We have been knee deep in preparing for our neighborhood garage sale.  If it were up to me, I would just donate our unused items to Goodwill, but my children on the other hand are professionals in the world of garage sales.  And these professionals inspired me to get out some coloring books because we had a reason to color.

If you want your house cleaned out, allow my children to come over.  They will de-clutter your house ruthlessly.

I’m super glad they aren’t attached to stuff, but high amounts of overwhelming stress occurred as I was hit with a barrage of questions about getting rid of this and that and the sorting piles scattered throughout the house.  I applied emotional supporting essential oils and hosted a tea party.

Because those things coupled with prayer and Hillsong Alive and Free . . . you can’t go wrong.

And it wasn’t just any tea party.  But a tea party with coloring books.  But I already mentioned this.

Why Should You Color?

According to the Huffington Post, there are at least 7 reasons coloring are good for you:

1. It is an alternative to popping a pill.  Relax and de-stress by coloring.
2. Coloring encourages you to re-focus nervous energy into a positive, safe outlet.
3. Coloring apparently targets the amygdala and is helpful to those suffering from PTSD.
4. This simple activity takes us back to childhood and can evoke positive memories.
5. Coloring utilizes the parts of the brain that use focus and concentration.  It is possible for problem solving and organizational skills to improve.
6. Problem solving and fine motor skills improve due to using both sides of the brain.
7. The act of focusing and doing can replace the act of observing and complaining.

What Oils Could You Diffuse While Coloring?

My personal favorite oil blends to diffuse to foster a calm moment in our house are:

• Peace and Calming 1 or 2
• GenYus
• Northern Lights Black Spruce

An Even Better Reason to Color

While coloring has a lot of mental health benefits and creates opportunities for rich conversation with your children and friends, my sister has created an even better reason for why you should be coloring with your children and friends.

My nieces have a goal to collect 500 coloring pages by Christmas.  But why?

The post A Reason to Color appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

I discovered a happy little quote,

“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.” — Iris Murdoch

It is no secret to my family that I am HIGHLY motivated by treats — be it chai, a walk, a family bike ride, snuggling on the couch, or a movie.  Give me an incentive, and I’ll pretty much do whatever they want.

Within reason.

This morning, I read in Gretchen Rubin’s book, Better Than Before, that “when we give ourselves treats, we feel energized, cared for, and contented, which boosts our self-command — and self-command helps us maintain our healthy habits.”

It is for this reason I write today.  I’m trying to maintain healthy habits — and blogging is my treat — my reward.

Because you see, I am reading another book by Lysa TerKeurst titled, Am I Messing Up My Kids?  Yesterday, I read a very poignant chapter.

Why Am I Always Worried?

Like I have the WEIRDEST things that I worry about.  What if the kids step on rabbit poop while barefoot?  What if the hairbrush gets tangled in Omi’s hair and I have to cut a chunk of hair out?  What if I get hit in a car wreck and none of the kids are in the car — would the Engineer remarry right away?  I worry about the kids being passengers in friends’ cars.  I am anxious when I leave the kiddos and the Engineer.  Flying on an airplane or driving long distance, especially without the kids — don’t even go there with me.  What if I need to give they Heimlich?  Is the zipper closed on the trampoline? Did I turn the lights off?  Did the basement flood while we were gone? Do we have mold?

All a bit irrational.

But I discovered that I am not alone in this worry.  Lysa TerKeurst is totally fearful like me.  And it’s not that we don’t love and trust the Lord.  Its just that . . . well . . . we worry.

TerKeurst once asked her husband if he worried about they kids when they weren’t with them.

No.

I know that the Engineer often shakes his head at my over-imaginative thoughts that do not exist in reality.

Releasing My Firstborn

This week, my firstborn went off to Summer Fest at our church.  I have A G O N I Z E D over this decision for weeks.  In fact, I didn’t sign him up until 3 days before he was to attend.

I worried about the kids he would meet, the food provided, the content, being 20 minutes away from me, a shooting, wrecking on my way home . . .

Him spreading his wings . . . and growing up.

What I Know

What I do know, before you think I am totally psycho, is that my thoughts must be held captive and made obedient unto Christ.  I don’t let my fears stop me from LIVING life.  I just have to work through issues a bit longer than most rational people.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life.” — Matthew 6:27

I have to claim scripture more and use emotional oils to help my body remember — because memories are often triggered and tied to aromas.  (TerKeurst has some great scriptures to work through in her book.)

What I know is that I’m not alone.  I had no idea that other women struggled with this worry like I do.  So, this week as we launched our son into young adulthood (because we don’t believe in calling our child a tween or teen), Lysa’s chapter couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.

And to reward myself, I offered my fingers a treat: blogging.

Cheers to reinforcing healthy habits and taking every thought captive.

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Isaiah 43: 2, 3

The post Why Am I Always Worried? appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Everyone likes a good massage.  Including non-humans . . . like kale.  There are two salads I make regularly:  massaged kale salad and  Cesar salad.  If you eat at my house, chances are you will partake of one of these McKenna table traditions.

The massaged kale salad is easy to make and children are encouraged to help, as it is messy and feels slightly mischievous.

Especially when mom wants to do a photo shoot on the couch.

I never liked raw kale until I met this salad.  Apparently, a co-worker of my husband tasted it and thought the Engineer would really enjoy its flavor due to his rather limiting Psoriatic  Arthritis diet.  I’m not sure who likes it better — me or the Engineer.  And I’ll be upfront with you — the kids aren’t fans of the leafy green salad.  They prefer kale to be cooked into the consistency of a chip or even better, pulverized in a smoothie.  Fine by me.  The Engineer and I make a meal of this fresh bounty, especially when a package of uncured turkey bacon is sprinkled on top.

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of Kale — we are talking a LARGE bunch.  Remove ribs and tear into bit sized pieces
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (optional) I take DiGize essential oil with every meal  to support optimal digestion and can tolerate the cheese as it adds so much taste!
• 1/3 cup of olive oil (my favorite is Chaffin Family Orchards)
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice (I’m a fan of Costco’s)
• 1/4 tsp or more of Celtic Sea Salt
• pepper to taste
• approximately 4 cloves of garlic (I typically use Costco’s minced garlic)

Directions

Gently wash the kale.  While it looks like I am using my salad spinner, it really only serves as a holding tank for the kale as I rip it from the rib.  I rinse it in filtered water and then lay it out on a fresh towel and pat the kale dry.  The most important part of this salad that gives it such a fresh, vibrant, nutritious taste is keeping the kale firm and not crumpling it by being aggressive if your handling.

