Homeschool Week in Review ll February 2-6, 2026

Ready to take a peek into our homeschool week???

I'm always curious what other families' homeschools look like so I thought I'd share a week in the doldrums of February.  February is notorious for being hard on homeschoolers.  The holidays have come and gone, and now we're back into routine.  So what does our homeschool look like?

Monday morning was a little slow moving.  Our mornings are still dark and it's so tempting to sleep in.  But if I want to have a morning meeting, it's important we get moving so my high schoolers have the time they need to get other things done.  Morning meeting flowed well: Bible, memory work, current events and listening to a podcast on Aaron Copland since we have a symphony field trip coming up.  Mondays are clear of most extra curricular obligations so it's a good day to make progress on our bookwork.  My ninth grader worked on some writing while I worked out.  And when it warmed up later, we took our books out to the patio.  That evening my husband and I went to the dance studio to watch my daughter's modern class for parent's week.  It's always fun to see what she's been working on.  Her face is instantly transformed when she's dancing.  

Tuesdays are always what we affectionately call "Crazy Tuesdays."  That's when most of our extra curricular occur.  So I still make a checklist for my 9th grader, but I secretly have a minimized list in my head.  As long as we hit a couple of key subjects, I'm happy.  I prepped stuffed pepper soup for the crockpot while he completed a Shormann Algebra lesson.  Then I drove the mom taxi as he had Robotics class and choir in the afternoon.  Luckily Grandma was able to drop him off that evening for trampoline class so my husband and I could go watch some more dance.  This night was ballet and jazz.  Totally different styles, but my 12th grader still rocked them both.  Then it was back home to read a little and prep for the next morning.

Wednesday morning started off strong.  It's one of the days we are home more so I was anxious to have the kids working.  It was also beautiful outside.  So after an algebra lesson on the computer, we spent most of the day doing school work on the patio.  Later that afternoon, my ninth grader and I took a walk around the neighborhood, and visited with the neighbor's cats.  Our afternoon walks always give us lots of time to connect and petting kitties is a great motivator.  :-) That evening, he went to youth group while I got to watch more ballet.

Thursday was a whirlwind.  We watched some of our Shakespeare play during Morning Time and then off to do school work.  My ninth grader had a robotics class, and afterwards my 12th grader and I joined him for a meeting with our "teacher."  The kids updated her on their progress and we talked about a few details for graduation.  I can't believe how close my daughter is to graduating.  It's unreal.  Later, I took her back to ballet while my son stayed home and played card games with Grandma.  We've been playing a lot of card games this season.  My favorite has been Dutch Blitz, but I think I've burned him out on it. :-)

Friday has become our homeschool group days.  We have a couple of families we meet with for encouragement, friendship, and adventures.  This week my husband joined us and we went hiking.  We packed our lunches and ate when we got to the peak.  It's been a fun way for us to get out, and for the kids to meet some likeminded families.  Afterwards, we came home for our read aloud and Friday Night pizza and a movie.  Cool Running, of course, since the Olympics are starting.

It was a full week.  Choir is getting rolling.  Dance is filling my daughter's days.  And I'm just soaking up the moments.  We've hit a sweet rhythm this year.  

And I'm all about enjoying it!

What are your homeschool weeks looking like?

Weekend Links ll February 13, 2026

 

Valentine's Day Around the World Unit Study

5 European Famous Artists Unit Study

FREE Cover the World Printable

Suess Themed Activity Pack

Free Valentine's Day Word Search

God's Love: Heart Lantern and Bible Study

Top Five Nonfiction Reads of 2025

The Familiar Stranger by Tyler Staton

See my full review here.

Out of a Far Country by Christopher Yuan & Angela Yuan

This book has been on my to-read list for a while.  The son of Chinese immigrants, Christopher Yuan got good grades, listened to his parents, and dutifully took piano lessons.  He seems like the model son... until he wasn't.  After coming out to his parents in his early 20s, Chris distanced himself from his family.  His mother Angela found herself in a dark place, ready to end her own life.  Eventually, she learned to relinquish control and place her son in God's hands.  Chris' life takes a different turn... dropping out of college, dealing drugs, and eventually being arrested.  There were points in this autobiography that were really challenging to read, times when Christopher Yuan described the drug scene that he was involved in.  But overall, Out of a Far Country is a beautiful story of family and redemption.  So glad I finally got my hands on a copy.

Saving My Assassin by Virginia Prodan

This powerful memoir follows Virginia Prodan as she grows up in communist Romania.  After becoming a lawyer, she starts defending pastors and churches.  It's through her political activism that she becomes a target of the government, and eventually has to escape with her family.  Incredible story of prayer, perseverance, and the Lord's protection.

Experience Jesus. Really. by John Eldridge

See my full review here.

