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A Glimpse Into This Mother’s (Typical) Day.

May 9, 2012 By Laura 6 Comments

It’s morning, and the coffee maker gurgles it’s last drips of piping hot fresh coffee into the pot. My boys race to the kitchen to be the one who gets to prepare my first cup of the day. It’s delivered to my hands, wherever I am, followed up with the first smile, kiss and hug of the day.  As my girls sleepily descend down the stairs, they are collided by one brother or other, greeted with a hug of their own, the moment their foot hits the bottom of the staircase.  I watch, as I sip my coffee, still waking up, happy to see they are happy to see each other, every morning.  They pour cereal and milk in the kitchen, and chat too much all through breakfast, reliving many amusements that still make them all laugh again, for the millionth time.


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     Everyone is washed and ready for the day. Our school day begins with prayer and Scripture discussion. In closing, the littles say the Lord’s Prayer, with hands held to form a circle of themselves, and following the great Amen, their 6 hands all collide in the middle and then reach up to the Heavens, in some triplet ritual of praise to God, that only they can fully understand.

    We open our books and begin verbal reviews, and all of the lessons to be done. To teach them, fills my heart with such joy. Being able to watch them all understand and put their new knowledge to use, feels like a new gift to me, every day. They teach me so much in a day, too. Soon, the room is filled with nothing but the beautiful sound of many pencils at work, and thinking.   My youngest daughter leans my direction repeatedly, peeking into my coffee cup, waiting to see the bottom, so she can get me a refill.  The same sweet girl, who loves to help, and leaves me floral arrangements  in shot glasses, all over the house.  I smile inside, and remember I should probably eat breakfast, too.



Hours later, and it’s time for a late lunch.  Another highlight of their day.  Good gosh, do they love to eat. I overhear a discussion of their hopes and wonders, that there will still be food, and the need to eat, in Heaven. I giggle, and offer the notion that feasting is a form of great celebration, so I imagine there is much of that in Heaven.  They all express various forms of great relief, and it amuses me again.  I secretly hope there is wine at these feast celebrations, too.

    Appointments, activities, workshops, practices or games… the day often holds something to get done or somewhere to be.  If we separate, I’m always given proper good-byes;  a kiss on the cheek with a beaming smile of excitement, an ‘I love you’ and a verbal promises to ‘see you later.’ Even my oldest never hesitates, despite all of the eyes and ears of her high school friends around. I am thankful that hasn’t changed, and I pray it never will.

   The day wears on, and I get little done of my own, that I had intended. But the kids spend their energy well. Races are run, seeds are planted, and bugs are observed in containers, all too often forgotten, only to bake in the sun. Trees are climbed high enough to make my heart pound. I want to tell them to come down, before they fall and get injured. But I don’t. Instead, I say a silent prayer, and go take their photo, zooming in and shooting up from the ground.

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Little arms with grubby hands, randomly find me, wrapping tightly around my middle, and gifting me with surprise hugs that remind me of how good love feels, and the recurring wish that they could stay little forever.

     Artwork, crafts and love notes, written and created just for me, are everywhere; hanging by clothes pins, pinned to bulletin boards, overflowing out of folders and boxes.  The artistic gene and love of art, from both sides, passed on from generations before, lives on in them.

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05_     I attempt to work on my laptop on the couch, throwing my feet up, while little fingers pound keys, and piano music fills the house, bouncing off the walls. It’s lovely, and distracting. It’s such a treat when any one of my kiddos prop my feet on their lap and read a book, while giving me a foot rub.  They know how much I love those.  Life is good.


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    Their bellies are filled once again, and the littles wash and change for bed. It’s quiet time before sleep, and they read more books, taking turns to suddenly interrupt the silence, to share bits of what they are so amused by, from the pages of their books. It’s time to climb into their beds.  But not before another round of hugs, kisses, and I love you’s – for me, their Daddy, and for each other.

   I indulge in my nightly routine. A hot shower, pajamas, and my own winding down before sleep. My big girl and I often find ourselves hanging out on my bed. She with her books and notebooks, and I with my laptop, but neither of us getting much done.  We’re too busy, having the best kinds of talks a mother and her teenage girl can have, or laughing so hard that we can’t catch a breath, as tears stream down our cheeks.  She has such a lively and beautiful laugh. Michael appears in the doorway, wanting to know what he is missing out on. I let her stay up too late, until her chin quivers; a tell-tale sign she is way over tired. I tell her it’s really time for bed, and I see her think about protesting, but decides she is too tired to. She kisses me, and recites her 3 lines she has said to both Michael and I every night for so many years, it has become  single run-on sentence: “Love you goodnight see you in the morning. ”  I repeat it back to her, as she lumbers off and up the stairs.

