So Every Day.

– embracing the ordinary –

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Ordinary work, which is what most of us do most of the time, is ordained by God every bit as much as is the extraordinary. All work done for God is spiritual work and therefore not merely a duty but a holy privilege.
- Elisabeth Elliot

God's Pursuit of Me, HomeLife, Keiglets

five finds friday. (an unusual candle holder & a great movie)

We start back to school in August. So it feels true when I ask – did I even have a summer? I mean, yes – sure. It was fantastic. But…

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God's Pursuit of Me, HomeLife

sunday matters.

Today the kids and I watched a livestream Easter service in our living room. We had communion and all I had on hand were crackers and sweet tea. I’m 46…

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Field Trip, HomeLife, HomeSchooling

Taking Them on an Adventure: The Literature Odyssey

If any current job of mine fades away, I’ve got a pocketful of other ventures I’d love to take on. Full time writer.Lost Valley Ranch Staff.Professional Trip Planner.Font Developer.Product Tester.…

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  • HomeLife

    Just What We Need

    / July 9, 2009

    What do the Keigleys NOT need today? New brakes on Kevin’s Tahoe? No. We needed those. And purchased them this afternoon. Groceries? Actually, we do need these. There is neither milk, bread nor bananas in our house currently. How about a new puppy? You’re right! We do NOT NEED a new puppy today. But guess what we picked up and…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    five finds friday: at home edition

    April 3, 2020

    Dear Child,

    July 20, 2020

    parenting blues

    February 26, 2019
  • HomeLife

    Oh Virginia!

    / July 8, 2009

    After each bathroom break and after every question of “When will we be there?” you begin to question whether the drive is worth the effort. But then you pull in the farm’s driveway. The air is sweeter. The trees are shadier. The breeze is breezier. Yeah, it’s worth every squabble over a crayon, every fast food meal indigestion, every mile…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    camping with the boys: lake jocassee is a wonder, but what happened to the hammocks?

    August 12, 2020

    weekend ramble (the wrong date. the wrong time. the right pants.)

    April 22, 2019
    Let's Start Coding

    Let’s Start Coding: A Timberdoodle Review

    September 16, 2022
  • Chaos

    Last Night

    / July 3, 2009

    This photograph was taken last night at 10:22 p.m. Wilder was crying. Bergen popped out of his room (note the time again, please) to see what the dishwasher was doing and to offer his four year old assistance. The cell phone was beeping to let me know a text was arriving. The oven timer was screeching telling me the blueberry…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    Five Finds Friday (Saylor’s reading and Ryder got a haircut)

    September 18, 2020

    tuck in

    August 5, 2019

    five finds friday. (the driving. the giving of thanks. the funny video. the perfect measuring cup.)

    December 6, 2019
  • HomeLife,  Mosely Ella Claiborne

    Wishes

    / July 2, 2009

    Mosely came running in from playing outside. She approached her older sister cautiously. “Riley, do wishes really come true?” Riley hesitated and glanced in my direction. I just smiled and figured I would let her handle this one on her own. “Well, Mosely. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t,” Riley ventured diplomatically. “What did you wish for?” Mosely looked skeptical.…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    five finds friday. (do you know what else starts with the letter f? flu.)

    March 6, 2020

    five finds friday (oatmeal cream pies & a little explaining about “that” photo)

    March 12, 2021
    Frye boots

    Five Finds Friday (touring college and of course – boots & tea)

    September 17, 2021
  • HomeLife

    A Rose By Any Other Name . . .

    / July 2, 2009

    Is it really true? Does one thing become another thing if we use a different word to describe that thing? (That sounds complicated.) Because here’s a word I would rename. Prison. I’m thinking about calling it by another name. I’m thinking about calling it . . . vacation. Yeah. Vacation. Three meals a day. Not prepared in any way by…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    five finds friday (the best popcorn, a great sermon, ear cuffs and we need a new funny show)

    July 19, 2019

    the directions. and where our stories take us.