Rescue Story by Zach Williams

Wow!  This book was an honest look at the singer/songwriter's life.  Wrestling with alcohol and drug abuse for 10+ years, Williams finally finds hope and purpose in coming to the Lord.  He shares his testimony of how the Lord saved his life, marriage, and family before he made it big in the music industry.  What struck me most was his dedication to sharing his story as a way of saying, "Look what God did."  Powerful, encouraging, and a true testimony of faith and prayer.

What Nonfiction Are You Reading?

2026 Homeschool Goal ll January Check-In

Happy February!  I was thinking this week about how things are going in our homeschool.  This is the first February in several years that I haven't felt the winter blues.  It's been kind of nice.  But as I was sitting here evaluating the past month, I started thinking about our 2026 Homeschool Resolutions.  I realized I can't really have a clear picture of how we're doing without revisiting these 8 items that I felt so convicted about at the beginning of the year.  I also realized that they would be so easy to forget if I don't keep coming back to them regularly. 

So I thought I'd do a check-in to keep myself accountable.  I'm copying my resolutions here and I'll put my January Update thoughts in bold,  just to help keep things at the top of my mind.  So how did I do?

Our 2026 Homeschool Resolutions:

1. Reading Scripture together--While my kids each have their own devotional and Bible study times, I would like for us to incorporate some Bible reading together.  I'm hoping this will open up some dialogue about what we're reading together and start our day on a good note.--This one is starting slow, but steady.  We're reading together every morning during our morning time about 4-5 days/ week.  We started in Mark 'cause I didn't want to start a new habit with the genealogies of Matthew. :-) We just read a portion of Scripture and I ask the kids if anything stood out to them.  Sometimes I'll ask clarifying questions or add my own thoughts. It's been a nice low pressure way of spending time in His word together.

2. Praying together each morning--I realized our prayer times together have become route.  The idea is that having this prayer time in the morning will open up an opportunity for us to share a little more freely.  And practicing public prayer will make it less intimidating to pray with a group.--Ok, this one isn't going very well.  I think we've only done this a handful of times.  I'd like to pray to end our morning time, but it seems like everyone is pretty antsy by then.  I may need to find a different place for prayer in our day.

3. 12 Read Alouds in the Year--We love our read alouds. And I love that reading good books together gives us a chance to adventure together... even on a limited budget.  As the kids have gotten older and the books longer, 12 books feels like a good goal for the year.--We had two shorter read alouds at the beginning of our list so we actually read two in January.  I really enjoyed Listening for Lions.

4. Go on 12 Hikes this year-- Ok, we've made hiking goals before and failed miserably..  So I'm keeping it really simple this year.  Only 12.. should be doable.--No, no hikes yet, but we have one on the calendar for February.  Yay!

5. Celebrate Lydia's graduation--I can't believe I'm graduating my second kid.  Unbelievable!  I have a feeling the way we celebrate this one will be very different from the way we celebrated the first.  But I want to make it just as special so it's time to start planning now.--We did a little planning in January.  Ordered the cap and gown.  Panning on getting some photos together this next month.

6. One on One Dates--Yes, this is parenting.  But with homeschool, parenting and education bleed into each other.  Having strong relationships and time to listen can only allow for more openness and connection during our homeschool days.--January was a half-win.  I did get a one on one date with my 9th grader, but not my 12th grader.  I've got my thinking cap on for something she might enjoy doing together this month.

7. Plan 6+ homeschool field trips--Having one kid graduated and two in high school, I realize more every day just how small this window of time really is.  So field trips mean so much.  Making time to enjoy learning, experience new opportunities, expand their horizons... I have 2 in the works right now, with multiple tabs open for potential learning over the next year.--I'm putting the finishing touches on a field trip for February.  No field trips in January, but we did go to the snow with our homeschool group, so I can kind of count that one.

8. Stay invested in our homeschool group--Our high school home group has been a lifeline this year.  Giving my kids an opportunity to make likeminded friends AND be mentored by other quality parents... WIN/WIN!  I'm definitely making time in our schedule to keep this going.--We're just getting our spring semester going, but we've had a couple of outings and have spent some time with one of the families outside of our weekly meeting.

As you can see, my theme this year is CONNECTION, CONNECTION, CONNECTION!  Now more than ever, I'm well aware of how important relationship is in our homeschool.  Everything flows from that starting point.  So happy to be raising my very best friends.

Are you making homeschool resolutions this year?

Weekend Links ll February 6, 2026

 

Churro Cookies

Heart Science Activities for Kids

What is Executive Functioning? ll A Parent's Guide

Valentine Handwriting Worksheets

Love Scripture Cards for Kids

Valentine's Day Escape Room Printables

Kids' Valentine's Gifts for Every Love Language

 *This post was originally published on 2/8/16.  Enjoy!