   This is such a beautiful, typical day for me as a mother. My children’s behavior and choices, are not always wonderful. But then, neither are mine. In between all of the expressions of love, thoughtfulness, busy-ness, and fits of laughter that each day can hold, are also disagreements and disgruntled moments that forget respect, responsibility, or efforts to strive to be like Jesus.  Just as there are moments in every day, that I fail to the very best mother I can be, for them.  But it’s the love between a mother and her children, that outshines the rest.  Taking a moment to count our blessings, and thanking the good Lord for every one, reminds us of what a great thing we’ve got going, and we forget the rest.  We have love, and we have joy, and there are no greater gifts, than family.  

    At the end of each day, I am exhausted. But I know after a little sleep, I’ll be ready to do it all over again the next day. I ponder all that needs to be done, and all that we’ll repeat, when the sun rises at dawn the next morning, once again, and I feel the little leap of happiness in my heart. I look forward to it. But first, I must sleep.  I do for hours, until I wake somewhere in the few hours past midnight, for no reason at all. It is never so quiet, as it is when I am the only one awake. I revel in the moments (sometimes hours) of sheer silence, while I can. I take the opportunity to brainstorm, to plan, to dream, to relive memories, to ponder all of my blessings, and to pray.  Sometimes, I waste it worrying. I re-evaluate once again, if I am honoring this blessed role God gave me well enough, as the mother of these children; where and how I might do better.  I always want to.  They deserve the best I can give. And I promised God I would. Every day that I am given to try again, is a gift.


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    Mother’s Day is this weekend. It’s a wonderful and thoughtful day, honoring mothers of various means and generations, everywhere. My husband and kids always give me an extra special day, usually agreeing to antique shop hop with me, all day long.  No matter what the day holds, it doesn’t really matter…… 

Because I know:  Head to toe, and inside out, morning until night, 24/7 and 365 days a year, I AM BLESSED that these 4 beautiful children call me Mama.  One day, one lifetime, will never be enough, to celebrate the immeasurable gratitude I feel, for that.


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Filed Under: Holidays, Life In General, Parenting, The Big Picture Tagged With: Catholic-blogs, Catholic-families, day-in-the-life, homeschooling, mothering, Parenting

On Faith, Gardening, and Digging Deep.

May 2, 2012 By Laura 9 Comments

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      Our family really loves Sundays.  It’s just a feel-good-family day, all the way around.

     This past Sunday after Mass, we all came home, and changed into our old clothes, so that we could get working in our garden beds.  Oh, the butterflies I get this time of year! It’s almost time for planting, so we needed to get all of the winter rye that we had growing in the beds, chopped down, and turned into the soil. There is much to do, to create soil rich enough to produce well for us.

cultivating-faith-gardening      Whenever I’m working in the gardens, especially in the planting season, my thoughts most always turn to my faith in God. In my mind, there are many parallels, between the process of gardening, and one’s day to day faith.


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The Dirt on Gardening

     With gardening, we put so much into all we hope for.  We cultivate the soil, nourish it, and plant our tiny seeds or little starters, where they will receive the proper amount of light.  We water them daily, if nature does not send us sufficient rain. We wait and keep watch daily, with great anticipation.  Our eyes seek for a sprout. Some sign of growth. For the fruits of our labor, to reveal itself.  Although we may enjoy all we put into our gardens along the way, the reward is the great surplus each plant provides for us, whether it be beauty or food, from the little seed we began with.

Cultivating Our Hearts

     Isn’t that much like how our faith begins? At some point in our lives, a seed of faith in God, was planted within many of us. Whether we were aware of that exact moment happening, or not. For many of us, that may have been as babies, and nourished throughout our upbringing, from our parents. For others, it may have come much later in life. Perhaps it began with circumstances in life, or one’s own seeking for something they felt was missing. But for all of us, our spirituality can only grow and bloom, when we have given our time to cultivate that most important relationship in our lives.  When we have turned to Him, in times of thanksgiving and praise, and in times of need and despair, as well. When we have spent time daily, in communion with our Savior, Jesus Christ – in thought, in prayer, in praise, in a way that keeps our heart open to Him.

 

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To Know God, is to Better Revel in Life

Our faith in God, and our relationship with Christ, we believe is what enables us to experience a more elevated state of joy in our days here on earth. Our eyes are open to the abundant blessings that rains down on us, and all around us. We know that all good things come to us, by the grace of His loving hand.  Our hearts rejoice, for the love He shows us.  Likewise, we have learned, we are wise to give thanksgiving, even for the most difficult trials and tribulations in our lives.  Even they have great purpose, and bring forth blessings of their own. It is easy to question God, isn’t it? We want to know why, for each one of our sufferings. But we know deep down inside, God’s love for us is pure, and beyond measure. He is there to comfort us, He does only want what is best for us, and only He knows the big picture of ours lives.

    God is good. God is always good!

 

Even on the Darkest of Days

     Oh, we know friends, the devastation life can bring.  Unexpected tragedies, life-threatening or terminal illnesses, lost lives of people we love, unemployment and financial hardships, betrayals and broken hearts….the list is endless.  We know….it is touching the lives of people we know and love, all around us, too. Our family too, is not untouched by the hardships and disappointments of our own, that can roll in like the tide, leaving a mess on our seashore of life, that was so clean and beautiful yesterday.  The memory of what was, leaves us longing, and we wonder if we appreciated it enough, while we had it. We wonder when the tide will ever come in again, to sweep the mess away.  

