"I will not call it my philosophy; for I did not make it. God and humanity made it; and it made me." - G.K. Chesteron The Apostles' Creed is one of the most used confessions of faith in the global church. History tells us a lot about why the Creed is so important and why it is a great tool for teaching our kids. 1. As far as we know, the Apostles' Creed was not written by the apostles. It was believed throughout the Middle Ages that, on the day of Pentecost, the twelve Apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit to pen the Apostles’ Creed—each Apostle contributing one of 12 articles. In the late 4th century, ...Read More
Foods Simple Butternut Squash Soup
A few weeks ago I tried a cup of Panera's Butternut Squash soup, and was it ever good. I immediately set about trying to make a copycat recipe and to my delight and (quite frankly) surprise I nailed it on the first try. The soup is naturally gluten-free (and can easily be made paleo by changing the type of milk and omitting the maple syrup). Looking for more gluten-free resources? This Everything Gluten Free page is a library of everything gluten free we’ve worked on. To me this recipe just tastes like fall. Because squash is in season is incredibly inexpensive, you'll want to put this Simple Butternut Squash ...Read More
Sugar Free Cream Cheese Frosting
I am in love with this sugar free cream cheese frosting recipe. A good frosting is a must in the life of a mom. With birthdays and get-togethers, cupcakes are always a hit to bring. I love that the individual portions are easy to handle and cut down on the mess. Cream cheese frosting is one that goes with just about any muffin or cupcakes, and well, let's face it, who doesn't love cream cheese? Looking for gluten-free recipes and resources? This Everything Gluten Free page is a library of everything gluten free we’ve worked on. Sugar free cream cheese frosting: a yummy and versatile cupcake topping This sugar ...Read More
Making Family Devotions a Priority when Life is Busy
When we first got married, we didn't do devotions together because we were both in Bible college and all we did was read our Bible. After college, he worked two jobs when our oldest was born and most of the time we saw each other was in passing. Fast forward a few more years and he now worked an overnight shift. He came home exhausted in the mornings and headed straight to bed. When he got up, most days he was like a walking zombie. And if he didn't sleep, it was much worse. I did my best to make the most of our few hours together as a family in the evenings. With young children we spent most of our time chasing ...Read More
Parents: 3 Reasons Your Internet Filter Is Failing You
Can I be frank for a moment? I know the next sentence may make you uncomfortable... I used to watch porn. A lot. I lament thinking about what my life would have been like had I discovered porn any earlier than I did. The habit caused me plenty of grief and was one of the reasons why it was so difficult for me to form relationships. I'm not alone—far from it. Among Christian men in my generation, 57% of us still watch porn once a month or more. Ouch. For younger generations of Christian men, that percentage is much higher—over three quarters of them. For Christian women, it's around 15% that are watching once a ...Read More
The Missing Figure from Your Nativity Set
Nativity sets come in all shapes and sizes. Some contain only a few figures. Others look like small-scale petting zoos, minus the pleasant aroma. Usually the characters in a Nativity set come from Luke 2 (shepherds, angels, and animals), Matthew 2 (wise men), or both (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph), and occasionally Nativity-makers get ambitious and throw in a cast of non-biblical extras: Roman soldiers, the innkeeper's wife, a little drummer boy, or even Santa Claus (just bizarre). All of these figures are interesting characters to talk about with our kids. But the one figure they always leave out is the seven-headed ...Read More
25 {DIY} Christmas Gift Ideas
Looking for some fun, natural living gift ideas this holiday season? Sometimes it's nice to give and receive handmade gifts. Here are some possibilities that will lend a personal touch to your gift-giving this year! These are great for neighbors, friends, or family members. {DIY} Christmas Gift Ideas Relaxing Bath Salt Recipe Honey and Cinnamon Lip Balm Cleansing Essential Oils Bath Homemade Vanilla Extract from The Simple Life Homemade Coconut Oil Lotion from His Mercy is New Easy DIY Aromatherapy Shower Tablets 3 Ingredient Peppermint Scrub ...Read More
25 Days of Grain Free Christmas Cookies: Gingerbread Balls
Molasses style cookies are a favorite around here anytime of the year! Gingerbread man cookies are festive, cute, and have a lot of character, but they are also a lot of work! I decided to take that flavor and do a simple cookie ball with all the flavor and half of the work: the result were these delicious grain-free gingerbread balls. Chestnut flour: a unique gluten-free baking ingredient This gingerbread recipe calls for a unique flour...chestnut flour. What is chestnut flour? Chestnut flour is a gluten-free alternative to regular flour made from ground chestnuts. Chestnuts have been dried and made into sweet ...Read More
