In the fall of 2019, our family took a trip into northern Michigan, spending most of our time in the Upper Peninsula. Northern Michigan is a heavily forested area—lots and lots of nature—so if you plan to take your family there, let us help you chart these waters. It's probably best we show you want northern Michigan is like, not just tell you. Below you'll see 7 really short videos with highlights from our trip. First, a couple things to know about Michigan geography and culture. 1. Michigan is two peninsulas. Ask a Michigander where they're from, and thanks to our state's mitten-like shape, they might hold up ...Read More
Foods 5 Ways Modern Wheat is Different than Biblical Wheat
When we were preparing to write our book, Weeding Out Wheat, we were asked by many people: "I don't get it. Wheat has been cultivated and consumed for centuries. It was a staple of life for men and women living in Biblical times and is part of many ancient cultures. How could wheat be bad for you?" Part of the the answer to that question is looking at how modern wheat is different than biblical wheat. What often drives this question is a natural and good desire to be connected to the past: wanting to live the way our ancestors lived, wanting to pass on our culinary heritage, or wanting to eat a "Biblical ...Read More
Homeschooling How to Include a Bible Class on a High School Transcript
In the homeschooling world, transcripts are a source of constant confusion for parents—how do you make one? what do you put on it? how do you categorize the classes? And how do you include a Bible class on a high school transcript: should "Bible study" be included on a transcript? There are a number of reasons parents think Bible shouldn't be included... Colleges and universities don't care about those classes. Bible classes aren't academically rigorous. Bible classes don't fit neatly into any category. 5 Tips for Including a Bible Course on a High School Transcript So, here are a few questions you ...Read More
Backyard Bugs! Fun, Free Summer Course for the Whole Family
It was a warm evening—and the lightning bugs were out in droves. I told my 9-year-old to run to the basement and grab a few mason jars with lids. And when he returned, we spent the next 30 minutes roaming around our yard and neighborhood catching as many fireflies as we could. This led him to a very natural question while we were outside: "Why do lightning bugs light up?" So I told him: "Their abdomens have luciferin in them. When air comes into their abdomens, this reacts with the luciferin and makes it glow." "But why did God make them do that?" he asked. So we got into a discussion about the birds and ...Read More
Choosing the Right Bible Course for Your Teen: 5 Questions to Ask
Many homeschooling families love the freedom to include Biblical studies as part of their students' academic life. Jesus commanded us to love the Lord our God, not just with all our heart and soul, but with all our mind. Let's chat about choosing the right Bible course for your teen... Including biblical studies means both studying every subject through the lens of a Christian worldview, but also studying theology directly—going to the source of our theology: the Bible. It's not enough to just encourage your student to make Bible reading a habit (though that's an important piece), but you want your student to enter ...Read More
10 Great Ways to Save Money On Homeschool Curriculum!
Once upon a time there was a girl (that would be me) who didn't have a whole lot of money. She learned to be very frugal. Some might have even called her a tight-wad. When she began homeschooling, she was pretty shocked at the prices of curriculum. The first year of homeschooling you could find her spending hours in used book stores, scavenging random garage sales, and trying to find the best deals wherever she went. Sometimes she even ordered books on interlibrary loan (but that was a real pain in the rear end). She eventually learned there were easier ways to save money on curriculum without spending hours ...Read More
How to Help Your Teen Make Bible Reading a Habit
If there was just one habit you could help your teen foster before they graduate high school, what would it be? I could think of several obvious ones at the top of my list: good hygiene habits, sticking to an exercise schedule, waking up on time, etc. But what about spiritual habits? What about making Bible reading a habit? Before I dive into this, it's probably important to say that there can be a lot of false guilt around this topic. I grew up in an era where having your "quiet time" was the metric by which the quality of your Christianity rose or fell. I don't for a minute think that's true. Most ...Read More
Gluten Free, Instant Pot Thai Chicken Thighs
Preparing chicken thighs for dinner is a great way to add a little variety to meals in a chicken-breast-dominated-recipe-book world. Energize your chicken dinners even further with these Gluten-Free, Instant Pot Thai Chicken Thighs. Fresh lime juice, peanut butter, ginger, and sriracha combine to create a creamy, yet spicy sauce for these chicken thighs. While the groundwork for this recipe does include prepping the thighs on the sauté setting, this dish could not be easier. I love recipes that combine more complex flavors but come together with little effort. Brown the chicken thighs in sesame oil while ...Read More
