When we first got married, we didn't do devotions together because we were both in Bible college and all we did was read our Bible. After college, he worked two jobs when our oldest was born and most of the time we saw each other was in passing. Fast forward a few more years and he now worked an overnight shift. He came home exhausted in the mornings and headed straight to bed. When he got up, most days he was like a walking zombie. And if he didn't sleep, it was much worse. I did my best to make the most of our few hours together as a family in the evenings. With young children we spent most of our time chasing ...Read More
Homeschooling Homeschooling through the Holidays: Tips, Tricks & Ideas
Do you homeschool through the holidays or do you avoid it like the plague? I know we used to take a break from the Monday before Thanksgiving until after New Year's. One year that was necessary as we were hosting Thanksgiving at our house and did all the cooking. Then, I was just worn out from it all. We didn't get back into it the next week and before I knew it—it was January 5th. While the break was nice, it was also difficult because we didn't follow a set routine and it really threw the kids out of whack. It was more difficult than I ever thought to get them (and me) back into a routine. So the next year, I ...Read More
Homeschooling at the Grocery Store (With a 17 page FREE Printable Pack!)
Grocery shopping is inevitable. Grocery shopping with kids is a whole new ball game. I am blessed in that my husband does most of the grocery shopping for our family. However, when our children were younger and my husband worked the third shift, I took them with me everywhere. And I learned very early on how to make the most of my shopping trips with young children. I quickly realized that if I made our grocery shopping trips more fun and like an adventure, they were less of a hassle for me. So I set out to make my grocery shopping with kids both fun and educational. With a 5 year old, 1 year old and one ...Read More
10 Commandments Mini Unit Study {75+ pgs}
I've put together a 10 Commandments Mini Unit Study for kids ages Preschool - 6th grade (and up). This unit study is full of fun, creative activities for the kids, so they can learn about the 10 Commandments and have fun at the same time. The 10 Commandments is one of those sections of Scripture that I want my kids to know by heart. I want them to know God's Word is not only important, but also that it is timeless. Even though those Commandments were given hundreds of years ago, they are still rules God wants us to follow and live by. 10 Commandments Mini Unit Study So what better way to teach them about ...Read More
8 Tips for a Smooth Day when Homeschooling with a Toddler
Homeschooling is no easy task. But, homeschooling with toddlers gives a whole new meaning to the word patience. We began our homeschooling journey when our oldest began kindergarten. Up until that time, he attended preschool at our church. When we began our journey, however, it was quite a rude awakening that first day. I had visions of grandeur and simple living. I had read many books, blogs and articles about homeschooling and talking to his preschool teachers and finding out just how well he really did with the structure, I knew exactly how I wanted to structure our days. I hung a nice, neat schedule with times for ...Read More
20 Free and Frugal Family Fun Outdoor Activities
Summer is here! The bitter cold temperatures of this past winter will soon be a distant memory as the days get longer and warmer. So what can you do to take advantage of these longer, warmer days? Our family loves to be outside. My kids would spend entire days outside if I let them. They love riding their bikes, going on walks, and just running around in the sun. But there are so many more family activities you can do outside! And many of them are free. Here's our 20 favorite Family Fun Outdoor Activities! ...Read More
{DIY} Father’s Day Gift Ideas
When my husband and I got married, we decided that money would not be spent on frivolous gifts - even for birthdays and anniversaries. We often make each other cards or write each other notes in lieu of spending money. Now when it comes to the kids, they always enjoy making cards, drawing pictures and creating anything special for their Daddy. So each year around Father's Day, I scour the internet in search of some fun, cute and easy DIY gifts. Here are some of my favorites. Coloring Pages and Painting 1. Design-Your-Own Tie for Dad 2. Have you ever made your own mugs? Let the kids decorate a mug from the ...Read More
7 Tips for Starting a Family Devotion Time
The past couple of months, we've been working with our oldest to develop his own quiet time. We want to instill in him a love and zeal for God's Word. But while we want him to have a personal quiet time of prayer and reading God's Word, we also wanted to have a time that our family could read God's Word and learn together. We've tried on several occasions to start a family devotion time, but have been unsuccessful. Through our failures, we have learned several things that don't work. But we have also learned a few things that can help make your family devotion time a meaningful time that you will all enjoy and love. I ...Read More
