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Writer’s Desk: Kimberley Woodhouse

Writer’s Desk with Kimberley Woodhouse

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than thirty books. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate and the promise of eighteen holes on the golf course. She loves music, kayaking, and her family. Married to the love of her life for three decades, she lives and writes in the Poconos where she’s traded in her hat of “Craziest Mom” for “Nana the Great.”

Connect with Kimberley on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, BookBub, and sign up here for her newsletter here.

More about The Secretes Beneath

Some secrets can only stay buried for so long. . . .

Anna Lakeman has spent her life working alongside her paleontologist father, drawing intricate sketches at every dig. When they find dinosaur bones near their home in Wyoming Territory, they’re given the opportunity of a lifetime and are swiftly caught up in the competitive era of the Bone Wars. But after her father becomes sick and Joshua Ziegler, an old beau, returns for the summer, Anna’s world is upended, and the practical, orderly life she has made for herself shatters.

Medical student Joshua Ziegler left his hometown to forget Anna, the one woman he truly loved and deeply hurt. But when he returns, time hasn’t erased the feelings they’ve always had for each other. After Joshua’s nephew goes missing–just like his sister did years ago–and Anna’s job is threatened, tensions mount and dangerous secrets are unearthed.

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How to Homeschool in 13 Easy Steps

How to Homeschool in 13 Easy Steps

As a homeschooling mom of nearly three decades, here are some tips for planning and scheduling your homeschooling!

Homeschooling your children can be a wonderful experience. Not only do you get to spend more time with them, but you can tailor your education to your children’s needs and interests. As a homeschooling mom of nearly three decades, here are some tips for planning and scheduling your homeschooling!

  1. Know and Follow Your State Requirements: Each state has different regulations for homeschooling, so make sure you know what your state requires. This will help you ensure that your children receive a proper education and that you follow the law.
  2. Schedule Heart Training Beyond Book Training: Homeschooling isn’t just about teaching your children academics. It’s also about training their hearts—scheduling time for character development, life skills, and other essential education areas beyond book learning.
  3. Big Picture Idea: Take some time to think about your overall goals for your children’s education. What do you want them to learn? What skills do you want them to develop? This will help you plan your curriculum and schedule your homeschool days.
  4. Plan Your Week: Once you have a big-picture idea, start planning your weekly schedule. Determine which subjects you’ll teach each day and for how long. Consider your children’s ages and abilities and any extracurricular activities or appointments.
  5. Teach Kids of Various Ages at the Same Time: Teaching kids of different ages simultaneously can be challenging, but it’s doable. One strategy is to teach your older children more challenging material while tailoring the same subjects into more manageable tasks for younger kids. Another method is to have your older children help “teach” your younger children.
  6. Discover That a Routine Is Your Friend: Kids thrive on routine. Establishing a pattern for your homeschool days can help your children feel more secure and make your days run more smoothly.
  7. Whiteboards, Calendars, and Planners: Use whiteboards, calendars, and planners to help you stay organized. Write down your schedule, your to-do list, and any critical dates.
  8. Morning Time and Read-Alouds: Many homeschooling families enjoy a “morning time” together to read and study. (Personally, this is one of my favorite parts of homeschooling!) This can be a great way to start your day and build family connections.
  9. When Life Goes Off Schedule: Life happens, and sometimes your homeschool days will go differently than planned. It’s essential to be flexible and to have a backup plan. Ensure you have some activities or lessons ready if you need to switch gears.
  10. Vacationing While Others Are in School: One of the benefits of homeschooling is that you can take vacations whenever you want. Consider taking trips during the off-season when prices are lower and crowds are smaller.
  11. Chores and Home Economics: Teaching your children life skills is essential to their education—schedule time for chores and home economics, such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
  12. Birthdays, Holidays, and Other Celebrations: Remember to schedule time for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations. These are essential times to connect with your family and to make memories.
  13. Put Away Your Phone: When spending time with your children, put away your phone. Give them your undivided attention and show them they’re more important than your screen.

Remember to be flexible, adaptable, and open-minded, as homeschooling can be a challenging but ultimately rewarding journey. With a little bit of planning and organization, you can provide your children with an education that prepares them for a successful future and helps them grow into well-rounded individuals.

