Hello, dear friends. I hope you have a wonderful day ahead of you.

I’m up early, per my usual. I really enjoy waking before everyone else does to think, read, write, and pray.

I wondered if this time would ever come when I was in the thick of having babies. It finally has, and I must admit I really enjoy it.

Who would’ve thought that I’d like to get up early? Not me. But I love how it gives me extra time to think and plan.

I’ve been thinking a lot about homeschool curriculum choices for next year. Overall, I think I’m fairly settled, but I’m having a difficult time deciding which language arts/reading curriculum to purchase for my eight-year-old daughter. She doesn’t like to read, and I’ve already tried several different curricula with her. She does best with gentle lessons with a lot of repetition, and I’m at a loss of what to purchase. She is at a second grade level, and if anyone has suggestions, I’m all ears. So far, we’ve used Christian Light Education and The Good and the Beautiful. We might try All About Reading, but the price tag is a little higher than I’m used to paying.

I’ve also been pondering ways to simplify our home. Organization is difficult for me, and I have a hard time letting things go. Everything I own signifies a memory to me. Yet I know clutter affects me negatively. I’m thinking about going through my kitchen cabinets today. This is not a chore I want to tackle, but I know it will feel so good once it’s done.

It has been a nice and slow summer break around here so far, and I think there’s plenty of time to tackle a few more projects before we dive back into our studies. I had planned to write a lot over this summer break, and so far, that hasn’t happened. My writing schedule ebbs and flows, much like everything else in life. I wrote three novels and two novellas during the first five months of the year though, and I know that counts for something. If you’d like to check out my books, click here.

Right now my writing mind wants a break, and I’m giving it that. I do have a manuscript sitting in the background, and I work on it from time to time.

At the moment my heart is focused on my relationship with God, my husband, my children, and home. This feels so good and rejuvenating.

Finding contentment and beauty inside of our homes leads to a purposeful life.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead of you. I’m not sure what we will be doing yet, but I’m looking forward to whatever it may be.