In a wooden bowl (this is my preference — it was a wedding present), mix the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper.

Add kale.

Using your clean hands, massage the salad.  I like to start at the side of the bowl and slither my hands down to the bottom and gently turn the salad up towards the top.  Continue kneading the salad for 4 minutes.  Be forewarned, the kale will significantly reduce down to about half its original size.

Add the optional Parmesan and taste.  Then decide if you need to add any more salt or pepper.

The Massaged Kale Salad easily stands alone as your main course, especially when topped with turkey bacon or chicken strips and gluten free Mary’s Gone Crackers (which we order on Prime Day!)

The post Kale Every Day: A Massaged Salad appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

This year marks the first year I am REALLY thinking through {kindergarten} curriculum for Omi.  For the past two years we have been working our way through Sonlight Pre-school/Kindergarten.  I ended up ditching the teacher’s manual and plodding along through the read-alouds.  At the time, when I invested in Sonlight, I needed someone else to plan my school days.  But now that I’m in a better spot mentally, I’m going back to my individualized curriculum approach.

This year marks Naomi’s first year “officially” at the school table.  So what did I choose?

Kindergarten Curriculum Choices 2016-2017

I’m excited to dive in!  The first edition was great BUT the updated version has:

• Over 100 pages of new teaching material
• Over 150 additional pages in the activity book including 30 new activities and 52 new Warm-Up Sheets
• 17 all-new, fully decodable stories

It has basically doubled in size!

And the best part? The price hasn’t changed!  The cost of the AAR Level 1 Materials is $99.95.  Learn more about the program here.

It’s super fun to receive your All About Reading order too.  You can request a drawing on your box.

Handwriting

I have a lot of left over workbooks and I utilize Carisa’s resources for letter recognition and handwriting, which is great because she is my travel buddy and friend!  I will probably just continue to print handwriting sheets off or give Omi copy work.

At some point my teacher might come out in me and I’ll break down and purchase a Handwriting Without Tears workbook.  (Have you tried their app on the iPad?  It’s GREAT!)

Math

I actually purchased two different math programs.  I honestly think that Omi could do Saxon First Grade.  But rather than push her too far too fast, we are using Math-U-See Primer.  I was pleased with how proficient her brother was in counting, understanding multiples of tens, and mastering his math facts upon completion of Primer.

Speaking of Foundations . . .

Classical Conversations

This will be our 5th year in Classical Conversations.  Besides learning to read with All About Reading and working on Handwriting, if we get nothing else done but our Classical Conversations memory work, then it will have been a good school day.  The memory work includes Bible, History, Science, Math, Latin, Grammar, etc.  I have seen so many ah-ha moments in the kids by having such an incredible knowledge based stored in their cranium.  Additionally, I love that at the heart of CC is to create space for our kids to “know God and make Him known.”

History & Science

Historically, Omi has sat in the room with us and colored or built something with her Spielgaben while we read.  We don’t HAVE to add in extra History and Science — but we are nerds like that.

This year we will mark our 4th year with Mystery of History.

Music

Omi will continue taking piano lessons with Mr. Rob.

Gymnastics

The girl LOVES to dance and do gymnastics.  Currently, I feel she is supposed to be in gymnastics.  I love her gym.  And I love the bravery it instills in her and confidence to try new things.  She has grown in coordination, grace, and agility.

Bonus

• Spielgaben
• Ivy Kids Kit
• We haven’t decided on AWANA yet . . . to be determined.

Are you using any of the same resources?

I sure would love to know.  What has worked for you?

The post Kindergarten Curriculum Choices 2016-2017 appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

My childhood was captured on a film camera by my dad  and until recently lived on slides.  For my 40th birthday, my dad sorted through hundreds, if not thousands, of slides to create the most tear jerking gift of my life.  Something Instagram could never do since it’s and app and not a real book.

He created a photo album spanning the time from my parent’s wedding to my very own wedding day.  It is a priceless gift. (In fact, if you look on the bottom shelf in the above picture, it’s that blue photo album.)

Photography Changed

And then when I entered the world of photography, scrap-booking was HOT!!!  There was an invitation nearly every week to attend a Stampin’ up party or Creative Memories gathering, where you would bring all of your print photos and creatively display them in paper books. These albums had this special acid free paper to protect your photos from aging rapidly.  {I think.}

Then the DSLR camera entered the picture.  (Pun intended.)  I named mine Willow.  She helped me launch this blog.  Digital photography stormed the world and the amount of photos we could take — increased.  It didn’t cost money to take a photo.  The only limitation was your storage.  The housing of photos changed.  Your husband no longer saw all of the photos you took because they were stored in some obscure and illogical location on your computer’s hard drive — or was it the external hard drive?

But wait — you got a new phone and your fancy camera began to collect dust.  Instead of capturing memories for just yourself and your immediate family, you began to take photos for Facebook and Instagram.

And that phenomenon is neat and scary all at the same time.

How I Use Instagram

My personal Instagram account largely exists for family and friends — actually for the Engineer and the grandparents.  It helps us keep in touch with each other to know what we are doing during the day.  I suppose you could say, “Big brother is always watching.”

However, I miss scrapbooks.

I also don’t entirely trust the digital world, since I wasn’t birthed into it.

It’s fun to enjoy snugging on the couch looking at old photos and sharing family history with a good photo book.

Looking at the screen of your phone simply isn’t natural and it is very distracting.

How I Make Instagram Non-Technical

So I ordered Chatbooks this month due to a VERY LARGE SALE they are having.

Like I had my ENTIRE Instagram account turned into several photo books because they were having a 20% off sale that happens 2 times a year.

They arrived yesterday, and my kids are giggling over the photos of themselves from 2013 — a lot can happen in 3 years.

Yes, my Chatbooks could get burned in a fire and thankfully I have digital backups.  But I’d like to continue to be a family where my kids don’t have a device attached to them, except on long, long, long car rides. 

Sale On Chatbooks!

Get 20% off your order of Chatbooks using the code STAYCOOL.  And if you miss the sale, get your first Chatbook FREE using the code E74H9RAW.

Visit Chatbooks today!

The post Turning Instagram Into A REAL Book appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

At our house, I am the self-appointed Vice President of Fun.  So one way this translates is that we have gluten free chocolate cake for breakfast.  Now before you think I have lost my marbles, I have to warn you — it only has the appearance of cake.

