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There’s nothing worse than the alarm going off when we’re not ready. We wake up already overwhelmed with the day ahead, and once we’re in that mood, it can be difficult to shake and can influence the rest of the day. Whether you had a good night’s sleep (or not), I want to share a few simple things to do in the morning to have a better day. Things to do before we even get out of bed. Here’s the simple three-step process of Centre, Gratitude, Set. It’s best to do it within a few minutes of waking. It goes like this: Centre This is a quick process to get into your body through breathing or meditation. You can do mindful breathing, a quick Mindfulness meditation, or some easy breathwork like box breath. As you centre yourself, allow the mind to get quiet, the heart to open, and notice the rhythm of breath and life flow through your body. This integrates all parts of you before the mind takes over and decides to run the show. *Note: if this is ALL you do and you don’t move on to the next step, you will still have the best day ahead of you. Everyone benefits from this practice. Gratitude Gratitude has loads of research on how it rewires our brain for happiness and optimism, and it takes less than a minute to do. Instead of reciting the same old general things, such as, “I’m grateful for my family, my health, my house…” or whatever you typically say, researchers suggest scanning the last 24 hours for positive moments in your day. | Related: 7 daily homeschool rhythm ideas for your family Then take a moment to relive them again as though they are happening right now while feeling a sense of gratitude for that moment. This approach not only gives you a double dose of feel-good hormones because you got to feel them a second time, but it’s also one of the most impactful things to do in the morning to have a better day. It also wires your brain to scan and look for positive moments in your day so that you notice more positive moments in real-time. Ultimately increasing your happiness. It’s a powerful way to start your day with happiness and a positive mindset. Set Lastly, set your intention for the day through your subconscious mind. The subconscious is most easily accessed first thing in the morning, so one of the best things to do in the morning to have a better day is to set your intention. The subconscious is our greatest processing powerhouse and scientists say its power is perhaps a million times stronger than the conscious mind so it’s totally worth doing. Start by asking yourself these questions: How do you want to show up? Who do you want to be? What is the impact you want to make today? Once you’ve answered these questions, imagine you could see this version of yourself on a screen in front of you. Observe how you move, how you interact with others and how they interact with you, notice the look on your face, and how others respond to you. Notice how it feels to be here like this. Take a few moments to savour this vision of you as your highest self today. Then, when you’re ready, open your eyes and notice how good you feel before your feet even hit the floor. You will feel aglow with inspiration and optimism for the day ahead! If you’d like to be led through these 3 steps in under 7 minutes, Click here to get my free meditation to guide you through the process. Even if you don’t do these three things to do in the morning to have a better day, it’s a great tool for days you know you need to be “on” or you have a big day ahead of you, or just because you feel like making your morning a little bit brighter!

If you’re wondering how to be kind to yourself in 2021 – Nicole’s story is beautiful! Be inspired by her words and embrace your season this year, mama. Enjoy! In May of 2017, my husband and I welcomed one of the most precious gifts one can receive. Our son, Kaleb, was born on May 30th, the day before what was supposed to be my last day of work. Then in November of 2018, we had our beautiful daughter, Kallie. Her birth was a whirlwind, taking only an hour and a half from the beginning of labor to delivery. (Whew! I mean, I said I wanted her to come quickly, but geez…) My kids are an amazing blessing from God, and I would not change anything about them. However, I was not prepared for just how much my life would change when I became a mom.  All through this stage of becoming a mom, I was also trying to build my business. My business journey began in 2015, going through a couple of name changes and rebrandings along the way. In 2017, things started to shift for me. I knew I wanted to build a business that would allow me to stay home with my kiddos, and it finally looked like it could happen.  Have you ever tried to juggle a toddler, a newborn, a laundry basket, and a cup of coffee? Yeah. That’s how running a business with two babies feels. There are just not enough hands or hours in the day. Amidst my new stretched-out body, postpartum depression, nursing, and tiredness, I was still fostering this dream of making a living doing what I loved. | Related: Essential oil blends + recipes for your homeschool Designing and making jewelry had been a fun outlet for a couple of years before I had kids. I was tired of trying to get things to ‘take off.’ I wanted to become an overnight success and just get on with my life. I had a plan to make it all happen, including scheduling my day down to the minute. Of course, when you’ve got kids, no one sticks to a schedule. (Unless it’s a 2am feeding.)  By February of 2019, I was a hot mess. I was still fostering my dream of creating a jewelry brand that would help women see their God-given identity. But how was I ever going to make it happen?  