Foods 
This curried sweet potato soup is more than just a delicious, creamy soup. It's packed with ingredients that contain medicinal, therapeutic compounds. Historians report that Hippocrates, the Greek physician who's known as Father of Modern Medicine, said, "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food." Think about that for a moment. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had that kind of relationship with food? What if we chose the foods that healed our bodies? What if we focused on foods that nourished our families? Curried sweet potato soup fits the bill. The Healing Benefits of Curried Sweet Potato ...Read More
Rustic Grain-Free Scalloped Potatoes
Easy, cheesy, and surprisingly healthy, these grain-free scalloped potatoes are the perfect side dish for any family meal or potluck. Comfort food at its finest There has always been a soft spot in my heart for potatoes. Even though there was a time as a child that I remember being tired of eating them so often, they really are an amazingly versatile little plant. Potato salad, potato soup, colcannon, shepherd's pie, fried, roasted, boiled, baked, breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides... The list of things you can make with potatoes is pretty endless! And adding them to just about any meal (sans dessert... sigh) pretty ...Read More
25 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas (a little something for everyone!)
Pulling your hair out because you can't think of gift for that hard-to-buy-for person? Yeah, been there. Done that. Actually, there are a few of those people every year. I love them dearly, and I know they're not trying to be difficult to buy for. In fact, I think a few of these family members are hard to buy for because I so dearly love them and want to give them something meaningful, but every idea falls flat. Some of the most loved gifts I've given in the past, have been those I've made myself. I've given homemade spice mixes, body scrubs, vanilla extract, and more. I'm looking forward to choosing a few of these ...Read More
10 Easy Ways Your Family Can Share the Gospel During the Holidays
"Mom, is that person a Christian?" Around seven or eight years of age, each of my kids has gone through a stage where this question frequently crosses their lips. From the professional athlete to the grocery clerk to the woman holding the cardboard sign on the street corner—no one is exempt from the speculation. It seems the inquiry comes from my kids' growing awareness of what "being a Christian" entails, and from an understanding that some people will receive Christ, others will reject Him, and still others haven't yet had an opportunity to do either one, having never heard a clear presentation of the ...Read More
Favorite Christmas Things Giveaway 2016
What is your favorite thing about Christmas? I have lots of favorites when it comes to Christmas. I love that this time of year helps me (and my family) focus more intentionally on Jesus. I love that as a family we intentionally slow down. We make time to do some special things together like Christmas-themed devotions, fun activities, and service projects. And one more thing I love about the season...giving! Whether it's giving my time in a service project, buying gifts for friends and family, or sending some extra support to missionaries, it just makes me happy to give. It really is true, giving is better than ...Read More
Brown Butter Spice Cake
This Brown Butter Spice Cake is 100% grain-free (and you can easily make it sugar-free and dairy-free too, if you'd like). That means no reaction from grains and sugar! Can I just be honest? Sticking with a strict diet through the holidays used to sound like no fun to me. Sometimes I just want to indulge. But anytime I do, I pay for it—tummy aches, foggy brain, body aches, and a general BLAH feeling. I'm excited to share this recipe with you because you can indulge your taste buds, but you won't have to experience the same consequences. This recipe is both nourishing and delicious. The browned butter adds a ...Read More
Homeschooling 11 Lies Homeschoolers Like to Tell
We all know those perfect little homeschool families. You know, the ones who have it all together. Their kids excel at everything. They get along wonderfully. They love being together. I honestly thought that was what my family would be like in the future just because we chose to homeschool. I'm not sure if I was buying in to the stereotype or that I was just that naive, but that's not our family at all. Don't get me wrong, we love homeschooling, but there are some lies that I have believed and even told on occasion. 1. Homeschooling is fun. Please hear me, we absolutely love homeschooling, but if you ...Read More
Easy DIY Gifts: Peppermint Oatmeal Soap
One of the things I've had a lot of fun with in the past, has been making homemade gifts for some of my family members. In the past, I've made homemade vanilla, spice mixes, and more. This peppermint oatmeal soap makes both a beautiful and useful gift! Rules of DIY Christmas Gifts I have a few rules when it comes to making gifts. They can't be too complicated. They should be either meaningful or useful. They should be lovely. This soap meets all 3 criteria. This peppermint oatmeal soap is super easy to make. I made use of a melt and pour soap base. I suppose if you wanted to buy lye and make the soap ...Read More