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Inclement Elements

           Despite the time and attention we have invested in our gardens, or our daily spirituality, there is always the threat of damaging elements, that can come along on any given day, to deal with for a time. In both the daily lives we live, as well as the weather, there are storms.  They must be faced with courage. We must persevere.  We must stand on the greatest asset we have, which is our faith, in the most difficult of times, and believe that God will help bring us through our trials, to the other side of the storm.

     His love for us is filled with many promises, that are grace….

Sticky Note This

    It is easy to forget, for we get wrapped up in this physical life. But we would be wise to remember, and take comfort in knowing, that ultimately, we are not meant for this world.  The greatest gifts of all, a life free of any and suffering, are promised to us eternally, beyond our earthly days.

     It is the mustard seed of faith, from within our hearts, that we know as truth, that always offers the light of hope.

     “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” – John 1:5

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Pass It On, to the Littles

    By our side, our children learn about the complexities of life.  From the day they are born, they experience all of the happiness, wonders, and beautiful gifts of life, as well as the realization that the world is not a perfect place, and that bad and sad things can happen, even to good people. And the value of our faith, through it all!   

     Parenting is our beautiful opportunity, to build up in them character to live a life pleasing to God! Thankfully, as homeschoolers, we have that ability to navigate when and how our children awake to the challenges of life, and realities of this world. I can tell you that there are many raw, honest, and deep discussions that take place, with our children. It’s a beautiful time of connection, between us all. But as a parent, to see the revelations unfold within them, is such a heart-wrenching honor.  We cannot shield them from all of the hurts and truths that life can bring. Doesn’t a piece of every parent’s heart, want to? But no, it would be a great dis-service to them, to keep them ignorant to the harsh realities of life, for long. 

     What we can do, is arm them well, with the tools of our never-failing faith, and a strong faith in our God, who never leaves us.

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Expect a Mixed Forecast
, But Take Heart

         Life can bring the greatest moments of laughter and happiness.  We cannot count the ways in which we have been blessed!  Our days can be filled with such sunshine, contentment and peace. But when the dark storms of life circumstances descend upon us, our faith can feel diminished, to the size of a mustard seed. It can be very difficult to find solace in our faith, so small and buried.

     But those are the times we need our faith, more than ever!  If we have allowed ourselves to be filled with bitterness and anger, it can be difficult to bring ourselves to reach. To be humble enough, to express such a need, in the face of feeling abandoned. We must find the seed though, that we alone have neglected, shriveling again in the questioning of God’s love for us. Maybe we turn away from God in anger, confused, but He never leaves us alone. We must get back to the seed of our faith, and begin again. Because it holds all of the promises, and all of the strength we need to carry us through.  So that peace and contentment can be ours again. In time, if we turn our face upwards to Him again, and open our hearts, we will see He was always at work within us, through the storm.  God heals hearts.  Let Him!

“You will grieve, but your grief will turn into joy.” John 16:20

 

Light Into Darkness, and Back Again

     Maybe that is part of His plan all along…..to bring us to the point where we realize, we actually need Him. To make us seek His grace.  He wants us to know the comfort of His love.  He wants to help us see His face…..the Light, in the darkness.  To truly know Him and need Him, so that we always walk beside Him, and realize that He only wants to lead us to something greater.  Don’t we always appreciate the light shining on all that is beautiful, the most after we have experienced such darkness? 

   Are you experiencing darkness, in this period of your life?  Are you resistant, or wrestling, to sense the great faith you had on better days?

   Your hope and solace, is in the mustard seed, friend.  Sometimes, when we have neglected all we have built up in faith, we must begin again. In doing so, God promises our gardens can not only flourish again, but bring forth more fruit than we ever dreamed for ourselves.  His love for us, is that great. That is what He wants for us, and what we truly want, for ourselves.


So we must. dig. deeper.



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Filed Under: Faith, Faith/ Catholic, Gardening, Into the Light; The Series, Life In General, The Big Picture, The Homestead Tagged With: Catholic-blogs, Catholic-families, encouragement, Faith, faith-encouragement-in-hard-times, faith-in-troubled-times, gardening-like-faith, grieving, life-is-hard, mustard-seed-of-faith

Our Road to Homeschooling – Our Story

February 22, 2012 By Laura 18 Comments

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We all have our story, I suppose.  Our own road, that led us to where we are, homeschooling.  I know we have ours.  And I would think nobody would really care to hear it, except for the fact that, people ask! -ALL OF THE TIME!  But I warn you….it’s really a story. Like, of the novel kind. In the way of lengthy. So, if you are interested to read about it, you may want to go all out, and make a hot beverage to go with it, or something. I’m not sure it’s all that entertaining, but it’s our story, nonetheless.

