Once a month, I talk with my friend Joy Petty. I LOVE these calls. They are interesting and resource-filled. Sometimes I share something that helps her, and she does the same for me. We both go away elevated. On one of our recent calls, the subject of how I have been feeling about writing came up. The reason it happened was that Joy said a recent article was just what she needed. She was going to be teaching a class on forms, the old word for systems. Some of what I wrote about systems was helpful to her. I was blown away.

The reason it impacted me so much is because I have had this recurring thought in the last five years – “Why are you writing? You aren’t raising kids anymore. You aren’t homeschooling. You’re getting older. Are you even relevant?”

The more we can confirm to ourselves the value of our current mission, the better we will manage it. So join me as I share this impactful conversation, what we shared, and what I learned about knowing our mission matters, even if it is imperfect.

I have shared some wonderful Learning Pay Days. But I don’t want you to get the idea that Learning Play always requires a lot of thought or special activities. Sometimes you just get together, play, and learn. It doesn’t always require fabulous, well-researched information. There are times when we want to kick back and rest while remaining consistent in our efforts to bond, enjoy, and learn. Then, there are times when an intervening circumstance requires that we do something that takes less planning time.

Join me as I share the Nothing Special Day. Getting together, without a great deal of preparation, can be just as bonding.

A few Sundays ago, my husband tuned in to a show my mom likes to watch, Music and the Spoken Word. The episode he pulled up for her was from Jan. 12, 2025.

It was an interesting and thought-provoking 30 minutes, and Don and I had a conversation about it. We had experienced what was shared. Our experiences weren’t as dramatic as the one shared in the program, but they were powerful for us, nonetheless.

Join me today as I share the power of starting where you are, using what you have, and doing what you can to accomplish your dreams. You will enjoy the stories I share from the program Don and I heard and discussed, and the ones from my own life.

If you have something you want to do but it feels too big or scary, then this is a conversation for you. : )