And you can use your VitaMix to boot!

It is full of eggs and beans.

Cake for breakfast is really a gluten free, cocoa, baked item.  We have used it for birthday’s, Classical Conversations mornings that require an easy breakfast, and as a snack.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Ingredients

• 30 ounces of canned or home-cooked black beans (don’t season them!)
• 10 eggs
• 2 tablespoons Vanilla (see recipe)
• 3/4 cup  of melted butter or coconut oil (my favorite oil to make it dairy free)
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 cup of raw honey
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I order this through Amazon Subscribe and Save)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Drain and rinse beans in a strainer.
3. Place all ingredients in a large VitaMix container.  I typically put the wet ingredients in first!
4. Blend until smooth.
5. Pour into a 9 x 13 glass pan.
6. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until done.

Let sit overnight for the BEST flavor!!  But immediately works too — especially if you are hungry.  The cake can be iced or served with milk!!

BTW — I’m super excited.  My VitaMix series was recently featured over at Life Is NoYolk!  Please go check out Lenny’s blog!  Great VitaMix recipes!

The post Gluten Free Chocolate Cake for Breakfast appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Gooey warm cinnamon rolls, cold brew with a splash of cream, reclining on a beach or sitting in a hammock swing perched on a mountain, all with a good book — these are the things I dream about to relax and unwind.  August’s Book Bag (which is just a fancy name for, “What Am I Reading This Month,” features two of my favorite things:  cold brew because I started brewing it myself and a good book.

What Was I Reading?

Back in June I posted that I was reading.  I have finished some of these books and some are collecting dust.

• A Walk in the Woods (abandoned beside the bed)
• Ramona the Pest (Finished and loved this even more as an adult!)
• Better Than Before (I found this book more laid back than I anticipated and it met me where I was at.)
• Never Broken (This was a GREAT book to listen to.  You’ll want your earbuds in for this Audible, though.)
• A Door In the Wall (This was read on my Kindle for Classical Conversations Challenge A.)
• Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi (I listened to this and really enjoyed Nabeel’s perspective.  He was a Muslim and taught me a tremendous amount about the Muslim culture and his process to initially logically choose Christianity.  He had to count the cost.)
• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (We listened to this in the car.  LOVED it!!!)
• Talk Like Ted by Carmine Gallo

What Am I Reading In August?

• Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst (this arrived in my Faithbox.  Faithbox is pretty neat.  My monthly subscription helps pay for three meals via Rice Bowls.)
• The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (I think I’m hooked on her work.  This was a birthday gift.)
• Rising Strong by Brene Brown (Everyone seems to be talking about her and I thought I needed to unpack what she has to say!  I purchased this with a Barnes gift card.)
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoloeon Hill (This came recommended to me.  I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this one as I disagree scripturally with a few points so far. This was also purchased with a Barnes gift card.)
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (this book is for Challenge A)
• Circling the Sun by Paula McLain (I’m so excited — this book arrived as my Book of the Month Subscription box!!!!!!)

What is Book of the Month?

Well, its my kind of adult fun.  I love, love, love books.  I am a bibliophile.  And the Book of the Month club encourages me to read — and to read books that I may not normally choose but are quality reads!

This month you can try Book of the Month Club at the low price of $5 for a 1-month membership using the code READ5.

 

Where do you purchase your books typically?

I hope you have some great books in your book bag!

The post August’s Book Bag appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

My degree is in Secondary Education with English.  This gives me a marginal degree of confidence being a Challenge A Director and tutor for Classical Conversations this year.

Except that everything I learned in college related to learning and education hasn’t helped me one iota when it comes to “classical” homeschooling, like most strangers think after I placate them with that fact.

Don’t get me wrong.  I thoroughly enjoyed college and learned many valuable lessons. My training helped me when I taught in the public and private sectors.  I am forever grateful my parents sent me to a really good school.

However, I modeled at home what I learned in college my first few years of homeschooling — I gave my children copious worksheets and made them do school very traditionally.  I had no idea tea parties, baking cookies, snuggling on the couch, and errands could be factored in to create fun and educational days.

Pairing rich memories with touch, smell, and love are powerful learning tools.

Why Am I Tutoring Challenge A?

But this whole Challenge A tutor thing has me shaking in my knees.  I’ve never even seen a Challenge A day in action.  Yet, I feel strongly called to walk this unknown path with my eldest son, Asher.  Much of my summer has been spent listening to or reading books for Challenge A.  The week leading up to our Seminar has been filled with hustle and cramming, like every good procrastinator does.

I recently had someone ask me, “Why are you tutoring Challenge A?  You don’t have the time.”  My reply — I know that the Lord has called me to such a time as this.  He has called me to invest in my five Challenge A students., in addition to my own.  I plan on doing that well.  The time I have left with my eldest son really is short.  I plan on being engaged in the whole journey leading to adulthood.

Confidence Boosters

I wish I had known about Classical Academic Press’s online Latin for Children course sooner.  Like at the beginning of the summer sooner.  And no this is NOT a paid post or an advertisement for the company.  I’m honestly telling you that day 1 of this course, explained so much to me.

Classical Conversations relies on Henle to learn Latin.  It is an immersion based approach to learning the language that has this visual gal totally lost.

Thankfully, I forgot to purchase the DVD for my Ezra’s Latin and in my quest to purchase it for him yesterday, I discovered this beautiful course that provided several missing links for me.

Hallelujah. I think I’m going to love learning a new language at the young age of 40.

I finally understand declensions and that they already contain the pronoun.  Why didn’t anyone tell me?????

I was so excited I had to take a picture with my buddy, Ezra, who will be entering his 5th tour of Foundations and 2nd tour of Essentials.  It was because of him that I was looking to purchase a Latin DVD.

Stay tuned as I share the box I created to take to Challenge each week that contains my tutor supplies!

The post My Journey as a Challenge A Director Pre-Week 1 appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Being sanguine is NOT a character trait that comes easily to me.  In fact, I have discovered that the state of unhappiness and melancholy is much easier to maintain.  I think that some people are even addicted to the attention and drama it affords them.

But having a happy, contented, or carefree attitude is something  I have fought for since I was a teenager but have desperately struggled to maintain for any length of time.  It is a constant battle I wage to take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ, though I am good at reminding my children to entertain such notions.

Types of Fun

Oddly, my role in the family is officially, “Vice President of Fun.”  It is one I take quite seriously.  Yet, it is one that requires a lot of work.  I have discovered that the BEST kind of fun requires work.  Doesn’t that seem ironic?

