We know what we love.
We know who we love.
The sweetest of gifts are those little things that surprise you with the joy that they bring.
Love unexpected.
There are too many little things like that in my life so I will just share a few from this week.
I have lived in Colorado for over 14 years and I am still in awe of the mountains.
I grew up in Illinois with rolling hills and big oak trees and in my soul these are the most comforting of things, but the mountains take my breathe away.
As I drive south towards my town I will come to a peak where I can see  Castle Rock below.
Every time I reach that peak I am in awe of this gorgeous place I live.
I never expected to love  Colorado like this. I never expected to be surprised by its beauty day after day.
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I started homeschooling my son because he was reading very well at four and many teacher friends encouraged me to homeschool for kindergarten.
I loved teaching Jack so much that Kindergarten turned into first grade and here we are five years later.
I have taught my children to read, I have taken them from the beginning of creation to present day in history, I have read the most incredible books with them, I have watched them grow in character through the years.
I have had a wonderful front row seat to their education and homeschooling has been a love that I never expected or wanted.
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When we started our children with piano lessons we were excited that they would have music lessons, it would count as music education and I hoped that they would stick with it better than I had.
Jack has now been taking lessons for five years and Madolyn for three.
Our house is constantly filled with their music.
I don’t have to ask them to practice and I find them playing all of the time.
I daily clap and cheer begging them to go on and on:-)
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I started blogging to promote my business and I never realized how much it would bring back to me my love of writing.
As I began writing again I was also amazed at all the amazing women I was meeting.
Women that encouraged and inspired daily.
So many of the beautiful women I now know came to me because of the internet and this incredible blogging world.
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I hope you are playing along and want to share your photos.
This week you will link up at Courtney’s blog.
Next week’s theme is Love Yourself…can’t wait to see what you come up with.
I will be taking self portraits…which I have never done before…so it should be fun.
Misty Mawn always takes the most gorgeous self portraits and she has inspired me!!
I’ve only been to Colorado once{and it was a quick stay} but the beauty of it was breathtaking! One regret I have is that I never learned to play the piano; I think it’s wonderful that your children play and that they actually want to play:)
Such lovely photos.
So many ways you have seen unexpected love in your life this week:)
I have been following your blog for a while now and it’s incredible! I really enjoyed this post. My daughter is 23 and in the US Army and she is flying out this Tuesday to be based at Fort Carson, in Colorado Springs. I am so excited for her to fall in love with Colorado too!
We have lived in Arkansas for about 5 years. I am from Texas and never thought I’d want to remain in Arkansas. I am always in awe that we get to live in such a beautiful place. I would LOVE to hear some tips on teaching little ones to read. I have a 4 year old at home that loves to sit and do workbook activities and be read to. Where did you begin? Should we be working on flashcards with letter sounds???? I’m uncertain where to begin and all of the info available can be overwhelming. Love today’s post;-)
I have taught all three of my children reading with The Phonics Museum by Veritas Press. I have loaned this out so many times and so many of my friends have now bought it for their children. Best reading program I have found and my older children are strong readers.
I could’ve written exactly what you did about Colorado. I seriously never thought it would make THAT much of a difference, living here, but I was so wrong. I love it (we love it) so so much! Love your other topics too…it’s funny how little things creep up on you and you fall in love over and over again. 🙂
loved reading these, jeanne, knowing you and knowing just want you mean. these are wonderful, unexpected loves and joys!
“what” oops.=)
Oh this is wonderful Jeanne!! I LOVE that picture of your daughter at the piano and I too agree that Denver is such a beautiful, beautiful place! I had a little bit of a hard time with the theme this week so my interpretation is a bit broad, but I had a lot of fun playing along :)) Happy Valentine’s weekend!!
xo
🙂 T
Oh man. I would love to move to Colorado! I have been to Fort Collins twice, and can’t enough of it. I always say, if there was a job for me out there, I’d move. Yes, I’d most definitely miss the farm and country living, but God’s beautiful creation of mountains would make up for it.
And what a joy it is to see your children learn and understand right before your eyes. Especially with music. I took piano lessons for 8 years, but never enjoyed it……until I was not taking lessons anymore. Now, I try to play whenever I can, which definitely isn’t enough! But keep on cheering for your kiddos, and making learning fun. 🙂
We are like neighbors! I have a little shop in Monument. When we moved here from Florida I would get up at sunrise and run around taking pictures. I would try to get my husband up to see the beautiful sunrises but he had gone to the Air Force Academy and had seen them for four years. I am still amazed every day by the beauty we have here. If you get down my way be sure to look me up.
I just nomintated your blog for an award over on my blog!
hi jeanne! thanks for the beautiful pics and for sharing your loves with us!
i love teaching my kids too…we’re just in the last few month of our third year
and I LOVE it! yes, it’s stressful sometimes, but i wouldn’t want it any other way.
Oh and thanks for the tidbit on the reading program you use…i was JUST asking some
friends what they use and i haven’t loved anything yet…i will have to check that out 🙂
I love your story Jeanne! It is beautiful.
I think Colorado is beautiful too! It is like the colors are more intense there. I didn’t home school my children and they are all grown now but if I had it to do over again I definitely would.
Debbie
thank you for this endearing life story.
I was truly blessed.
p.s. I see that you follow my daughter
parisiennefarmgirl … she’s my baby
I so agree with you about Colorado. Every time I visit there I am so in awe.
You have a beautiful website, family, and life! I’ve been following your blog on and off for about a year. I am a mommy of 5 children and will be homeschooling this next school year. It is time for me to take control of my children’s education, but I’m nervous and feel inadequate, but know the Lord will provide. Any recommendations? Also, I see you use Phonics Museum but do you have any other recommendations on curriculum? There’s so many options that it is overwhelming. I’m feeling like Classical Education is the way to go and that’s about my only definite decision. I would love any feedback from you on homeschooling. Thank you for your time as you appear to be immensely busy! God Bless.
http://www.thepikelife.blogspot.com
What a lovely post! I’ve just stumbled onto your blog and did enjoy reading about the kids and homeschooling, a subject close to my heart. Will go back and read your other days now, keep up the good work!
Vickixx