Over the weekend, we stopped in to visit my dad (aka Grandpa). He sent us home with two baggies of peanuts—one for the kids, and one for their daddy. The kids and their dad put theirs together, and here’s what they made! I’m absolutely loving my $30 food processor from Amazon. Thank you to everyone ...
Life Isn’t Fair
I bet you can’t count how many times you’ve heard that before! When our second child was a toddler, I made a little rule in our home: my children were not allowed to say, “No fair!” It’s still a rule in this house today. Call me crazy, but this simple rule has really helped our kids get along ...
In The Kitchen: Homemade Hummus
Twice last week I got to enjoy meals with friends who brought hummus to share. Mmm-mm-mmm. Good food and good friends—my favorite combination! It reminded me that I hadn’t made hummus in years, so I decided to give it a try again. Hummus isn’t too expensive to buy, but I love making things myself ...
A Letter to my Children… & You
Written for my children, for when they are older and will understand it more. In the meantime, maybe you {my dear readers} could use this right now, too? I know I would benefit from these words being spoken to me daily. My Dear Children, I pray you are clinging tightly to Jesus. Be ready. Be ready ...
Thankful Thursday: Life
This week I am especially thankful for LIFE. You see, this past weekend there was a horrible car accident involving two teen girls. I didn't know the girls, or any of their family. I read they were Sisters (I've always wanted a sister). As I read the posts on Facebook and pieced together what ...
Blessing Soup: A Simple, Heartwarming Meal
This recipe might as well be called Blessing Soup. I was first introduced to it at a MOPS Christmas dinner, where another mom brought a crock of it to share. She told me it only had four ingredients—yes, just four! 1 can cream of chicken 1 can chicken broth 1 package cream cheese 1 ...
Christmas Cheer: Simple Gift
Here's a very simple gift for anyone on your list. We won big at our town Christmas Celebration (I'm talkin' grand prize kind of big. It blessed our socks off, folks!). It was such a great surprise that we chose to turn some of that money back into blessing others. I ...
Tutorial: A Simple & Heartfelt Neighbor Gift
Looking for a way to spread holiday cheer to your neighbors without spending a fortune or spending hours in the kitchen? This simple, hands-on gift is perfect for busy families and still shows love and thoughtfulness. Supplies You’ll Need: Wrapping paper Tape Ribbon Scissors ...
Motherhood as a Profession: Running the Household Like a Workplace
My home is my workplace. I spend more hours here than anywhere else, and I’m in charge of more daily responsibilities than anyone else in the house. I say this with pride. God has blessed me with a beautiful home and a husband who allows me the gift of being a full-time homemaker. This year, we took ...
Show me the mother and I’ll show you the child quote
At the suggestion of a friend, I just started watching Army Wives. I really didn't need another show to watch. I'm good with just Parenthood. I love the story lines, even when they make me cringe. um, hello Julia? What are you doing?! I'm only a dozen-ish episodes in on Army Wives (watching on ...
Devoted December: Focusing on What Truly Matters
Welcome! Thank you for stopping by. Would you join me for Devoted December? Where I will be devoting my time this December: Jesus (He is the reason for the season). Celebrating Advent. My family. That beautiful advent tree is a handmade gift our family received in 2013 from my very ...
Our First Sewing Project: 18 inch Doll PJs & a Tulle Tutu
My oldest daughter has been wanting to learn how to sew, so this week we finally tackled her very first sewing machine project! We kept things simple, thrifty, and fun—perfect for building confidence. Project 1: Doll Pajama Shirt Start with a baby onesie that no longer fits your little one. ...
2013-2014 Homeschool Curriculum Choices
Well folks, we.are.crazy. “Are you guys crazy?” That’s the question we’ve been asked more than once. With three kids—ages 10, 6, and 9 months—we’ve decided to homeschool the big kids this year. The truth is, I’m not one of those moms who can’t wait for the school bus each August. I’m the mom ...
DIY American Girl Boy Doll (On a Budget!)
About a month ago, I took the kids to the American Girl store. My oldest daughter adores their dolls, and I thought it would be fun to get a boy one for my son. But when I saw the price tags, I knew I needed a DIY, budget-friendly option. My sweet girl is currently working hard to earn a “mini-me” ...
DIY Designs: Clock Wall
I’m not a designer or decorator by any means, but I do love all things DIY, inexpensive, and pretty. This project checks all three boxes. For a couple of months, I kept my eyes out for three coordinating clocks I loved. I never found the perfect mix—so instead, I bought three that matched. They were ...
Make-Ahead Freezer Peanut Butter & Honey Sandwiches (Busy Family Tip!)
As a busy family of five, we are constantly on the go lately. In an effort to avoid the drive-thru, for the sake of our pocketbooks and our health, I started keeping a stash of quick, grab-and-go meals ready to go. Enter: Peanut Butter & Honey Sandwiches for the freezer. Yep, this is the extent ...
DIY: Diaper Sprayer Shield How-To
This post contains affiliate links. You can visit my disclosure tab to learn more. We’re a cloth-diapering family, and yes… I catch a lot of crap for that. Get it? Crap. Yep. Momma’s got jokes for dayyyys. There’s a little gadget you can buy for about $20, but I’m a DIY kind of gal anyway, so I ...
My Fears Through Pregnancy, Labor, Delivery and Recovery.
Fear. It's been a year since I found out I was expecting our 3rd baby. We tried, cried, and prayed for this baby for y.e.a.r.s. Each time a friend would get pregnant while we were trying to conceive I would feel joy for them, but not as much as the sadness I felt for myself. Believe me when I say ...
The Boy Turns Five and a Half
This past Saturday our family celebrated something special. Even though we didn't celebrate in the way we normally do, because we were busy cleaning and taking care of household things we were still celebrating. The celebration was marking 5 and a half years of what we call "The Carben1 Comedy ...
School Days: Magnets On an Oil Drip Pan
This sweet boy is independently practicing his 3 letter words. If you’re like me, you love seeing your kids’ creativity—but your fridge might not love it as much. Scratches, smudges, and clutter can add up fast. Here’s a simple solution: use a large oil drip pan from Wal-Mart or an auto supply ...