 

Being a parent of three kids means that I'm always always on my toes.  Just when I think I've got them figured out, something changes and I'm studying them again, trying to figure out what makes them tick.  How do they learn best?  How do they communicate?  And how they do they give and receive love?

So this Valentine's Day, along with the chocolates and cards from Mom and Dad, I want to find ways that I can really show love in a way that my kids will receive it.  All individual, all strong willed, and all speaking a different love language, these three kiddos place value on different expressions of love.  And that got me thinking: How can I speak each child's love language for Valentine's Day?

Acts of Service:  Night off from Chores or a Favorite Meal

If you have a child's who values Acts of Service, why not give them a night off from their chores?  My kids are incredibly active and offering to take their chores for a night or Saturday is very much appreciated.  Mowing the lawn, spot cleaning a favorite jersey, or doing the dishes is an inexpensive way to serve your kids.

One of my kid's favorite acts of service is to have a favorite meal cooked.  They love having a voice in helping plan our menu, but I also like to surprise them and just spontaneously cook a meal I know they will especially enjoy.  It's a simple way of showing your kids that you're thinking about them.

Words of Affirmation: An Encouraging Card, Parent/Child Journal, or Valentine's Door Hearts

When we speak Words of Affirmation of our kids, I can see their whole attitude change.  Their faces lighten up, their shoulders relax, and their whole appearance does a 180.  Take a few moments to reflect and write a thoughtful card speaking into your child's life.  Purchase a journal that you can pass back and forth between parent and child sharing your thoughts and feelings.  Or make Valentine's Door Hearts for your kids.

Physical Touch: Snuggle Time or Back Rub

I have one child that loves to snuggle.  It's so opposite of the rest of this child's personality.  Sometimes I forget just how important it is to keeping this child balanced.  But a little snuggle time, just reflecting on the day and taking some time to just be with each other goes a long way.

Or if being still is too much, take some time to play catch, jump on the trampoline, or go for a bike ride.  Doing something physical together can have a similar affect and create a bonding experience.  Don't forget to high five or give your child a pat on the back after an awesome play or trick.  Put your arm around them as you walk and embrace them in a big hug.

Gifts: Favorite Candy, Book, or Hobby Item

Love Language gifts don't have to be huge, but any small item that's been thoughtfully purchased will bring a smile to your child's face.  About six months ago, I knew Noah had been wanting to try Origami so I took a 40% off coupon to Jo-Ann's and purchased him a pack of Origami paper.  All in all, it cost me about $3 and 20 min of my time.  You would have thought I bought him the world.  That was the most treasured package of Origami paper that's ever been bought. 

So keep your eyes and ears open.  Is there something small that your child has been wishing for?  Valentine's Day isn't meant to be overly extravagant, but thoughtful.  Even a package of favorite candy or gum can show that you've been thinking about that specific person.

Quality Time: Go Out Together

This is one of the easiest for me, but probably because it's one of my top two love languages.  My daughter is like this.  She's taken a love for cooking and baking lately, and I've come to realize that a lot of it has to do with spending time with me and my husband.  Since cooking is a necessary part of raising a family and since mom spends so much time doing that, Lydia wants to be in the kitchen as well.  Slowing down and reminding myself to involve her in food prep has been a challenge, but she craves that quality time and it's been a blessing to both of us.

But don't stop there.  Keep an observant eye for other things your child enjoys.  Is it a bike ride, a movie together, or a meal when they can actually get a word in?  For my daughter, she loves having the chance to go out to a meal with my husband or I, away from the loud boys, where she feels safe enough to voice her opinion. 

So what about you?

In what ways can you speak your child's love language on Valentine's Day?  

How We Teach: Composer Study

 Over the years, I've tried to bring more truth, beauty, and goodness into our homeschool.  We've studied artists, memorized Scripture and poetry, and learned about the ballet.  And I've always wanted to bring more classical music and composers into our home as well.  The problem?  I just didn't understand how to do it.  It seemed too simple, too easy... it just didn't make sense that we could study music in starts and stops, and find it worthwhile.  I was wrong.

As intimidating as composer study seems, I promise... it's a lot easier than you think.  And the benefits are HUGE!  So WHY should you study classical music in your homeschool?

*Brain Development-- Classic music can increase focus, improve math skills, and enhance memory.

*Emotional Development-- Music is full of mood, and emotion, and expression.  Listening to and discussing music can increase your child's emotional intelligence and regulation, and increase their empathy.

*History and Culture-- Music is influenced by the time and culture in which it's birthed.  Classic music expresses the history and mindsets prevalent to the time period and can help students better understand the world around them.

*Creativity--  Music is a beautiful expression of creativity and life.  

*Music Appreciation-- Whether your child plays an instrument or not, listening to classical music can open doors for a powerful appreciation of the arts.

Now you're convinced, but where do you start?  How do you find the music, the composers?  How do you made music study a part of your day?

