Keeping the Home by Lori Seaborg - Homeschool Blogger

Giveaway Alert!!

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:07:00 -0500

On FreelyEducate.com, my high quality - 100% free - educational finds blog, Krampf.com is giving away two memberships to his science website. It's a great giveaway! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment at FreelyEducate.com. Here's the link: http://www.freelyeducate.com

And on Just Pure Lovely, the blog that took over Keeping the Home, I posted about our inside-out-and-backwards wearing boy and our daughter who reads her mama and whom I'd never give away.

by Lori Seaborg 2008

Hello, Again!

Mon, 12 May 2008 17:42:01 -0500

Hey, there, everyone!

I just noticed today that I never gave you the URL to my new front porch. It's at my domain name, LoriSeaborg.com

I'm at my new blog nearly daily, Just Pure Lovely, where I write about the things that inspire me (but sometimes also the not-so-fun things, because that's part of motherhood).

I really hope you'll visit me (or that you already do!)

by Lori Seaborg 2008

My New Blog

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:28:00 -0500

Oh, goodness, I've had such a time with my new blog showing up because I was trying to be fancy by using my own domain name.

But let's just go here instead. This should work for you: http://justpurelovely.typepad.com

Don't forget to change that in your readers!

Lori Seaborg 2006

Where to Find Me From Now On...

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:00:00 -0600

Reach my new blog go to http://www.justpurelovely.typepad.com. I hope you'll come!

It's March 25, 2008 as I write. I will let you know when my front porch is open, which will be at LoriSeaborg.com. My blog, however will remain at the above location.

Thank you so much for coming to visit me at my new space!

by Lori Seaborg 2008

Curiosity and a New Place to Go

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:01:00 -0600

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was a curious woman. I sure wish we could sit down to tea one day; I'm sure I could learn so much from her. She and I have at least one thing in common: Curiosity. She said,

"I think, at a child's birth,

if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift,

that gift would be curiosity."

I agree! In homeschool we have a beautiful opportunity to allow our children to follow their curiosity. We can't know what God is leading their spirit to explore, so let's let them explore! The same with you. Allow yourself to explore the things that are stirring up your heart and your mind.

Mrs. Roosevelt said something else about curiosity that makes me smile. I can identify so much with this:

"I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on.

Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive.

One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life."

I enjoy a fireside, especially with my hands busy with knitting or my mind busy with reading, but that's not her point. Her point, I think, is that we cannot allow ourselves to sit and say "I can't" while we watch others live and do what we could also enjoy.

This year I'm focusing on the positive, as I wrote a few days ago. I'm also more free this year than I've been in 12 years of child-rearing. Our littlest gal will be 5 years old next month, and although I'm so sorry to see the baby years behind us, I may as well dwell on the positive part of that instead of the negative, so I may as well get excited about all the free time I finally have!

Time to follow my whims. My interests. My curiosity. I can't wait to follow my curiosity more, both with the children and without them.

I didn't realize I was going to write about curiosity tonight. I was just thinking of Mrs. Roosevelt while working on my new site today. What new site, you ask?

I have begun blogging at a new site where I can upload more photos (I love photography) and designs (I love art) and crafting excursions (I love ... you know what I'm going to say!). If I feel a lengthy "text" post coming on, I'll probably post it at the blog I write weekly for Precious Moments (called Precious Moms), which will also get many reruns from the last several years that I've been blogging. I will, of course, leave the archives open here. Readers still somehow find them through Google searches.

But, mostly, I will be at my own domain: Just Pure Lovely . Know why I named my new blog that?)

And thank you so very, very much to HomeschoolBlogger for great years here and to the many readers I met through this blog. I hope all of you will come to my new site to visit!

by Lori Seaborg 2008

An Empty Cup

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:23:00 -0600

I'm exhausted. Mentally. Emotionally.

Life hit me with so many blows from Thanskgiving until now. Some things were really tough, but not everything was so hard. It's just that each thing added up over time. I didn't realize just how affected I was until yesterday when my parents left at dawn after a long visit with us. It was finally just our family and no holiday busyness. I would have thought that would motivate me to get started on the new year, but instead the weight of the weeks finally took their toll.

Yesterday morning, after I crawled out of bed, I found a note in my mother's handwriting:

"I woke up this morning with Grandpa's verse going around in my head,

'Behold I will do a new thing, Shall Ye not know it?

