The danger of writing a long article about family devotions is that you may be tempted to think this means family devotions are complicated. It really isn't. As a father, I've often asked myself how to best approach doing family devotions from a content perspective. What do my kids really need to know? I know throwing random Bible verses at them isn't the answer. And I know consistency despite hectic schedules is important. Our kids have a lifetime of spending time reading and exploring the Scriptures on their own, so what are the most helpful things I can do to give them a framework for knowing, loving, ...Read More
Homeschooling Dear Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom
Dear Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom, As a homeschool graduate and now mom, I understand how challenging the road you’ve chosen can be. There are all kinds of external pressures for your kids to perform—peers, friends & family, and in some states, standardized tests. Will your children be ready for college? Will they have all the skills they need to flourish “in the real world?” Are you doing enough? The school year has just started for most, and with it comes a sense of excitement. New textbooks, a new year, a fresh start. I fondly remember leafing through the pages of my new textbooks to see all I would be ...Read More
How I Took Control of my Healthcare and Saved Money When I Dumped Insurance
Have you ever heard of health sharing? Here's the details on how I took control of my healthcare and saved money when I dumped insurance. As I browsed the options in the online health insurance marketplace, I shook my head. "How do normal families afford health insurance? This is ridiculous," I thought to myself. 😳 It was the fall of 2015, and my husband and I were seriously considering whether he would leave his job so we could be self-employed full time. But making this transition, meant figuring out how to fit health insurance into our budget...or so we thought... Health Sharing: An Alternative to Health ...Read More
Foods Gluten-Free, Grain-Free Black and White Cheesecake Brownies
Brownies are one of the perfect all-American desserts. Ever since famed cookbook author Fanny Farmer modified her cookie recipe to make the first cookie bar over a hundred years ago, brownies have been a popular dessert around the country—and around the world. And these gluten-free cheesecake brownies aren't junk food. They are actually packed with nutritious ingredients like butter from grass fed cows, coconut flour, raw honey, and bittersweet chocolate. These also make a delicious holiday treat—if you want something extra special for the Christmas season. These fudgy brownies with a cheesecake ripple have a ...Read More
Delicious, Healthy, Grain Free Granola Bars
These grain-free granola bars are a guilt-free snack idea for both you and your kids. Ditch the chemical and sugar loaded store-bought granola bars and check out how easy it is to make your own tasty granola bars! My fondest childhood memories take place in the kitchen. Whether it was helping my mom stir the broth into the cornbread dressing for Thanksgiving, melting chocolate for Christmas candies, or making jelly with our summertime haul of blackberries, I was always in the kitchen with the adults, learning and experimenting. Amidst the laughter, the mess, the cramped kitchens, and the mouthwatering smells that ...Read More
5 Reasons You Should Eat More Fat
Creating a healthy diet often means reducing and removing certain foods from meals. This approach is not a one-size-fits-all solution. While sugar doesn’t offer any nutritional benefit, many fats actually do. Here we will go over 5 reasons you should eat more fat. Understanding the effects that foods have on your body is key when creating a helpful lifestyle, and that includes many animal fats. Let’s talk more about why adequate natural fats are imperative to brain function and optimal nutrition. We’ll also talk about what is wrong with fats like margarine, canola oil, and vegetable shortening. For now, I’m ...Read More
5 Reasons Our Family Memorizes the Bible
I'll never forget the day when I found out my son had memorized an entire psalm. Every night, we recited Bible passage aloud with our kids—with the goal of helping us all memorize a large chunk of Scripture or an entire chapter. Our second oldest child never wanted to recite it with us. He stayed quiet and looked like he was zoning out. Not wanting to make it a battle, we just let him be. One day when he was about 3 years old, while at a relative's house, I heard him playing in the living room by himself. I rounded the corner and saw him pick up a big book—he was pretending it was a Bible. He turned to a random ...Read More
Whole Food on a Budget: 5 Tips to Eating Cheaper
No matter your size of family (single or married with 10 children) you likely have a budget. From the wealthiest to the poorest person I know they all have some form of one. If you don't have a budget, you ought to. That budget should include food too. (Duh.) We all know this, but one of the questions I most often receive on my blog is "How do you feed a family real-whole food on a budget?" That is a loaded question to be sure. We really need to start with the basics of how food budgets work and how best to make one for your unique situation. One thing we tend to do too often is compare. Your family's needs, ...Read More