For example, recently we hosted what we call a CONTREAT  for 60 people in  the Wise House Oils community.  (Have you seen our new website?)

It. Was. A. Lot. Of. Work.

Yet it was so rewarding, tons of fun, and the personal relationships were amazing.  Not to mention, we planned it as a family — which was a personal highlight for me.

The Best Kind of Fun Requires Work

After reading Gretchen Rubin’s book, The Happiness Project, I unearthed the credibility to back what I knew:  the best kind of fun requires work.  According to Rubin, fun falls into three different categories:

1. Challenging Fun — while the most rewarding it requires time, energy, errands, cleaning the house, and a team spirit to prepare
2. Accommodating Fun — this looks like a trip to the playground or a movie, but involved coordinating schedules and making concessions to the individuals involved because not everyone likes the same restaurants, being out late, or is picky about the movie they watch
3. Relaxing Fun — this requires absolutely no skills whatsoever beyond holding a remote or escaping into a good book

Gretchen Rubin further enlightened me by stating that

Research shows that challenging fun and accommodation fun, over the long term, bring more happiness, because they’re sources of the elements that make people happiest:  strong personal bonds, mastery, and atmosphere of growth.  Relaxing fun tends to be passive — by design.  So if relaxing fun is the least kind of fun, why is watching TV so popular?  Because although we get more out of challenging fun and accommodating fun, we must also put more into it.  It takes energy and forethought. (The Happiness Project, p. 135)

That Explains Everything

Knowing this, I now know why when my kids ask to make cookies, have a tea party, build a fort, go to the Zoo, or host a party — I inwardly grown.  Yet, I find myself agreeing that this is a good idea.  It will just require work.  But because I know that the reward is high, I find myself planning epic events.  That explains everything.

The high from a good party or a messy kitchen is worth it because of the fun experienced and the bonding memories created.

And I know that I will once again, host a CONTREAT, throw that birthday party, teach an essential oil class, invite friends over for dinner, and plan a family vacation.

But I know that I’ll also watch Poldark, throw on a good Christmas movie, stay up late, and savor some vacation reading.

What is the most rewarding FUN thing you like to do?

The post The Best Kind of Fun Requires Work appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Do you ever have good intentions and broadcast them as unrealistic as they may be to the world — or rather your Facebook wall?  Then you find that you end up eating crow?  The objective was to journal our Classical Conversations Challenge A adventure.  This was a great idea until the hardest homeschooling year hit.  So I am eating crow soup, crow pie, crow sandwiches, and crow cookies.

As usual, I leaped passionately  into an adventure without truly counting the cost and evaluating the ramifications.  Tutoring Challenge A, sight unseen, was probably not a wise idea.  And truly, while I had my husband’s blessing to tutor (instead of attending as a parent), it has been hard for him to bite his tongue.  I have heard multiple times, in an ever so loving manner, “I told you so,” to my dismay —  because I truly didn’t see my current reality unfolding as it has.   While I thoroughly LOVE educating our children, mentally this has been the hardest homeschooling year of my life.

Why Has This Year Been Hard?

You see, my kids are great.  Their attitudes regarding learning are encouraging.  We are all still  bibliophiles. Snuggling on the couch for a read-aloud is the bee’s knees.  Tea parties during Mystery of History is the best.

There simply isn’t enough time in the day to accomplish all the academic things we truly want to do.

And therein lies the problem.  We like to always be together and learn as one.

Time Management Problems

The weight of being a Challenge A director/tutor is a heavy burden on my psyche.  I absolutely adore my 5 students and want to honor them by being prepared, asking thoughtful questions, and engaging them in quality conversations.  I desperately want to be a good steward of the minds I have been giving to shape for 30+ weeks.

Classical education has effectively trained me in the art of asking critical questions, researching independently without the aid of Google, and seeking multiple resolutions to a variety of complicated problems.

This ability to think critically and perhaps independently is beginning to backfire in our schoolroom.

That or my black sheep tendency causes me to challenge status quo.

The reality is that I want to spend time with each of my children assisting them in their school work — NOT studying by myself.  I don’t want to watch them helping each other learn as I watch — the ever present bystander — and not engaging in this rewarding process — one of the best high’s of homeschooling.

I don’t like watching my eldest worry about completing every assignment in his Challenge A guide, when the reality is that more assignments have been provided than what is humanly possible for a moderately busy 12 year old.  Yet, he doesn’t understand why it would be assigned if it couldn’t all be accomplished.  Why would someone set him up for feeling like a failure?

He understands but doesn’t like the fact that while I am his tutor on Friday, I often don’t have time to be his teacher throughout the week.  What’s up with that?  I WANT to be his teacher.

I want to study ecclesiastical Latin using Lingua Latina NOT Henle Latin and return to IEW in lieu of Lost Tools.  I simply do not understand Lost Tools and find the pace and instruction confusing.

Anxiety Issues

Three weeks into the school year, I began having major anxiety issues.  The night before Challenge A,  I typically find myself staying up late preparing.  And crying.

Seminar Day occurs — and because I love my students so much — I love the day.  Until the following week the cycle repeats itself.

So we started hosting Challenge at our house — which is a huge blessing.  I now have a clean house the majority of the week.  And we feel better that the younger kids are contained with age appropriate toys.

But there still is one problem.

Two Days Apart

Essentially there are two days out of the week that I am not with ALL of my children.

Some mom’s might be thankful for this (and that’s OK), but I am not.  If you know my story — and how hard it was to have children — then you’ll understand why I desire to be with my kids.  On Tuesday’s, Asher is off by himself accomplishing Challenge A school work.  I see him at lunch.

On Friday’s, his siblings are down in our basement with other Challenge Siblings — hopefully doing school.

It’s not ideal.

In hindsight, I would not have two co-op days.

What’s A Girl To Do?

I am not sure.  I don’t have the answers or the perfect solution.  I was prompted to share my thoughts because I started Brene Brown’s book, Rising Strong, this morning. She writes,

When we own our stories, we avoid being trapped as characters in stories someone else is telling.

I am risking showing up and being seen.  But I’m being seen so that other moms know  they are not alone.  I don’t know that it is possible to do it all.

The choice was made to tutor with prayer.  I know that I am walking in obedience.  But that doesn’t mean its easy.  Or that there aren’t consequences.  Or that I will make the same decisions next year.

