April 26th marks Trinity’s 6th birthday AND the night before she found a loose tooth!! Our little girl is growing up so quickly! Happy birthday sweet pea!

I know that most homeschooling parents and parents in general tend to make life harder than it has to be. I swear it comes with the job description… you love, you worry, you work your buns off and you do your best for those babies. This is why I think we could all take something away from the article 10 Ways You’re Making Your Homeschool Day Harder Than it Has to Be thanks to Simple Homeschool HERE.

I don’t know if I could pick just one or two points as the absolute must reads… each and every point resonates with me. I can admit to needing to remember #6 – Forgetting yourself, your passions and your own education. I have more recently taken this to heart by requiring myself have time to craft. Have moments of reading without worrying that a kid needs me. I actually do some of my best crochet work during the math lessons. They work hard one their books while I sit and work hard on my project. I count, they count and they see that it is good to create during school time. (and there is the added benefit of my hands being busy when I tend to be the most frustrated).

#8 – Refusing to step outside the grade box has been a point we have had to make with many people. They ask what grade the boys are in… and while we do state one as they age we educate as if we do not. They have so much potential to pass their grade point in some things… so much interest in stuff that does not fall into the spectrum. One of the reasons we chose to homeschool was to experience these avenues and twists and turns. A grade is not the measuring point for our school… progression is the benchmark.

#9 – Comparing, comparing, comparing is a VERY difficult one… after all what is life but what FEELS like a big comparison. It is the letting of that go that is something I am working VERY hard at… after all what that mom with the official homeschooling blog does is by no way what we need here in our home. We make do and more with what we have and where we are!

I think I could go on and say something about each and every point on this list. I really suggest that any parent read this list and see how it could reflect in your life… schooling… I mean even a parent who did NOT homeschool could apply #6, #9…

So thank you Simple Homeschool for an amazing, thought provoking article that I am going to read and re read. THANK YOU!

I tend to stay away from strongly Christian romances but for some reason at the library this one jumped off the shelf at me. I am so glad it is. Though I did not realize until I finished it that it was the SECOND one in a series (the first being Her Valentine Hero in the Sisters Series). This series is written by Gail Gaymer Martin. And if you are looking for a heartwarming light romance with lots of heart and faith The Firefighter’s New Family is it for you!

This second chance in love is a slow burn sort of romance where you are privy to the inner thoughts and lives of a widow (husband lost to war) and a divorcee (a firefighter). This story also deals with mental health and touches on abuse. Don’t be too concerned though, the abuse is a generation removed and historical and the mental health is dealt with with a lot of compassion. I just felt I should warn the reader that these topics ARE included.

The heart must heal before it loves again and we are there to see Ashley come back from not only an injury in a storm (which initiated the meeting) but from the loss of her husband who never had the chance to meet their young son Joey. On the other side of the romance we meet Devon, a single father with visitation rights to his young daughter Kaylee. It takes thought, conversation and prayer to bring these two amazing Christians together.

I really enjoyed the speed of this romantic contemporary Christian novel. A second chance at love with adorable kids to add into the mix. The Firefighter’s New Family is a great sunny afternoon read.