raising rileys

a homeschool life conversation with jesika harmon

We are the Harmons! Robbie, aka the Principal who the students actually want to get sent to visit; Jesika, aka the teacher/mom who some days flies by the seat of her pants; Bree, aka the sweet 9 year old who loves everything art, history and music, and not so much anything math this year; Gabe, aka the 7 year old who rolls his eyes at reading unless it has to do with animals and college sports teams; McKay, aka the 5 year old who is trying to find his place as the third child and has all the sport/math/reading talent as his older siblings but kindawants to be different; and Quinn, aka the 3 year old ballerina who reminds mom that she has to do “her math and grammar” every day too.

grumpiness and a gorgeous autumn day

Ever have those mornings where there's a general aura of grumpiness going around? Maybe not in your home, but it occasionally happens in our home. I think it usually relates to one sort of stress or another when it comes from me or my husband, and when it comes from one of the kids, I can oftentimes correlate it to not enough sleep or some sort of little sickness (a cold or something) making it's way through our home. Either way, the reality is that sometimes grumpiness takes a bit of a hold on us.

pumpkin patch & catching up

Yesterday we made it to our local pumpkin patch. It was so fun. Last week we felt quite couped up because everyone was sick, so it felt great to get out and enjoy some October sunshine!

Life I Love, MotherhoodElizabeth RileyOctober 5, 2016Comment

on humility & time management

It’s Monday, and the school year is fast approaching. I am excited for it! Last school year when Matthew was four, I viewed it as my ‘preparation year’ for homeschooling. The year I’d take to develop the self-discipline to homeschool and to figure out how to weave it into our family’s busy life and to try out some different teaching techniques. It was a wonderful year and agreat learning experience for me. I feel so drawn to homeschool for our children, for our family—but along with many other moms, I’ve asked myself, “but how?? How can I find the time in my already busy life to do this?” Here are a couple of things that are helping me. I hope that maybe they are helpful you too.

sunny in any light

Sunny in any light. The title of a sunflower-filled watercolor painting in my mother and father-in-law's home and the inspiration for a beautiful bouquet filled with sunflowers and lilacs they sent to Jeremiah and me on Monday. I love the title "sunny in any light" and I love the imagery it brings to my mind. Even when difficult trials surround us, we can carry God's light within us to help us through.

MotherhoodElizabeth RileyMay 15, 2016family, marriage, motherhood, miscarriage, faith, hope, Jesus Christ, peaceComment

mothers, listen with your heart

The other morning Matthew rushed into me with a sweet smile and twinkling eyes. I was working on something at the kitchen table. "I have a secret for you," he said. "But you'll have to listen with your heart." I stopped what I was doing and turned sideways in the chair to face him. He'd never said that before, and the profoundness of the last part struck me. "Okay, I'd love to hear your secret."

MotherhoodElizabeth RileyMarch 29, 2016homeschool, family, faith, listenwithyourheart Comments