"Mom, my brain is full of too many verses." My 7-year-old daughter told me this recently when she was feeling frustrated about memorizing a particularly difficult Bible verse. And what was my response? "That's impossible, sweetheart. There's no such thing." My words were full of compassion, and I understood her frustration so we took a break and came back to the Scripture later. But I meant what I said. It's impossible for a Christian to fill her brain with "too many verses." Few of us would argue the importance of Bible memory. It's a discipline most Christians know we should be doing, but if we're honest, ...Read More
Homeschooling 7 Popular Homeschool Freebies You Don’t Want to Miss
When we were new homeschool parents, even though we were excited about all the freedom and flexibility homeschooling would give us, we quietly lamented the additional cost. If we were sending our kids to the local public school, at least our tax dollars would essentially cover their education. But not so with homeschooling. The good news is there are some great freebies you can take advantage of as a homeschooler. They'll help keep your kids engaged and looking forward to what comes next! Homeschool Freebies 1. Teachers Pay Teachers This website is a treasure trove for homeschool parents. Here you’ll find over ...Read More
Foods 5 Essential Things You NEED to Know About Organic Produce
You've always heard you should eat your fruits and veggies, and most of us know there are some fruits and vegetables that give you more bang for your bucks (nutritionally speaking). But is it really worth bothering with organic produce? Is it worth the extra cost? A new study from Stanford has had people claiming organic foods aren't any more nutritious and don't give any health benefits you can't receive from non-organic foods. So, are we being duped into paying higher prices for something that's just not worth it? I live on a budget, so I don't want to spend 25% more on the apples my kids ravenously devour ...Read More
Take the quiz: What’s your family mealtime style?
Since all people have to take in some form of nourishment to live, wouldn’t it make sense that fulfilling this most basic human need should be as easy as breathing? Why must family mealtime be so challenging? All I want to do is bring my beautiful family together for a healthy, happy meal. And yet it sometimes feels like I've gone out in the wilderness and brought back kids who've been raised by wolverines. Look, some nights everything goes alright—nights when my precious family should grace the cover of Look at This Perfect Family Eat Dinner magazine. But then there are the dinners I’m convinced need to be ...Read More
Get Off the Hamster Wheel: How Christian parents can make every day count
A little something you should know about me: I really don't like to read parenting blogs. Not even a little bit. Sufficient for the day is my own trouble. I really don't need to compound my life with the banality and frustrations of other people. "What gives?" you say. "Don't you write for a blog about Christian parenting?" Yup. And I suppose the reason I typically avoid Christian parenting blogs is because it's hard to steer clear of the your-best-life-now kind of rubbish, not to mention the glib look-at-my-annoyingly-relatable-authentic-life exposés. I say this because, with a subtitle like, "How ...Read More
3-Ingredient Paleo Strawberry Granita
With only three ingredients, and no fancy equipment required, you're sure to enjoy this melt-in-your-mouth paleo Strawberry Granita! Strawberry season. Through the fall and winter seasons, my family is happy to enjoy apples and other late-in-the-year fruits. But there is one thing that we all miss. When spring comes along we all start dreaming of strawberry season. Every late spring/summer I try hard to keep strawberries hidden so I can turn them into something special. Our favorites being strawberry shortcake (of course), strawberry popsicles, and strawberry fruit snacks. Usually it's a battle to keep any around, ...Read More
5 Things Every Good Christian Mom Does
Before I got married, I knew exactly what life would look like in my home when I started having babies. Visions of the perfect family swirled in my head... The kids awaken cheerfully to get ready for the day (and never miss doing their morning chores). Everyone would peacefully sit down at the dinner table, cordially pass dishes, while chatting about their day. Devotions would be easy and the kids—peaceful and engaged. But somewhere between my dreams of having children and the reality of life-with-5-crazy-boys, my definition of what a "good mom" underwent an overhaul. My dreams looked something like a Normal ...Read More
God or Country? A Biblical Perspective of Patriotism for Families
The summer is fast approaching, and with it we can expect backyard barbecues, swimming pools, and multiple holidays honoring our country. Our nation's birthday is smack dab in the middle of summer, after all; is it any wonder summer feels like the most patriotic season? Merriam-Webster defines patriotism as "love for or devotion to one's country." Seems simple enough, right? But it's not always easy to know what this looks like in practical, everyday life. How can we display patriotism when we're less than happy with what's happening in our government? When leaders dissatisfy us? When fellow countrymen disappoint ...Read More
