All the homeschool YouTube moms were talking about this one really cool homeschool planner that “you HAVE to get!” because they said it was the best planner EVER.
So naturally, after watching a bunch of videos about it, I felt like I had to have it.
It’s called the “Homeschool Lesson Planning Minimalist Notebook” made by Schoolnest.
But it’s SO pretty, and I love the feel of the pages and the layout style! 🥹
I added the homeschool planner to my Amazon wishlist and decided to wait a few months to think about if I really needed this planner.
After a few months, I decided I wanted to give the planner a try, and so last fall, I took the plunge and bought it.
I was so excited when it arrived at my house, and I couldn’t wait to start using it. I faithfully used the homeschool minimalist planner for about two months.
But now? Dude, I have the hardest time staying consistent with it. 🤷🏽♀️
It doesn’t mean we’re not doing any lessons. It just means I find it a pain to always remember to write in it! Lol 😆 Which is wild to me because I’m a planner—I thrive on organization!
So now, I’m trying to figure out how to best use this planner because I really do love it, and I don’t want it to be a waste of money.
I’m going to update my homeschool lesson planning minimalist notebook tonight. Here’s hoping I can stay consistent with it, though! 😂
Here are a few moments from today.
Here we go again! We had another little snowstorm this morning, and guess who got caught in it whilst driving? Me! 😭❄️
Around 8 a.m. during the snowstorm after dropping E, my oldest, off at work.
A crow perched at the top of a tree in the shopping center parking lot.
Little Junco eating bird seeds at patio bird feeder. This little guy shows up everyday with about five other Juncos.
Blue jay hopping on my patio to get a peanut.
Zechariah (10) reading his library book.
Zhen (13) worked on her art activity while listening to music with her Care Bears headphones.
“A voice behind you will say, ‘This is the way; walk in it,’ when you would turn to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
Yesterday, we had a snow storm. It caught me by surprise because I thought it wasn’t going to snow.
When I had checked the weather forecast the day before, it only predicted a small chance of snow.
Boy, did they get it all wrong! 😏❄️
I got stuck in traffic for two hours because the roads were so bad. At one point, I almost hit another car because my brakes started to lock up.
Thank the Lord, I was able to regain control of my van and avoid an accident.
Today’s weather was the complete opposite from yesterday. We didn’t get anymore snow, and it was a sunny day.
Even though there was still a lot of snow on the ground, it was nice to get out of the house for a little bit. We needed a change of scenery.
Here are a few moments from our change of scenery.
Before heading out, I read a few pages of the classic novel Little Women.
“Show someone what they mean to you.” A message on the inside of the wrapper of my Dove milk chocolate.
We stopped by Goodwill to do a little thrifting.
M found these knee-high boots for only $10.
Snow at the library.
I checked out Alice Walker’s Gathering Blossoms Under Fire. I’ve read part of her book, but I never finished it. I thought I’d try to finish it this time.
I also checked out Outlander—another book I need to try and finish. I love the TV series!
I had no idea Dr. Dre had a biography book out!
Playtime at the library.
Zaya (5) “cooked” some pizza for me at her pretend restaurant. 🍕😊
“I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you…” Ezekiel 36:26
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
In the children’s book The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, at the end of the story, the last gift the little boy receives under the Christmas tree is the silver bell he lost on the train ride home.
Mr. C (who is Santa Claus) includes a handwritten note to the boy: “Found this on the seat of my sleigh. Fix that hole in your pocket.”
One of my favorite children’s books—The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.
Excitedly the little boy shakes the bell and he says, “it made the most beautiful sound my sister and I had ever heard.”
Just like the silver bell ringing, this is how I think of play—the most beautiful sound that brings me happiness and reminds me to find moments of beauty in life.
“It made the most beautiful sound my sister and I had ever heard.” — The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Sounds of the Bell Ringing in My Life
It’s the sound of my spade digging in my garden to plant flower seeds. It’s the sound of my tools putting together jewelry that I create. It’s the sound of turning the page of a library book I’m reading.
It’s the sound of my children’s laughter when we play a board game together or I push them on the swing at the playground.
It’s the sound of children’s imagination when they create a fantastical world of make-believe with their dolls and action figures.
Zephaniah pretending to be a superhero on the seesaw.
Zaya and Zephaniah playing at a local park in the summertime.
Hobbies are My Playtime
My hobbies are my way of “playing.” It may not be playful like a child would play, but I find great enjoyment in my hobbies.
Adults are always expected to be serious doing the tedious “adulting” tasks of life. Our hobbies, however, are a way of “playing” because it brings us joy and a momentary escape from the world.
A few of my “playtime” hobbies include gardening, street photography, visiting art galleries, reading books, spending time at public libraries, and making jewelry.
Gardening is one of my favorite hobbies. 🌸😊
Playing with My Children is Creating Beautiful Memories
I was looking through the photographs I took in 2025, and I was struck by how many of the photos showed how much time I had spent with my children doing a multitude of wonderous activities such as going to the lake, gardening at the community garden, making crafts, hanging out at the library, going on nature hikes, and cooking together.
This made me smile and deeply touched my heart to know I spent all of 2025 with the ones whom I love so dearly.
Travis and the kids playing with toy racecars at a local car show.
The kids enjoying a nature hike at the lake on the first day of fall.
Immersed in a World of Play
When Travis and I play board games with our children, create crafts with them, take the kids to places to play (parks, arcades, etc.), we are making time for play.
