Add inspiration to your days...all year long. (scroll down to sign up!)There is no doubt, Hawaii is a special place. I know many of you have visited the islands, and have told me you immediately felt a connection. Some of you say you feel more at home in Hawaii than anywhere else, or that a visit to the islands changed you in some way...maybe profoundly. Some of you live here, and -- like me, you're still discovering this magical place. Others of you, from all over the world, tell me
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The New Blog is Live!!!
Hi Friends!Ok, I am waaaay too excited about this news: The blog is all fresh and new! I mean, design-wise -- it has all been remade...re-did, re-done (?)...MADE-OVER!!I've been dreaming of a new look for, um, years!...and I am so excited with how it has all come together! While spending way-to-many-hours working on everything this week (I told Gretchen, my tech wizard, we could win an email-speed contest for how quickly we could shoot messages back and forth as she worked on
Kale, Pear, Gorgonzola Salad: Fall is in the Air.
Well Hello, and Happy September! September is so great because it is the lead-in to autumn. Fall! And fall...whether real, or (in my case) only imaginary, is the best!! If you've been around a while you know that I am a big fan of fall. I always have been. In my dream life I spend every September through November somewhere with crisp autumn air and falling leaves... (it's only fair that the tables are turned and I get to be jealous of some of you for a few months a year, right?...)
How to Launch Well: 7 Things to do Now to Successfully Launch your Kids when it’s Time
The launch. Sending our precious kids off - whether to college or the military, a new job, or any other adventure, is a huge milestone in our parenting journey. Just the mention of the launch can put a lump in a mom's throat and a knot in her stomach, no matter how old her kids are. Funny how our children can drive us crazy all day long, but the simple mention of them ever leaving us can turn us into a puddle of emotions in a heartbeat.And really: the whole idea of launching our kids
Coffee Date: Back to School, My Son is Going to College, and I-could-use-a-hug-Edition.
Aloha Friends!Man, did summer fly by or what!?And how are you? Refreshed? Worn out? Ready for a new season ahead? I want to hear, so please don't forget to make it to the bottom and leave me a little update! (That's part of the deal with coffee dates! )I'm excited to catch up on things...So grab a seat (and your favorite beverage!) and let's dive in! First, let's get the painful exciting part over with: By the time this goes live I will be in California, getting Josiah
Helping Our Kids Through Lonely Seasons
I'll never forget a certain car ride when my boys were much younger. One of my sons was asking me a series of questions that I honestly wasn't following well. Obviously I wasn't giving him very good responses, because finally, with a very teary voice he just blurted out: "I guess I just wanted some advice on how to make friends, but never mind!"Oh...my heart. We've all been lonely at one time or another. And we can all agree loneliness is brutal. Yet there is one thing that may be
On Family, Work, and Pursuing Passions…
One of my favorite things about blogging has been getting to know such a variety of people from all over the world who are doing life in a thousand different ways: Young singles who are chasing their dreams, moms who juggle work and home life, amazing homeschooling families, as well as awesome grandmas, and even a few cool guys who work hard and love their families.When it comes to work and family, I just love that we live in a time when there are so many options! With a bit of intentional
Swanson Boys: Homeschool Updates, and Books they’ve been Loving
I don't know about you, but my boys go back to school tomorrow. (Tomorrow!!)I hope you enjoyed the last post about Homeschooling High School. (I remember being so nervous about the idea of homeschooling high school, but it has turned out to be a blast!)As promised, I am back today to give some quick updates on the homeschool curriculum my boys are using this year, and also to share some of the books they've been enjoying.^^My 4, yesterday -- at a Hawaiian Rodeo! :) I'm