I was comparing myself on the daily with other boss-moms who were killing it in the marketplace. Thoughts like, “I should be where they are in their business right now.”, “You’re never going to be good enough.” and “You just have to work harder!” had eventually driven me to a pretty low point. I was ready to throw my hands up and call it quits. Unfortunately, the comparison snuck into my spiritual life as well. I would look at other moms posting scriptures or pictures of what they had read in the Bible that day and feel awful. I don’t have time to spend an hour in the Bible every day! A few months later, I heard Dan Mohler say that if you’re using the time you spend in the Bible to be okay with God, you’re doing it for the wrong reason. After that, I started taking snippets of time with the Lord throughout my whole day. You cannot contain God in a one-hour Bible reading session! I worship while I do the dishes. I pray while I fold the laundry.  You see, comparison destroys creativity. I spent so much time comparing myself to others– other moms, other business owners, and other pastor’s wives. And I always came up lacking. I spent many tear-filled mornings with my husband, so desperate to see my dream come true, all the while feeling doubtful that it would ever happen.  Thankfully, God had placed a friend in my life that could speak some truth exactly when I needed it. April Nicole Scipio and I have never actually met in person, but she is an amazing friend nonetheless. She’s also a pastor’s wife and owns a Christian coaching business. She helps women in faith, leadership, and business. To make a long story short, April hit me with some much-needed truth, right between the eyes. I poured out my heart over an hour-long coaching session, and she delivered some wisdom and counsel straight from the Lord. “Stop comparing yourself, Nicole. You are exactly where you need to be,” she told me. “It’s okay to build your dream slowly. But the greatest disservice you would do to yourself is giving up now.”  And she was right.  We are always told to be kind to others as we’re growing up. Rarely do we hear that we need to be kind to ourselves. We as women especially have this skewed idea that if we give ourselves grace, we are failing in some way. Resting equals procrastination. Why do we hold ourselves to such high standards and then wonder why we’re discontent?  Through that very tough season, I had to learn to slow down and be okay with where I was in my life and business. That’s just it. It was a season. Now, I’m in a different season. My kids are a bit older. My three-year-old son goes to preschool for half days, and my two-year-old daughter hangs out at home with me. They are a bit more independent now, which is somehow more difficult than the baby stage at times. However, I do have more time and flexibility to work on my business. I’ve learned that no matter what season I’m in, there will be challenges.I’ve learned how to persevere.  My husband and I still lead a crazy-busy life. As full-time youth pastors, there’s a whole other dynamic added into our schedules. I’ve learned to always come back to my friends’ advice: to be okay with slowing down my vision. “A little progress is still progress!” — Be kind to yourself. Let me tell you, as a… [read more]

Until 2020, a transition from public school to homeschool might not have ever been on your radar. But due to the pandemic, virtual learning, pods, hybrid, and homeschooling are common topics of discussion. Many parents are finding remote schooling is not a good fit for their children.  The recent Gallop poll, conducted July 30 – August 12, 2020, reveals, “While parents’ satisfaction with their child’s education has fallen, there has been a five-point uptick (to 10%) in the percentage of parents who say their child will be home-schooled this year.” So, if you are considering a transition from public school to homeschool, you are not alone. If your family chooses to transition from public school to homeschool, here are six steps parents should take to make the smoothest transition. Step 1: Consult Your States’ Laws The Federal government makes educational policy, but the states are responsible for the standards, curriculum, and other primary regulations when it comes to education. By going to your states’ website first, or HSLDA.org, you will find the answers for how to notify your school board of your intent to homeschool, what you’re expected to teach, what reporting or testing is required for your state, and other fundamental questions you may have. So, start by consulting your state laws and filing the necessary paperwork.  Step 2: Choose Your Curriculum Once you know your state requirements, you get the option of choosing what and how to teach your student. There are many philosophies and methods to choose from. But, for first-time families, it is wise to choose something simple and straightforward like a boxed curriculum that includes all subjects and is both teacher and student friendly. Consider publishers such as Abeka, Bob Jones, Timberdoodle, and Sonlight. By choosing a curriculum that includes all the components you need to know, you will have all of your basics covered. Then you can always add creative lessons and projects on top while having a solid foundation to work from.  Step 3: Start Slowly It is okay to begin with only one or two subjects for the first few days and slowly build as you find your family’s rhythm and flow. Where will you teach? What will be your schedule? Expect homeschooling to be an adjustment for both you and your children. Most families adjust more quickly now, especially because they have been home due to COVID. But if your family takes a little longer, that is perfectly fine. The number one advantage of homeschooling is that you create your own schedule and pace. This is especially important for working parents. You can alter your teaching/learning times to fit around your schedule. Step 4: Include Your Children Homeschooling is a family affair. Ask your children if there is a certain topic or subject they would like to study or if they have expectations about homeschooling. Of course, you are the teacher and need to take the lead, but this is a great opportunity for you and your children to explore some different areas that public school didn’t offer. Allow your student to choose a novel to read or a topic for a project. Your student will be more motivated, which only makes your job easier and the process more enjoyable. Also, since homeschooling allows for more individualization, consider if your child struggles with a skill, like reading, writing, or math. If so, you can tailor your lessons to go slower and give them lots of extra practice to focus and strengthen those skills.  