscles and setting up a studio, finally fixing up the house, new pets and maybe even some chickens, continuing to grow as a Christian, staying healthy, married life as an older couple without kids in the house!
I'm still learning WordPress and trying to figure out what my blogging life will look like. But if you want to come visit now and again, I'd love to have you.
Monday, January 20, 2020
New Season, Time for a New Blog???
Well, I am in a blog mindset because I am seriously considering starting a NEW blog and am doing all kinds of reading, research and brainstorming.
It would be a blog for this NEW season of life I am in. So a blog for "seasoned" women like me, with posts about empty nesting, grandparenting, books, creative things, faith, marriage in the older years, health, food, friendship, home, family celebrations, travel, and yes, homeschooling because I am still actively involved in the homeschool community as a mentor and teacher and leader and it is still near and dear to my heart. Plus I have a grandson now, so there is still skin in this game!
When I have things in place and it up and rolling, I'll post the link here!
Still working on a name. 🤔
Figuring it out - for the millionth time
"You'd think that I'd have this down to a science by now.
You'd think that by the fifth child, I'd have this figured out.
You'd think that after 20 years of homeschooling, I could do this with my eyes closed.
You'd think."
Just so you know, he is 21 now, a college junior who is rocking it at NC State, and no, I never in my 23 years of homeschooling felt like I had it "figured out". I always kept moving forward, adjusting things, making changes, trusting my instincts, and staying on my knees.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
New Season of Grammiehood
Now I know firsthand that it is all true. Every word of it.
It was very emotional to see my baby holding his baby, and then to have that tiny little human in my arms. I didn't know that the strength of this Grammie love would be as strong as the love I felt for my own children. I am completely smitten!
The aunties and uncles, as well as the furry family members, are also quite excited about the newest addition to the family. Welcome to this crazy clan, Little Bear!
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Trusting God
- God is FAITHFUL. I can read Scripture and see how God has been faithful to lead, protect and provide for His people over and over and over. I can look at my own life, and see how God has been faithful to lead and protect and provide. Little things and big things. * Having a son who wanted to play high school baseball before homeschool teams existed and a year long inquiry into whether he could play on a school team as a homeschooler which resulted in an answer of "no, that isn't possible". Telling him that his dad and I had prayed and still felt that homeschooling was the right choice for our family, and his acceptance of that. Followed within a week by a phone call from a friend who was starting a homeschool baseball team (Wake Co. Warriors). God cares about our desires. * Or a sweet Christian retired teacher who was teaching a homeschool writing class (again, before this was a THING and was the only class in the whole wide area, but the class was full when I heard about it through a friend and inquired - but a week later she called to tell me she was adding one more student to her class because she had a DREAM where God told her to add my child. okay, you've GOT my attention, Lord. Yes, you provide! Not in every single instance when I've prayed for something - but in those cases you've also been teaching me. Sometimes I THINK I need something, but you want to show me you'll still provide for my family even WITHOUT that thing that I really thought was necessary!!! Lamentations 3:22-23 – “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness.” 2 Timothy 2:13 – “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 – “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
- God is LOVING John 3:15 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in His should not perish but have eternal life. " God sent His own Son to pay the penalty and take the punishment for MY SIN, in MY PLACE, so that I could be reunited with Him. That's how much He loves me. The whole Bible is God's love letter to me.
- God is ALL-KNOWING and WISE I wish I could see the future. I wish I could know without a doubt that my actions and choices and decisions today will produce good in the end, and not lead to disaster! I do not KNOW ENOUGH to believe that my decisions are fault-less. But God knows everything, sees everything, Psalm 139:1-4 "You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with ALL my ways. Before a word is on my tongue - LORD, you know it completely!" Psalm 147:4-5 " He determines the number of stars and calls them by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has NO LIMIT." Romans 11:33 "Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable are his ways!"
- God is ALL-POWERFUL. He is sovereign and rules with authority over all things - including my family, my finances, my time, my decisions. Everything that comes into our lives must pass by Him first. He is the Creator, Author, Master, Redeemer, Refuge, Ransom, Anchor, King. Revelation 4:11 "Worthy are you, Our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and POWER, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus looked at them and said, ' With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' What a relief that this all-powerful God is also faithful, loving & wise!