But like Brown, I intend to

bring to awareness all the choices that unfurl in front of us [me] during those moments of discomfort and hurt, and to explore the consequences of those choices.

In doing so, I hope it helps some of you who are struggling in your homeschool career.

Please read my follow up post.

The post The Hardest Homeschooling Year appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Sometimes the truth is shocking.  And sometimes honesty is uncomfortable.  It can even be confusing. Truth can rub us the wrong way and create tension.  It confronts a preconceived idea.

When I actually sit down to write, the process of writing is how I work through what I have been thinking.  For me, the “work” of blogging is what I do AFTER I have worked through an issue or tried out a new recipe.  Rather than hide my reality, I share in the hopes of helping someone in the world.

I’m not in a state of emergency if I’m actually blogging about it.  

So it appears that I need to clarify.

Why I Share My Life and Struggles

Brene Brown believes that we are wired for story.  We share our stories because “we feel the most alive when we’re connecting with others and being brave with our stories . . .”  In fact, neuroeconomist Paul Zak found that hearing a story —

a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end — causes our brains to release cortisol and oxytocin.  These chemicals trigger the uniquely human abilities to connect, empathize, and make meaning.  Story is literally in our DNA.  (Rising Strong)

This succinctly sums up why I write — why I share my thoughts, life, and struggles on my blog and through Instagram.  It’s not to create drama — but to process, feel alive, and connect with others.

Because I know that there have to be other individuals who walk through similar joys and struggles.

And when you unite around a common theme — community is created.  God didn’t design us to be islands.

Clarification On Our Hardest Homeschooling Year

Apparently, my previous blog post caused some misunderstanding.  I did not mean to suggest that I am on the verge of quitting educating our children at home or quitting Classical Conversations.  On the contrary:

Bring. It. On.

I am not scared to do the hard things.

And I’m not leaving Classical Conversations.  The families and students in our Classical Conversations community are my children’s playmates and high-school graduating classmates.  We have committed to “do life together.”

Sometimes life is messy.  It isn’t always pretty.  But in community, there is safety and room to wiggle and struggle.

Learning Creativity

I am learning how to be creative.  I’m leaning on my hubby, two other directors in our community and our Support Manager, who has swooped in like an Emergency Response Worker.

The problems surrounding our school year are this:

• We meet on two days in two different locations and I am a homebody massive introvert.
• I am a tutor/director of Challenge A.  This requires time and preparation.
• I still run a full time business with Young Living / Wise House Oils.
• I am having to learn a brand new language — Latin.
• I am learning a different style of writing — and this is laborious as my MAJOR was writing!
• I am still wanting to invest equally in all of my children.
• I like to have fun.  A lot of fun.

These aren’t unusual problems.  They require discipline, creativity, prayer, and diligence.

I’m learning valuable lessons.  Tools and knowledge that will help us make wise decisions regarding the kids’ educations next year and my role(s).

Upcoming Changes

Will I make some changes?  Yes.

Next year, we are planning on ONLY doing Classical Conversations Foundations/Essentials/Challenge on the same day.  While I may still be a Director next year of Challenge B, I will prepare during the summer.  It will help ever so much that one year of Latin will be under my belt.  We are receiving a tutoring session on Lost Tools in December, that I’m really excited about.

Vacation is in the near future.  Praise the Lord. I intend to enjoy it.

Does this Help?

So, does this help?  I am in no way saying that if you are considering Classical Conversations that you should RUN.  Quite the contrary.  I think we all are receiving a quality education.  No doubt about that.

I recommend Classical Conversations.  I just highly recommend having ALL your children attend on the same Community Day. And if you are going to direct — enroll in a good Latin course prior to teaching.

But when it comes down to it — there really is only one factor that truly matters.

Did God call you to do this?

The answer for me is a resounding YES.

The post Why I Share My Life and Struggles appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

You might say, we rode on the coattails of our 4th grader this summer.  Like we used the simple fact that he is entering 4th grade to visit not one, but two, national parks and take a joyride up to the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado.

How did we do this for FREE?

All 4th graders are free with the 4th grade Every Kid in a Park pass.

The program is called Every Kid in a Park.  And it’s super easy to help your 4th grader obtain their pass. You simply visit the website, help your child answer a few questions, and print a certificate to show at the gate of the participating park you are going to be visiting.

What entities participate in the Every Kid in a Park program?

Visit the website to verify, but just to give you an idea, survey all of the various United States agencies that encourage families to wander outdoors and forge new memories!

• U.S. Bureau of Land Management
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• National Park Service
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. Forest Service
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

How are you and your family opting outside this summer?

The post 4th Graders Are FREE! appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Books are like candy to me.  I’d probably eat them if that was actually good for my digestion.  And they would be mandatory supplements for my children at each meal.

Oh wait, I do read to them at meals.

Books aren’t candy, but you can still grow fat off of them.  Fat in terms of an obese imagination, plump verbs that slip off of the tongue, stout adjectives that pierce conversations, and plump adverbs that roll into active images.

Up until recently, you would find me zoning out with a good vacation read at the end of the day, and by this I mean some mindless Christian historical fiction.

But I feel those days are long gone.  As the weeks have turned into months and the months into years, I now find myself living with 4 voracious readers, one of which is a certified young adult bibliophile.

(Note:  I do NOT have a teenager because I choose to look at my son as a young adult and treat him as such.)

While the list of classics is horrendously long, I find that as I peruse the bookstore, like my son, I too am curious about these new publications that are actually ancient history in terms of popularity. Could they one day be classics when my children are parents?

I would hate for them to miss out on some fantastic adventure just because I am stuck in a rut — only allowing the tried and true “quality literature” into the movie screen behind their eyes.  I think being a snob about wood toys is a necessity for the health of the child, but I’m not so sure that I need the same critera for authors from this century.

The author does not need to be deceased for it to be a good book.

However, because I am what one might call a helicopter parent — I’m not entirely throwing caution to the wind.  I am reading this newfangled young adult fiction, and then passing the book on to my inquisitive young adult, who happens to be reading a book by an ancient author.  I CAN’T get his nose out of that book.

But I’m not really complaining that he still likes old stories.

Do you read the same books as your children?

Mom Tip:  I placed our Compassion children’s bookmarks in my book, so that I would remember to pray for them.

The post An Author Doesn’t Have to be Dead to Read Their Book appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

I was almost tricked into believing summer was over.  Does Summer have to end?  Because I don’t want it to.  Ever.

