Foods 
These Mini Ham and Cheese Balls are not only super delicious, they are also a great base recipe that you can be creative with. They are amazing for serving at family parties! One of those appetizers, that just seem like a "classic" to me are cheese balls. They are yummy and those little balls of deliciousness look cute as can be, surrounded by crackers, veggies, or dippers of your choice. Well...they look cute until the first person shove a knife into the cheese ball and takes a gouge out of the center of it. Sure, they still taste good, but they're not quite so aesthetically pleasing after they've been carved ...Read More
Homeschooling FREE Winter Copywork Packet
I don't know about you, but we usually do a light school schedule for the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Living so far from family, we are usually traveling for at least one of those holidays. Then add in our ministry obligations and our schedules are packed full. We usually do some seasonal or holiday mini units to keep things fun and light. And even though handwriting isn't a favorite subject in our house, it's one I think needs constant work—especially in those formative years. So, I created some fun Winter copywork printables you can use throughout the season or when you just need a break from your ...Read More
5 Warning Signs You Should NOT Be Disciplining Your Child
Most Christian parents are aware that the Bible—and particularly the book of Proverbs—encourages discipline of children. Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. (Proverbs 13:24) Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. (Proverbs 22:15) Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. (Proverbs 29:17) These are direct references to child discipline. But even more compelling are the implications of biblical examples. Take David, for instance. It seems from biblical accounts of ...Read More
Spiced Apple Kombucha
This Spiced Apple Kombucha is a delicious way to fill your body with much needed nutrients. Kombucha has long been touted as a probiotic-rich, healthy alternative to soda or sweet tea, and pairing it with apples and spices packs the perfect fall-flavored punch! I can still see it vividly in my mind—my first meeting with kombucha. As a new mom, I was trying to do things right for my family: cooking and baking from scratch, staying away from sugars, additives, and packaged foods. But fermenting was a whole new ball game. So when my friend opened her cupboard and showed me her scoby (symbiotic colony of ...Read More
Why I don’t buy (most) cough syrup from the store…and one that I do
"We've never had good evidence that cough suppressants and expectorants help with cough, but people are desperate to get some relief. They're so convinced that they should work that they buy them anyway," claims Norman Edelman, MD, senior scientific advisor at the American Lung Association. Woah! Say what?! That syrupy-sweet stuff we give to our kids and ourselves when a cold strikes doesn't work? The first time I read it, this comment from Dr. Edelman really grabbed my attention and made me rethink cough syrup. I'll admit, I wasn't ready to part with it yet. Because, like the Dr. Edelman says, I was desperate ...Read More
Why It Would Require an Act of God For My Kids to Attend Public School
If you got past the title and you're still reading, you're probably either internally fuming or cheering. It's true. It would take an act of God for me to send my kids to public school. But I don't say those words as someone who chalks up modern-day "acts of God" as an impossibility. I say them as one who very much believes that God is alive and working—in numerous ways I can see and in countless ways I can't even imagine. I say those words as one who has a personal relationship with Him, and who trusts Him to direct my paths in very real ways with very real intentions and very real ramifications. The fact ...Read More
Easy {DIY} Aromatherapy Shower Tablets
I have recently started making and using these easy DIY aromatherapy shower tablets in our home. Fall is here and winter is coming! There will be cider and holidays, snuggles by the fire and more. As the weather turns, our outdoor activities become mostly indoor excursions, and you know what that means? Yep, cold and flu season is here. Queue the tissues, rice socks, herbal teas, and natural remedies! This time of year, we have several roller bottles and a high quality diffuser working full time in our home, as well as go-to oils for supporting the immune system. Lately, in addition to our Immune Bomb recipe, I've ...Read More
Honey Cinnamon Lip Balm
This homemade Honey Cinnamon Lip Balm makes an easy gift. With only a few, non-toxic ingredients, you'll be surprised at how easy it is to whip up. Essential oils come in very handy for do-it-yourselfers.They’re perfect for fighting environmental threats, keeping away the bugs, clearing the sinuses and soothing sunburns and much more. I've been using them since I was a child, but this was the first time I've used them in lip balm. Want to know more about how to use your time efficiently with DIY projects with essential oils? Check out my HomeAid video to learn how to create your own essential oil response kit for your ...Read More