Homeschool Success Course

Are you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about your homeschooling journey? Do you wish you had a roadmap to help you navigate the challenges and achieve success? Look no further than Tricia Goyer’s Homeschool Success video course!

Tricia Goyer is a homeschooling expert with over 20 years of experience, and she has poured all of her knowledge and wisdom into this comprehensive course. In each video, Tricia shares practical tips and strategies for homeschooling, from choosing a curriculum to managing your time effectively.

With Homeschool Success, you’ll discover how to:

  • Create a customized curriculum that meets your family’s unique needs
  • Develop a daily routine that maximizes your time and energy
  • Cultivate a love of learning in your children and inspire them to reach their full potential
  • Foster a positive homeschooling environment that nurtures relationships and builds character
  • Navigate the challenges of homeschooling with confidence and grace

Tricia’s warm and engaging teaching style will leave you feeling empowered and equipped to tackle any homeschooling challenge that comes your way. You’ll also receive a workbook with actionable steps and reflection questions to help you apply your learning to your homeschooling journey.

Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from one of the most respected homeschooling experts in the industry. Enroll in Tricia Goyer’s Homeschool Success video course today and start your journey to homeschooling success!

Homeschool Success Course only $9
Purchase the course here.

  1. Homeschool Success Course only $9

    Purchase the course here.

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How Prayer Changes the Future for Adoption

 

How Prayer Changes the Future for Adoption
How Prayer Changes the Future for Adoption

How Prayer Changes the Future for Adoption

I’d like to think I’m an expert pray-er. I can clearly see how my prayers changed things. For example, I’ve had seven kids—not birthed from me—running around my house who are examples of that. Yet, the way that my prayers changed the future is different than you think.

God is not a genie in a bottle.

My prayers weren’t effective because I figured out the right words to make God do what I wanted to do. I used to think that. As a young Christian, I’d try all sorts of things:

  • praying in the morning
  • praying at night
  • praying on my knees
  • praying out loud
  • journaling my prayers

I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I believed deep down if I said the right things, at the right time, in the right way, that God could be swayed.

What I’ve since discovered is God has good plans for my life. He has hopes for me and a future.

The number-one thing that changes when I pray . . . is me.

Prayer opens up the connection between me and God. Prayer softens my heart to His will.

My prayers change the future because as I connect with Him, I’m willing to submit my will to His. As I submit and walk in His ways . . . my future is different than the path I would have taken myself on in my own according. And the future is changed.

Prayer changes the future because:

  1. I connect with God.
  2. I submit my will to His.
  3. I walk in His ways—not the ones I try to figure out.

I have dozens of examples of this, but I’ll quickly share one: adoption. Around 2000, I started praying for God to give me His heart. Soon I became interested in adopting. God tells us so many times to care for the widows and orphans.

My husband wasn’t on board, so I continued to pray (not nag). In 2007, John brought up the idea to me (yes!), and we filled out paperwork to adopt from China.

By the time we submitted our paperwork in 2008, the adoption Chinese program changed drastically, and the opportunity to adopt a healthy baby girl was no longer an option. By 2009, when I discovered I’d not have a Chinese baby anytime soon (or ever), I was crushed. I cried (I’ll admit it), but I also prayed for God’s will.

“Lord, give us the child YOU desire. I know you placed adoption on my heart for a reason.”

I’m telling the complete truth when I say that the very day I relinquished my will, I received a phone call about a birth mom looking for a home for her baby. March 2010, Alyssa joined our family—a nine-pound bundle of joy.

Even after bringing Alyssa home, I continued to pray for God’s will. (Lord, are there more children that you have for us?)

In 2012 Bella and Casey joined our home from the foster care system. Later on, God placed Lauren, Jordan, Maria, and Florentina into our lives. I love my children! I couldn’t imagine life without them. More than that, I know God placed adoption on my heart for a reason; it just didn’t look the way I thought.

Prayer changed the future because:

  1. I connected with God, and I discovered His heart.
  2. I submitted my will to His, and I relinquished myself to His path.
  3. I walked in His ways, . . . and He led me where I never expected.

Today, consider changing your future forever.

God has good plans for your life. He knows you’ll only be willing to step out into the future when your heart is changed through prayer.

How Prayer Changes the Future for Adoption

As you submit yourself to His heart and His will, expect to walk down paths different than you ever expected. You’ll learn how prayer changes the future for adoption. Also, expect to have a partner in the journey. God—yes, the God of the universe!—will be stepping out in front of you along the way and leading you in His plans.