Step 5: Find Other Homeschooling Families There are literally millions of homeschooling families currently in the United States and more resources than you can imagine! Search online for blogs, Facebook groups, and YouTube channels. Find co-ops, hybrid schools, pods, and other families in your area to network with virtually and in person. Even connecting with one or two other families will allow you and your children to build relationships, process the adjustment, ask and answer questions, and make the transition to homeschooling an enjoyable experience.  Step 6: What If We Don’t Like Homeschooling? Students can typically re-enter the public school system fairly easily if they are below eighth grade. If your student is in high school, because of credits, it can be a bit more complicated. For a successful re-entry to public school, keep open communication with your school board, teachers, and administrators. This will assure you are meeting their credit requirements.  It can feel daunting to step out from the security of public school, but with these six steps, you can confidently transition from public school to homeschool. After you have a little experience under your belt and you witness your children learning and growing under your leadership, you may find that homeschooling is a great fit for your family. Even if your desire is to re-enter the public-school system once the health threats are passed, the time homeschooling your family won’t be wasted.

5 Quotes Inspired by Gratitude to Stimulate Your Child’s Essay Writing Skills was written by Claudia Hotea, a guest contributor to the Homeschool Bundle + the Create Your Homeschool Blog! Enjoy! Essay Writing?! Huh? If you have just inhaled and exhaled deeply and closed your eyes for a couple of seconds, I know that you are dealing with the same issues that many homeschooling parents do. You get the importance of your child writing good essays, especially if your goal is to see them through college. However, there is no shame or fear in admitting that sometimes it is difficult to nudge them in the right direction. This is why you need to take advantage of every possible opportunity to foster this skill and to encourage them to write essays. | Related: Autumn Journal Prompts For Your Homeschool Probably, autumn and winter are the best seasons to offer them renewed opportunities for practicing. With so many positive holidays in sight, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it all! Especially with expository essay writing! A favorite holiday to do that is Thanksgiving. This is a season full of grace and gratitude. By instilling these values early on, you would guarantee that your children will become adults with a full-rounded grateful personality. Giving thanks for everything that God has provided is an excellent way to fill hearts and challenge minds. Inspire your children with the words of great men and women! Give them quotes that act like essay prompts to expose them to a wealth of wisdom! Essay writing will also stimulate their desire for self-expression! There is nothing more empowering than giving one’s opinion over the words of a famous person. So here are some great quotes, inspired by gratitude, that you can use today in your home school! “No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” – Alfred North Whitehead This quote is excellent for your child to reflect upon the importance of the people that help him in life. Have your child take time to appreciate every effort made by his parents and peers. “In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer It is amazing how much richness is in this quote. Your child will have to reevaluate the things that he considers riches in life. Then, take a moment to dwell on the fact that generosity is the best quality a person could have. “You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Your child will think about being kind and identify the right moments to be so. It is sad to see how postponing an act of kindness could be a source of regret because it may be too late in some cases. “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson This quote is excellent for a person that feels discontent most of the time. The simple act of counting your blessings could give you and your child a whole new perspective on life. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” ― Melody Beattie The above quote is proof of the power of gratitude. Talk to your child about the common things. Things like meals, other things they may take for granted, like their home, and the importance of building strong and meaningful relationships. You can start today and use these quotes to challenge your child into writing a meaningful expository essay in which they will develop and express their sound vision of the world. And because it is the season of giving, I would like to offer you a gift! A free, useful resource that would help you get started on this road of essay writing.  The FREE SAMPLE – Expository Essay Writing Unit – Inspired By Gratitude Prompts has an Essay Checklist! It includes all the parts that a proper expository essay needs to have in its introduction, body, and conclusion. It also has an Essay Template you can use for your child to write an essay, TEN additional quotes to use in your home school, and two other surprises for you!