We mostly follow the composer study resources provided by Ambleside Online.  They list the composers for each year along with a list of pieces you can listen to.  Other times in our homeschool, we've studied famous ballets and I've created Youtube playlists of that composer's work.  Or another option would be to look for a local symphony production.  Listen to the composer's work in the weeks leading up to the live show.

But what about putting this study in your day?  How do you incorporate music study in such a way that it's natural and not overwhelming?

*Listen to a piece during breakfast or morning chores-- Play a piece of music while your children are all around the table and enjoying a meal.  Or while they're getting their chores done.  Start slow.  Just a minute or two.  Discuss what you hear and how it made them feel.

*Play classical music during independent learning-- Music with no lyrics makes great background for handwriting, math skills, and independent reading.

*Focus on one composer for a time-- Often we pick one composer to focus on for the term (approx. 12 weeks).  This allows us enough time to become familiar with the style and sound.  

*Make a game out of it-- play freeze dance, musical chairs, musical charades, drawing what you see when you listen to a piece of music, creating facial expressions to go with the music, etc.  These are all great ways to help kiddos re-engage and stay engaged.

*Watch a fun musical performance-- Piano Guys are so much fun to watch.  Classical music is also a part of many cartoons.

Studying composers and classic music doesn't have to be overwhelming.  Listen to a few composers and pick one you think your kids would like.  Then naturally work the music into your day... a few minutes at breakfast or during morning basket... a call to "school time" or as background music for reading... Just listen, talk, and enjoy together.  There's really no right or wrong... just enjoyment.

How do you incorporate music study in your homeschool?

Weekend Links ll January 30, 2026

 

Groundhog Day Printable Book

Week Long Unit Studies for Upper Grades

Practical Homeschool Resources for the Teen Years

Free Printable Homeschool Attendance Sheet

Chinese New Year Interactive Notebook

What I Read and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll January 2026

 What I Read:

Helen Roseveare: Mama Luka

by Janet and Geoff Benge

The missionary biography of Helen Roseveare, an English doctor who moves to the heart of Africa to open a hospital.  During her time there, she faces unimaginable difficulties.  From escaping both kidnappings and intentional poisonings, to building her own medical school with the help of her students, Roseveare follows the Lord's leading in a life of adventure and purpose.  Truly inspiring story.  We love this series of books.

Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery

When Anne marries the love of her life, Gilbert, they move to Four Winds Harbor, where he begins his career as a doctor.  There they make their own little house of dreams, forging new friendships and building a life together.  Through both joy and heartache, Anne and Gilbert discover the true meaning of love and family.  I'm constantly amazed by L.M. Montgomery's ability to develop new characters as well as bringing out more and more of Anne's true self.

Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble by Laurien Berenson

Estranged sisters-in-law, Peg and Rose, are finally learning how to get along when Rose signs Peg up for a senior dating website.  Peg is reluctant until she makes a connection with Nolan Abercrombie, a handsome , successful, attentive bachelor.  But when Nolan is killed, Peg and Rose swoop in  and start investigating his death.  It turns out Nolan had A LOT of enemies.  These two senior sleuths team up to solve the mystery as the suspect list continues to grow.  A page turner to the very end, this book had just the right mix of mystery and humor, perfect for a lighthearted read.

Grit Don't Quit by Bianca Juarez Olthoff

Life eventually knocks all of us down.  Some knocks are easier to get back up from.  Some knocks... some knocks take the wind out of us.  Then what?  We have to dig in for hope, perseverance, and grit.  Author Bianca Juárez Olthoff uses the life of Paul to illustrate how grit can be cultivated into emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Falls will come, life will knock us senseless... but it's more about whether we stay down and believe the lies, or get backup and chase after God's purpose in our lives.

A Wolf Called Fire by Rosanne Parry

In this stand alone companion to A Wolf Called Wander, Warm finds himself in charge of the pups when an enemy pack kills his parents.  Often seen as the weaker sibling, Warm must protect, provide, and form the pups into a new pack.  But food is scarce, and enemy is stalking them.It isn't until the two packs face off that Warm realizes what a great leader he's become.  This was a great story about family, survival, and find purpose and leadership.  I'm adding this one to our recommendation list for grades 4-6. 

Our Homeschool Read Alouds:

Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan

When the flu sweeps through her African village, Rachael Sheridan finds herself orphaned... and abducted by a couple trying to find their way back to England.  The Pritchards' try to use Rachael to get into favor with her "grandfather" so they can return home to the family fortune.  Posing as Valerie, she and the grandfather strike up a friendship.  But when the Pritchards return, Rachael finds that she can no longer keep up the facade.  But what will her confession do to Grandfather?  I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but we really loved it.  The characters were so well written and the storyline kept us engaged from cover to cover.  Really great work.

