Erin Serr

10/29/26 - Star K Ranch "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven;" (ESV Ecclesiastes 3:1) I look forward to fall every single year. I get excited for the weather to cool off, for the leaves to change colors, and for there to be pumpkins everywhere. It's also the perfect time of year to grab a hot coffee and go on a stroll. I just wish it would last longer. All too quickly, fall is over, and I'm left with decay and barrenness. It's when the reality of winter starts to set in. With shorter days, less sunshine, and lack of color, I tend to feel depressed and empty if I don't get ahold of myself. And if you're anything like me, you spend fall thinking about how short the season is and wishing it would last longer. It has really struck me these past few weeks how much time I waste over-thinking, worrying, etc. Instead of just enjoying the season I'm in, I'm thinking ahead the the next season, worrying about what it wil...

  "For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of you hands I sing for joy." (ESV Psalm 92:4) Sometimes I forget to stop and enjoy the little things in life. I've spent so much of my life praying for what I have now--a family, a home, an opportunity to homeschool my children, etc. When I'm sleep deprived and tired of ongoing chores, I lose sight of this. One day, when I have more time to myself, it'll probably be because my kids are grown and gone, and I don't want to miss anything.  The kids spent quite a bit of time painting a few days ago. It made a huge mess, but they had so much fun. While they were painting, they seemed lost in it. Nothing else mattered, and it made me pause and enjoy the moment myself. I was reminded to slow down and enjoy that first sip of coffee in the morning, family breakfasts, and all the little chores that mean I have a home and a family to do chores for.  What would life look like if we all lived Psalm 92:4 and ...

 "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!  Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD."  ( ESV  Psalm 27:13-14) Do you ever struggle with impatience? This could be as simple as feeling frustrated that the line you're in doesn't seem to be moving. It could be as complicated as feeling like your whole world has crumbled around you, and you're impatiently waiting for God to put it all back together. In my mind, my life has this (potential) neat order to it where I get up at the same time each morning, complete my to-do list with no hiccups, maintain perfect relationships, and go to bed at the same time so I can get a good night's sleep. Sprinkled in there are days of rest and adventures. Life hasn't played out that way.  I have a wonderful life, and God has fulfilled so many of my dreams over the years. How I wish I spent more time focusing on all of that and less time waiting ...

(Allergy-friendly donuts made with a Bob's Red Mill flour) While I haven't been as in the habit of baking as I used to be, it's one of my favorite things to do! Allergies are a limitation, however. Within the household, we have to avoid gluten, dairy, peanuts, corn, and soy. Not only can it be hard to avoid these ingredients, it gets expensive to do allergy-friendly baking.  If you have any favorite recipes or suggestions, please share them. I'd like to keep trying new things and have more recipes on hand. This fall, I plan on making donuts with seasonal flavors!  (Scones)                                                                                          (Tuxedo Brownie Bites)        ...

With work schedules ever-changing, I'm constantly creating new ways to make homeschool possible. This is a sample schedule that may help you get started. Some teachers choose more traditional schedules (such as fixed clock times or block scheduling). I've tried many different things, including traditional schedules and block schedules. I'd prefer more of a "flowchart," but I do what works for whatever season of life we're in. As you'll see below, we get started with school pretty early in our day. We like to be done by lunchtime, but we often go into the afternoon. One reason for choosing to schedule this way is that one day it may take 15 minutes to do a certain subject, and the next day it could take an hour! I like to set goals for the day, but we hit pause when something becomes overwhelming, and we keep going when we're on a roll or my daughter asks to keep working on something. So we're not doing fixed clock times right now! This schedule is ...