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Jen Merckling

life.unimaginable

Holidays

12 Favorite Christmas Books for Kids (and kids at heart)

I love everything about Christmas. All the traditions…all the food…all the music…movies, decorations, lights, parties…All. Of. It.  And of course–all the books! Like the smell of Christmas trees or sugar cookies, Christmas books have an amazing way of whisking us back to childhood–the vivid pictures and words bring it all rushing back. And of course…

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Filed Under: Family, Holidays, Homeschooling Tagged With: Advent, Affiliate, Christmas, Favorite Books

Get ready for Thanksgiving with this super sweet Gratitude Bingo Game! Help your little ones build the habit of gratitude and thankfulness!

Gratitude Bingo Game {FREEBIE!}

As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s a great time to focus on gratitude with our kiddos! I’ve got a super cute Gratitude Bingo Game for your little ones!  It will help them see there’s so much to be thankful for–everyday blessings! I’ve found that even small children can get into bad habits of…

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Filed Under: Early Learning, Family, Holidays, Homeschooling Tagged With: Character, Free Resource, Freebie, Gratitude, Parenting, Preschool Games, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving

Great pumpkin lesson ideas and super simple pumpkin craft for kids! Grab my free printable pumpkin activity and get started with your kids!

Super Simple Pumpkin Craft & Activity for Kids

What the heck even happened to October, Sweet Friends? Scary, wicked how time flies! This past weekend we did our annual trip to the pumpkin patch and the pickins were a little slim…(And it was an absolute crowded, crazy zoo…People in huge lines to ride a tractor and buy kettle corn…It was a NO for me. I…

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Filed Under: Early Learning, Elementary, Holidays, Homeschooling Tagged With: Activities for Young Kids, Affiliate, Book Recommendations, Crafts, Fall, Halloween

4th of July for Kids (FREE Printable)!

Aren’t we all a bit of a kid on the 4th of July?  Give me all the streamers, popsicles, black snakes, and hot dogs! The 4th of July is just plain fun–it isn’t fancy or stressful! (Except when 20 children are all doing arm circles with sparklers within inches of each other’s faces…) It will…

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Filed Under: Family, Holidays, Lifestyle Tagged With: 4th of July, Affiliate, Free Printable, kid activities

We are all looking for ways to keep Christmas stressfree and joyful! Here are 3 Simple Christmas Traditions to enjoy with your family throughout Advent!

3 Simple Christmas Traditions

  The Holidays.  Why is it that those two words can stir two completely opposite emotions: Joy and Stress? Oh how I want to grab all the joy and leave all the stress behind.  As kids–the holidays were all joy.   It was cousins and cookies and toy catalogs and Christmas carols.  As adults–I think…

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Filed Under: Family, Holidays, Homeschooling, Lifestyle Tagged With: Advent, Christmas, Christmas Traditions, Faith

The Wise Men Journey Searching for The King is a perfect new Christmas tradition for your family! Countdown to Christmas with this exciting new devotional!

The Wise Men Journey — A New Advent Tradition

Hi Sweet Friends!  You know when God puts someone on your path and they just ooze Jesus–and you are flat out humbled and amazed by the whole thing to your core?  Well that is exactly what happened to me when I met Lynette Meintjes while waiting around for my kids at dance class!  She is amazing…

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Filed Under: Family, Holidays, Homeschooling, Lifestyle Tagged With: Advent, Christmas, Christmas Traditions, Countdown to Christmas, Faith, Family Traditions, Gifts, Wise Men Journey

Grab your Free Easter Copywork! Created for multiple-ages, the copywork includes coloring and bible verses--10 pages total, to help your family celebrate Easter!

FREE Easter Copywork

Easter is almost here!!  And I’m so excited to share my free Easter Copywork pages with you!  It’s my prayer that writing out and reflecting on the Bible verses and copywork sentences will help your kids grow in their knowledge and understanding of Jesus and His great love for them!  What an amazing privilege and…

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Filed Under: Holidays, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Copywork, Easter, Free Resource, Handwriting, Homeschool

Incorporate music lessons into your homeschool holiday celebrations! Teaching music to elementary aged children is simple and fun when combined with holidays and special days throughout the year!

Teaching Music to Celebrate the Holidays

One of my favorite things about homeschooling is celebrating (and learning about) the holidays with my kids!  There’s good food to make, stories to read, art projects and crafts to make–but there’s also great music to share!  I love music–however, this is one of my weakest subjects when it comes to teaching my kids!  That…

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Filed Under: Curriculum, Elementary, Holidays, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, curriculum, Holidays, Homeschool, Homeschool Music, How to Homeschool, Music Curriculum, Music in Our Homeschool

I'm sharing my FREE Saint Patrick's Day Copywork and Activity Packet--which is created for multiple ages (Kindergarten through Upper Elementary)!