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

Abby Carson hates school.  She'd much rather be out in the woods, building and exploring.  But when she's threatened with failing 7th grade, Abby much take on an extra credit assignment... writing letters to a pen pal..  But in Afghanistan, things are different.  Sadeed is the best student in his school and should be the one writing letters to Abby.  But because he's a boy, he must write letters through his sister.  At first he resents the work, but it isn't long before an unlikely friendship materializes.  Still there are those who believe connects with America are unhealthy, and the letters become dangerous... especially for Sadeed and his sister.  I loved the innocent friendship between the two main characters, and the frank, but gentle, look at differences in culture and traditions.

What are you reading?

February Holidays and Homeschool Ideas

 Looking for ways to add some fun to your homeschool?  Here are just a few of the holidays and fun days you can celebrate this month:

2. Groundhog Day

*Take a family survey: Will Phil see his shadow?  Graph the results.
*Make these cute cupcakes for snack.
*Watch the news to see if Phil see's his shadow.
*Read a groundhog book and make a stick puppet.

4. National Thank a Mail Carrier Day

*Make homemade cards for your mail carrier.

*Set out a Treat and Drink stand for mail carriers in your neighborhood.

5. Nutella Day
*"Bake" our favorite: nutella cheesecake.

6. Doodle Day
*Show competency with a drawing.
*Create some fingerprint art with doodles.

6-22. Winter Olympics

*Do a 15-Min Olympics Music lesson.

*Make Olympics paper dolls.

*Graph the medal count.

8. Boy Scout Day
*Take a nature walk and identify native plants.
*Plan a community service project.
*Start a camping pinterest board.

12. Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
*Make an Abraham Lincoln mask.
*Create a log cabin snack.

14. Valentine's Day
*Make a special breakfast.
*Sew felt cookies.
*Invite friends to decorate Valentines.

16. Almond Day
*Make Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters.
*Learn about sprouting nuts and seeds.

17. Random Acts of Kindness Day
*Take the 26 Intentional Acts of Kindness Challenge.

*Pick a Random Act of Kindness from this list.

17. Lunar New Year

*Sweep the house to clear out bad luck.

*Make paper lanterns and dragon puppets.

*Make dumplings.

20. Love your Pet Day
*Research a new family pet.
*Shop for a new treat on a budget.
*Write a paragraph about an interesting fact about your pet.
*Read to your pet.

22. George Washington's Birthday
*Complete a George Washington crossword puzzle.
*Read a Who Was George Washington? book.

26. Tell a Fairytale Day
*Make over a fairy tale with an alternative ending.
*Compare/contrast two versions of a favorite fairy tale.
*Write a letter to your favorite fairy tale character.

27. Strawberry Day
*Freeze some healthy Strawberry Frozen Yogurt.

27. National Polar Bear Day

*Learn to draw a polar bear.

*Research polar bears with this lapbook.

What would you add to the list?

Weekend Links ll January 23, 2026

 

Life Cycles of a Penguin Printables

Polar Animals Lapbook

Free Printable Grammar Bingo

Winter Observations Printable

Groundhog Day STEAM Challenges

Teaching the Winter Olympics in Your Homeschool

Wow!  Do we love the Olympics or what?  Years of grueling training, superhuman sacrifice, long hours and hot tears... culminating into one perfect moment.  Iron will again iron will .... doesn't get more exciting than that! 

If your family is anything like mine, you're probably counting down the days to the 2026 Winter Olympics which are coming so fast.  It's the perfect storm... doldrums of winter homeschooling colliding with the excitement of the Olympics.... who could possibly concentrate on Algebra?

These days, high school transcripts require us to maintain a certain rhythm.  But when the kids were little, we would theme all our lessons around the Olympics.  Sure we squeezed in a math worksheet or two, but really we just celebrated the countries for the world for two weeks.  It was incredible!

So I'm rounding up some of our favorite resources that we've used over the years.  A few of these will probably make it into our morning time with my older kids as well.  That's my favorite place to include those ideas that are life giving, but don't necessarily check a box. 

Great Read Alouds:

*What are the Winter Olympics

*Who was Shaun White

*G is for Gold Medal

*Tacky and the Winter Games

*Snowman Paul at the Winter Olympics

Geography:

*Learn about the host country.

*Or any country of interest. Fill in a facts sheet.

*Research the geography of your favorite country.

*Try a new recipe from the host country.

Science:

*Study the science and engineering of the Winter Olympics.

*Explore the science of Olympic medals.

*Or learn more about their design.

*Learn about the science behind making Olympic snow and ice.

*Or why curling ice is different from regular ice.

*Research the science behind your favorite event.

Math Ideas:

*Graph the medal count.

*Calculate how far your favorite athlete traveled to the Winter Olympics.

Writing:

*Write using one of these 15 Writing Prompts.

