Each night, my twins and I cuddle up in my bed and open up our read-aloud story Bible. It's one of our favorite times of the day. When we have to miss it, there is always much sadness! You should see the puppy-dog eyes. As Christian parents one of our great desires is to constantly be pointing our children to Jesus and the Bible. One of the ways our family does this from very young childhood is through spending time each night reading a Bible story to our kiddos. It warms my mama heart to know that each of my little ones has looked forward to this time with me with such great anticipation. The older our kids get, ...Read More
Foods 3 Bean White Chicken Chili
3 bean white chicken chili is hands down one of my kids' favorite soups—really, one of their all-time favorite meals! I can always bet on smiles at the table when this soup makes an appearance because it's such a crowd-pleaser in my home! Beans: Dry or Canned? You'll noticed with this recipe, I've given you the option to use either canned or dried prepared beans. I personally recommend you use dried beans that you've prepared. I know, I know...they're not as convenient as picking up a can of bean at the store (which I'll admit, I've done on occasion to cut corners), but they aren't that hard with a little ...Read More
Finding a Good Lyme Doctor (yes, they really do exist)
I was one of the lucky ones. After over a year of my general doctor running tests and sending me to different specialists, I tentatively questioned if Lyme disease might be worth investigating. My doctor agreed: it was a good idea. But he also admitted that he knew the tests were terribly unreliable and I'd need a good Lyme doctor to help me figure out if this was indeed causing all of my mysterious symptoms. He referred me to a colleague who helped guide me through the early stages of Lyme testing and getting my diagnosis. I'll forever be grateful for my doctor's honesty. He knew he didn't understand Lyme ...Read More
5 Uplifting Essential Oil Blends to Fight Fatigue
Today, I'm going to talk a bit about some uplifting essential oil blends to help fight fatigue. We've almost made it a virtue in our culture to stay over-busy. Yes, I'm guilty of this too. We love to relay our war stories of how many different balls we are juggling and how sleep deprived we are. I've made strides to remedy this, but there are some things in life that are simply beyond my control (like...a baby that will be arriving soon and keeping me up nursing through the night). While it's smart to simplify and get the rest you need, for those days when you need a little pick me up don't reach for the caffeine ...Read More
Pumpkin Spice Latte—that actually has pumpkin in it (sugar-free)
Whether you're on #TeamPumpkinSpice or #TeamAppleCider (or you're a cross-over like me), this time of year is sure to make you happy! And if you enjoy the tastes of fall without all the added sugar, this sugar-free Pumpkin Spice Latte is sure to put a smile on your face. Looking for gluten-free recipes and resources? This Everything Gluten Free page is a library of everything gluten free we’ve worked on. Less sugar. More pumpkin! Bad habits are hard to break — like driving through Starbucks for that overpriced and over-sugared latte. One of the keys to breaking those bad habits is to think of all that you have to ...Read More
Grain-Free Apple Pie Muffins (no-added sugar)
We're neck deep in apples over here. Literally. So why not make some delicious grain-free apple pie muffins? We purchased a new home last year and were blessed with 8 healthy, fruitful apple tress. We've had the opportunity to make applesauce a-plenty. Besides that, we've made apple leather to pack in lunches for co-op days, dried apple slices for trail mix, freeze bags upon bags of sliced apples. Also, we got to try our hand at cider making, and we made all the apple goodies we can handle. And we still have plenty of apples to share! As you can see, my mind has been swirling with all things apple. Looking ...Read More
Before you leave the hospital: health decisions I’m making differently for baby #5
I'm having baby #5. You'd think I'd have this thing all figured out by now. But no. Here I am planning to make health decisions for my baby that are completely different than what I did with my first 4 boys. Because I am making what some would consider unconventional health decisions, I need a plan in place with everything laid out. It's important for my doctor to know what I'd like up-front. And it's important my husband is on the same page so he can advocate on behalf of my baby if I'm unable to. I want to make the absolute best health decisions I can for my baby given our unique circumstances. That ...Read More
Just say no! 5 Prenatal Practices I’m Refusing
When it came to prenatal practices, I used to always follow the doctor's orders. However, after I did lots of research, I decided that there were 5 prenatal practices that I just did not feel comfortable doing anymore. Here's why... Hi, I'm Trisha, and I'm a first-born, ISTJ, rule-follower. I was that obedient child who did what I was told...and did what I was supposed to do even when I wasn't told. I respect my authorities and do what they tell me. Well, until now... With my previous babies, I did what the doctors told me to do. Without question. If they made a recommendation or told me to get something done, I ...Read More
