The Habit of Generosity

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In 1891, Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee was distraught because so many poor individuals in San Francisco were going hungry. During the holiday season, he resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner for the destitute and poverty-stricken. He only had one major hurdle to overcome — funding the project. He lay awake nights, worrying, thinking, [...]

When do you plan for school and how long does it take?

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We had so much fun making Christmas cookies this week! Continuing the habit of sharing a helpful habit on Fridays, today I’m answering a friend’s question: When do you plan for school and how long does it take? For several years now I have looked forward to annual planning and goal setting – on vacation [...]

Christmas Favorites

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I found myself looking through my archives for some Christmas favorites. So, I thought it would be good to place them all in a nice little spot. Favorites like recipes we use often in December, advent resources and holiday and winter art. He appeared and the soul felt its worth… From all three Hodgepodge categories [...]

Keep Your Eyes Wide Open

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A peaceful spot. The boys examining a slug while listening to the birds. Keep calm and count on. Encouragement posted above my coffee pot. You may remember, earlier in the week, I had a refocus? This has been the week for everything. Every possible event (and still going). But, they are each and every one [...]

The Art of Thank You Notes

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With all those gifts coming from family friends over the holidays, it’s time to enjoy some art. Yes, writing thank you notes is a form of art. Just plain cardstock is the start. Even construction or printer paper is a good base. When we compose thank you notes we are: pulling out fun scrapbook paper [...]

Tips and Tricks for Online Time

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This week began our December school time habits. Earlier in the week, I shared how we Take December Off. Really, it’s a mindset. We don’t really take off, lazing around all day. We act like homeschoolers, enjoying many Advent activities, taking advantage of unit study type learning, carrying on with math here and there and [...]

Helpful Habit: When do you shop?

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A look at our week: 1. Notes tucked in Operation Christmas Child boxes | 2. Weather Kid & Junior Joker Middle Girl – on 104.7 The Fish (Click and listen below!) | 3. Pones of cornbread for Thanksgiving dressing | 4. Faux Pecan Pie – allergy-friendly Thanksgiving | 5. 1,000 Gifts App – free – [...]

Review Week 2 + Helpful Habit

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1. Middle Girl got a new devotional – it’s ok math was delayed a little each day. | 2. History review with Tapestry of Grace lapbook | 3. Rise and shine it’s biscuit time! | 4. Lots of leaves | 5. Fun fact about red blood cells from AiG Science: Human Body | 6. Sunset [...]

Steering Home

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It began as a game. Driving home from some activity one afternoon, I said to our eldest daughter, “Steer us home. You are responsible for telling me what direction to go at every intersection.” We do this occasionally with each of the three eldest children. We have always made it home. Sometimes we run in [...]

Afternoon Quiet Time Part Three – Questions

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Keeping up the habit of sharing a helpful habit on Fridays! Today I share answers to the questions about the anchor of our day. A habit of a dozen years. Originally posted November 2009 and updated recently on Hodgepodge for today’s needs. Afternoon Quiet Time is this…If you haven’t read the first two in this [...]

Destination Birthdays

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“WHERE are the SHARKS?” She needs to know as soon as we walk through the aquarium doors. She-who-turned-six simply adores sharks. Quite by accident we’ve been enjoying destination birthdays as a family this year. Well, Eldest Boy did have a milestone, planned, 12-year-old trip to the Creation Museum. But for the rest of the children, [...]

How Do You Fit It All In?

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Today, we are off at the Georgia Aquarium celebrating a six-year-old girl’s birthday! She’s the one that loves hammerhead sharks. There are also sea turtles there for Middle Girl. (Field trip following our science projects). Oh just general fun for all! Today’s Weekly Wrap answers a question I’ve gotten a few times lately. I’ve also [...]