*Or use one of these prompts.

*Try your hand at persuasive writing.

*Complete an Olympics Activity Book.

*Or an Olympics Word Search.

*Expand your vocabulary with these Olympic words.

*Laugh along with some Winter Games Mad Libs.

Music Resources:

*Do a 15 min Olympic music lesson.

*Learn What is a Fanfare.

*Find out Who Really Composed the Olympic Theme.

Crafts:

*Make Olympic paper dolls.

*Craft flags from another country.

*Paint one of these Winter Games Art pieces.

*Or make Origami Olympic Rings.

Tasty Treats:

*Make Olympic ring waffles.

*Decorate Olympic M&M cookies.

Movies to Watch:

*Cold War & Hockey-- Miracle on Ice

*Miracle (2004)

*Cool Runnings (1993)

25 Things Every Person Should Do For Themselves At Least Once A Year

 *This post was originally published on 1/23/17.  Enjoy!

1. Count Your Blessings--Taking time to count your blessings will remind you of all you have to be thankful for.  A bright outlook to start the day is priceless

2. Reflect on Your Friendships--Reflect on what you've want the most out of your friendships.  Then devise a plan to give that very thing in your friendships in the new year.

3. Purge--Purge your home.  Get rid of anything that you haven't used in a year.  The classic excuse is that you don't want to have to re-purchase something you purged.  But in truth, your already paying to store those items you aren't using.

4. Prioritize--Know your priorities.  List all the commitments in your life, prioritize and let go of the things that just don't line up with your vision.

5. Visit a new city-- Seeing new places and visiting new cities gives you a better sense of the world as a whole.  Whether a few hours away or a plane ride around the world, discover new places, people, and new adventures.

6. Learn to cook something new-- New year, new foods.  Learn to cook that favorite dish you always go out for, discover a new favorite dessert, or makeover your menu with a healthy twist.

7. Do something adventurous-- What speaks adventure to your soul?  Skydiving?  Road trip?  The Great Outdoors?  Seek out some adventure in your day to day life.

8.  Visit your hometown--Return to your roots.  Wander the streets you knew as a child and rediscover old treasures.  Remember the good times and gratefully return to the wonderful town you currently live in.

9. Do something extravagantly kind for someone else-- A friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, ... we all crave a little kindness in our lives.  But take this one beyond the random act of kindness, make a sacrifice, and give extravagantly for someone else.

10. Get in touch with an old friend-- Old friends are gold, as the saying goes.  They know us inside and out, and love us just the same.  Take the time to invest in those old friendships and remember what made you friends in the first place.

11. Go on a spending fast-- Challenge yourself to not spend unnecessarily for a month.  Pay your bills, of course, but put a freeze on all non-essentials.  This will give you space to consider your purchases and where you're spending your money.

12. Go to a live performance-- Whether a concert, play, or school production, experience culture beyond a screen.  Get caught up in the music and atmosphere that only a live production can provide.

13. Clean your closet-- Get rid of anything you haven't worn in a year. If you haven't worn it in the past year, you're simply storing it.  Is there anything worn, ripped or simply not your style?  Get rid of that as well.

14. Memorize some new Scripture-- Challenge yourself to a piece of Scripture each month.  Memorize the books of the Bible for easy reference.  Commit to key passages that represent the gospel.  Or find larger chunks of scripture that challenge your brain.

15. Forgive yourself for something you've been holding on to-- We all hold on to past mistakes.  Some of us hold on to them too long.  And the longer we hold on, the harder it is to let go.  But it's time to let go.  And if you can't, find someone to help you put it in perspective.

16. Adopt a new healthy habit-- January is traditionally the time to start eating healthier.  But any time of year is a great time to develop a healthy habit.  Start working out, eating healthier, doing yoga, cutting down on sugar... each small healthy step leads to a healthier lifestyle.

17. Find a place to serve in the church-- We all have gifts to share with others.  Find a place to use those gifts, whether it's serving meals, teaching kids, or playing on the worship team.  Don't attend church?  There are many organizations in the community what for you to share your gift.

18. Re-read a book that encouraged you in the past-- It's no secret that we love to read in this family and there's so many good books out there.  Sometimes we find a book that absolutely changes the way we view life.  Why not pick up that book again and see if there's more growth there for you?

19. Make a new friend-- Life is not meant to be lived alone.  Make a new friend in your current season of life.  Maybe another parent in Little League or another young married couple from church. 

20. Read the biography of an early church leader-- Speaking of encouragement, reading about early leaders can challenge and deepen the way we look at ministry and relationships, encouraging us in how the Lord is moving today.

21. Do something that scares you-- Are you afraid of heights?  Friendships?  Cooking?  Find one thing that scares you and overcome it.  Nothing will make you feel more empowered or confident.  And it will deepen the way you look at life and others.