 

My First Thoughts of Homeschooling Our Children

I think the seed was planted in my heart real early on, to be a homeschooling Mama. As a child, myself.  I never really liked my own reality of being in school, at all. But I did love playing school, with my siblings and friends. I have many memories of pretending. One of us would be the teacher, and the rest of us would be the students.  I vividly remember some summer days, of sitting on a couple of front porch steps made of boards, with our bare legs and feet dangling underneath the porch, and using the one step higher as our desk. (Something I would never do today, knowing the spiders and other creepy crawlies that would be under there. Lol.). So yeah, playing school was a favorite activity of mine to play, even though I wasn’t a fan of real school.

 

Miss Beadle Made Me Do It

I’m pretty sure I also got some inspiration from Miss Beadle, from Little House on the Prairie! I most loved any scenes in the school house. To this day, I have such a love for old schoolhouses. Granted, Miss Beadle’s class was not truly homeschooling. But still, I fell in love with the simplicity of the one-room schoolhouse, with the bell, the old desks and chalkboard slates, the burning stove for heat, and the notion that kids of different ages, even siblings, could not only learn together in the same place, but could actually benefit in many ways, from that. It differed a lot, from my own experience of going to school. I also really felt some kind of connection with the style of raising children in those days on the Prairie, and how it seemed to build strong character in them, as was seen in the roles as they grew up over the years. Of course, it was just a show. But as I got older, I learned that it was a true representation of that era, and to this day, I am drawn to that way of life.

So those impressions probably took real root in my heart, even as young as I was.  But, I think the first real, formed thought I had on the matter, was in the moments that I held my first newborn baby, Alexis Grace, in my arms.  I had had an all natural, drug-free birth with a midwife, and I was so exhausted after laboring all through the night. But I vividly recall being in my hospital bed sometime later that day, holding my new baby girl in my arms, all wrapped in a blanket, and looking into her sweet little face with her little pink cotton hat, thinking: “I cannot even imagine ever sending you off to school every day.” I knew, she would grow up in the blink of an eye, and I already did not want to miss any of it. I think that was the day I figured I would never send her to school.

 

But Then I Did, for a Blink. 

When she became kindergarten age, there was no doubt by then that I simply wanted to homeschool her. No part of me wanted to send her to school for a 1/2 day, 5 days a week.  But in the same time frame, I found myself pregnant. (Hooray!!)  And I found myself thinking about the 1-on-1 time I had had with Alexis, in her first year, and I didn’t want to not be able to give that same valuable bonding time, to our new baby. Honestly, I find it kind of silly looking back now, but it’s what I was concerned with at the time, as much as I was conflicted because I didn’t want to miss having Alexis home, at the same time. In addition to that, I wasn’t sure I could school Alexis effectively, and care for a newborn with the same attention. (? – I know now, I could have, with one baby.) So, being on the fence with my decision, I did take her to be tested and registered her for kindergarten. Just in case, we decided to send her.


Well, the baby on the way, turned out to be three babies on the way!
 

That ‘kindergarten year’, turned out to be non-stop caring for, feeding, bathing, changing, rocking, soothing our 3 newborns!  That is, once we got them all home! They were born several weeks early, after my own 6 months of strict and complete bedrest, while I was pregnant with them. (Early complications that threatened them.)  But what I found in those bedridden months, while spending such time with Alexis on my bed, was that home schooling was for us, as much as I ever thought it was! Among our pillows and blankets on my bed, Alexis really learned to read, and write, and teaching her such things as critical thinking, was something I found I really loved to do. Watching her get it, and be excited, and grow in her knowledge, was just downright fun to me. And she seemed to be loving it, too.

It was also the time that I spent very pregnant on bed rest that I spent a lot of time praying, and bargaining with God, or so I thought.  It was a personal promise to Him, in that time, that later cemented my commitment to home school our kids as soon as possible. Of course, I would soon have my hands more than full, and be way short on sleep. So off to kindergarten Alexis went, exactly five days after her triplet siblings were born. I was seriously hurting, physically, but I was determined to be the one, that brought her to school, for her first day. Of course, another mother (just trying to be friendly and chatty), had to mention how I looked like I was ‘ready any day’, and asked me when I was due. Thanks, Lady! She was every shade of apologetic and astonished, when I had to tell her I already gave birth 5 days prior, to triplets. Honestly though, I couldn’t really blame her. That belly took it’s sweet time going down.

 

That First Year

I wasn’t too bothered by Alexis going to school that year, for half days. For one, her school was literally within walking distance. But also because my own kindergarten year, were rather magical memories.  At that time in our lives, it gave Alexis a change of pace that was good for her, and Lord knows I would not have had much time to really teach her well. But over the following weeks, the babies grew and progressed and came home one by one, all in God’s time, and we were all finally home as a family, a week before Christmas. THAT, was the best Christmas, ever!!  Honestly, after all we had been through, I think that was when we learned to truly trust in God, and had learned to appreciate the little things. Journeys like that forever change people.  It sure did us.

homeschooling-3 (2002-Home All Together for Our First Christmas – Our Christmas Card)

So, in reading this, you’d probably think the next year, I began home schooling Alexis. Right? But no…..it took me a couple of years, to get my groove, caring for 3 babies. With the reality of official homeschooling being new territory for me, I wanted to do it right. Whatever right is, right? So, Alexis continued to go to school, through 1st and 2nd Grade! All the while we knew she would be home schooled as soon as I could.  I have to say though, that there were regular instances in her formal school years, where I knew formal schooling would not be for us. So at the end of 2nd Grade, I pulled her out of school for good.

