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Today we visited the wildlife museum! It was amazing to see wildlife from all over the world. I am continually amazed at the beauty and variety that surrounds us. My favorite exhibit was the butterflies! 🦋

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.” { Saint Patrick } Just loved this. I have been thinking lately about how humbling life is. The older I get, the more experiences I have, the more I realize just how much I rely upon Him for EVERYTHING. ❤️

One of my favorite times of the day! ❤️ #storytime

$“Wise and purposeful letting alone is the best part of education.” { Charlotte Mason } #riley_classroom$

“Wise and purposeful letting alone is the best part of education.” { Charlotte Mason } #riley_classroom

I had no idea how time consuming building a house is! I feel like it’s another full-time job figuring everything out (and then second-guessing myself and figuring out again)! But it sure is so much fun to watch things come together/hoping things come together well. These boys have been so patient. And so dirty—SO MUCH dirt! Once we move in I think I will need to hose them off multiple times a day before they enter the house!

Greatness often has simple beginnings. 🌿 Years from now I feel like I will look back on this time with so much gratitude! Gratitude for time spent together reading, for discussions, for lessons learned resolving conflict, sharing the things I love with them, the time and space for them to share the things they love with me, baking together, appreciating art together, appreciating beauty together. Just so much richness! #ahomeoflearning #homeschool

Happiest fifth birthday to my precious Abraham! Oh, how we love him! He is my special friend, he brings so much joy and peace to our family. I am grateful beyond measure to be his mama!! ❤️❤️❤️

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” { Proverbs 29:18 } I cannot tell you how many times this verse has popped into my head over the last few years! Vision is so important in creating a rich and purposeful life, and vision is paramount because it gets us through the hard stuff! The last few years have been full/crazy for us: moving multiple times, renovating, homeschooling (during some pretty crazy stuff), starting businesses, building, moving (again). During some moments I have felt very overwhelmed! But it’s been interesting to watch things unfold in unexpected and beautiful ways (God is so good). Having vision helps guide and root us. It provides stability through storms and ultimately the opportunity to create the life we want to live. ✨🌿✨

“Do not wait for the boy to grow up before you treat him as an equal. A proper amount of confidence, words of encouragement and advice . . . give him to understand that you trust him in many ways, helps to make a man of him long before he is a man of either stature or years . . . If a boy finds he can make a few articles with his hands, it tends to make him rely on himself. And the planning that is necessary for the execution of the work is a discipline and an education of great value to him.” { circa 1890 Architect and Building News — via The Wright Brothers by David McCollough } My boys and I recently started listening to this book—all about the remarkable lives of Orville and Wilbur Wright. We are on chapter 3, and I am finding all sorts of inspiration for education, parenting, and just general inspiration personally. Just an incredible, well-written book! 🌿

“A child should never be made to feel that he is lagging behind others of his age. We don't harass babies of eighteen months to walk if they still crawl. Einstein only started talking at four years! By being allowed to learn at their own speed, the children taught by Charlotte Mason were happy with their mastery skills. They did not "fail" or "pass." They learned how to read and write accurately. A high standard was expected, but at a level appropriate to the child's ability. It was like climbing ones own private ladder. It was not to be like a race.” { Susan Schaefer Mcaulay } As I watch my children learn, I continue to feel like one of the greatest gifts is that they are not given any standardized tests or ranked or even have any idea what their peers do academically! For that matter, I do not know what their peers are doing academically either (and I’m totally fine with it)! I believe creating that space for young children helps them to thrive and develop a truly deep and lasting love for learning. I also believe it helps them develop self confidence. They learn and progress at their own rate because they are individuals. 🌿

$“Wise and purposeful letting alone is the best part of education.” { Charlotte Mason } #riley_classroom$ I had no idea how time consuming building a house is! I feel like it’s another full-time job figuring everything out (and then second-guessing myself and figuring out again)! But it sure is so much fun to watch things come together/hoping thing

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