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the grommom

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Encouragement and faith

With Kate Merrick, on her New Book: HERE, NOW

by Monica Leave a Comment

Hey Friends!  I'm here to share Kate Merrick's beautiful new book, HERE NOW, which I was blessed to get to read early and endorse.  Isn't the cover just gorgeous!?This book is SO GOOD you guys!  I want to share a few words of personal introduction, then Kate is sharing an excerpt from Chapter 4 with us!  (You're going to love it!)First from me:  If I'm honest, my book writing journey has at times been a lonely one.  Remember, I live on an island,

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Surf Updates and Inspiration from Son #3: Luke.

by Monica 35 Comments

Sooooo....It's been a long time since I've shared a "surf update" around here! Back in the day, I shared a lot of these, and many of you kindly endured followed along with them. ;)  I don't post as often anymore so I'm always hesitant to make things all about us.  But...But in the past few weeks a lot of people have asked questions about Luke's competitive surfing:  About his new sponsors and about his future plans.  And (maybe most importantly) "could he be

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family, Surf

End of Winter Coffee Date. Edition: We’ve got a Table with a View and SO much to Cover!

by Monica 30 Comments

Friends...Most of you know by now how I love a coffee date!  I try to do these seasonally, and by the time I sit down to write them I'm about to burst with all of the thoughts, questions, and stories to share.  I can't help but smile as I begin to type...imagining you right here, and I'm leaning in to ask:  Where should we even start!?  How are you?  What's new?  Can you even believe it's March already!?  Aand Shhh - We're gonna have this coffee date on the

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family, Travel

A Few Thoughts after 12 Years of Homeschooling.

by Monica 11 Comments

Homeschooling thoughts this year...(I usually do one homeschool post per year.  Here it is. :) ) --also a note on ads in the PS at the bottom....Recently someone asked me how long I've been homeschooling, and I calculated that this is my 12th year.  Wow!  That makes me feel tired crazy (so many things, but mostly) grateful.  In case you don't know my story, I'll begin by saying that I never dreamt of being a homeschool mom -- even up to the year that we

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Home School, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

The Biggest Goal I have this Year

by Monica 16 Comments

How we can be world-changers.  You and me.Recently, I've talked a lot about New Years' goals and  all kinds of ambitious plans here on the blog.  If you're an Enneagram fan, you're not surprised that I'm an Enneagram 3...also known as "The Achiever."  And I confess, I love it.  I love dreaming, writing, creating, and sharing.  And when it's done, I can't wait to do it all again.But over the past few weeks I've been shifting my priorities a bit, and in case

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Happy New Year!  Guess What’s Coming in 2019?!

by Monica 11 Comments

Hey Friends!!  Happy New Year!!Don't you just love a clean slate?   A fresh calendar...a blank journal?  Do-overs and fresh starts are my absolute favorite.  I hope you're as excited for 2019 as I am.New Years is extra special around here, because it also marks this blog's BIRTHDAY!  We're 8 years old today!! For those of you who have been around since the beginning, you know how far we've come.  (If you haven't, trust me -- we've had our fair share of awkward stages along the way.)  But

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

Merry Christmas from Hawaii {greetings, photos, and a note to read before the New Year!}

by Monica 4 Comments

Merry Christmas -- or Mele Kalikimaka, as we say in Hawaii -- from our home to yours...I hope you are having a wonderful, peaceful (we can try!) hope-filled Christmas season.  I love to imagine where each of you are and what Christmas looks like in your world.  I know (from taking an unofficial Facebook poll) that many of you will have a white Christmas this year, and our family is totally jealous really happy for you. It's summertime for my southern hemisphere readers, so your Christmas

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Home & Country, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

What I’d Say If We Could Meet for Coffee…. {Virtual Coffee Date, Holiday Edition.}

by Monica 42 Comments

Grab a cup of something warm and join me for a holiday heart-to-heart...(and a Starbucks giveaway! at the bottom.)If you've been around awhile, you know I love coffee dates.  I mean, I love coffee, but even more, I love to have coffee with a friend.  Maybe it's because I homeschool my kids out in the country (on an island, no-less) so actually getting out to meet a friend for coffee is kind of a big deal.  As in:  It rarely happens. :)  So, when it does, it can be quite a scene. Usually

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Miscellaneous, Parenting and Family

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Recent Posts

  • Healthy, Sweet, Carrot Salad
  • 3 Ways to Make “Having The Talk” with Your Kids a Little Less Awkward…{with a printable conversation starter!}
  • With Kate Merrick, on her New Book: HERE, NOW
  • Surf Updates and Inspiration from Son #3: Luke.
  • End of Winter Coffee Date. Edition: We’ve got a Table with a View and SO much to Cover!
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