The other day, I made a passing comment to a friend about Christian clichés I dislike—some because they are overused, some because they are gross over-generalizations, some because they're simply untrue. Here were a few I mentioned... "God helps those who help themselves" "God loves the sinner but hates the sin" "Forgive and forget" "I don't feel led" "You are enough" (yeah, my wife wrote a post on that pet peeve) Among those I really dislike is this little gem: "All sins are the same in God's eyes." On one level, it makes sense why some would believe all sins are equal. Since all sins are ...Read More
5 Reasons I’m (Finally) Choosing an Essential Oil Brand (+ a Huge EO Giveaway!)
What brand of essential oils do you use? That innocent-sounding question has become incredibly divisive in recent years. Many essential oil "wars" have begun with that one question. But I don't like conflict. I like everyone to get along. While there are some brands I've used more than others, I've stayed pretty brand-neutral—both in personal purchases and the brands I promote to my readers. But after doing a lot more research, I knew a change was needed. I wanted to be able to point my readers in a specific direction when it came to essential oils. I wanted to partner with a company that makes high quality ...Read More
3 Strategies for Biblical Sex Education at Home
Recently we did a survey among our readers about their experiences teaching about sex at home. The results were eye-opening. The #1 fear or anxiety our readers have about talking to kids about sex is saying "too much too soon." I sympathize with this fear. In our modern age, we've become hyper-aware of sexual dysfunction in our society. Many of us come from sexually broken pasts ourselves. Moreover, we live in an age where parenting is always in the spotlight. Never before have there been so many widely published and conflicting opinions about how best to raise our kids. For a lot of parents, in the ...Read More
Foods Slow Cooker Taco Soup
This Slow Cooker Taco Soup recipe is the perfect comfort food recipe for dinner when you are too busy to fuss. You can alter the spiciness of the soup to suit your family's needs. Have creative fun with the toppings, or use this soup as the perfect opportunity to use up leftovers! We have had an amazing fall this year. I am so thankful to have had extra time enjoying some sunshine and playing outside with the boys before winter sets in. In fact, as I write this the weather forecast is calling for snow this weekend. Slow Cooker Taco Soup: A Family-Friendly Meal One of my staple foods in the fall and winter is a big ...Read More
Hearty Potato, Ham, and Pumpkin Soup
This hearty potato, ham, and pumpkin soup is the perfect cozy comfort food for fall and winter. Pumpkin lovers will love a new way to eat more pumpkin, too! As the season changes from Autumn to Winter, a few things are certain... We spend our Friday evenings cheering our sons as they play basketball. The days get shorter and the nights get longer. The chill in the air becomes more pronounced. Soup graces our table and warms our bellies. Love soup? Make sure you check out our other delicious soup recipes! I once thought pumpkin was just for pies and other desserts. But in recent years, I've learned it makes a ...Read More
Merry Christmas! (Plus Two BIG Announcements)
This week, 101 years ago, the Great War (WWI) was ripping the world apart. By the end of the war in 1918, more than 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians would lose their lives, becoming one of the deadliest conflicts in the history of the world. But something unique happened during Christmastime in 1914... Along the Western Front, there was an unofficial ceasefire between British and German troops. On Christmas Eve, the Germans decorated their trenches in a holiday fashion and began singing carols. The British responded by singing carols of their own, and all night long they shouted Christmas greetings to ...Read More
Homeschooling FREE Winter Spelling and Coloring Pack
Winter time is here and cold weather means kids will be inside more than outside. If your kids are like mine, they love the idea of the snow, but can only last so long before they need to come in and warm up. As they're warming up, why not add in a few fun spelling words and coloring sheets to get the blood flowing through their hands again. This year, I thought I would throw in some fun Winter themed printables to change things up a bit and maybe I wouldn't hear so much backlash after a day of playing in the snow. This Winter Spelling & Copywork pack has spelling lists for PreK-1st, 2nd-3rd & 4th-5th along ...Read More
Skip the Drugs: 5 Ways to Naturally Treat Acid Reflux
I recently spent a lot of time researching how to naturally treat acid reflux. I've lost count of the number of times my head has shot off the pillow in the middle of the night with that nauseating, burning sensation in the back of my throat. The scorching feeling in my chest, the bitter taste of stomach acid splashing up into my esophagus—it's another bout of acid reflux. My acid reflux was so frequent I eventually developed scar tissue in my throat—technically called esophageal stricture—which made it painful and difficult to swallow or even talk. Special thanks to Maty's Healthy Products for ...Read More