    July 15, 2020

    farm, framily, feelings, photos

    July 12, 2017
  • Bergen Hawkeye,  God's Pursuit of Me

    Give Me A New Law

    / June 30, 2009

    While helping Bergen get dressed one recent morning, I experienced a momentary lack of sanity.  I asked this four year old boy, “What do you want to wear?” Well, Hawkeye wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to wear, but he had a pretty good handle on what he did not want to wear. The conversation went almost just like this…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    five finds friday (ryder dresses up & good friends are worth everything)

    February 1, 2019

    five finds friday. (celebrating two years in our home & pleated skirts)

    August 21, 2020

    Five Finds Friday (Saylor’s reading and Ryder got a haircut)

    September 18, 2020
  • Book Reviews,  God's Pursuit of Me

    Read This Book

    / June 26, 2009

    Turn My Mourning Into Dancing by Henri Nouwen I’m thinking about buying this book in bulk and handing it on the street corners. Seriously. It’s that good. (At least, it’s that good to me right now. And I know books are like that. They seem like miniature miracles when the words hit you when you most need them. ) This…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    oh, the month ahead. and the month now.

    April 28, 2023

    Beyond Wildwood: The Ranch (Tuesday)

    June 19, 2017

    The Things That We Keep Doing

    November 18, 2020
  • HomeLife,  Piper Finn Willow

    Wee Little Finnian Facts

    / June 24, 2009

    Tonight, even as I type this, Piper Finnian is sleeping in her big girl bed. A bed without walls. A bed that does not mandate containment, but merely suggests containment. Wait, did I type “sleeping”? She is not sleeping. At last check, her lights were on. I have corrected that situation and now we will proceed to see how the…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    morning song: a poem

    April 25, 2019

    Lake Jocassee with the Boys

    August 29, 2019

    five finds friday (lemon trees, Noonday parties, toasters, homemade mittens)

    February 7, 2020
  • God's Pursuit of Me,  HomeLife,  HomeSchooling,  London Eli Scout,  Story

    What You Want

    / June 23, 2009

    One morning recently London approached me and out of the blue stated, “Mom, God just doesn’t do what you want.” What? “What do you mean?” I asked. “Well, last night I prayed for God to shut the door and I waited and He just never did it.” I didn’t laugh. Because I didn’t think it was funny. I thought she…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    motivation. can you locate it?

    November 10, 2020

    hello out there.

    March 19, 2020

    five finds friday: dutch babies & my babies all grown

    December 2, 2022
  • Keiglets

    She Said

    / June 21, 2009

    A few years ago our family discovered a little product known as a buff. Since the buff’s introduction into our household, there has probably not been a day that has passed that some Keigley head has not donned one of these head wear miracles. (If you have any questions concerning buffs, ask any of us. Except Wilder. He can’t talk…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    five finds friday (a long winded run down of yesterday and white chicken chili and student success)

    March 22, 2019

    Six Steps to Hiking & Adventuring With Kids

    July 3, 2019

    downhill: a commentary on this thing called aging.

    June 29, 2020
  • God's Pursuit of Me,  HomeLife,  Story

    The Day For Fathers

    / June 21, 2009

    First. My Father.   When I was a kid I thought my dad had the same super powers that every kid thinks their dad possesses. You know, eyes forever roaming the world that can quickly pinpoint ME hitting my brother across the back with my Cabbage Patch Kid. The Long Arm that could reach all the way into the backseat…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    Five Finds Friday (Lost Valley Ranch Version)

    June 11, 2021

    connections. relationships. education.

    April 20, 2020

    Five Finds Friday (face cream, Community and Carlos)

    September 11, 2020
  • God's Pursuit of Me,  Letters,  Otto Fox Wilder,  Story

    Four Weeks

    / June 19, 2009

    My Littlest Son, When I discovered that I was pregnant with you, I was . . . . surprised. Not entirely excited. Worried. In shock. I didn’t tell anyone for a long while. Your daddy and I really thought that your big sister Piper was the last little Keigley we would bring forth into this messy world. We were clearly…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    a little grief. how the time passes.

    September 18, 2019

    the directions. and where our stories take us.

    July 15, 2020

    five finds friday (fried dough, there is no fashion to be found, the woods are still magical)

    May 1, 2020
  • Bergen Hawkeye,  Chaos

    This Boy

    / June 18, 2009

    This boy was shopping with his family at Hobby Lobby, searching for great Father’s Day gifts for an artistic dad. His sweet, calm, beautiful mother was patiently waiting for several pieces of art work to be framed. This little boy really needed to use the bathroom. Accompanied by his older sister, this young gentleman approached the public restroom facilities. At…

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    Keep Reading . . .

    what whole 30 taught me

    February 27, 2019

    current plans. current mood.

    January 2, 2020

    two decades. the last was the growing up. the next will be the growing out.

    January 22, 2020
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