I will make a way in the wilderness; rivers in the desert.'

Isaiah 43, I think. I love you most, Mom"

It doesn't take something "major" to empty our cups. I recently read a journal entry from 2003 when I sounded utterly exhausted with a new baby and a 7yo, 5yo and 3yo underfoot. My cup needed filled then, as it does now. This is an ongoing part of life.

Missionary friends wrote the following in their recent prayer letter:

"What a blessing that even in the whirl of our lives, God's Word keeps our eyes and hearts focused on the never changing Truth that brings consistency to our often upside down world.

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;

and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Psm 34:18

Meditating on that verse the other day then looking out into the eyes (which are the windows of our heart!) of the many sick that sat outside the clinic eager for help, it hit me....we have an awesome opportunity through our medical outreach here. The depth of the blessing of such an incredible ministry is overwhelming.

Having done a word study on the word "contrite" I found it means broken to little pieces, like gravel. Gravel is much easier to mold into the shape desired than large stones! God desires we not be strong in our own selves but allow ourselves to be broken and dependent upon His strength and work in our lives. "

Exactly. I can't say any more than that.

Lori Seaborg, 2008.

Surfing Everyday Life Photos

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:28:00 -0600

My new favorite things to surf (always changing, never the same month to month it seems!) are photo blogs of everyday life. I am so inspired by seeing the beauty of everyday life through a camera lens.

3191: A Year of Evenings

Six One Way: A Year of Motherhood

Noticing Project: An Image a Day in 2008

and a favorite blog, which is now posting photos for 30 days:

Soule Mama: 30 everyday days

Enjoy them! Even if you're not big on photography, you will appreciate them for making orange peels in the sink and dirty laundry on the floor and messy kids look like ART. See? Our messes are art! We just need to think of them the right way.

2008: The Year of the Just Pure Lovely

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:35:00 -0600

Lately, I've needed this verse:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

This is not only the Year of Health (said with a booming voice, a bit of drama for effect) for our family, but for me personally 2008 is also the Year of the Just Pure Lovely (see those 3 in the above verse?).

This can be lived out in so many ways:

- Figuring out what drags me down, and filtering it out of my life. One way I've done this: My FreeHomeschool group has become a burden lately; I receive complaints no matter what I do with the postage rates. So I'm making it a 100% free group now, which will of course make a few upset that they can no longer charge postage, but it was either that or close the group down.

- Figuring out who brings me up and who drag me down. I will of course be friendly to everyone, but I need to be discerning about choosing positive people for the bulk of my outside-the-family time. I need friends who move forward in all areas of their lives, and who motivate me to do so also. I need friends who easily forgive, since we are all speaking and acting from our own perspective and cannot always know our friends' perspective. I need friends who are true. And I need to be that friend, not only to them but also - especially - to myself.

- Figuring out which extracurricular activities we should add. This is an area I have worked on for years, so feel like it is already positive, but it's an area I must always protect. It's too easy to get excited about a new activity offering, start something new, get overly busy running around. But are those things so great that they are worth leaving home to do? That's what I have to decide.

- Figuring out which t.v. shows, books, movies are positive, and watching only those. This is a bit tough with movies, because I guess action movies aren't "just pure lovely," yet I like to watch them with my husband to spend time with him and to enjoy something together. So I hope you know what I mean, when I say that I need to determine which t.v. shows, books, movie are "positive." Those that add something of value to my life. Some t.v. shows not only don't teach me anything educational, but they are relaxing or give us something to share as a family. Other shows not only don't have any "take-away" value, but they also don't relax me. Those shows don't need to take my time. And books --books that teach me something, that are creative, or relaxing...those are the books worthy of my time.

- Even online, going to sites that teach me something or are, well, "lovely!" Those sites that add something of value to my life. Not sites full of gory news stories or arguments or "twaddle" (a Charlotte Mason term, meaning things of little to no value - this is my interpretation of "twaddle" anyway). I'm adding more Crafty Blogs to my list of Favorites and more inspirational sites. More photo blogs and more uplifting music sites have been added, too.

I'm excited about a Year of the Just Pure Lovely! It's kind of like I'm finally giving myself permission to do things like spinning and weaving and sewing and reading crafty blogs and time in my rocking chair soaking in the sunshine while watching birds. And, imagine what our family life will be like if I only speak in a positive tone to Tim and the children!