As we continued to pray God continued to lead. Today, we have ten beautiful children. We are so blessed. And it all began when we let God changed our future through prayer.

The Adoption Summit is a great opportunity for you to take the next step and learn more about adoption. And right now you can get a FREE ticket here: www.adoptionsummit.com

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.



Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Back-to-School Life Management Secrets for Mom

Back-to-School Life Management Secrets for Moms

Secret #1 – Write in the Morning

Julia Cameron, the best-selling author, has a great suggestion for how to start every morning. She explains, “‘Morning Pages’ are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages – they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize, and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page…and then do three more pages tomorrow.”

 

This free-hand writing in the morning can allow cloudy thoughts to clear up and out to allow for more brain space in the rest of your day.

Secret #2 – Get Your Space Organized

Trying to find that one pair of shoes in a massive pile of everyone else’s shoes can rack up to hours of your life. This also applies to the 3 minutes spent in the shower trying to place all the shampoo bottles carefully back on the shelf so they don’t get knocked over again…

Giving your belongings a good organization from time to time can be a gift to yourself and those around you. You may find you really do have time to read your children those 3 extra books at bedtime.

Take a couple of days to just notice all the little things in your space that bother you. Make a list and then take action on them! (Pro-tip: I highly recommend Kristi Clover’s The Ultimate Homeschool Organizational Course — completely changed the way I organize my homeschool.)

Secret #3 – Delegate it!

Take a lesson from the best entrepreneurs out there. Delegate it. (But don’t abdicate!) As a mom, it’s often possible for me to delegate house chores, scheduling, and even finances! My Job Chart is a great online app support tool for parents to delegate managing household chores, track rewards, and even parental follow-through on reward delivery!

Delegate the scheduling and to-do list management!

Every family has different needs. Google Calendars work for some. Paper calendars work for others. maybe even Cozi.com would be a good place for you to start…

Delegate the babysitting and start a babysitting co-op!

Get a small network of other parents and start sharing the childcare. You could create a shared Google Doc, start a Facebook group, or create an account on Sit4Sit. If you recruit enough families to your network, finding a babysitter could be a cinch.

Wisebread.com also has a great list of ideas and resources in their article, “How to Save on Babysitting Without Ending Up in the Local News.“

Whatever method you choose, make sure it’s working for you and not the other way around.

That’s the big secret really. (and it’s not even a secret!)

Hope and Refreshment for Homeschooling Parents

Need more ideas and advice on homeschooling? Pick up a copy of Homeschool Basics. Receive tried-and-true homeschool advice from veteran homeschooling moms Tricia Goyer and Kristi Clover. We dish out practical help on getting started and staying the course. Homeschool Basics will remind you that the best homeschooling starts with the heart. Packed with ideas to help you push aside your fears and raise kids who will grow to be life-long learners.

homeschooling basics

Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschooling can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live.

Don’t let doubts hold you back any longer.

Get Homeschool Basics on Amazon Now!

Filed Under: homeschooling Tagged With: ,

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my newsletter, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or Instagram.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

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3 Ways You’re a Leader- And How to Be a Better One

3 Ways You're a Leader - And How to Be a Better One
3 Ways You’re a Leader – And How to Be a Better One

Many people are confused about the term “family leader.” As I’ve blogged about moms being leaders, I’ve had both men and women pipe up, “But wait, the man’s supposed to be the leader in the home, right?” Yes, but women are leaders, too, in many ways you may not realize.

1. In your role as spouse –
Yes, friends, I believe in the “S” word: submission. I believe God has called men to be the spiritual head of the home and the ones to care for and provide for his wife and family and lead the family unit. I believe wives come under their headship in willing submission . . . yet women are leaders, too.

Any time you strive to guide the thoughts, behavior, or direction of another person, you are leading! Or, as John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”

Go ahead, read that again. Mom, you are a leader! Wife, you are a leader! Your thoughts and attitudes guide your closest relationships. Family leadership can be as intimate as offering words of guidance and encouragement to a discouraged loved one, or it can be as directive as issuing specific instructions on how to drive the family car.

