Wisdom for The Homeschooling Mom

It's been a few weeks since I have linked up with Dawn for her ABC's of Homeschooling series.  The letter this week is "W", and I immediately thought of the word WISDOM.  It seems that I've been seeking wisdom a lot recently.   If it helps anyone reading this at all, here is where I have been finding some:  

Other Homeschool Moms:  I have been blessed to be a part of a large Christian homeschool organization, and as a part of that participate in a co-op each Thursday.  Sometimes it doesn't have to be a long conversation with a more experienced homeschool mom that makes me feel better, it can simply be a hug, a pat on the back, or just a few kind words.   If you can get to know veteran homeschool moms they are one of the best sources of wisdom! 

Quality books/blogs: Here are a few of my favorite authors and sites from which to gain wisdom:

Sally Clarkson ~ any book she has written is wonderful!  I have just finished Seasons of a Mother's Heart and am currently reading The Mission of Motherhood.  I just get the sense that Sally cares for each of her readers.  Her books give me a lot of courage and conviction.  Sally's blog, I Take Joy, is also a site I visit regularly for inspiration.  Check out her blogroll, and then read the blog rolls of the people on her blog roll... it can lead you some wonderful new sites!  

I've been spending a lot of time reading a new favorite site ~ Sage Parnassus.  Especially if you are a Charlotte Mason homeschooler you will appreciate this blog.  I love it because she just writes about good education and education that is gentle, child centered and very "quiet".  I feel peaceful after I've read this blog.  

Any book by Joanna Weaver has been a source of inspiration for me.  I have most recently finished Having a Mary Spirit and it was so moving and spoke right to my heart. 

The Bible:  It seems obvious that this should be the ultimate source of our wisdom, but I hate to admit that it isn't where I always turn first.  Some mornings I sit down at the computer first thing and get the latest Twitter wisdom, or I read my favorite blogs to check out what wisdom they have to offer.  Dont' get me wrong -- these things aren't bad in and of themselves, but going to THE BIBLE first is always better.  This morning I sat and read a wonderful book/Bible study by Rachael Carman ~ Soundbites from Heaven.  I cannot tell you the wisdom I gained and how much better my day was because of this investment in His word first thing in the morning.   

These are three of my trusted sources for wisdom.  As homeschooling moms, I believe we need all the guidance and wisdom we can get.  In my adult life I've always wanted to be the one with all the answers - the one who knew a lot.  Guess what?  Homeschooling has knocked me down quite a few pegs and I am thankful.  I have so much to learn...

Where do you turn for wisdom?    

A Peek into The "Home" of Homegrown Learners

I thought it might be fun to give you a peek inside the "home" where Homegrown Learning takes place...I don't know about you, but with the arrival of cooler temperatures I start to anticipate fall.   The windows can be open a bit, and it's always been a time when I could spruce up the house.  I want the place we spend most all of our days to be inviting, warm, and cozy.  I want my children to look back upon these years with a sense of peace and fondness.   For me, taking care of my home is a labor of love for my family.   

Since we started homeschooling nearly three years ago, many areas of my home have been neglected.   Part of this has to do with the demands of homeschooling, but a larger part of it has to do with the fact that I just have felt pretty cruddy.  I've written before about my back problems, and after some intense physical therapy and an increased resolve on my part to just get better, I do believe things are beginning to get better!  I actually felt like cleaning over the past several days and have begun to feel more like my old self.   

If I commit to introducing you to a different area of my house each week, things will get in shape around here!   So.... I'll start with the moment you come in our front door:

We have a tiny foyer - if you turn right you go into the dining room.  Turn left and you go into the piano room and living room.  Look directly in front of you, and you see  our stairs leading to the bedrooms.   

Here is our dining room... I am proud to have the same dining room set my parents received as a wedding present.  They have been married over 50 years.  This set has been refinished and been in several houses over the years.  I love it that my children celebrate birthdays and special occasions on the same set I did when I was young!  We do sometimes eat regular meals in our dining room, and last year for a bit we were eating breakfast in the dining room because it is so bright and cheerful.  

It's bright and cheery because of two large windows in the dining room; the window treatments were made by my mom for the first house my husband and I purchased together.   When we moved the treatments fit right in our new home! The painting on the back wall is one I picked out when we were first married.  It has hung in our living room and dining room.  There is something about I just really like.   

This is looking back towards the foyer/front door.  This china cabinet was in my home when I was a little girl, too.  It has all of my good dishes, as well as part of a collection I'll show you in a minute.

The hutch in the dining room and the china cabinet are home to a collection passed to me from my mother.  When I was young, we went to antique stores all the time.   My mother was always looking for egg cups, and over the years, we collected close to 1,000 of them.  They are now in my home, with only about 50 displayed at a time.  I rotate them every now and then.  Each cup has a different story and I remember spotting and haggling over many of them!   So many good memories...

Do you find that you begin to clean more during a particular season, or do you just detest cleaning altogether?    I'd love to hear your thoughts... I guess I go through spurts myself.