Reflecting On The "Little Things"

I got a notification the other day that I had a new subscriber to my Substack, and I realized it had been quite a while since I had written anything specifically for my stack. What started as a hobby and means of helping me organize my thoughts to share with others opened up opportunities for me to share those thoughts with a broader audience on bigger platforms. I am incredibly grateful for that, but it also made me immensely aware of how thankful I am for the everyday things that have been a massive part of my journey.

I’ve always been a bit of a homebody. Not in the lazy sense, just in the sense that I love being at home and enjoy creating a welcoming environment for others to visit. So, when I suddenly found myself racking up frequent flyer miles and hotel points in recent months, it was an adjustment.

In March, I had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Classical Education Symposium in Phoenix, AZ. For three days, I listened to brilliant scholars and educators discuss what education is supposed to be and do. It was inspiring and encouraging, and it reminded me of what is possible for all students if we remember the true purpose of education.

A few weeks later, I was invited to attend the Old Parkland Conference in Dallas, TX. Once again, I was surrounded by brilliant scholars, policymakers, and educators. This time, the focus was specifically on the advancement of black Americans. One of the reasons behind the launch of our nonprofit, Freedom In Education, was a growing weariness of focusing on problems in education (and society) but never discussing possible solutions. This conference renewed my strong convictions that solutions exist and that people and organizations are working hard to create and implement new ones every day.

I returned home just long enough to get a couple of loads of laundry washed before packing my bags and heading back out to the airport. This time, my travels took me to Washington, D.C.. There, as an Independent Women's Forum representative, I had the honor of testifying before the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Constitution, and Limited Government. The hearing entitled, “Liberty, Tyranny, and Accountability: COVID-19 and the Constitution”, was chaired by Congressman Chip Roy and was an opportunity to question the overreach of the government during Covid. With my 18-year-old daughter accompanying me, I shared our family’s experience and the stories I’ve heard from so many over the past four years. It was an honor to be asked and to be able to speak up on behalf of parents and students across the country.

Woven throughout my travels were many great meetings and conversations with local educators, community leaders, and policymakers. The network of like-minded problem-solvers is growing, and it is exciting to be a part of that. There is positive momentum at the grassroots level in our country right now, and I am grateful and energized by it.

After such a whirlwind few months focusing on so many vital issues, it was delightful to return home. On my first day back, I was asked by one of my children to bake a birthday cake for a friend’s mother. I happily obliged. The next day, I returned to my volunteer teaching duties at More Grace Christian Academy, where I was met with hugs and the most beautiful smiles. A few days later, I had the honor of making a birthday cake for my mother-in-law. The following week, my daughter’s friend texted to ask me if I would make her some of my “famous” banana bread. I made a double batch.

The advocacy work I do is essential, and I believe it positively impacts education and society. However, I do it to protect what many consider mundane or tedious aspects of life. Recently, I discovered Wendell Berry’s essay “Think Little”. I was particularly moved when I read, “We need better government, no doubt about it. But we also need better minds, better friendships, better marriages, better communities. We need persons and households that do not have to wait upon organizations, but can make necessary changes in themselves, on their own.” Creating a welcoming home, baking for friends and family, and serving students in my community are the things that truly matter. Those are the things that make families, friendships, and communities better. 

So, thank you for reading and subscribing to my Substack, and thanks to those of you who have encouraged me to continue speaking up on behalf of parents, teachers, and students. I don’t plan to stop speaking or writing any time soon. However, I do plan to be much more intentional about the “little things,” and I hope you will, too.