2. In your community –
A man or a woman’s role in leadership also extends beyond the four walls of the home. Just think of your roles at your work, at your child’s school, and in your neighborhood. Influence can also be exhibited in your roles as church volunteers and community leaders. These are important roles in our everyday lives, especially since many couples today are often not well-connected with siblings and parents. Many families are spread out, living far from extended family members. This causes many couples to create their own “family units” with like-minded friends. These are the people they vacation with and spend free time with. Seeking God in these roles is important; it’s then that couples realize they can be a positive influence in their church and community outside of their own home.

3. In your extended family –
Sometimes this is the hardest place to be a leader. We can’t choose our relatives, and sometimes the relationships with parents, siblings, aunts, uncle, and cousins can be the hardest. Often people are put into “roles” within their family. Yet in your actions and reactions, you are showing leadership—whether you like it or not.

In each of these areas, you make an impact! As a leader you . . . 

  • Build enduring relationships within the home that can have far-reaching impact beyond the home
  • Set the basic direction of life values, character development, and relational behavior
  • Involve seasons of personal sacrifice to promote the spiritual and physical well-being of others
  • Sustain love, loyalty, trust, mercy, forbearance, forgiveness, and sacrifice
  • Mature and grow
  • Foster values of love, compassion, trust, commitment, honesty, and grace within its members.

Think your role in leadership doesn’t matter? Think again. The number-one way you can be better in each of these areas is to pray.

Today take a few minutes to pray for your role as a leader.

  • Pray for your leadership in your family.
  • Pray for your leadership in your church.
  • Pray for your leadership in your neighborhood.
  • Pray for your leadership at work and school.
  • Pray that God will show you how to lead.
  • 
Pray you will submit to His leadership in your life.

The impact we can have in the lives of people around us can’t be underestimated . . . and only prayer prepares us for the work ahead!

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Discover the Beauty of Grace with Wendi Lou Lee

Discover the Beauty of Grace with Wendi Lou Lee


Wendi Lou Lee is a follower of Jesus, a former child actor, and author of A Prairie Devotional and Red Tail Feathers. The four seasons she spent on Little House on the Prairie playing Baby Grace Ingalls are among God’s greatest blessings. In 2015, Wendi was diagnosed with a brain tumor that changed the direction and purpose of her life. Her surgery and recovery led to a newfound freedom, sharing her story of God’s goodness through life’s most difficult circumstances. Connecting with people—one person at a time—brings Wendi the most joy.

Mentioned in This Episode

Red Tail Feathers | Wendi Lou Lee
Little House on the Prarie

Connect with Wendi Lou Lee

Instagram | Facebook | Big Time Grace Facebook Group

If you are enjoying the show, I have a quick favor to ask! If you haven’t yet hit the subscribe button and left a rating and a review on iTunes, please take a moment and do so! I love reading your reviews and it keeps the algorithms happy so new listeners can find the podcast as well!

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Writers, Do Not Give Up On The Book Of Your Heart!

Do you have a book that you’ve been wanting to write? Do you think it’s a great idea, but it’s been hard to convince a publisher the same? Do you feel discouraged and want to quit?  Today I want to talk to writers and encourage you: writers, do not give up on the book of your heart!

Writers, Do Not Give Up On The Book Of Your Heart!
Writers, Do Not Give Up On The Book Of Your Heart!

 

In 1999 I had an idea for a book for young people called Prayers that Changed History. As a homeschooling mom, I kept coming upon these GREAT stories of prayer such as:

  • Governor William Bradford praying for rain for the failing crops in the New World, and nine hours later clouds rolling in after a severe drought.
  • John Newton (who penned the hymn Amazing Grace) nearly sinking in a storm on his slave ship and crying out to God for mercy. God saved the ship and John’s soul that night.
  • And Florence Nightingale who, at sixteen years old, feeling called into God’s service. She prayed and committed herself to God and years later she became the “Mother of Nursing.” Nursing practices around the world have been transformed because of Florence.

prayers-that-changed-history-3dcoverAs a homeschooling mom, I knew that Prayers that Changes History was exactly the type of book I would buy for my kids. After all, I want my kids to know about heroes of the faith. I want them to understand the power of prayer.

This book was finally published in 2015 … sixteen years after I first got the idea and pitched it to a publisher. I LOVE getting feedback from parents and kids who are so excited about this book. I love that kids are learning about historical people and answered prayers. I love that they’re learning how to pray.

