Foods 
Sleep is an important part of a health routine. If you have trouble falling asleep, good night herbal tea blend may just do the trick! I've always been a big fan of sleep. Truly, I never had issues going to bed when I needed to because I know how much of a bear I can be when I don't get enough sleep in. Somewhere along the line after having kids and suffering from adrenal fatigue, sleep seemed to take a back seat. Adrenal fatigue has been my nemesis for a few years now. You see, no matter how tired I can be, I just can't lay down to sleep. My functional doctor said it's like my body and mind are walking on a ...Read More
How to use the Bible as a Parenting Manual
Parenting is hard; but we sure are lucky to be able to use the Bible as a Parenting Manual. Let's be honest. When we begin our parenting journey, we don't have a clue. (Please tell me it wasn't just me.) Not only did I not have a clue to start with, but I also didn't have enough functioning brain cells to get a clue on my own. (Sleep deprivation anyone?) For example, my husband and I probably changed our newborn daughter's crib sheet fifty times in the first week of her life. I'm sure you're aware that infants are notorious for those messes we affectionately call "diaper blowouts," and I think ...Read More
One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Fennel
The perfect pair of sweet and savory, this Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Fennel is an easy, healthy one-pan meal. I hate wasting food. I've always been a frugal kind of girl, and having to throw away food because I didn't use it up in time is extremely hard for me. But when my neighbor dropped off two bulbs of fennel she didn't want, I was at a loss. I'd never had fennel in a recipe, let alone cooked with it! For about a week I stared at that fennel every time I opened my fridge, waiting for inspiration to smack me in the face. But instead all that I got was a waft of sweet fennel fragrance, sans ...Read More
DIY Essential Oil Nighttime Lotion
With its light smell and delicate apple flavor, chamomile tea is one of my favorites to relax with in the evening. When I set out to create a nighttime lotion that was both relaxing and safe for children, chamomile was the first essential oil I turned to. Much like lavender, German or Roman Chamomile is a very safe oil, and like lavender, chamomile promotes calming and relaxation. As an added bonus chamomile may help support a healthy immune system too, a definite plus when creating a lotion for my family.* Nighttime Lotion Ingredients This recipe can be made with either chamomile or lavender essential oil. ...Read More
Homeschooling Easy Science Experiment for Kids: The Crucifixion, Eclipses, and Moon Phases
Solar eclipses are marvelous events to watch. There's nothing like watching as the moon slowly blocks the light from the sun, turning daytime as dark as night. In the moments before the moon completely covers the sun—what we call totality—the world around you will begin change. Shadows start to take on an odd appearance. The sky starts to turn dark, and the temperature begins to drop. Wildlife might also start acting bizarre: birds will become very quiet; animals start move toward their sleeping areas; some spiders begin dismantling their webs. Finally, at totality, the sky will grow very dark—dark ...Read More
7 Strategies for a Better Night’s Sleep
I don't have trouble sleeping at night. In fact, I have the opposite problem—I have trouble waking up! I could sleep an absolutely absurd number of hours. So you might be wondering, what qualifies me to write a post on strategies for a better night's sleep? While I don't have trouble sleeping, I do have some extended family members who do, and I tend to be the person they come to for advice. They'll say, "Hey, could you do some research for me on {fill in the blank}," and of course, being the total geek I am, I always oblige. So, let's talk about strategies for a better night's sleep, according to the ...Read More
10 Reasons Why Your Kids Should Memorize the 10 Commandments
There are so many important reasons why your kids should memorize the 10 Commandments. Oxford scholar C.S. Lewis once said the big difference between ancient people and modern people is the way we approach God (or the gods). The ancient person always approached God as an accused person approaches his judge. He approached God cautiously because he knew God was his rightful judge. "For the modern man," Lewis writes, "the roles are reversed...man is on the bench and God in the dock." For modern man, God is on trial. If our kids are going to have a proper understanding of themselves, of God, of sin, and of redemption, ...Read More
Little Kids and Daily Devotions: A Tool to Encourage Independence
It takes a village to raise a child. – African proverb One of my biggest burdens for my kids is that they learn, from an early age, the value of spending time alone with God. But I've always struggled with how to develop this habit in my youngest kids. I'm a father to twin 4-year-olds. They do everything together. They share a room, share clothes, share toys, and nearly everything in their schedule is done together. They are inseparable. They are each other's best friends (when they are in the good mood) and worst rivals (when they are in a bad mood). We've tried establishing a time in the morning when they can ...Read More
