14 Jan 2019

#076: Homeschooling Middle School Boys

by | posted in: podcast | 0

Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio blog, where we practice managing our lives with fruitful, faithful resilience, overcoming distraction and discouragement, so we can glorify God in our work and our attitudes. Today’s audio blog is a favorite of mine from 2018. I wrote it after our local CM book club began Brandy Vencel’s Start Here Guide through Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles. We discussed principle 1 and it struck me that we need to remember to apply our principles not … Read More

7 Jan 2019

#075: Set Your Mind – Intentionally.

by | posted in: podcast | 0

Welcome to the Simply Convivial Audio Blog, where we learn to walk more and more in fruitfulness and faithfulness in the midst of the mundane. I’m Mystie Winckler, homeschooling mother of 5, and every day I’m staying engaged in my family duties, learning to love what must be done, and organizing my attitude – because it needs it more than my closets. I’m glad you’ve joined me for this episode on how to set your mind on things that are … Read More

2 Jan 2019

Simplified organization for the new year

by | posted in: homemaker | 0

Does your new year need more organization? What about simplified organization? Now, notice I didn’t capitalize it – I don’t even necessarily mean my course. I’d like to explain what I mean when I say simplified organization, because I’ve received some comments and emails that make it clear there are many opinions about organization – and what “counts” as organization – out there. When I poke fun at labeled containers in closets, it’s not because it’s wrong or bad to … Read More

31 Dec 2018

#074: Organize your attitude: a conversation with Virginia Lee

by | posted in: podcast | 0

Welcome to a new year and a new plan for the Simply Convivial Audio blog – also known as the Simplified Organization and the Convivial Homeschool audio blogs. Last year I merged my two blogs into one and so it seems fitting that this year I merge the two podcasts into one. Every week a new audio blog post will publish on Mondays – no seasons, no themes, just another 10ish minute short but meaty focus session to help you … Read More

28 Dec 2018

Three Surprising Reasons to Organize Your Life

by | posted in: homemaker, productivity | 1

How many attempts at organization have you attempted and abandoned? How many times have you failed at meeting your plans and expectations for getting organized? It’s easy to look back at what hasn’t worked and how many times our hopes and dreams and visions of organization have crashed and burned – how many times we’ve boomed, only to bust – and decide that it’s just not worth it. But it is worth it, and that’s why you keep getting drawn … Read More

26 Dec 2018

Escapist Planning, and how to make plans that aren’t

by | posted in: homemaker, productivity | 0

You have done it. I know I have – and too often still do. Life is not going as planned, so we break out the notepad and start a new plan. The new plan is not a way to faithfully respond to our current reality, but rather a way to escape into a pretend future reality where our plans will work out. Turns out we ate all the fudge scraps while making a dessert plate. Clearly time to make a … Read More

19 Dec 2018

For moms, SMART goals aren’t. Let’s make REAL goals.

by | posted in: homemaker, productivity | 0

SMART goals is a common thing you’ll see, especially this time of year, in business and productivity circles. SMART is an acronym describing the characteristics of goals that will, supposedly, work: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound. The problem with SMART goals for moms is that we have less control over our situations and circumstances than we’d like to think. SMART goals assume that level of control we wish we had, so when we set goals like that, we end up … Read More

13 Dec 2018

Navigating the Holidays with Love

by | posted in: mother | 0

by Abby Wahl Holidays can be joyous, a time of year we look forward to celebrating. They can also be difficult to navigate, filled with anxiety and certain people we come to dread. Over the years I have had to learn to deal with difficult people and situations. I have found that some people we love the most can love us the worst. Learning to navigate the holiday season takes a special measure of grace. Today I am sharing some … Read More

12 Dec 2018

The Surprising Truth about Successful Homeschooling

by | posted in: homeschooler | 0

What do you need to homeschool successfully? Do you need Ticonderoga pencils and an iPad? Do you need lesson plans and activity guides? Do you need Morning Time binders and baskets of books? Well, ok, sure – you definitely need piles of books. But what’s at the heart of a “successful” homeschool? A peaceful and happy mother. Sarah Mackenzie has said it already, and that’s why we keep returning to Teaching from Rest as our homeschool-pep-talk book: Let’s break this … Read More

7 Dec 2018

When You Need to Walk Away

by | posted in: homemaker | 0

“Step away from the chocolate.” I understand needing to step back from things in life. The problem is that often what I should step away from isn’t what I’m supposed to step away from. After a rough day or a rough week, I start to think about the possibility of spending hours at a coffee shop alone with my laptop or a book. I think about taking a day trip all by myself. I’ve done both these things legitimately and … Read More

1 2 3 4 … 158