St. Patrick’s Day Copywork and Activity Packet {FREEBIE}

Somebody pinch me!  Suddenly we’re seeing green–in the best way possible!  I don’t know about you, but getting to March is such a relief to me–bring on all the joy of St Patrick’s Day and Spring Break!  My husband is part Irish–and my kids have always loved getting into the spirit of the holiday!  I’ve…

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Filed Under: Holidays, Homeschooling Tagged With: Activity Packet, Affiliate, Copywork, Free Resource, Homeschool, St. Patrick's Day

Free Valentine's Day Copywork! 14 page set with coloring, includes some of my favorite bible verses about LOVE! Created for both younger and older children!

FREE Valentine’s Day Copywork

Love is in the air! Spring is around the corner (that’s my story—at least we’re through January)!  And in honor of Valentine’s Day and all things lovely, I’ve created a set of Valentine’s Day Copywork! I love copywork—it’s such a gentle way to focus on grammar, spelling, handwriting, and memorization.  Honestly—I think it’s a great…

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Filed Under: Holidays, Homeschooling Tagged With: Copywork, Free Printable, Homeschool, Valentine's Day

Check out these free homeschool printables! There's 14 handwriting worksheets of Christmas themed copywork printables for multiple age levels (Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle School). Even better, the worksheets include coloring pages! Get your homeschooler some writing practice over the holidays with these amazing free resources!!

Free Christmas Copywork Printable–A Heart for Christmas

  The Christmas excitement is tangible at our  house…and a little bit distracting!  It’s hard to stick to traditional lessons, and I know many homeschool families take a lengthy break this time of year. We will be schooling through mid-December—but I like to add in special activities that incorporate the wonder and beauty of Christmas. …

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Filed Under: Holidays, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Christmas, Copywork, Free Printable, Homeschool

Jesse Tree Post Image

Jesse Tree Christmas Tradition

  Preparing for Christmas Today, Audrey (my 14 year old daughter—equal parts Peter Pan and 40-year-old mom), excitedly announced that in exactly one month we will be hauling up all the Christmas boxes from the basement—it will be the weekend before Thanksgiving. Umm—thanks, Child—you can stop with your countdown—I still need to buy Halloween costumes!…

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Filed Under: Family, Holidays Tagged With: Advent, Affiliate, Christmas, Christmas tradtitions, Jesse Tree

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Hello! Welcome--I'm Jen! I've got 6 kiddos, twins, toddlers, teens--lots of laundry and always dirty dishes! I've been Jason's wife for 20 years, a mommy for 18 years, and a homeschooler for 14 years...I'd love to be friends. ♡

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❤️Love of Learning, Leadership, Creativity, Cr ❤️Love of Learning, Leadership, Creativity, Critical Thinking… 
Just some attributes at the heart of why many of us homeschool! 

We’re digging deep into all that this coming week over at the Life Skills Leadership Summit! I’d love for you to join us!! {Grab your free pass in my bio!}🎉 

I’ll be talking about growing independent learners through all the seasons of homeschooling...💐☀️⛈🍁❄️ 

And the longer I homeschool (17 years now)--the more I am convinced that our kids create & experience meaningful learning through play! 🦄🤖🤴🦸‍♀️

❤️My 6 year old twins created this barn (and a set of paper dolls & horses)--complete with apples in a barrel, hay for the horses, and tiny carrots...I did nothing but provide the materials and the TIME to play!

It may not be Instagram or Pinterest “pretty”—but they were so engrossed and immersed in the process!!

 What project is taking over your dining room table?🐴🎨😉
Slow, cozy mornings...Just one thing I love about Slow, cozy mornings...Just one thing I love about homeschooling! The twins set out their toys to enjoy the fire & then disappeared...Now it’s very quiet—maybe too quiet... #whataretheyupto
Happy New Year!!🤩 Time to take down this tree Happy New Year!!🤩

Time to take down this tree & make some changes in 2021!🥳

{GIVEAWAY—Closed!! Winners have been notified —Congratulations to Sarah & Amy!}🎉❤️

But you still have time to join me for the Make Over Your Life Summit!🥰

We're covering all the things...in 8 individual tracks or grab the All-Access Pass:

❤️Marriage 
❤️Spiritual Life 
❤️Schedules 
❤️Home 
❤️Motherhood
❤️Homeschool 
❤️Health 
❤️Finances
Starts Monday--but Early Bird Registration (and best price) is NOW!
{Link in My Bio!!}
This sweet little book is meant to be read with ou This sweet little book is meant to be read with our little ones! They love joining in & “reading” the pictures! ❤️ 
It’s part of The Story of Christmas product in my shop—which also includes a game, narration, & coloring pages. 
 
Link in my bio!!❤️
All dressed up & nowhere to go!😂 #2020life All dressed up & nowhere to go!😂 #2020life
Happy Halloween from Harry, Hermione, & Professor Happy Halloween from Harry, Hermione, & Professor McGonagall!🎃🧙‍♀️

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