Month: April 2019

My favorite things

My Favorite Things – A Silent Retreat, 3 Awesome Books and All about Hospitality

Melissa AtLee
Happy Easter! Isn’t this the most incredible cake? I love baking but my friend Kinga is in a league of her own.
Check her out at The Meringue Kiss.

Happy Easter! As practicing Catholics, Easter is the happiest season of our liturgical year. As I get older, I am learning to appreciate and even look forward to the season of denial and sacrifice that is Lent. But when Easter arrives, bring on the feasting!! I’m back to browsing dessert websites (UnwrittenRecipes is my latest obsession). Hello love handles, it’s nice to see you again.

In no particular order, I share with you my favorite things of the month:

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Marriage

Marriage Saver #3: The Latin Principle

Melissa AtLee
Photo by Scott Broome on Unsplash

In Necessariis Unitas, In Dubiis Libertas, In Omnibus Caritas

Author UnknowN

Translation: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity”. It sounds so intelligent in Latin, doesn’t it? This phrase has been attributed to several authors, among them St. Augustine. Illustrious leaders, such as a Pope and a U.S. President, have used this principle to guide their missions. We first learned it at a friend’s wedding, during the father of the bride’s speech. As soon as we heard it, my husband and I looked at each other like two lit up light bulbs. Since then it has become one of the guiding principles in our marriage.

How do I understand this phrase? I have no doubt that minds greater than mine have written profoundly on the topic, but here is my humble take as it applies to marriage.

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Education, Kids, Self-care

Attend a Homeschooling Conference!

Melissa AtLee
My friend Nicole and I finally got to meet the amazing Andrew Pudewa. #fangirls.

“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only – and that is to support the ultimate career.” C.S. Lewis

This quote by the great C.S. Lewis was on the welcome page of the program guide at the Great Homeschool Convention event in Texas last month. As soon as I read it, I knew I was in the right place. I see my role as a homeschooling mom as my calling, my vocation, and my profession. I’m often asked by strangers if I’m “qualified” to teach my children. Since I don’t have a teaching degree, this question used to fluster me and leave me feeling, well, unqualified. But after years of reflection, I can confidently assert that I’m qualified. Like a true professional, I’m dedicating thousands of hours to master my trade. I actively engage with veteran homeschooling moms, curriculum creators, and experienced teachers. Undoubtedly, however, one of the best ways in which I invest in my professional development is by attending homeschooling conferences.

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Education, Family, Kids, My favorite things, Uncategorized

My Favorite Things – Family Time, a trip to the Moon, Read, Read, Read and much more

Melissa AtLee

Greetings! March has been a great month, not only because spring has finally arrived (only in name, perhaps, but I live in hope!), but also because many of our winter classes have come to a glorious end. This means that we have freed up some of our evenings and weekends to spend together as a family, playing board games and going on hikes. Ok, so we’ve only done one hike so far – that’s a picture of my hubby and daughter enjoying precious bonding time at Pefferlaw Creek Farms. But now that the weather is warming up (it WILL happen), we look forward to many more family hikes.

Here’s what I’ve been loving this past month:

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Education, Kids

Graphic Novels for a Reluctant Reader (Boy)

Melissa AtLee
Photo by Raj Eiamworakul on Unsplash

We are a family of bibliophiles. My and my husband’s night tables are toppling over with piles and piles of books. We are currently building bookshelves in our living room and kitchen to store and display the ever growing collection of books in our care.

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