I'm writing all of this down for myself, for a record, but thought I'd share it with you, too. Let me know what you're adding or removing from your life this year!

by Lori Seaborg 2008

p.s. After writing this article, I started a new blog called "Just Pure Lovely" to fill with things that inspire me, like photography, art, and crafts. Come visit!

2008: Our Year of Health

Tue, 8 Jan 2008 13:54:00 -0600

We're a pretty healthy family.... actually, really healthy, but I'm not taking that for granted. Who should these days? The rates of many diseases are climbing and physical activity is decreasing. Oh, and I just had my birthday, so age is on my mind. When I am 67, aren't I going to wish that I had eaten well and moved often while I was only 37? (yes, it was that birthday).

So, Tim and I decided that 2008 is our Year of Health.

.....well, okay, I'm the one goofy enough to call it "Our Year of Health," but Tim, being the athlete that he is (team sports are his thing), likes the idea, too.

My role in this is to work on our eating. Over the past few years we've made some significant changes, but you can still often hear me saying, "We're no purists!" as I'm holding a bag of Doritos and a Coke at a get-together.

This is the year I need to be more committed to eating well. We do well when we're at home, with just our immediate family. But we do poorly when we are out or when we have people over. So, this year, I'm going to learn more about recipes I can make that will hopefully be accepted by people who don't know what hummus and tabouleh are.

If you are just now getting the urge to eat healthy, but don't know where to begin, here is a great ebook to get you started: Supermom’s Simple Guide to Healthier Eating for Beginners and Beyond by Erica Johns. The ebook is not a recipe book, although some recipes are included, but it is more of an educational book. Through it, you wil learn what foods are good for you, and why. I found it to be an easy read, while still informational enough to get you started on the right track.

Another job I've given myself is my personal exercise. Tim, wouldn't touch that area with a 10' pole! (smart man!) I still need to lose some "baby weight" (the "baby" is four!), but even more than that, I need to feel strong. Tim gave me a kayak for Christmas (at my request; I told you he is wise!) and we have several other exercise options (like, a road in front of the house for walking or biking - no excuses!), so there is really no reason for me to not move every day. My goal, for now, is simply to move every day in a way that makes my heart go pitter-pat. I can't be bothered with timers that make me stare at them and count every loooonnng second, so I'm just going to move to start out. Maybe later I'll add timers.

Along with that, I'll continue doing strength training exercises each morning. It only takes about 8 minutes, so I can't think of an excuse to make me stop doing them. I have really noticed an increase in strength, stamina and even energy in the 3 months since I started doing strength training. Oh, and I lost 11 pounds. That, too. ;)

For strength training exercises, motivation, support, nutrition trackers, articles, and all other Things Needed or Desired for Getting Healthy, check out one of my favorite (free!) sites: Spark People

Also, our whole family is going to move a lot this year. We have skinny, tall kids, thanks to genetics, so they don't need to lose weight, but I want them to 1.) Know how to do many types of sports, 2.) Start good habits that will hopefully last a lifetime. For a while, I was thinking of enrolling the kids in P.E. classes or other sport classes, until it occurred to me that the best coach I can find is right under our roof! It often takes a smack on the head for ideas to occur to me. So I'm going to start tossing a ball around with the........Just kidding! The "best coach under our roof" is not me, the gal who was usually in the bottom 5 chosen kids to be picked for a team. That would be Tim, our Resident Athlete. He already plays with the kids, so why not teach them a few moves while he's at it? I try to look real busy and back out, but Tim usually gets me to join in, too. When I join in, I make the kids look good. Real good.

Visit the sites above, and let me know what you're doing to improve your family's health this year! I'd love to read your ideas!

by Lori Seaborg 2008

Photobook Winner! And a Coupon

Sat, 8 Dec 2007 19:47:00 -0600

We have a PhotoBook winner! Samantha, congratulations!

I put all six of the names in a jar and had our 10yo daughter pick one out. No cheating, I promise! :)

It was really fun having a drawing. I think I'll do another one soon, after I find some more stuff you all might like.

Hewlitt Packard gave me a coupon code just for my blog readers. The coupon is good until December 31st.

Thank you for joining the drawing! Watch for the next one; you just never know when I'll be so inspired.

by Lori Seaborg 2007