By: Madeline Keane, guest blogger This is my story about life, the mistakes I’ve made, the things I’ve learned, and the changes that are about to happen. Things started to really change in my life when my family and I felt God calling us to homeschool. I had been going to a charter school for four years. It was a pretty good experience, nothing bad really happened, but God was […]

We were casually chit-chatting about this and that as we drove through town that day.  It was a Sunday.  I noticed Izzy looking out the front seat, passenger’s window.  Her eyes followed the scenery outside.  I could tell she was thinking about something.  Then she turned to me and said, “Mom, do you know I would lay down my life for you and Dad?  I would die for you.” “What?  […]

I’ve often wondered, or more like fretted and worried, if we allow our children too much freedom when it comes to technology.  In some of the parenting circles I run in, I feel the judgment behind the raised eyebrows when they see my now 11-year-old pull out her smartphone and text.  I feel it takes every fiber of my being to keep my mouth shut and not go into a […]

As I was driving into our neighborhood today I noticed a mom pushing a stroller, and walking next to her was her older daughter, probably about five-years-old.  I smiled, and then inhaled deeply to try and stop the tears that wanted to pour out of my eyes. Oh how I remember those days. And then the sting of reality set in.  In less than two weeks, my baby, who used […]

Izzy loves crafts.  She takes after me in that way.  Both girls do.  We love crafting together.  The other day we decided we wanted to learn crocheting.  We sat down at the computer and found some YouTube tutorials on how to crochet.  After a few minutes, maybe hours, I became frustrated and gave up.  But Izzy got the hang of it and continued to learn all different yarn crafts. Then […]

I was watching a little HGTV with my morning cup of coffee today—well actually a recording of the 2014 Dream House.  Come to find out you can still enter the drawing until February 14.  I thought I had missed the window to enter, but not so. I am now entered, and have set alerts on my phone to remind me to enter every day.  You see, the folks at HGTV […]

This past weekend, Izzy had the opportunity to sing in a special Christmas edition of Kid’s Choir at our church.  Despite the long weekend, and all the yawning she did on stage through the last service, she had a blast. Last night, after a restful afternoon, she shared with me all the details. “So Mom, I loved Miss Krista (a different Krista than me) who was my leader.  She said […]

Yesterday our family enjoyed a rare Sunday afternoon at home.  It was delightful and relaxing.  And the Broncos won!!  During the game, I noticed Matt was sipping some Cranberry-Grape juice.  Not sure how that goes with football, but . . . “Honey, this juice is amazing.  It’s like drinking communion juice—anytime I want.” Minus the unleavened bread bites of course. “Please keep buying this kind of juice.  It’s so good!” […]

Izzy has been joining us in Big Church lately.  (Just to be clear, we sit on chairs, not pews, but that word fit the title of this post.)  She’s caught in that awkward stage of feeling too old for her own class, and missing her friends who have moved up to middle school.  So what’s a girl to do?  Why go to church with her parents of course. Because not […]