Saturday morning was listed on the calendar as the last day of the summer reading program in our city.  That annual and familiar sense of dread cascaded over my thoughts as I skipped Indiana’s colorful fall in my head and found myself sitting in the grey parking lot of winter.

Llama Drama

However, I looked down only to spy my red and white monogrammed bag given to me by my friend Cari when I saw her in Utah earlier this summer, and claimed the simple fact — I am walking from the Farmer’s Market to the library in sandals.  It is indeed STILL summer and I need to stop my llama drama.

Disappointment at the Library

Upon entering the library, ironically I observe that it is largely void of books and lacks the busyness of the summer as everyone has already cashed in their books and cards for the trinkets.  Hope rises as I behold, in front of the Summer Reading Program table, three kids with Surprisz-A-Mals.

And I have a giddy excitement.

We eagerly line up.  The reward is so close and she has 5 points to spare.

Except, the librarian clicks her tongue in such a disdainful way that sends a large red x to my fore-brain.  I dread the words that I know are about to emerge from her mouth.

“I just gave that boy in front of you the last Surprize-A-Mal.”

No.  Surly not.  Don’t you have any more hidden? Have  you searched everywhere?  There must be more.  You JUST got the shipment in.

Mothering at its Best

I thought the mother in front of us would nudge her boys to be chivalrous.  But no such thing happened.

Trying to make the most of it, I perked up like a recently inflated balloon and mustered enthusiasm.  OK, let’s choose something else.  Look at all the empty bins.  I am sure there is still something lovely left.

She didn’t even bother to look.  She quietly responded, “I don’t want a single other thing.  I’d rather have nothing .”

I think I was more disappointed than she was.  I’d sat there with each book and read them to her.  I too was invested.  I realized at that moment, reading had become a chore and by gosh I wanted to be paid my dues.

But sometimes it just doesn’t work that way.

In a rash parenting moment where I tried to band-aid the moment, I said, “Let’s finish your card at home.  And then we will see if Amazon has your Surprize-A-Mal.”

Hindsight is 20/20

In hindsight, I wonder, should I have just let her handle the disappointment?  Do I too often try and make every moment magical and thus give my children a false view of how the world really works?

Or did I just hang on to the card in an effort to spurn the Summer Reading Program?

Summer isn’t over, though the program falsely signals the approach of the structured school year.

Summer Doesn’t Have to End.  Fact.

Summer doesn’t have to end, yet.

Consider a good book — the more you read it the closer you get to the end of the book.  But you don’t stop reading.  You keep enjoying the words that fly off of the page.

Likewise, the more you enjoy summer the faster it flies by.

So  do you stop enjoying summer any less?  Do you stop playing?  Or do you bravely insert your feet into the flip flops, create your own year long reading program with prizes to celebrate 365 days of being present?

I vote to protest the end of summer, keep reading, and start a new book right after the previous one is closed.  Summer doesn’t have to be the only time intentional fun is planned.  I vote to always keep a bucket list of epic activities to do with our children.

The post Does Summer Have to End? appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Do what I say and not as I do.  Right?

I mean that’s why I don’t eat the entire jar of  Trader Joe’s FAKE Nutella in front of my kids.  ‘Cause that’s an image they don’t need to see or repeat.

There are times I wonder why my munchkins sigh or roll their eyes — or in contrast actually help their sibling overcome a fear, or pray out-loud with boldness, or apply an oil, or come and snuggle with me every single morning to have their own quiet time (or devotion).

They learned it by watching me.  My words.  My actions.

While I may have many bad habits, there is one rock solid habit that has been consistent for at least 20+ years, to be honest.  Does this habit waver in length or excitement?

Sure.  But as long as coffee beans are still grown and Earl Grey tea exists, I imagine you will find me sitting on the couch reading my Bible or doing a Bible study till Jesus returns.

My kids know where to look every single morning.  I’m on the comfiest seat in the house.

I don’t see any other way of having a relationship with God.  I mean, I seek out coffee dates with my friends, so why wouldn’t I have one with God?  He is the Creator of it all — the miracle worker.  My beverage symbolizes an aroma of praise up to Him, or maybe it’s the Frankincense in the diffuser beside me.

My kids know that when I have my quiet time — it’s an experience.  It’s not a task or a chore or an obligation.

How My Quiet Time Began

It all started because I made a choice — a choice to have God in my life daily.  In order to know Him better I had to study the HUGE letter He left for me.  Plus colored pencils and a hot beverage have always been a staple.  Novel things motivate me to stay the course.

I’ve done all sorts of studies — my favorites being Kay Arthur, Cynthia Heald, Beth Moore, and most recently Overwhelmed by Haley Dimarco.

But then something changed.  I had children.  And I’m so thankful — because I wasn’t supposed to have any.

Children And The Demise Of Naps

I had little babies.  And those little babies had naps.  I made  nap times and my Bible time coincide.   As hard as I fought the inevitable, each of my offspring ended up relinquishing their naps to the sleep fairy and I no longer had a quiet time all to myself.  No chai.  No quiet.  No Jesus.  This is a recipe for disaster.

I had heard all the ideas of leaving an Bible open in every room, listening to the Bible on CD (yes, I said CD), or just giving yourself grace for the season you were in.

No way.

This meant war.

I didn’t want to ditch my friend, Jesus.  Nobody likes to be stood up for a coffee date.  I would find a way to have a quiet time.

In the process of saving my sanity and solitude,  I formed a dogma that changed the demise of naps into an eternally significant aspect of our children’s day.

Do What I do

I decided to teach them to do what I do.

I think the art of being still is learned and not innate.  I’m convinced that many adults do not know how to be still and present.

For some asinine reason, I’ve heard many parents proclaim that their kids are wild.  They utter ludicrous assertions that their child can’t obey or possibly be still.  While I think there are {some} exceptions, I do think that children can lovingly be taught contentedness for intervals of time appropriate for their age.

Truthfully, the key might actually lie in the words a parent speaks over their child — but that’s another blog post for another day.

What did I do to foster a habit of spiritual stillness that shows up to this day in my 13 year old and his siblings?

For The Rest Of The Story . . .

To find out, head on over to the Cultivating the Lovely podcast.

I know . . . you want to know right here, right now.  But I REALLY want you to meet MacKenzie, from Bold Turquoise!

I can’t tell you how excited I am to have partnered with my longtime friend and blogging buddy.  I’ve been to her yard (notice I didn’t say her HOUSE — but you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out why), met her sweet daughter, had coffee, eaten spicy Thai, and lived life with her.