I’m so thankful that I did not give up on the book of my heart. And I encourage you too. Writers do not give up on the book of YOUR dreams!

To encourage you to keep going, here are a few things you need to know:

What you need to know …

1. Know that writing is a challenge.

It is hard work, and a great idea doesn’t automatically translate into a great book. Every writer struggles! Don’t feel as if you’re not the only one. Everyone has fears about not being good enough. No one writes ‘great stuff’ in their first draft. Writing is supposed to be hard. Overcome those fears one word at a time on the blank page.

2. Understand that not everyone will get what you’re doing.

There are some agents, editors, and publishers who will not like your idea or your writing. But then again, there will be someone who does. I happened to connect with an editor who immediately understood and loved my idea for Prayers that Changed History, but before that, there were many editors who turned it down. Not every idea is a good fit for every editor or publisher. But, take heart, writers; do not give up!

3. Know that some projects take time to flesh out.

Sometimes a manuscript needs to be rethought or reshaped. When it came to writing the final manuscript of Prayers that Changed History, I spent more time teaching children how to pray than I’d originally planned. My book idea changed for the better, and I’m excited that it did!

4. Know that sometimes God needs to mold you to make the message mean more.

I personally learned a lot about prayer from 1999 to 2015. I know that my book is different (and better) because of what God taught me.

5. Know that God’s timing is perfect.

God knows when a book is needed. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that Prayers that Changed History was released around the same time as the movie The War Room. There is a theme that was happening that year. God is bringing people to His knees, and it’s amazing that He desires for children to learn about prayer, too!

To encourage you to keep going, there are also a few things that you need to do:

Writers, do not give up. Here is what you need to do …

1. Keep writing, researching, and praying.

I started a filing drawer filled with stories about answered prayer. Whenever I’d come upon a story, I’d photocopy it and put it in a file. Then, when the time was right, I had all the material that I needed. Even as I worked on other projects, I kept this one in the back of my mind.

2. Keep studying the writing craft.

Like any career, writing takes time, effort, and knowledge. The more you study the craft of writing, the better you become as a writer.

3. Consider self-publishing.

When I first came up with this book idea in 1999, self-publishing was an expensive venture. You had to hire an editor and a printer, and the end result was 1,000 copies of your paperback book in your garage. Today, self-publishing is altogether different. It’s easy, it’s cheap, and it’s a great way to get your book published and in the hands of readers.

If you have a book that you’ve been wanting to write … keep going.
If you have a great idea … trust your gut.

During this time in history, we have amazing opportunities to share our words around the globe. If you have a book on your heart, don’t give up!

 

Tricia Goyer shares wisdom on how not to give up and how to finish the book of your dreams

Resources on Prayer:

Resources on Publishing on Kindle:

Resource on Self-Publishing

Happy Writing!

You might also like:

Your Prayers DO Impact Generations

 

 

Your Prayers Do Impact Generations

Do your prayers matter—not just for today or this year—but for generations? Can the prayers you pray today and the faith steps you take this week impact your descendants 100 years from now? Yes, they can! Your prayers do impact GENERATIONS!

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4 Things to Cut from Your Schedule {Before School Starts}

Does your schedule seem too full? Are you wondering how you’re going to survive the upcoming school year? That’s me. This year, I have three school-aged kids still at home, but I’ve had as many as eight at one time and I’m trying to figure out what we can add. I’m also re-evaluating what needs to be cut. God has given each of us 24 hours, and if things are too crazy-busy, it’s a sign something needs to change. And we’re the only ones who can do it.

So before the school year starts, here are four things you need to cut from your schedule.

(Also, use these four tips to gauge any activity before you clear a space for it on your calendar!)

1. Cut out anything you said YES to because of guilt…

or because you didn’t want to say no. You know what I’m talking about. You signed up to help at the church . . . because all the other ladies were. You signed up to help with that walk-a-thon because no one else did. Guilt should not be your motivator. God’s directives are usually a still and quiet leading in your heart.

2. Cut out anything that doesn’t work for the season you’re in.

Are there activities or events you used to look forward to but that now seem to be just time-wasters? People grow and change. Kids grow and change. Go through your schedule and interview each activity. Ask, “Why do you need to stay there for THIS season of my life?”

