Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Journaling Through the Bible: Protection


This past week I wrote a Blogging Through the Alphabet Post about umbrellas provided more than just protection from the rain and sun. I was inspired to draw two different versions - in my Bible and my sketchbook. The last image I am sharing is pre-printed in my Beautiful Word Bible.

Original drawing in my Bible


Drawing from my sketchbook 

Illustration provided in my Bible
I linked up with the following blog(s):






Thursday, February 22, 2018

R is for Random (Blogging through the Alphabet)

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I used to take pride in the fact that I would know exactly where my books, VHS tapes, or DVDs were located on my bookshelves. I kept the majority of my shelves categorized by historical subject. All of my Shakespeare plays, both print and visual, were together just above my shelf of Tudor books, documentaries, and some knick-knacks from a trip to England. Unfortunately, since marrying and moving, my system started to become a bit more haphazard. Now I would say there are more random items on my shelves than I would like.

For example, among my Russian history books one can also find pens, our BB-8 Bluetooth speaker, a remote control for a K-9 (Doctor Who) toy, and a Celtic skull.  I have also discovered that hockey pucks given to my 4 year-old are acting as book stops for my $1.00-$2.00 Dover Books collection. There is a Christmas tree craft, Mother’s Day cards, and two sonic screwdrivers on another shelf. So random! Minecraft has also started invading my Middle Ages/French Revolution book shelf as an ocelot toy that has lost its tail too many times has moved in next to a souvenir brought back from Paris by either my grandfather or uncle.  

And don’t even ask where my American Colonial and Civil War books have gotten to since that bookshelf needed to be removed, as it was falling apart.  (They are in random bags and boxes throughout the house. I can’t wait to purchase a new bookshelf.)

I know there is a time and place to embrace randomness – like Random Acts of Kindness Day. Or when you order a mixed box of donuts and don’t really care what random iced choices that the clerk picks for you. But when it comes to books about one of my passions – random does not work. (Okay, it doesn’t work in a lot of cases for me. I took my 100+ pack of random polyhedral dice from Wiz Dice and organized them by color as soon as I could.)

Now that I have a family, I am trying to come to terms with the randomness that life throws at me. But there will soon be a major spring cleaning of my bookshelves to remove a bit of the random aspect from them.


Some Random items that may be found on my bookshelves: 



This week I joined up with the following blog(s): 


Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Wordless Wednesday: Gettysburg



View from the Eternal Light Peace Memorial (2004)
One of my favorite places to visit is Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. A stop in Gettysburg would never be complete without touring the National Military Park.


Virginia Memorial  

View at Pickett's Charge

Pennsylvania Monument 

62nd PA Infantry Regiment Monument 
Note: All photographs taken by me.





This week I linked up to:
Tots and Me
                                                                 
                                             

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Getting Ready

A Mom's Quest to Teach Logo and text of Getting Ready


I am a person who likes to be very organized. For example, when I was teaching high school, I had a binder for each chapter or topic as well as a folder on my laptop. 

So that is where I started my journey in teaching my toddler – organizing everything. I got a small binder filled it with paper, tabs, and folders and started taking notes. I set it aside for a few weeks as life took me on other journeys. When I wanted it, I couldn't find it. I spent several days looking everywhere. Thankfully it didn't disappear into the void and I did find it again. But that often seems the pattern for my life. When I need something, it vanishes. 

Getting started is an exciting adventure but the path to it is too frequently filled with obstacles.

Image of waterwheel: text  A Mom's Quest to Teach


August 2018 

What is really strange is I try to look at that obstacles differently. I am amazed at the changes that have taken place in my own outlook on life during this quest to teach our children. 


Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Describing Oneself

Text: Describing Oneself and photo of daffodils


I sat here last night and tried my best to come up with a tagline for Google+ and an introduction to myself. Anything I wrote seemed very trivial. Who really cares what television shows I like or what video games I like to play or watch others play on YouTube? Is that really who I am?

Just a short five years ago I would have introduced myself as a history teacher who liked reading Mercedes Lackey novels, watching Project Runway and other similar reality shows, and going to ice hockey games.  Today I feel like the only thing that adequately describes me is: Mom.  Some days I am okay with that description and others I feel like I want more out of my life. But for now I am a mom who wants to teach her children.

Photo of waterwheel and text of A Mom's Quest to Teach


August 2018 

Revisiting this post several years later makes me realize that one of my most important titles is Mom. That is not trivial in the least. In fact, being a mom is something to be very proud of each day.

I may not enjoy all the same hobbies but I am still content with being a mom who wants to teach her children. In fact, we are homeschooling all three of them now!

For those who have joined me on this quest, I thank you. I look forward to seeing what the next 3 years and beyond will bring.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Starting a New Project

Image of notebook with text: Staring a New Project

I have been contemplating what to write in my very first blog post. Do I introduce myself? Explain why I want to start this new project? Should I write about my journey to picking a blog name? What are my goals for this project?

Questions fill most of my life as a mom and a teacher. I question how to do things best for my family and myself. I review choices and decisions regularly.

Maybe that is the real reason why I have decided to start this new project. To work through thoughts, to express my joy and sadness in being a mom, to share crafts and lessons, and to voice my ideas on various topics.

In the end, who really knows where this quest will lead me. I just hope to become a better person because of the journey.


Sharing What We Love: image of crafts and products reviewed on blog

Updated: July 2018

As I look back on where this quest has taken me, I see that I have grown as a parent and teacher. We have made the decision to homeschool so many of my posts have been centered around that idea and the products available to homeschooling families. I have also regained my love of reading so I have starting blogging more about books that might interest moms (and not just those for children).

Thank you for joining me on this quest. I look forward to many more years with you.