I invite you to join us for some Chai or coffee and to sit still and listen to to moms chatting about their kids.

And Did I Mention The Giveaway?

To launch the Cultivating the Lovely podcast Season #3, there is an epic giveaway!!! You’ll have to head on over to learn  more!

My Favorite Children’s Quiet Time Books

In the podcast, I do mention that I would share my favorite books to support my children’s devotions. Enjoy this list of tested resources from our home to yours!

The post Quiet Time(s) for Kids and Young Adults appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

The reality is that guitar picks really aren’t that expensive. But I became pretty annoyed at purchasing them again, and again, and again on Amazon.  Ironically, after visiting an Indian American and Western Art museum, I discovered that you can make your own homemade guitar picks.

Because I have a penchant for novel items, I got one for myself that I happen to share with my kids. I know, that’s nice of me.  While I own a guitar named Stinky, it is my children who appear to be collecting instruments.  Not only do I make guitar picks, but I also know how to restring instruments.  It became a necessity, as you can see.

Instead of losing guitar picks, I now step on them like Lego pieces.  In fact, nearby are 2 homemade guitar picks that have been lying on the floor for 3 days.  I’ve been running an experiment to see how long it takes before someone, besides myself, confiscates them.

I have a sneaky suspicion I might sweep them up.  I mean it’s an accident.  Brooms seem to have a mind of their own.  They are attracted to Lego’s and food alike.

Because plastic gift cards, reward cards, hotel key cards seem to abound — I know we can manufacture guitar picks for not only our family but supply other needy, musically inclined families.

How To Make A Guitar Pick

The process is simple.

Find a plastic card, preferably NOT your charge card.

Insert it into the Pick Maker (see my favorite pick maker here).

Push the handle down in the desired location of the plastic card.

And out pops a guitar pick ready to play anything but a cacophony.

The post Make Your Own Guitar Picks appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

I think people who can make colorful Excel spreadsheets and keep organized planners are real life magical unicorns.  

Thankfully, I happen to live with such a human.

I’ve found that since The Engineer retired from being a full-time Engineer to a full-time homeschool dad at age 39, many of the tasks that made Brian successful at work he has implemented on the home front.  He likes to plan.

Menu Planning Genius

Like a weekly meal plan.  Where has this been all of my life?  I have always been envious of these moms that create meal plans.  I have tried to sit down and write one, but the blank calendar spaces frighten me.  Planning 21 meals seems daunting.

Yet, The EO Engineer even creates a grocery list that he uploads to Google Keep.  He shares this with me, and I click the check boxes when I am shopping at the store.  Basically he uses the recipes that I have often cooked with and cycles through them.

As a result we aren’t eating out nearly as much, I don’t stand looking in the refrigerator for hours,  the kids don’t ask us what is for dinner because it it posted on the fridge, and the cooking load is shared amongst the two of us — meaning we each have a “night off” from being the chef.

It is amazing.  Simple for him, but a magical moment for me.

A Customizable FREE Homeschool Planner for You

Most recently recently he created a homeschool planner that is color coded and . . . has check boxes, which has helped the kids and I become far more productive.

I’m totally in love with it and it works well for us.

We had a lot of people comment on my Facebook page that they WANTED and NEEDED this tool.  Now you have it!

The EO Engineer made a video to show you how to use this free tool that you can modify on your computer to suit YOUR needs.

Click on the arrows to enlarge the video.

Free Homeschool Planner from Wise House Oils on Vimeo.

Comb Bind Your Child’s Planner

Now, after The EO Engineer created the spreadsheet, we printed the number of weeks we still have left in the school year and comb-bound them.

The kids get the book out each morning and fill in the check boxes and squares where applicable.  They don’t always come to us to review their work, but this planner has HELPED improve accountability.

Theoretically, when the day is done their planners should be placed back in their cubbies after showing us their planner.

Never Purchase Another Planner

The beauty of this planner?  It’s customizable and duplicatable every single year!

Helpful Links

• Learn how to bind your own books here.
• Download your planner here.

The post Free Customizable Homeschool Planner appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Books are like candy to me.  I’d probably eat them if that was actually good for my digestion.  And they would be mandatory supplements for my children at each meal.

Oh wait, I do read to them at meals.

Books aren’t candy, but you can still grow fat off of them.  Fat in terms of an obese imagination, plump verbs that slip off of the tongue, stout adjectives that pierce conversations, and plump adverbs that roll into active images.

Up until recently, you would find me zoning out with a good vacation read at the end of the day, and by this I mean some mindless Christian historical fiction.

But I feel those days are long gone.  As the weeks have turned into months and the months into years, I now find myself living with 4 voracious readers, one of which is a certified young adult bibliophile.

(Note:  I do NOT have a teenager because I choose to look at my son as a young adult and treat him as such.)

While the list of classics is horrendously long, I find that as I peruse the bookstore, like my son, I too am curious about these new publications that are actually ancient history in terms of popularity. Could they one day be classics when my children are parents?

I would hate for them to miss out on some fantastic adventure just because I am stuck in a rut — only allowing the tried and true “quality literature” into the movie screen behind their eyes.  I think being a snob about wood toys is a necessity for the health of the child, but I’m not so sure that I need the same critera for authors from this century.

The author does not need to be deceased for it to be a good book.

However, because I am what one might call a helicopter parent — I’m not entirely throwing caution to the wind.  I am reading this newfangled young adult fiction, and then passing the book on to my inquisitive young adult, who happens to be reading a book by an ancient author.  I CAN’T get his nose out of that book.

But I’m not really complaining that he still likes old stories.

Do you read the same books as your children?

Mom Tip:  I placed our Compassion children’s bookmarks in my book, so that I would remember to pray for them.

The post An Author Doesn’t Have to be Dead to Read Their Book appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

I was almost tricked into believing summer was over.  Does Summer have to end?  Because I don’t want it to.  Ever.

Saturday morning was listed on the calendar as the last day of the summer reading program in our city.  That annual and familiar sense of dread cascaded over my thoughts as I skipped Indiana’s colorful fall in my head and found myself sitting in the grey parking lot of winter.

Llama Drama

However, I looked down only to spy my red and white monogrammed bag given to me by my friend Cari when I saw her in Utah earlier this summer, and claimed the simple fact — I am walking from the Farmer’s Market to the library in sandals.  It is indeed STILL summer and I need to stop my llama drama.