3. Cut out anything your kids aren’t enjoying.

Yes, we often believe all children NEED to play t-ball or take dance lessons, but if they aren’t enjoying it, then why do it? Follow their lead and explore their natural gifts and talents instead.

4. Cut out anything God asks you to.

Sometimes the things we’re asked to cut don’t make sense, yet God knows the future. One year I felt God tell me to cut out a lot of my writing and blogging commitments. It turns out that next year we brought four new girls into our home. Seek God. Ask Him to evaluate your schedule. Listen to His still, small voice, and obey.

What about you? How do you decide what to cut or add to your schedule?

Hope and Refreshment for Homeschooling Parents

Need more ideas and advice on homeschooling? Pick up a copy of Homeschool Basics. Receive tried-and-true homeschool advice from veteran homeschooling moms Tricia Goyer and Kristi Clover. We dish out practical help on getting started and staying the course. Homeschool Basics will remind you that the best homeschooling starts with the heart. Packed with ideas to help you push aside your fears and raise kids who will grow to be life-long learners.

homeschooling basics

 

Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschooling can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live.

Don’t let doubts hold you back any longer.

Get Homeschool Basics on Amazon Now!

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Homeschool Curriculum Unboxing: Sonlight

One of my favorite times of the year is when my new homeschool curriculum arrives. For the last couple of years, I’ve used Sonlight to homeschool all my children together. It works great!! I’m doing the same thing this year, too.

My children are Level D (ages 8-11) and Level 100 (ages 12-16) in the Sonlight homeschool curriculum. But I love to combine levels to teach all my kids together!

Homeschool Scheduling Hope

In order to make the most of our homeschool day, I literally put the two levels together and do the Read Alouds to both groups. Last time it took me 1 ½ years to go through the doubled-up curriculum this way, but none of us minded. The younger kids enjoyed the older kids’ books and the older kids loved the young kids’ books. This really helps the kids bond. From ages 7-15 we all enjoy the stories together. I can’t tell you the number of times all the kids were either laughing or crying at the same time. It’s fun to hear them talking about the stories months later.

I usually spend 2 – 2 ½ hours each day reading aloud to all my kids together. While I’m reading they’re usually coloring, playing with Legos, doing puzzles or crafts. I pause every few pages and ask questions to make sure people are paying attention. Sometimes the older girls take turns reading too.

Then, after the read-aloud time, everyone breaks up to do their individual work. This takes anywhere from 1-4 more hours, depending on the age of the child, how much work and independent reading there is, and how motivated they are.

Teacher’s Guide

What makes Sonlight Homeschool Curriculum easy is that the Teacher’s Guide has everything listed out—what needs to be done each day. There are also handouts and worksheets to go with the books. Since everything is figured out for me, there is little prep.

I’ll admit that we don’t cover every single thing in the teacher’s guide. Sometimes I’ll choose not to do all the extra activities, and we just read the books. That’s okay. My kids are learning a ton and excelling!

Watch the video unboxing here:

 

Hope and Refreshment for Homeschooling Parents

Need more ideas and advice on homeschooling? Pick up a copy of Homeschool Basics. Receive tried-and-true homeschool advice from veteran homeschooling moms Tricia Goyer and Kristi Clover. We dish out practical help on getting started and staying the course. Homeschool Basics will remind you that the best homeschooling starts with the heart. Packed with ideas to help you push aside your fears and raise kids who will grow to be life-long learners.

homeschooling basics

 

Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschooling can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live.

Don’t let doubts hold you back any longer.

Get Homeschool Basics on Amazon Now!

 

 

 

Have you checked out my homeschool success course yet?

Let me share all the practical tips and tricks I’ve learned to:

—Homeschool multiple levels in four hours a day.

—Understand the basics of homeschool laws and what your kids need to graduate and go to college.

—Discover your gifts as a homeschool teacher.

—Finding extra help for special needs kids.

…and so much more!

Here is my welcome module to give you a glimpse of this course!

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Writing Desk: McKenzie Catron

Writer’s Desk with McKenzie Catron

McKenzie Catron is a wheelchair-bound, autistic, award-winning YA fantasy author of the “Numina Parable” series and co-author of A Traveler’s Guide to The Lucky Gryphon: Recipes & Regalings.

She’s been an Arizona resident for more than two decades and lives with her doggy soulmate and service beast, Grimm.