22. Buy a new pair of shoes-- I'm not talking about the fancy boots (although if you have the money, certainly treat yourself).  Rather purchase a new pair of tennis shoes for workouts, walking or vacations.  A new pair of tennis shoes will provide better support for your knees and back in the coming year.

23. Go to one really nice dinner-- That restaurant you've always wanted to try?  Now's the time.  Dress up, go hungry, invite some friends, and for one night, savor dinner.  Slow down and talk.  And by all means, order dessert.

24. Buy flowers-- Nothing dresses up a room like fresh flowers.  Bring the outdoors in with a vibrant bouquet of fresh flowers, any time of year.

25. Unplug for a day (at least)-- No iPad, no laptop, no phone... can you do it?  Unplug from your online "friendships" and plug into your real life.  What do you notice?  Who will you talk to?  How will you listen?

What would you add to this list?

What will you do for yourself in the next year?

Weekend Links ll January 16, 20026

 

Teaching MLK to Young Learners

Printables for Sticking to Your New Year's Resolutions

Weather Observation Pack

Homemade Rock Candy

Winter Picture Writing Prompts Printable

Top Five Fiction Reads of 2025

Looking back on 2025, I had the privilege of reading some really great books.  As always there was a lot of biographies and parenting books.  But the big surprise was the top 5 fiction books on my list.  Now admittedly, I'm not much of a fiction reader.  Most of my reading comes in the form of non-fiction.  However, 2025 seems to have been the year of middle grade reads.  Going through the 90 BOOKS I read last year, these were my Top Five Fictional Reads.  And surprise of all surprises, they focus on those middle grade years.  So let's take a closer look...

 The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco

Set during the Great Depression, 12 year old Hurricane is sent to live with her Aunt Claire, an outspoken woman who moves like a hurricane herself.  Hurricane must wrestle with finding her voice in order to survive in Aunt Claire's world.  There was so much to love about this book: Hurricane's struggle (and success) in speaking up for herself, Aunt Claire's own evolution, interesting historical tidbits that flow into understanding the grit and determination of the Great Depression... It's a beautiful book about history, family, and growing up.

For more on this title, see my complete review here.

One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen

For a climber, Mt Everest is the ultimate test.  A dream that few dare to tackle and even fewer survive.  Haunted by his mother's death, Atlas Wade joins his father's hiking expedition in hopes of conquering Mt. Everest.  But when the weather turns bad, he and Maddie might be the crews only hope.  After they lose contact with the others, they must continue the climb in hopes of finding survivors.  Including Atlas' father.  Jennifer A. Nielsen is quickly becoming my favorite historical fiction writer.  She has a way of weaving history and intrigue together in an unbeatable combination.  Classified as a middle grade read, I would really deem this one more appropriate for lower high school and up.  But very engaging... keeps you on the edge of your seat... a story that will absolutely stick with you!

For more on this title, see my complete review here.

The Green Kingdom by Cornelia Funke

Caspia's life is absolutely ruined.  Why?  Because her father has taken a summer job in Brooklyn.  And Caspia has no idea how she'll survive an entire summer in the city.  Little does she know, she's about to embark on a journey through the plant kingdom right in the heart of this concrete jungle.  After she discovers a bundle of letters between sisters, each complete with a riddle, she is thrust into an adventure filled with new people and new adventures.  The riddles were fun to unravel and I learned a lot myself.  It's a quick read and would be a fun addition to a plant unit.  There were a couple of red flags in this book so I would read it with my kiddos rather than passing it off to them.  But even as an adult, I had fun with the riddle aspect and seeing how there is often adventure in the unexpected.

For more on this title, see my complete review here.

The Last Keeper by Kathryn Butler

We've finally reached the culmination of the Dreamkeeper Saga.  Think Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings combined.  IT IS JUST THAT GOOD!  Lily, Keisha, and Adam are back to fight Eymah and his nightmares before they take over the kingdom.  She discovers an ancient scroll that foretells of the Last Keeper.  Could that be her?  And when will Pax fulfill his promise of returning to the kingdom?  Filled with dragons, magic, adventure... all the elements that make for a great read.

Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

An absolute classic... I haven't read through the series since I was in high school.  So I made it my goal to start listening to them on audiobook when I'm in the car.  So far, I'm on book five and it feels like I'm revising an old friend.  If you haven't read this series in awhile, it's time to go back.  That's the sign of a good book... timeless... relevant in multiple stages of life.  

Did you have any favorite fictional reads from 2025?

Thoughts for Homeschooling Littles at the Start of the Year

 Here we are in the doldrums of winter.  Christmas has passed, and cold winter days lie before us.  As we're getting back into routine with my high schoolers, I'm reminded how quickly time flies.  I know some of you are homeschooling busy, active little ones.  And these days of being cooped up in the house can test everyone's patience.  But let me assure you, it's worth it.  The time in read alouds, explaining "why?" (AGAIN!), and cultivating deep heart to heart connection... it's all worth it!

