Family, Kids, Marriage, Self-care, Uncategorized

New in 2019: Resolutions

Melissa AtLee
Happy New Year!
Photo by Roven Images on Unsplash

I have never been into making resolutions. It’s probably because I have such a poor track record of accomplishing big goals that the last thing I need is a visual reminder of all the goals I’m not “crushing”. Over the last year or two, however, I’ve felt the need to become more intentional about my life. Perhaps it’s because I recently joined the 40s club, and it’s given me an existential crisis – where am I, where have I been and where am I going? Or perhaps it’s because my kids are getting older and I’m no longer on survival mode. Therefore I have more time to reflect and make some longer term goals. Whatever the reason, making resolutions for this new year is making sense to me. You can tell I’m new at this, for it’s already the end of January and I’m still in goal setting mode. Oh well. Baby steps! So here they are – many of them are half-baked but I won’t let that stop me!

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Education, Family, Kids, Uncategorized

Ten Things I love about homeschooling

Melissa AtLee
Our glorious skiing holiday. One of the many perks of homeschooling!

My family just returned from a glorious week skiing in Tremblant, Quebec. I’m currently on my 17th load of laundry and I’m praying that the washing machine gods have my back. Skiing in January has become an annual tradition for my family and extended family – 13 and counting. We all love to ski and now our kids are quickly becoming avid skiers. To those of you who just have little kids at home – hang in there! Before you know it, your kids will be able to join you in all the activities you enjoyed pre-kids. Soon after that they’ll be leaving you in the dust (or snow). It’s beyond delightful watching them grow in skill and independence.

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Family, My favorite things

My Favorite Things – Crafts for the Non-crafty, Family Board Games, Mrs. Maisel and more

Melissa AtLee
Family board game night: fun for everyone. Photo by Jaciel Melnik on Unsplash

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Hello friends! Here’s a list of things that I’m thoroughly enjoying this month.

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Self-care

Morning Meditation: Blessed are the Meek

Melissa AtLee

As part of my effort to carve out personal and prayer time before the kids wake up, I am reading daily meditations from In Conversation With God, by Fr. Francis Fernandez. Every once in a while I will share something I read which resonates with me.

Photo by Gabriele Agrillo on Unsplash
Every time I think meek, I think baby lamb.
Photo by Gabriele Agrillo on Unsplash

“Oh it’s the *Meek*…blessed are the Meek!  That’s nice, I’m glad they’re getting something, ’cause they have a hell of a time.” Monty Python’s Life of Brian (an irreverent but hilarious movie with superb social commentary).

Today’s meditation is about meekness. How I have struggled with that word. For the longest time I equated meekness with being a pushover, a coward, and a weakling. I would think: the louder, the stronger. This mistaken understanding has caused me a lot of pain throughout the years. Rather, it has caused those close to me a lot of pain, as they have had to deal with my outbursts and hot temper.

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Kids, Self-care, Uncategorized

How My New Morning Routine is Giving me Peace

Melissa AtLee
What I would give to enjoy a warm almond croissant every morning with my coffee. Alas, I’m over 40 so no. Photo credit Charisse Kenion.

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A few months ago, I hit rock bottom. After eight years of doing this homeschooling gig, you think I would have figured out how to prevent burnout. But no. Every single year, many times a year, I crash and burn. My patient husband then proceeds to pick up the broken pieces and put me back together. Somehow, by the time June rolls around, we decide to give homeschooling another go.

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Family

A Ceili

Melissa AtLee
Ceilidh scene from the series Victoria. How I love that show. Victoria, Season 2 MASTERPIECE on PBS. Shown: Nell Hudson as Skerrett. ©ITVStudios2017

I love a good dance. I especially love to dance at weddings; dancing with family and friends is my idea of a truly fun time. If only weddings didn’t happen so sporadically! When I was young and carefree, I would sometimes go clubbing. But truth be known, I never enjoyed it. The idea of mindlessly swaying to loud, non-rhythmic music never made much sense to me. I always suspected patrons would get drunk so that they would forget just how not fun the evening was.

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Marriage

The Awesomeness of Marriage

Melissa AtLee
As awesome as this majestic view? Yes, indeed.

Last night my husband and I were guest speakers at a fundraising event in our city. The theme of the evening was “The Awesomeness of Marriage”. There were a wide range of married couples in attendance, from engaged to newlyweds to grandparents. It was so wonderful to attend an event which celebrated the beauty of marriage. I’m posting our talk here for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

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Marriage

Make Marriage your #1 Priority

Melissa AtLee
Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash

“Marriage cannot thrive on leftover attention. It has to get your best effort.” Ngina Otiende

When I was pregnant with our first child, my husband and I attended a parenting class. During one of the sessions, the instructor asked the participants – all new or soon-to-be parents – who comes first: your spouse or your child? I smugly answered that my husband comes first, duh. Simple answer. A few months later we welcomed our son. I’ll never forget the first time I laid eyes on my beautiful baby boy. The feeling of elation and overwhelming love was unlike anything I had experienced before. I became utterly and absolutely obsessed with my sweet little baby…and promptly forgot about anyone else, including my husband.  Once the newborn fog cleared up, I remembered the question of the parenting instructor and thought, huh. Not so simple an answer after all.

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