McKenzie is also a full-time creative makeup artist and alternative model fighting against disability stigmas one creation at a time. When she’s not spending her anxious days writing novels or taking photos in her studio, you can find her over on Instagram sharing her art as @mckenziecatron.

You can connect with McKenzie on her website, Instagram, and Goodreads.

More about A Daughter of the Trolls

Are you afraid of the bogeyman?

Eighteen-year-old Sparrow can’t remember a time when she wasn’t. And neither can her mother—or the trolls, imps, gnomes, and faeries who all live in the Glade and call it home. Though Sparrow’s weak heart keeps her wheelchair-bound, she and her mother have dedicated their lives to protecting the Glade, especially from the worst bogeyman of them all: the skin-stealing, poison-ingesting witch called Black Annis.

But one night, Sparrow makes a terrible mistake, and everything she once held dear is taken from her. The Glade is no longer a sanctuary, and the only way Sparrow can save her mother and her friends is to journey out into a monster-ridden world that wasn’t made for her or her wheelchair. Joined by her half-goblin friend, Rush, Sparrow will have to confront her fears before the ones they love are lost forever.

A Daughter of the Trolls will appeal to fans of European folklore and the darker Grimm Brother’s fairytales. This is a spine-tingling young adult fantasy adventure about evil witches, monsters, and the imperfect heroes who face them all. You’ll join Sparrow and her faerie friends on a life-changing journey where they face not only their outer demons but their inner ones as well.

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Q&A with McKenzie Catron

TG: Everyone always asks for an interesting fact, we’re going to flip the question. What is one boring fact about yourself?

MC: I live in Arizona, but I hate the sun with a fiery passion, so I essentially live like a vampire all day with blackout curtains throughout my house. Gloomy, grey-skied rainy days are my happiest days, which is why I’m trying my hardest to move back home to Oregon.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for A Daughter of the Trolls?

MC: I became disabled in 2018 and prior to that I was an avid reader and makeup artist who often worked with YA monthly book boxes. My neurodegenerative condition put me in a wheelchair, and I often found myself reading almost a book a day to cope with this huge change. However, I soon found I had a harder time connecting with the characters in the books I devoured. I can’t even roll over the carpet, how was I supposed to melt into fantastical worlds full of travel and adventure? After this realization, I sought out books with disabled main characters, specifically those who are chronically ill and use a wheelchair 24/7 without being paralyzed. My search came up empty and my ‘too much’ gene totally kicked in. I figured if I wanted something like that, I’d have to create it myself. At that time, I felt so lonely and so isolated, but I was only two years into my disability at this point. If I felt this way it was no doubt that there were others out there, some who were born with similar illnesses and disabilities, that couldn’t see themselves in book characters either. Thus began my drive to write inclusive and representative Own Voices stories that touched on mental health, chronic illness, and physical disabilities!

TG: Do you have any habits or rituals as a writer?

MC: I always make sure each chapter I write is AT LEAST 3,000 words long. This helps me reach, and most times surpass, my word count goal depending on how many chapters I plan on having.

TG: What habits would you encourage others to take up to be a more productive writer?

MC: Prior to my disease progressing, I would write all day every day. Nowadays as my brain degrades and I’m losing function of my hands, I’m seeing the value in rest. It’s great to keep a routine and to try to hit a word count every day to make a dent in your draft, but it’s so easy to burn yourself out. If you can, treat writing like a ‘regular job’ and have days off. Clock in and clock out, give yourself the opportunity to have time to make yourself meals with breaks, and keep up on your social life and family time.

TG: What do you snack on or drink while writing?

MC: I’m not going to lie…I have a diet soda addiction. I’m always sipping on something bubbly as I work, it keeps me feeling fresh and often settles my stomach/nausea.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

MC: That’s tough! I’m a complete plotter and obsessive list maker (thank you ADHD and autism) so 97% of the time I have a plan of attack every time I go to write, but recently I’ve been getting stuck. My advice to you and myself is that sometimes it’s best to walk away for a little bit. Don’t sit in front of your keyboard and stare at that screen! Either take a break and find a way to reenergize yourself or if you’re determined on still brainstorming, do so in a different environment. Maybe even talk out the reason for the block with someone. I do this with my parents, but usually, I’m not looking for advice or ideas, mostly I’m talking at them and rambling on about plot points and characters. Many, many times I’ve solved my own problem just by talking out loud!