Disappointment at the Library

Upon entering the library, ironically I observe that it is largely void of books and lacks the busyness of the summer as everyone has already cashed in their books and cards for the trinkets.  Hope rises as I behold, in front of the Summer Reading Program table, three kids with Surprisz-A-Mals.

And I have a giddy excitement.

We eagerly line up.  The reward is so close and she has 5 points to spare.

Except, the librarian clicks her tongue in such a disdainful way that sends a large red x to my fore-brain.  I dread the words that I know are about to emerge from her mouth.

“I just gave that boy in front of you the last Surprize-A-Mal.”

No.  Surly not.  Don’t you have any more hidden? Have  you searched everywhere?  There must be more.  You JUST got the shipment in.

Mothering at its Best

I thought the mother in front of us would nudge her boys to be chivalrous.  But no such thing happened.

Trying to make the most of it, I perked up like a recently inflated balloon and mustered enthusiasm.  OK, let’s choose something else.  Look at all the empty bins.  I am sure there is still something lovely left.

She didn’t even bother to look.  She quietly responded, “I don’t want a single other thing.  I’d rather have nothing .”

I think I was more disappointed than she was.  I’d sat there with each book and read them to her.  I too was invested.  I realized at that moment, reading had become a chore and by gosh I wanted to be paid my dues.

But sometimes it just doesn’t work that way.

In a rash parenting moment where I tried to band-aid the moment, I said, “Let’s finish your card at home.  And then we will see if Amazon has your Surprize-A-Mal.”

Hindsight is 20/20

In hindsight, I wonder, should I have just let her handle the disappointment?  Do I too often try and make every moment magical and thus give my children a false view of how the world really works?

Or did I just hang on to the card in an effort to spurn the Summer Reading Program?

Summer isn’t over, though the program falsely signals the approach of the structured school year.

Summer Doesn’t Have to End.  Fact.

Summer doesn’t have to end, yet.

Consider a good book — the more you read it the closer you get to the end of the book.  But you don’t stop reading.  You keep enjoying the words that fly off of the page.

Likewise, the more you enjoy summer the faster it flies by.

So  do you stop enjoying summer any less?  Do you stop playing?  Or do you bravely insert your feet into the flip flops, create your own year long reading program with prizes to celebrate 365 days of being present?

I vote to protest the end of summer, keep reading, and start a new book right after the previous one is closed.  Summer doesn’t have to be the only time intentional fun is planned.  I vote to always keep a bucket list of epic activities to do with our children.

The post Does Summer Have to End? appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Do what I say and not as I do.  Right?

I mean that’s why I don’t eat the entire jar of  Trader Joe’s FAKE Nutella in front of my kids.  ‘Cause that’s an image they don’t need to see or repeat.

There are times I wonder why my munchkins sigh or roll their eyes — or in contrast actually help their sibling overcome a fear, or pray out-loud with boldness, or apply an oil, or come and snuggle with me every single morning to have their own quiet time (or devotion).

They learned it by watching me.  My words.  My actions.

While I may have many bad habits, there is one rock solid habit that has been consistent for at least 20+ years, to be honest.  Does this habit waver in length or excitement?

Sure.  But as long as coffee beans are still grown and Earl Grey tea exists, I imagine you will find me sitting on the couch reading my Bible or doing a Bible study till Jesus returns.

My kids know where to look every single morning.  I’m on the comfiest seat in the house.

I don’t see any other way of having a relationship with God.  I mean, I seek out coffee dates with my friends, so why wouldn’t I have one with God?  He is the Creator of it all — the miracle worker.  My beverage symbolizes an aroma of praise up to Him, or maybe it’s the Frankincense in the diffuser beside me.

My kids know that when I have my quiet time — it’s an experience.  It’s not a task or a chore or an obligation.

How My Quiet Time Began

It all started because I made a choice — a choice to have God in my life daily.  In order to know Him better I had to study the HUGE letter He left for me.  Plus colored pencils and a hot beverage have always been a staple.  Novel things motivate me to stay the course.

I’ve done all sorts of studies — my favorites being Kay Arthur, Cynthia Heald, Beth Moore, and most recently Overwhelmed by Haley Dimarco.

But then something changed.  I had children.  And I’m so thankful — because I wasn’t supposed to have any.

Children And The Demise Of Naps

I had little babies.  And those little babies had naps.  I made  nap times and my Bible time coincide.   As hard as I fought the inevitable, each of my offspring ended up relinquishing their naps to the sleep fairy and I no longer had a quiet time all to myself.  No chai.  No quiet.  No Jesus.  This is a recipe for disaster.

I had heard all the ideas of leaving an Bible open in every room, listening to the Bible on CD (yes, I said CD), or just giving yourself grace for the season you were in.

No way.

This meant war.

I didn’t want to ditch my friend, Jesus.  Nobody likes to be stood up for a coffee date.  I would find a way to have a quiet time.

In the process of saving my sanity and solitude,  I formed a dogma that changed the demise of naps into an eternally significant aspect of our children’s day.

Do What I do

I decided to teach them to do what I do.

I think the art of being still is learned and not innate.  I’m convinced that many adults do not know how to be still and present.

For some asinine reason, I’ve heard many parents proclaim that their kids are wild.  They utter ludicrous assertions that their child can’t obey or possibly be still.  While I think there are {some} exceptions, I do think that children can lovingly be taught contentedness for intervals of time appropriate for their age.

Truthfully, the key might actually lie in the words a parent speaks over their child — but that’s another blog post for another day.

What did I do to foster a habit of spiritual stillness that shows up to this day in my 13 year old and his siblings?

For The Rest Of The Story . . .

To find out, head on over to the Cultivating the Lovely podcast.

I know . . . you want to know right here, right now.  But I REALLY want you to meet MacKenzie, from Bold Turquoise!

I can’t tell you how excited I am to have partnered with my longtime friend and blogging buddy.  I’ve been to her yard (notice I didn’t say her HOUSE — but you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out why), met her sweet daughter, had coffee, eaten spicy Thai, and lived life with her.

I invite you to join us for some Chai or coffee and to sit still and listen to to moms chatting about their kids.

And Did I Mention The Giveaway?

To launch the Cultivating the Lovely podcast Season #3, there is an epic giveaway!!! You’ll have to head on over to learn  more!

My Favorite Children’s Quiet Time Books

In the podcast, I do mention that I would share my favorite books to support my children’s devotions. Enjoy this list of tested resources from our home to yours!

The post Quiet Time(s) for Kids and Young Adults appeared first on Jodi McKenna.