I am always encouraging my children to immerse themselves in a world of play. In fact, I center our homeschooling around play because I strongly believe children learn best through play.
Zephaniah (about 5 years ago) playing with cars and trains on a sunny afternoon.
Zaya (age 4 in this photo) playing with baby dolls at the public library.
Remember to Hear the Bell Ringing
At the end of The Polar Express, when the little boy shakes the silver bell, his parents don’t hear it ringing.
“But my mother said, ‘Oh, that’s too bad.’
‘Yes,’ said my father, ‘it’s broken.’
When I’d shaken the bell, my parents had not heard a sound.
As he grows older, he discovers his sister Sarah and his friends could no longer hear the bell ring.
At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.”
This closing scene of The Polar Express has always stayed with me. It’s a strong reminder to never let your light fade, never give up on what brings you joy, and always keep the faith.
I almost titled this blog post “The Day the Bell Stopped Ringing,” but after writing out my thoughts, I realized I needed to change the title.
Because for me, the bell never stopped ringing.
Zhen enjoying swinging on a sunny summer’s day.
At a certain point in my motherhood journey, I started to hear the bell ring. I realized there will always be things to do, errands to run, and a house to clean.
I will always have to do the mundane “adulting” things that we grownups are expected to do.
But if I’m not taking time to play—taking time for my hobbies and taking time to play with my children—then I am truly missing out on experiencing joy in my life.
And I don’t want to ever stop hearing the bell ring.
I’m feeling very overwhelmed today, which can only mean one thing—holiday break is ending and my busy mom life is returning.
It’s not even the end of the week yet, and I’m ready for the weekend to begin. Ha! 😆
It felt good to work on my new puzzle yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to work on it today.
Maybe tomorrow.
Yesterday, I started working on my new Jane Austen puzzle. I’m hoping to put it together a little at a time throughout the week.
A Day of Errands and Lesson Planning
There was a lot of running around today, which I’m paying for now with a stuffy nose and low energy.
Tomorrow — definitely tomorrow — I will focus on resting at home. 😴
This is our final week of holiday break. Then, next Monday, we begin our winter term of homeschool.
I’m still trying to decide if Robin Hood or The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe should be the focus for our winter literature unit.
I’m proud of myself—last September, I prepared ahead for both unit studies, so we already have the majority of the materials and supplies we need for both units.
Just need to get the books—I’ll check them out at the library.
Anyway, I’m rambling. Here are a few photos from today’s foggy day.
🍲 Chicken noodle soup and strawberry raspberry herbal tea. 🍵 I had the kids eat a bowl of homemade soup and sip warm strawberry raspberry tea for part of their breakfast. I’m a strong believer in home remedies for cold/flu season.
Today, the weather was foggy and rainy. 🌧 The temps warmed up a bit, so the snow also melted. I like to light cozy candles on gray days like this.
While driving home this afternoon, Oscar Peterson’s “A Foggy Day” came on my Spotify playlist. This song was perfect for today’s foggy day! 🎷🎹🎶
Zaya (5) started drawing in her sketchbook today. For Christmas, we got the kids their own sketchbooks. 👩🏽🎨👨🏽🎨
“Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.” Isaiah 60:1
I’m always amazed that my four younger children love going to the art museum. They never get bored of it.
Sometimes they even ask me if we can go to the art museum without any prompting.
On this particular December day, we had been out doing our monthly grocery shopping at the farmer’s market. (I try to go to the farmers market once a month for fresh farm eggs, loose leaf tea, and in-season produce.)
After our farmers market visit, I asked the kids if they’d like to go to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). They excitedly exclaimed in unison, “YES!”
🎨 The Kids Share Why They Love Going to the Art Museum
I asked the kids why do they love going to the art museum so much. Here’s what they told me.
Zechariah (10) said he loves walking around the galleries and “looking at all the art people made.”
He also enjoys attending the art workshops for kids when the museum hosts it.
Zechariah taking a picture of artwork.
Zhen (13) said she couldn’t put into words exactly why she loves the Detroit Institute of Arts and other art galleries we visit, she just knows she likes how cozy it feels.
I agree with Zhen—I love the coziness at the art museum, too. 😌🎨✨️
Zephaniah (8) likes that we can sketch artwork we view in the galleries. For instance, the DIA hosts an event called “Drawing in the Galleries.”
The museum provides the art supplies and sketch paper for attendees. The kids loved doing this activity last summer, and we hope to do it again!
Zaya (5) said she loves taking pictures at the art museum, and she loves when there are interactive games such as “Eye Spy.”
On this day when we went to the DIA, there were “Eye Spy” boards found in some of the galleries.
The object of the activity was to read the riddle and try to find which artwork answered the riddle. The kids loved it! 😁
Zaya loves taking pictures at the art museum.
Playing “Eye Spy” at the art museum.
👩🏽🎨 Art Enthusiasts But Soon-to-be Future Art Collectors
Now we’re not art experts or anything like that. I’d say we’re more art enthusiasts. We appreciate good art and exploring art galleries.
I often dream of being an art collector. I told Travis that will be one of our life milestones when the kids are grown and we are in our golden years. 😄
I imagine that by the time we are in our 60s, we’ll have a house filled with artwork— collected from local art fairs and art exhibitions. 😌👩🏽🎨✨️
Until we enter that season of our life, I’m enjoying perusing art galleries with the children.
“You are beautiful in every way, my friend, there is no flaw in you!” Song of Songs 5:7