TG: Are you an “edit-as-you-go” writer or do you wait until the very end before you do any editing?

MC: With my last handful of books, I’ve done light editing after every chapter so I don’t get too overwhelmed later. Most of the time this looks like reading through the chapter to ensure it makes sense and I touched every point I needed to reach before running it quickly through Grammarly. Then, after the whole book is done, I’ll get into the nitty-gritty. As I’ve grown as an author I adopted slight changes to these methods, but it’s important to find what works for you, not everyone else. Nowadays, I’m kind of flying by the seat of my pants, but having a progressive disease makes my case a little different, so currently I’m trying to find a new way that works for me and my ever-changing brain!

TG: What would you say is the most common mistake new writers make?

MC: Rushing through the process, especially if you’re planning on going the traditional route and querying agents to get a big publisher. It’s easy to get excited or feel urgent about trying to find agents and or indie publishers who take unsolicited manuscripts knowing that this stage can take months or years. If your book isn’t the best you can make it, it can’t reach its full potential. So, take your time developing, writing, and editing your story.

TG: What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

MC: Watch out for those ‘ly’ words like softly, quietly, really, only, etc. Try to limit them as much as you can to what’s necessary in each chapter.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

MC: The next book in the Numina Parable trilogy and sequel to A Daughter of the Trolls, which is called A Goblin of the Glade, publishes November 28th! I’ve been dealing with some stroke-like events that have caused constant migraines, so the process of writing the 3rd Numina Parable book has slowed down a lot. But I have a book I wrote over a year ago going to an editor soon! This will be my first self-published novel, outside of the A Traveler’s Guide to The Lucky Gryphon: Recipes & Regalings cookbook/storybook hybrid I co-wrote with my friend and business partner, Stephen A.K.A. Quincy’s Tavern. At the moment, we are signing and shipping out preorders. We’ve got about 2,000 copies done and only 6,000 to go. So…essentially, I have a lot coming up haha

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The Best Leaders Allow Themselves To Be Led

The Best Leaders Allow Themselves To Be Lead
The Best Leaders Allow Themselves To Be Lead

I have ten kids ages from middle-schoolers to adults. Four are still at home, and they look to me daily. They are watching me, listening. I often hear my words coming out of their mouths. They follow in my footsteps, and I know my good habits and bad habits may someday be theirs. How do I know? Many times I hear my mom’s words coming out of my mouth. I find myself following in her footsteps in numerous ways. Remembering this reminds me how much I am a leader. The best leaders allow themselves to be lead.

The best leaders aren’t strict rulers, but rather part of a greater mission.

This wasn’t always the case for me. I was a single mom, and I prayed for a future husband . . . and a godly dad for my son. I met and married a wonderful Christian man, yet I had high expectations. I expected John to have the passion of King David, the practicality of Paul, and lead with the gentleness of Jesus. I expected him to see all of life as a chance to relate Biblical truths and moral lessons to our family. My poor husband!

John was a great provider, and he always spent time with me and the kids, yet when he didn’t step forward and lead our family spiritually as I thought he should. I tried to “help” him along. I grumbled, prodded, and offered—ahem—encouragement. Yet the more I pushed, the more John retreated. When I prayed about John’s “issue,” God turned my pointing finger back on me.

God told me I didn’t make a very good personal Holy Spirit for my husband.

I took the hint. I stepped back and kept my mouth shut, and something amazing happened—John stepped forward. One day he asked if we could read the Bible and pray together in the mornings. Of course I answered, “Yes!”

Being a parent is the most important life-role leadership job I’ll ever have—you’ll ever have. If you’re married and your spouse isn’t the spiritual leader you dream of, close your mouth and pray. Trust that God can guide your husband in a better way than you ever could! Also lead your children as well as you can with God as your guide.

Wanting to set a good example for your children is important, but the most important part is keeping your eyes on God and asking Him to lead your path, while also praying for your spouse. Jesus was a servant-leader, not a demanding guide. We’ll do well if we do the same. The best leaders find joy in being led, rather than trying to force their way.

 

If you liked this post, check out these others about family leadership:

Leadership In The Home

Letting Your Husband Lead

6 Ways to Effectively Lead Young Children

 

 

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