 

And Our Homeschooling Journey as a Family Began

homeschooling-7 (2005 – Alexis in 3rd Grade / Triplets 3 years old) – Catching and studying Periwinkles!

Of course, I would have the other 3 to school as well, soon enough. The triplets have never been to school, and that was the plan from the beginning of their lives.  Honestly, I believe children begin being schooled by their parents, at birth! So it’s really a natural progression, to just keep going. But the ‘first day of school’ that Alexis technically began schooling at home for 3rd Grade, in 2005, the triplets were only 3 years old. It was an easy and relaxed first year.  Alexis did her written work and math easily, and we did a lot of out door excursions all together, learning about nature, and finding our homeschooling groove. Which came quite naturally.

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2005- Alexis with her bull frog, “Goliath”.

I began kind of formally schooling the trio the following year in 2006, although they had only just turned 4 and were too young for kindergarten, only because they kept asking to “have school work like Alexis does“.  So, I began table work with them that year. Meanwhile, they were picking a lot up and learning  right along with Alexis….

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2006-Science / Nature Trail Walk / Learning about mushrooms we found.

The following year in 2007, I was officially homeschooling all 4 of the kids:

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2007 – School Photo.  Alexis: 5th Grade /  JackMichael, Olivia & Shane: Kindergarten

Because they learned so much the year before, Kindergarten was kind of a joke to them.  I heard a lot of, “I already know how to do this, but it’s still fun!”. It was just a warm up year anyway, to start working at the table in a disciplined way, for an extended period of time.  But making learning pretty fun and exciting, in those early years, I came to believe was crucial. I found it really sets the pace for their attitude, about learning.  That theory of mine, could also be a whole other post, sometime.  But let’s keep this post on track.

Suffice it to say, after so many years of homeschooling now, all 4 of our kids still have a great attitude about school time, and love learning so much, that it is often self-propelled.   Now that they are older, it is not always FUN, per say. But they all still seem to have a great appreciation for the process of learning. Mind you, while we do throw some fun in our school year here and there in various ways, most often they do put several hours into several subjects a day. I’m not an easy teacher. It’s all getting done, and done well. Because I feel they need to know how to work hard as well, and to understand, that often times in life, there are tasks to be done, responsibilities to tend to, or lessons to be learned, that fun or less than enjoyable or not, still need to be accomplished. That’s life.  But to start out with a good experience with learning while they are young, and create that curiosity and thirst for knowledge in them, followed by more disciplined work ethic and a good outlook, really seems to have set a nice pace for our kids.  We think, hope, and pray, that it has become a part of them, for all they set out to do, or find themselves faced with, all throughout their lives.

homeschooling-6 So, that is our story, of how we came to be a homeschooling family. All of the reasons WHY we homeschool, could be another post all it’s own.  All I can tell you now, is that there isn’t a day we have regretted it. If ever we found ourselves back in time, with the choice once again of which road of education-style to choose, we would take this one less traveled by once again. We really do feel, for our family, it is making all of the difference.

 

homeschooling-2 (2015)

*2017 UPDATE:
Our oldest daughter is away in her second year of college. She is double-majoring in Communication and Theology.

NOTE: If you homeschool your children as well, share with us a bit about how you came to making the choice. If you have told your story and have a link, leave it for us below! If you are not homeschooling yet, but are considering it, why do you feel you are drawn to it?
Got a homeschooling topic or question you’d like to hear from us about? Let us know that too!
We’d love to hear from you, and connect with you all!



Filed Under: Faith, Faith/ Catholic, Homeschooling, Life In General, Parenting, The Big Picture Tagged With: Catholic-blogs, Catholic-families, decision-to-homeschool, home-schooling-families, homeschooling, homeschooling-families, triplets, why-we-homeschool

Into the Light | A Personal Reflection

February 5, 2012 By Laura 10 Comments

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When we need to clear our mind, and break the unhealthy circle of thoughts we are entertaining, we often find that going outdoors is almost like magic. Have you ever noticed that? The fresh air, the warmth of the sun, the sight of a bird soaring overhead, or the sounds of children laughing and playing nearby; all of the life around us, tend to give us a new sense of life inside of ourselves.  We may feel rejuvenated, more positive, hopeful, and stronger.  For awhile, anyway.

