Matthew 14:27 says: "But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.'" This is a picture of my dad meeting one of my babies for the first time. The feeling I describe here hasn’t changed over the years, it’s about that sense of safety, of knowing someone is watching over ...
Product Review: GROWNSY Electric Nose Suction for Baby
If there’s one baby product I would recommend above all others, it’s the GROWNSY Electric Nose Suction for Baby—a hospital-grade nasal aspirator that makes caring for little noses so much easier. Why I love it: Quickly and effectively clears nasal congestion, no more struggling with a bulb ...
DIY Table Top S’mores
Last night we made Table Top Driveway Smores. I had everything on hand already except the charcoal and the pot. Driveway S'mores Being impatient we roasted some while there was still a little flame, this makes deliciously burnt mallows. ;-) The Basics. I think this bag of charcoal will last us ...
Create a Simple Donation Station for a Clutter-Free Home
If you haven’t already, set up a donation station in your home. For us, it’s a small table in the basement. Whenever the kids are getting dressed and a shirt doesn’t fit, or a pair of shoes is too snug, they know exactly where it goes. This keeps things organized and helps me avoid hunting through ...
Courage for Today: Trusting God in Every Step
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 Imagine if you truly believed this with your whole heart today. How much could you accomplish? What fears or doubts might fall away if you walked through your day ...
Recipe: Baked Oatmeal
I must have made breakfast too early this morning, or maybe I just didn’t eat enough, because this delightful baked oatmeal came out of the oven at 10:30 a.m. Yes, you read that right—10:30! One of the perks of being a stay-at-home mom is that no one tells me when I can take a break and enjoy ...
Take Time This Week to Visit Your Local Library
If you haven’t been to your local library lately—or ever—this week is a great time to go! Libraries are such a wonderful resource for families, and they offer so much more than just books. Here’s how to make the most of your visit:Sign up for a library card if you don’t already have one. It’s free ...
You Are Not Replaceable
I used to work at a pizza place all through high school. One day, during a busy shift, I called to a co-worker, “Hey, they need you back here.” He grumbled, “They don’t need me. They just need somebody.” At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but over the years, that phrase stuck with me. For a ...
Learn Something New
My friend Jennifer came over last weekend and taught me how to knit. I'm thankful for this new activity, & getting to spend time with her. I'm not sure if it is something I will keep up, but it has been fun to try. As I struggled with how to hold the needles and where to put the yarn, I realized ...
How to Melt Old Crayons
What would you do with an ice cream bucket FULL of broken crayons? Here’s what I did: Sort by size & color.I set aside any crayons longer than about 2 inches for little hands to color with. The shorter pieces went back in the bucket — ready to be melted down into new, exciting shapes. ...
Time Flies When You’re Learning Together
You know the saying, time flies when you’re having fun? Well, it’s true! It’s been such a full season in our home, and I can hardly believe the progress we’ve seen. A few months ago, we learned that my daughter is dyslexic. At first, that news felt heavy. I cried, I worried, and I wondered how we’d ...
How We Make One Income Work as a Family of Four
People sometimes ask (and I even ask myself), “How do you make it on one income while you stay home?” First, praise God. Without Him, we couldn’t do this. He’s been so faithful. Second, thank you to my husband for working hard every day to provide for our family. I'm grateful he has a career he ...
A Simple Upgrade for a Healthier Home: Shower Filters
This post contains affiliate links Back in 2011, we installed our very first shower filter. At the time, I didn’t know much about water quality, but I wanted to do what I could to protect my family from the chlorine and other chemicals that can make their way into our homes. Now, all these years ...
Unplugging the TV for Better Things
Last week, I decided to unplug the TV. Not because it’s all bad, but because it was stealing time we could be using better. Instead of watching shows that don’t add much to our lives, I want to spend those minutes helping my kids learn new skills, reading together, or simply catching up on things ...
Inspiration to be Slightly Better
Have I ever told you what inspired me to start being better? It was a book I bought on a whim for a buck at Dollar Tree in the Mall of America. Yes, I went all the way to the MOA and still shopped at Dollar Tree. So, this book is titled: 1,000 Ways to Be a Slightly Better Woman. It's full of ...
Why We Ditched Plastic Storage Containers
My husband mentioned how the toy aisles at Wal-Mart smell like plastic. Our bodies know that is toxic, and we turn up our noses at it. It made me think of where we had plastic lurking within our home. We had a kitchen drawer full of Ziploc containers. Sure enough, when I opened it, I noticed that ...
Godly-Givers
I’ll start by confessing: I’m a purger. On a whim, I’ll decide to throw or donate tons of things all at once—it usually turns into a big production. I’ve always known this about myself, but a good friend recently pointed it out, and it made me stop and think. The next time I was in a purging ...
Cutting Cable
About two years ago (2009-ish), I made the decision to cancel our cable TV. It wasn’t really a financial choice, it was about getting the awful, horrible media and pushy ads out of our home. My husband and I were watching grown-up shows, thinking the kids weren’t paying attention… but they were. At ...
I Swear.
Last night my husband was working late, so the kids and I decided to make homemade brownies and serve a candlelit dinner to daddy to show him our appreciation when he came home. I had the radio on, and my daughter started doing dishes, without being asked. John Michael Montgomery's song, "I Swear" ...
Homemade Butter Recipe
One of the shifts we’ve made as a family is moving away from those big tubs of plasticky margarine to the real thing: homemade butter. And let me tell you—it’s far easier than I ever imagined! All you need is one simple ingredient: heavy whipping cream. Here’s how I make it with my KitchenAid ...