When I read the Squidoo lens, Interesting Facts About George Washington, I thought of the moms I know who are considering homeschooling their little ones, are beginning to think about curricula, and “how” they plan to homeschool their children. The lens reminded me of the methods I’ve used to homeschool my girls. I’ve taught […]
inspirational
Gimme a Break! Don’t Give me a Break
Gimme a Break! Don’t give me a break. How do you learn to be good at something? Is it by being given advantages based on your present inability to execute the task at the same level as more experienced people? I’m constantly perplexed by people’s immediate desire to give unfair advantages to those […]
“Pinch Me” Moments
On Facebook my cousin posted the question, when was your “pinch me” moment. Immediately upon reading it, I typed in “living in Montana” and hit enter. _________________________ There have been numerous “pinch me” moments in my life, and as such, I feel grateful to have had them. Marriage at 17 with 3 children by the […]
Fate or Expectation?
As my daughter looked through childhood memorabilia for a Mardi Gras tiara, she came across a 2004 Colorado newspaper with an article about a 4-H team of shooters who were attending a National Junior Olympic air rifle championship. She brought the article to me saying that little did we know, when we saved the paper, […]
100 Years of Grandeur
I first witnessed her magnificence in the middle of winter. Her majesty was draped in deep pure snow. Silence enveloped me in the crisp cold air. It was my first experience with her grandeur and my visit was limited to exploration around the lake. My journey of discovery was only just beginning. It would be […]
She’s Having a Baby
Thirty-six years ago, two days before my eighteenth birthday, I gave birth to my firstborn son. He’s pushing forty but as the saying goes he’s still my little boy. Ten months earlier David and I had married. The length of time is pertinent to the story as I’ve been asked if I had to get […]
Happy Valentine’s Day
When I was sixteen I received a box of a dozen long stem roses. It was Valentine’s Day and I was sitting in class when a voice came over the intercom telling the teacher that I should pack up my belongings and go to the office to check out. My mom had called and I […]
You Get What You Expect
Expectation – the state of expecting; anticipation. Anticipation – confident expectation Have you ever noticed that you get what you expect? I have and I bet you have too. If one imagines with enough energy behind it, expectations eventually manifest. When it comes to getting what we expect, we tend to put things in categories […]
Different, Yet Similar
I was three-quarters of the way through reading Ellen Goodman’s column when it was time to walk David to the door. I stood in the open doorway in the chilly Montana morning pinching dead heads from my trailing petunias and listening to the whistle of an owl (You’re thinking owls hoot, they don’t whistle. But […]
Benefits of Play
While coloring at a 4-H meeting, I realized how relaxed I felt. My daughters and I were helping out with the group’s Northwest Montana Fair float project, and I was outlining circles with various colors to simulate a crowd at a rodeo. Lately, I’ve been feeling rushed as everything seems to be screaming “Get this […]