There are many tools in life, that are like power tools, for me.  Although they do not have electrical cords, or build physical objects, they build a sense of joy for me. For awhile. Power tools, such as listening and singing along to awesome music, reading well written books, having a loaded paintbrush in hand, sinking into great fits of laughter with my children, accepting a long hug from my husband, and being truly present at church on a Sunday morning. These power tools, they have the ability to change my mood from blue to happy.  My tone from sharp, to loving.  My expectations from discouraged, to hopeful.  Power tools. We all need a tool box to keep them in, and remember to open it and retrieve them for use often, to find more moments of enjoyment in our day to day life.  I try to just leave mine lying around out in the open, because when I need them, I need them fast! And because seeing them remind me, I have moments of indulgence, to look forward to.

We’re all looking for a quick-fix, anytime we can get one. Aren’t we? We live in a world, that serves up many instant distractions and irrelevant entertainment, to avoid the things we should most be looking at, thinking about, doing, using.  What about the big picture?  The truth of our lives?  When disappointments come our way, or tragedy strikes so unexpectedly.  When the darkest shadows of our lives take such a choke-hold of us, that we aren’t even able to bring ourselves to even care about our tool box – what then?  Where is the most potent source, of all of our greatest needs?  Comfort, when we feel such despair and loss.  Hope, when we see or feel none, and carry such a sense of overwhelming.  Joy, when the sadness, anger, or self-pity are overflowing.  Love, when we feel alone, with no one to understand, or care, enough. Understanding, when we truly just cannot….understand, the hand of cards we got dealt with.

     I know where.  GOD.  He is the source of all we really need.  Jesus’ Word, is our map, a light for our path, and our complete answer book.  His Word, His love and ever-presence…the Truth,….it’s  the Daddy-Mack tool box, of all tool boxes, filled with more than just quick daily mood fixes. But a whole wardrobe to redress our souls, and arm us with all we ever need, as we face the challenges of our earthly daily lives.  To heal, repair and renew those things nothing in our tool box, can really fix. What’s more, if we can listen to His Word, and study it enough, ponder it long enough, we have the hope and promise of eternal life with Him.  Where comfort, hope, joy, understanding, and love, are no longer needs or desires, but all we have.  All pure goodness. Can you imagine?

     Anyone who knows my family in real life, know that we have a strong faith in God. We pray alone, we pray together, we give thanks to Him, for our obvious blessings. Always. We do our best to live a life, that reflects our love for Him, to Him.  Not for anyone else. I am aware, of the peace He brings, deep within. I know of His mighty works, for we have seen it many times, first hand. We hold fast to His promises, because we believe in them. We have felt the indescribable, pure peace and joy of being filled with the Holy Spirit. I personally revel in that. It’s a high like no other.

  But it is also true, that those who know me in real life, know that I am a lot more rough around the edges, than you would ever gather reading our blog.  It’s not at all that I have ever been fake, by any means. As if trying to make others believe I am someone I am not, through this blog. But I have….held back. Too careful, not to offend anyone.  Too selfish, not wanting to minimize our reading audience.  Too protected, with the walls I build, to not let anyone too close. Too sure, no one needs to read about others small battles or challenges in life.  Especially when we are clearly so blessed, with the things that are most valuable in life.  We know we are blessed, and we are thankful to God for it all.  And blessings…..joys……those are the things I have always wanted to focus on most.

     But I don’t always.  We have our problems and struggles, too. I have my days, where my attitude sucks, despite all I have that is good and joyful. When I resent someone enough, that I don’t want to think about them, much less pray for them.  When I don’t feel well, and I lack patience and energy, and have a sharp and sarcastic tongue with my children, and then wallow because I feel bad for messing up.  I can be a bad example, and I can put walls up between myself and anyone I want to.  And oh how I want to all too often! (I am SO good with wall-building. Like, a professional.)    Because people can really bug the hell out of me, quite frankly.  Because sometimes, it’s just easier.  I can be too busy. Too distracted.  Too selfish.  Too lost in the shadows, and too far from the Light.  On those days, I feel small, and weak, and tired. Eventually, when I finally find my humble-state and strength, just as I teach my children, I must apologize to those I may have hurt or offended, and promise to try harder, and do better.

     All the while, I know better in the first place. All the while, even on our best and most joyful days, that really are the majority, I expect more of me. I fall short of my own high standards on many levels, and more importantly, I know God expects more of me as well. While I know our tools are on one hand meant as the simple joys God has given us, that they seem to be, I also know there is a greater meaning to it all. Our day to day activities. The things we love to do. The reason we do anything at all. What does it all mean? What is the greater purpose? What are we to learn from it all?  I know I don’t know, nearly all there is to know. But I do know I hear Him calling me closer, and I want to go. I know His love for me, for us all, is immeasurable.  I want to grow, more, in Him. I want to love, like that.  I want His Light to fill every shadow that is to come our way, and know how to find Him, and His abundant gifts of peace, love, joy, grace, and knowing. I want to have a deeper and clearer understanding of His Word, Jesus’ teachings, the Scripture, and what they mean for me, for my family, for you, for us all.  That would be the greatest power tool of all!

