RV Vacation Tips: what we learned from our two week trip to Montana

Since this trip is fresh on my mind, I decided to write about some things we learned that hopefully apply to both RV’ers and non-RV’ing families. It’s taken me a few years to learn some of these principles, but hopefully others will find at least some of this helpful. In your planning, consider your people …

Morning time: what it is, whether or not it’s only for homeschoolers, and how we structure ours

Over two years ago, when my oldest was in first grade at a local public school, and I began exploring the idea of homeschooling, the term "morning time" kept coming up in various places where I researched. Some homeschoolers term this "morning basket" or "circle time," but the principle of the concept remains the same, …

A Day in our Homeschool: some principles, rhythms, values and resources

Several people have asked me recently to share what a day in our homeschool looks like. I want to begin by sharing some principles I've found helpful in the two years we've been homeschooling. I really feel like these principles can be applied regardless of if you homeschool - any time that you have with …

Motivation behind our goal-setting; the empty promise of self-improvement vs. growth for the purpose of blessing others

It's February, so maybe the talk of goals and new-year-new-you has died down a bit, but the self-imposed pressure can still linger, right? Those who are successful are sharing about their victories in their goals of weight loss, new habits, new learned skills, etc., and the temptation to do something and do it well is …

Obedient, cheerful generosity over practicality; some post-Christmas reflections

The post-Christmas blues. It hit me even harder than usual this year, which is weird because I had it all planned to be the opposite. You know, I had planned on leaving the decorations out until the twelfth day of Christmas, and keeping the Christmas music playing, and other similar festivities. But, for some reason, …

Christmas Gift Ideas based on what we’re gifting our children

Years ago we heard the idea of giving gifts that fit into these categories... something you wantsomething you needsomething to wearsomething to read For the most part, this guides our gift-giving for our children, although there are times when something we want to give them doesn't necessarily fit into these categories...and that's fine. 😉 I'm …

What do Christian faithfulness and Christian friendship have in common? Part 2: True encouragement in friendship

In Part 1 we talked about Christian faithfulness and how obedience in our work glorifies God. One of the ways our work can be God-honoring is through it's implications for how it affects the church, too! I've been learning through this webinar that one of the greatest ways we can encourage others around us is …

What do Christian faithfulness and Christian friendship have in common? Part 1 – Faithfulness in our work

One of our pastors preached on the parable of the talents recently, and the truths in this teaching seemed to coincide with several ideas that God has been teaching me lately regarding faithfulness in my work. Be sure to check out the sermon here. If you're not familiar with this parable that Jesus tells, it …

To the married, Christian woman: Submitting to your own husband vs. all the other women

It sounds odd, right? Most Christian women wouldn't claim to be submitting their time and energy to other women rather than their husbands. However, about a year ago, a friend shared a podcast with me that convicted me to see how I was doing that very thing. Now, if you ask most Christian women who …

Intentional holiday plans…both for homeschooling and non-homeschooling families

I know the busy season of holidays can come upon us rather quickly, but I wanted to share a resource that my family will be using for the weeks leading up to Reformation Day (October 31), Thanksgiving and Christmas. Christmas, and sometimes Easter, tend to be holidays that Christ-followers try to celebrate in an intentional …

Part 2: Sustenance in Christ alone yields a dutiful, glorifying life

In Part 1 of this post, I addressed the ditches we can slip into regarding the topic of self-care. While both ditches focus on ourselves rather than the Lord, they will yield nothing more than bitterness and temporary self-glorification. Since I'm talking a lot about the second ditch of elevating self-care, please let me caution …

Part 1: To the women in the ditches of self-care, or those feeling lost in the pursuit of it

I believe an idol has crept into the church today that possibly started withwell-meaning purpose. Most idols usually do, after all. Self-care has become a popular topic in society lately. I thought about listing a few of the quotes that appeared when I googled self-care, but I'll just let you try it yourself. Many of …

Replacing horizontal expectations with a vertical hope, Part 2

As mentioned in Part 1 of this topic, despite the depravity of the human heart, we tend to go on heaping expectations on each other. And these expectations often go unmet, and we respond with shock, bitterness, anger, etc. about practically everything. Why do we do this? I think the answer can be seen in …

Replacing horizontal expectations with a vertical hope, Part 1

I recently chatted with a dear friend who is about to move overseas to do mission work full-time. As part of the training she undergoes beforehand, she takes an inventory of her expectations in practically every area. Just hearing about it overwhelmed me, so I cannot imagine what she is feeling about having to do …

Pursuing Rhythms of Remembrance leads to Self-Denial and Deeper Dependence on God

I started this blog series with a focus on how we need these rhythms of returning to Jesus' feet for renewal. But let's take that one step further. We also need these rhythms to help us remember. Remember when we walked through Mark 6? Well only a few short chapters later, in Mark 8, we …

Rhythms of Renewal: Responding with compassion like Jesus to the interruptions

As we endeavor to trust our Great High Priest and pursue rhythms of renewal, there will undoubtedly be times when interruptions come our way. How do we view these and with what attitude can we approach them? Are they actually interruptions? That's what we're going to begin examining this week as we continue our journey …

Pursuing Rhythms of Renewal: Trusting our Great High Priest who calls us to rest and perseverance

In last week's post, I began this topic of habit training for ourselves by focusing on morning rhythms of renewal, and the foundation for understanding our need for this. I know you're likely ready to get to the how of this, but I think it's helpful to continue focusing on the principles behind why we …

Everyday rhythms that reflect the goodness of God: Breakfast and beauty at our tables

Biscuits with bacon or sausage every weekday morning.  I can still remember my dad asking how many biscuits I wanted for the day as I pulled my drowsy self to our round, wooden table and joined the rest of the family. I then watched him scoop out peanut butter and pour honey over the pile …

When God fights the battle but still calls us to be on the battlefield

Would you describe any circumstances in your life recently as feeling like a battle? Even if you, like me, don't leave your home much and are simply encountering daily life with your own family, there can be days where it feels like we are fighting for something. I recently found encouragement and exhortation from a …

The art of remembrance in our family traditions of Easter

“Jesus stole my marshmallow!” The indignant eyes of my almost three-year-old glared at me in disbelief as we examined his first resurrection bun—the classic crescent-wrapped marshmallow that disappears after baking and symbolizes an “empty tomb.”  Previous visions of theological discussions to help my child understand substitutionary atonement were instead dashed and replaced with the ideology …