It’s nearly impossible to ignore the significant health decline we have been experiencing over the past few decades. Obesity, heart disease, and diabetes have been allowed to skyrocket to epidemic proportions unlike anything we have ever seen in the history of the world. All of the so-called health “experts” almost universally point to a lack of physical activity and the overconsumption of dietary fat and calories, but what if that conventional thinking on nutrition as it relates to our health is missing a very critical element in the equation? Here’s the million dollar question—what if people are being told to eat more ...Read More
The Life of Christ: Family Reading Plan
If you could choose one historical person that your children knew everything about, who would it be? I know this sounds like the "Sunday School answer," but for me, the person would be Jesus. More than anything, I hope to instill in my kids a love for Christ, a longing to know everything about Him, who He is, and what He has done. Reading the Gospels Every Year The time between Christmas and Resurrection Sunday offers a perfect time for families to read the stories from Jesus' life. Right after we celebrate the birth of Christ, it make sense that we continue the story leading up to His death and ...Read More
The Easy Way To Make Kefir
One thing I never thought I'd do is let milk sit out on my counter for 24 hours and ferment and be really excited about a smoothie the next day. That type of a thing didn't sound terribly appetizing to me. Since becoming a bit of a hippie though, that's exactly what happens every time I make kefir, and it's easier to do than you think. I was first introduced to kefir when my sister suggested I try a candida cleanse (anti-yeast diet) to see if that was what was causing some health problems of mine. The first phase of the cleanse you're only allowed meat and vegetables. The candida diet eliminates all sugars, which yeast ...Read More
Christmas is All About Interruptions
Bible scholars say she was 13 or 14 years old. Mary must have thought she had her whole life planned out. She was preparing to marry a wonderful man and was probably excitedly making preparations. Certainly it wasn't her idea to be pregnant out of wedlock on her wedding day, especially with a child who was not her husband's. Then she met the angel Gabriel who said, in effect, "I need to tell you what God's plan for you is." He interrupted her plans with the words "Blessed art thou among women." Joseph was making plans for his life, too. I can't imagine that his plans involved marrying a young girl who was ...Read More
Lard: The New Superfood!
Lard? Lard? (you ask incredulously). Yes, contrary to popular opinion lard is a fantastic source of nutrients. I know, we've been programmed most of our lives to believe saturated fats are unhealthy and lard has been the butt of numerous jokes, but give me just a few minutes to explain. I had the opportunity to guest post over at Whole New Mom and talk about 6 Reasons Why You Should Be Eating This Food. Be sure to stop by and check out the post. If you're looking for more information on lard, cholesterol, and saturated fats, come back here and check out the following posts on our blog: Cholesterol Hypothesis: ...Read More
4 Easy Steps to Add Fermented Foods to Your Diet
Fermented foods are a traditional food that have slowly been phased out of the American diet for convenience. This is a shame because fermented foods contain probiotics to nourish your gut. They help aid your digestion and absorption of vitamins and minerals. Fermentation also increases certain vitamins and nutrients in foods. Fermented foods are basically foods that have been preserved by a controlled exposure to bacteria or yeast. The bacteria breaks down sugars and carbohydrates and creates acids, gases, and/or alcohols that preserve the food for longer periods of time. Fermented dairy is usually referred to as ...Read More
Three Kings: Seeking Christ After Christmas (Free Printable Lessons)
Three Kings: Seeking Christ After Christmas was inspired by our family’s desire to continue pursuing Jesus after December 25th. Advent draws us near to the heart of God in holy anticipation of Emmanuel—God With Us. Christmas Day brings merriment and rejoicing as we celebrate that He is here! This study on the three kings will help your family dwell on the incarnation of Christ from Christmas Day into the New Year. Together, we will reflect upon the revelation of Jesus to the world and in our lives. We will also take action on that revelation as we usher in a new year dedicated to the Lord. The study is ...Read More
8 Simple Tips for Hosting an Allergy-Friendly Party
Navigating holiday parties with food allergies can often be tricky. More often than not I find myself quizzing my host on ingredients when we are eating at a friend’s house. With food allergies on the rise and my level of advocacy, it has become less stressful to ask for special accommodations than when we first learned about our boys’ sensitivities three years ago. Looking for more gluten-free resources? This Everything Gluten Free page is a library of everything gluten free we’ve worked on. It is greatly appreciated when a host creates an allergy-friendly party and I don’t have to worry about the ingredients we ...Read More