     That is one of the main purposes, for this fresh new space for our blog, for us, and for you.  It is the fresh new space, as a reminder, that we want to daily broaden our direction, to a holier and more complete life.  A space that honors God more, as we do in our family life. To focus more on Him, and learn, every day, in every way, all of the time. While we indulge in our power tool box, or while we face the challenges and fears of the dark shadows of our life, it is our journey to turn to Him in all that we do, and allow Him to cast His Light over it all. And to reflect that here, as it comes. To face life, with all of it’s day to day struggles, and all of our stumbling and flaws, and look to Jesus’ messages for perspective and strength. We’d like this blog to be a place to encourage each other, to be more….all that He has created us to be….to try again….to better fulfill our vocations.  I know we have places that could use some healing. We will fall down, or lose our way. But we can dust off, and begin again. God is always there, never leaving us. He will always forgive us, again and again, and never stop loving us, with a kind of love we can’t even fathom. We want to listen harder to His message, to strive harder to follow His Word, to accept His grace and forgiveness, and rely on the strength we can only truly gain from Him, and His love.

     I think I’ll be shining all the more authentically around here, because I need to.  God willing, you will see me grow, too.  Because at 40-something, I am going through a growth spurt!  It’s painful at times, but it’s all-so-good. Life is good. God is infinitely good.  It’s a new and brighter journey, for us all, if we let Him shine in the shadows that life casts upon us all, too.  We hope you feel encouraged to do the same.  And we encourage you to keep your own tool boxes open and accessible at all times!  Because there is always something that comes along in life, that could use a little just fixing.

– Laura (and family)

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 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14)




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Filed Under: Faith, Faith/ Catholic, Into the Light; The Series, Life In General, The Big Picture Tagged With: Catholic-blogs, Catholic-families, encouragement, Faith, light, reflections

New Light, New HOUSE. (We’ve Moved!)

January 16, 2012 By Laura 19 Comments

WELCOME, to the ALL NEW, OUR HOUSE OF JOYFUL NOISE! OH, have I been dying to spill, about all of this!  You may have noticed, we’ve barely been posting on the blog, and THIS is why! We have MOVED the blog, switched up our name a little, and started an all new Facebook Page! Generally speaking, we have really just opened up the windows all over the place, and there is a whole lot of freshness coming in!

JANUARY. The name of this month, comes from the Roman god named Janus – /Jay-ness/, the god of doors and gates. The patron of beginnings and endings, and especially of the important events of a person’s life. This roman god has been represented with 2 faces; one which looks back to the past, and one that looks ahead to the future.

I never knew of this roman god, and when I learned of where the name of January derives from recently, here at the beginning of this new year, and particularly at this point in my life, really resonated with me. Because it spoke to me, personally. The imaginary vision of this door of light, for me, beautifully depicts not only the leaving behind of the year behind me and the one ahead, but all of the changes I am making in my life, and with our blog here, at the start of this year.

WHAT CHANGES, YOU ASK?

Well that’s what I’m about to tell you about. But where to start?

 

BIG CHANGE IN BUSINESS, FOR ME.

    • This was a huge decision for me. But after 13 years, I have decided to put my business, Laura Lee Richard Photography, on serious and indefinite hiatus. I have felt this desire to do this, coming, for awhile. Last year, I limited the clients I took. In doing that, it made me realize what I really needed and wanted to do. And that is, to just let it go for now. I have many reasons, but here are some, in order of importance:
  • I want to put even more, into raising and homeschooling my awesome kids, and be completely available for all of their various schedules, commitments, lessons, games, activities and fun. I love, love, love homeschooling them! Still! Plus, I am prepping our oldest for college now, and that’s serious business! I love this life style of ours. I love these years with my kids growing up, so very much, and I don’t want to miss any of it!
  • I know I am known as a professional photographer, and I’ll always still be one. (Just not in business right now.) But, did you know, I was once known as an illustrator? I really, really have a deep longing, to get back to my creative roots. I want to draw more, paint more, for me and with my kids! Just get back to more of my hand-skill art, and enjoying that process again. I truly have many, many creative outlets that I want to indulge in, actually, as time allows. Including some graphic designing, which you could very well benefit from, on occasion. ; ) I have an art education in these things, as well as photography. There is no pressure on me, to create art for anyone but me now. So it will come as it does. But I do look forward to sharing it all, with you, right here on the blog, along the way.
  • Throughout my years in photography, I have seen the photography industry gradually change. More than ever, it is really going down paths I am not interested in battling. As much as I have loved doing all of the portrait photography I have done for my clients over the past 13 years, I have a real drive to really nurture other business endeavors, that I can sanely and happily do on my time. While focusing on the things that bring me such joy. Such as my family, and of course…..

THIS BLOG!!!

IT LOOKS DIFFERENT. BUT WHAT ELSE WILL BE NEW HERE?

