FAQ

I'm working on this. In my head I've imagined it to be a page answering questions that you've asked, and listing curriculum that we love and products that we totally love and more. But, you all have to remember, I'm the mom to seven. And that is a great deal of work. So the FAQ page is going to be a work in progress...

When do you find time to blog?

I blog late {and I mean late} at night or early in the morning. I'll have my netbook on the counter during the day, but I truly do try to not be on it much during daytime hours since we do homeschool and I must be teaching. However, I keep a teeny notebook {yes, an old fashioned notebook} in my purse where I jot down ideas. And, once a week, I will work for a couple hours in a coffee shop writing several posts, answering emails and more.

Do you reply to all comments?

In my ideal world - absolutely yes. I am truly grateful for each comment, and the thought and effort behind the comments. It's like sharing a bit of you with me. I read every comment and glean insight, encouragement, and support from them. For that, thank you. As far as replying -- I have 24 hours in my day and I have to set aside time for comments, blogging, thank you's and more. I want to reply, but many times I've simply exhausted my time limit. My family always comes first. I love you all, but you read me writing about intentional living with my family and that means, for me, putting down the screen. I do try to comment or return emails as best I can.

Why do you drink coffee?

Because I have seven children and I get about 5 hours of sleep a night.

How long have you homeschooled?

We've homeschooled {officially} since our oldest daughter, Hannah, was in kindergarten. So, basically, I've homeschooled almost my entire parenting life. Technically we're on year eleven right now. Most days? I totally love it. Some days? I go back to number three and grab more coffee.

What are your tips for homeschooling with a large family?

First -- Start with the littlest ones. Fill their cups in the morning and let them know they are so important. While you're doing that have good independent work for the olders to work on. Combine lessons and make work for the older students harder. Expect that most days won't work like clockwork or look like the homeschool family you read about. The beauty in that? God made each of our families to be unique and have their own rhythm and routine.

Why joy?

This could be an entire post, but here goes. I lived for years seeking happiness but was without joy. I kept thinking if I could get this or that or change this or get rid of that then I would be happy. I realized, by the grace of God, that chasing happiness was lesson in futility. Happiness seemed to be based on life's circumstances while joy was based more on the heart. So, in the years following my husband's cancer diagnosis I began to pray and seek joy. What I found was that the sweetest moments in life, the real joy, often is found in the little simple things.

Why the phrase "beautiful connected life"?

That happened by chance and I've grown to love it more and more. When I first got back into blogging, after a several year break, I wanted to add a tag-line to my blog. It was trendy, or something. In the animated movie "The Prince of Egypt" there is a scene where Moses is in the desert  and Jethro, High Priest of Midian, is singing about life. At one point he talks, I mean sings, about how threads look messy on the back of a tapestry, but turn it around and it makes a beautiful design. That image stuck with me and is exactly what I envision with the words beautiful connected life. All the little things, the day to day, the hard, the good they're all woven to make this exquisite story called life.


Have a question? Shoot me an email or leave a comment and I'll try to answer it here.