So as a reminder, as you're heading into the winter days of January and February, and the kids are bouncing off the walls, and you're dreaming of dropping the them off at the nearest preschool school, all this togetherness is building toward a beautiful relationship with your children.  To help ease the transition, keep.a few of these practical tips in mind:

*Feed them well... a hungry child is a cranky child.  And a hungry mama is a cranky Mama.  Delve deep into cozy baked oatmeal breakfasts, eggs and toast, or Greek yogurt parfaits.  Start your morning with something healthy that will keep you all going.

*Get everyone outside early in the day... whether you're pulling on rain boots or bundling up for the snow, find a way to get outside... preferably early in the day.  Take a walk, throw some snowballs, race the kids.... get some fresh air and work out those wiggles.

*Give everyone some breathing room.  Family connections is one of the reasons we homeschool.  But everyone has their limits.  Make sure to create some margin in your day were everyone can have a little alone time to work on a special project, read a book, or just hear their own thoughts.

*Make eye contact.  Nothing show care and love like setting things aside and making that personal connection.  Eye contact is becoming a lost skill.  Teach your kids that they're more important than any task, any lesson, and definitely more important than your phone.

*Give a hug.  Looking for a small gesture that takes no time at all and makes a HUGE impact?  Hug your children!  In a world that's loosing personal touch, grab your kids for a hug... once, twice, 20x/day ... and you'll see how they relax and reset.

So as we come into the New Year, remember to cherish this time that you're pouring into your little ones. Make space to slow down and breathe.  The laundry will wait.  The dishes will get done eventually.  But now is the time to build a family.

Homeschool Resolutions ll 2026

Happy January!  Welcome to 2026!  The new year always feels so fresh, new, and full of possibilities.  And as a homeschool family, January can feel like a new start to the school year.  A new chance to refresh and refocus. It's a good time to lay out some simple resolutions to fill our homeschoolswith thriving relationships and joy.

In that spirit, my 2026 Homeschool Resolutions primarily focus on my connection with my kids and building into their identities as they emerge into adulthood.  Without intending it, these resolutions primarily rest on the reason we started homeschooling in the first place: our relationship with our kids.  Feels like a great way to cap off my daughter's senior year.

Our 2026 Homeschool Resolutions:

1. Reading Scripture together--While my kids each have their own devotional and Bible study times, I would like for us to incorporate some Bible reading together.  I'm hoping this will open up some dialogue about what we're reading together and start our day on a good note.

2. Praying together each morning--I realized our prayer times together have become route.  The idea is that having this prayer time in the morning will open up an opportunity for us to share a little more freely.  And practicing public prayer will make it less intimidating to pray with a group.

3. 12 Read Alouds in the Year--We love our read alouds. And I love that reading good books together gives us a chance to adventure together... even on a limited budget.  As the kids have gotten older and the books longer, 12 books feels like a good goal for the year.

4. Go on 12 Hikes this year-- Ok, we've made hiking goals before and failed miserably..  So I'm keeping it really simple this year.  Only 12.. should be doable.  

5. Celebrate Lydia's graduation--I can't believe I'm graduating my second kid.  Unbelievable!  I have a feeling the way we celebrate this one will be very different from the way we celebrated the first.  But I want to make it just as special so it's time to start planning now.

6. One on One Dates--Yes, this is parenting.  But with homeschool, parenting and education bleed into each other.  Having strong relationships and time to listen can only allow for more openness and connection during our homeschool days.

7. Plan 6+ homeschool field trips--Having one kid graduated and two in high school, I realize more every day just how small this window of time really is.  So field trips mean so much.  Making time to enjoy learning, experience new opportunities, expand their horizons... I have 2 in the works right now, with multiple tabs open for potential learning over the next year.

8. Stay invested in our homeschool group--Our high school home group has been a lifeline this year.  Giving my kids an opportunity to make likeminded friends AND be mentored by other quality parents... WIN/WIN!  I'm definitely making time in our schedule to keep this going.

As you can see, my theme this year is CONNECTION, CONNECTION, CONNECTION!  Now more than ever, I'm well aware of how important relationship is in our homeschool.  Everything flows from that starting point.  So happy to be raising my very best friends.

Are you making homeschool resolutions this year?

Our 2026 Read Aloud List

Listening for Lions by Gloria Whalen

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

Turtles of the Midnight Moon by Maria Jose Fitzgerald

Shooting Kabul by N.H. Sendai

Ice Drift by Theodore Taylor

See Saw Girl by Linda Sue Park

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Magnitude by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Hawk that Dare Not Hunt by Day by Scott O'Dell

The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

What are you reading in your homeschool?