Yes, it does look very different! So how do you like the new place? I really went through the gamut, deciding on a design for the new header. I wanted a logo icon out of it, but I wanted it to express so much more. I was all over the place with this one, literally lying awake most nights, brainstorming, and sketching out thoughts during the day. Then I had too many ideas. I prayed on it, and finally I came up with and designed this, myself. It conveys everything, I wanted it too. I love the clean and simplicity of it.  Window = House. Window = New Experiences. Window=LIGHT=Truth=God. Windows especially represent light, for me. I do, and have always loved natural light! Light is a necessity, for me. Because 1) I am an artist. 2) I am a photographer, always working it. 3) I used to struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (before I filled my house with windows!), and 4) Because God is the light of our life, and our rock! I love colors too, as they represent all of life and creativity, that we can only truly see, with light. ; ) The header/logo flat out makes me happy when I see it. We hope you love the new digs too!

 

NEW NAME.

Just a slight change there. It was just easier. We’ll leave it at that.

 

ONE FEED!

This one is one of the big deciding factors, for an all new blog. For those of you who have been following us, with the crazy aggregate feeds and changes, you know what I am talking about, People! No more!! One feed for all, and all for one! BUT THIS MEANS YOU PROBABLY NEED TO RE-SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG! But no crazy explanations or directions. Just subscribe as you normally do, and perhaps remove our former blog feed (the one with the word OUR in it) from your subscriptions. (No more posts will be coming to you through that.) You’ll really want to re-subscribe, subscribe for the first time, or follow us on our all new Facebook Page! (See the pretty social buttons at the top of the page! 🙂 While subscribing will notify you of our new posts, liking our new Facebook Page will add a whole new element of fun for you! We’ll be sharing what we are working on, all kinds of little things, be able to better interact with you, share great links to other blogger’s projects and ideas we think you’d love, as well as some things we’ve shared before that you may have missed. And….my random thoughts, which can be rather interesting all by themselves sometimes! That, and so much more. The activity on our all new Facebook Page is going to be really kicked up a notch! So if you are on Facebook, LIKE us today, and join the fun with us! We’d hate for you to miss out on all of that, and it’s such a great place to connect, with YOU!

 

WHY? WHAT IS COMING UP AT THE NEW HOUSE?

Well, a lot of the same kind content we’ve been sharing, with lots of photos as always. But more of it! Perhaps some different presentation, and style to my blogging. We will be all over the social networks now, and we’re sure you’re going to love all that is coming:

  • Tasty recipes for you and your family to try.
  • Farmhouse / Home decor that may inspire you.
  • Our unique home improvements and furniture projects that make farmhouse-style house a home!
  • What’s being created in our art studio!
  • New fun crafts with step by step directions, for you or your kids.
  • Homeschooling chit-chat.
  • Chickens!
  • Our occasional personal celebrations and fun.
  • Thoughts on parenting, self, life & faith.
    . . . . . . and more.

All in all, we are planning on a whole lot of content that we invite you to just enjoy reading about, sharing, or using as an inspirational spring-board, for yourself!

And don’t forget! We have nearly 4 years of archives on all of these topics, to look back through as well!

BUT WAIT!! THERE’S MORE!!
(I always wanted to say that. lol)

I have really been on a journey of personal growth. It has been a challenging experience at times, but also such beautiful thing.  For all of the joy we have felt in our life, I feel it all blossoming even more. God is never done with us, is He? I am growing, and seeking growth, in many ways. And while this is in many areas of my life, I am positive it will all carry over and be reflected in our blog. I am also positive, you will all help me along, with your words of wisdom, and encouragement, that I am certain you will share. In fact, I am counting on it! Because, although I am still contemplating how I want to go about this, I believe I’ll be venturing into new territories, in some topic content.  A series, so t0 speak, with deeper personal topics, that I am sure many out there will be able to relate to, in some way. Not too heavy.  It’ll be a good thing. I don’t want to say too much, because I am still a little scared! It’s QUITE out of my personal comfort zone. But, I am thinking it through, praying on it, and I hope you’ll stick around to encourage me, if I dip my toe in the water! ; )

 

ONE THING IS FOR SURE, FRIENDS! . . . . . .

It’s going to be a ride at the HOUSE!! You are going to see things changing and growing, all of the time! And we sincerely invite you all, to come along with us! Share in it with us, and bring your own special touches with you! Invite your friends, to the HOUSE too! YOU are why we have grown so much! YOU are why we have felt so encouraged to keep making (Our) House Of Joyful Noise be all that it can be! So be sure to stay with us, or join us starting today!! Please go hit those pretty buttons at the top in the header of the blog, and subscribe to this all new blog, and/or follow us on our all new Facebook Page! It’s a new blog here, so most of those subscribed before must subscribe again, to stay with us! It depends on how you subscribe, but why take the chance to miss us? ; ) We’ll see you around!  But before you go, please say hello and let us know how you like the new House Of Joyful Noise!  (We’d love your honest feedback!)

-Laura & our the Richard Family!)

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Filed Under: Crafts & Creations, Faith, Faith/ Catholic, Homeschooling, Life In General, Photography & Lettering, Recipes, The Big Picture, The Homestead Tagged With: Catholic-blogs, Catholic-families, creative-blogs, farmhouse-style-blogs, homeschooling-blogs, recipe-blogs

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