• Counting Blessings

    March 22, 2020
    wagon ( I wish we had gone for this one) // bike (similar) // helmet

    There is so much bad and scary news out there. It is coming at us from EVERY ANGLE. I feel like I’m suffocating on it. Let’s focus on the good.

    Here in Illinois, we are under “shelter in place” orders through at least April 8. That means that I am not working. I am home with my babies. I am able to cook dinner for my family every evening. I’m able to slow down and savor this time. We aren’t rushing to art class, gymnastics, programs, choir practices, etc. All of the things that I always wish I had time for– I have time! You have time! This is our chance.

    We are able to go outside and play. We take daily walks around our driveway (it’s big) and up and down the street if there aren’t any cars. We ride bikes and plan where the garden is going. I think we have FINALLY settled on a spot! Hooray!! It’s been snowing and freezing rain today, so maybe next weekend we can get our blueberry and strawberry plants in the ground.

    I have been able to organize my kitchen cabinets in a way that makes sense. We moved in and immediately threw a big party for my parents. Then school started and we’ve just been dealing with where everything got put. I don’t have any regrets about any of that, but it’s nice to feel like we finally have a system. I also have a sourdough starter going. It stinks like no other today, so we are on the right path.

    We are talking a LOT about this illness. We are talking a lot about how God has not been surprised by any of this. He knew what was coming, so we don’t need to fear. We also talk a lot about how God gave us a brain, and we need to make wise decisions. We need to do things to protect ourselves and our neighbors.

    Being a homeschool family, our typical days haven’t changed a whole lot. Our activities have all been cancelled, but school continues on as usual. I keep saying how excited I am to see how many families continue homeschooling after this. I know so many parents who say “I wish I could homeschool, but I don’t think I’d do a good job.” I can’t wait to see how many people realize that they CAN do this! YOU CAN DO THIS!! Even if it’s only temporary for your family, you can do it.

    Almost every church has done an online service today. I encourage you to find a biblically sound church service to listen to. There are so many that we can now listen to one each day and have loads of encouragement to counteract the fear and anxiety that many of us are feeling. I want to link my church’s service, but I don’t like that kind of specificity on here. 😉

    Tell me– what is something good that has happened in the past week for you? Let’s focus on the BLESSINGS.

    I love this song. Take a listen!! “You never stop working. Way maker. Miracle worker. Promise Keeper. Light in the darkness. My God. That is who You are.” This is just the reminder we need in this time. God is the way maker. He still is working miracles. He keeps his promises. He is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD!!

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  • Homesteaders to Follow

    March 19, 2020

    Hey, friends! How is everyone? It’s the first day of Spring, so let’s celebrate that!!

    If you’ve been around for a while, you know that I have a passion for homesteading. It’s something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I started out by learning how to bake my own breads, canning, and container gardening. With several recent moves under our belts, we aren’t quite as far into the process as we hoped. We moved much later last year than initially planned, so we didn’t get a garden in the ground or chickens in the coop. We do have our seeds bought and soil, so we are going to get that going very soon.

    I thought that I would share my favorite homesteading accounts for those of you who are wanting to gain some homesteading skills. The list is small, but they have offered so much information! Don’t overwhelm yourself.

    The Prairie Homestead— my mom introduced me to Jill’s youtube channel last year. She is so good at explaining everything. She recently started a podcast and published a cookbook. Her cookbook is so much more than recipes and I honestly cannot recommend it enough!!

    The Elliott Homestead— Shaye is where I first started when learning about homesteading. She isn’t just passionate about farming, but also beautiful things. Her flower gardens are always so beautiful. Her home is so cozy. Their youtube channel is really great, and so is her book Welcome to the Farm.

    Homesteaders of America— this one is new to me. Starting on Monday, they are going to do a “how to grow your own food” series on YouTube based on Victory Gardens. I’m so excited to learn more!!

    Homesteading does not have to be done on a huge plot of land. All you need is a kitchen. Start by learning how to bake a loaf of bread. Start with a fresh herb plant. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to learn everything at once.

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  • Quarantine Food and Recipes

    March 17, 2020

    Hey, friends! How are you doing with self isolation? Grocery store shelves are picked over and many are overwhelmed. I wanted to share some recipes with you so that maybe it will help you feel less overwhelmed.

    Here are some things that I made sure I had on hand:
    flour
    yeast
    butter
    eggs
    flax seed (for making flax eggs if we run out)
    milk
    Oat Milk (Harper can’t have dairy)
    rice (the store was out, so I bought quinoa)
    dried beans
    yogurt
    pancake mix (we buy this brand so it is more filling)
    Coffee
    creamer
    sweetened condensed milk
    peanut butter
    Nutella
    Pasta sauce/ tomato sauce
    dried fruit
    canned veggies

    Do NOT hoard food! I have always tried to make sure we have enough on hand to get us through for a week or more in case someone falls ill. Right now, I’ve tried to make sure we will be ok for three weeks if necessary. I’ll have to get creative by the end of that time period, but we will be ok.

    1. SANDWICH BREAD– this is always the first thing to go when there is a snowstorm or any sort of event that may keep you confined to home. I made sure to stock up on ingredients more than the final product. Flour, yeast, and sugar are usually the ingredients in simple bread. This bread pan is the size of a full loaf of bread. Here is a recipe for basic white bread. I’ll be testing this out soon. If you don’t have the big bread pan, this recipe is SO simple and delicious. We make this frequently and love it. I know that bread is often intimidating– but YOU CAN DO IT!
    2. COFFEE CREAMER– If you are like me, you don’t drink coffee without creamer. To make your own creamer, mix one can of sweetened condensed milk with two cups of milk. You can add some vanilla extract or other flavors. A lot of people use coffee syrups to add flavor.
    3. NOODLES– These are so easy to make and so tasty. Yes, they are egg noodles, but we’ve eaten them with marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, butter and salt, etc. They make yummy chicken and noodles.

    Please take this seriously. If you look at Italy, you know what is coming for us if we don’t. Hundreds of people are dying each day from this. (And YES, I know heart disease kills more, etc.) My grandpa went off to fight in WWII at a young age. My uncles fought in other wars overseas. I am being asked to stay at home and protect their lives. It’s not that hard!! We can do this.

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  • Home Learning Resources

    March 13, 2020

    If you have kids at home and aren’t sure how to entertain them, or maybe just want to keep educating them while they are home, I am here to help. Here are some fun resources that can keep your kids entertained and learning while they are home.

    ONLINE:

    Virtual Museum tours You can tour 12 museums from around the world for free!

    ABC Mouse free 30 day trial

    Vooks If your child wants you to read ten million books to them, but you just need a break, Vooks to the rescue. Animated story books. You can get one month free right now.

    Typing Club Typing is such a valuable skill to have. This program is free!

    Studio Code Coding is another valuable skill for kids to learn. Another FREE program.

    duolingo Why not learn another language while at home? This is yet another free program.

    NASA Their website is full of cool information and activities for space loving kiddos.

    Scholastic They are offering MANY learn at home options. They have daily plans by grade level available for you.

    Your local libraries most likely have SEVERAL app options that you can use to read books or listen to audiobooks. Some even have movies and magazines available.

    ACTIVITIES:

    Red Lace Yellow Lace This book is so good for teaching children to tie their shoes. This could keep your kiddos entertained for a long time, and save your sanity when it’s time to put shoes on.

    Puffy Sticker Play Set My kids play with these for HOURS.

    Play outside! Get some sunshine! Vitamin D is so good for us. Let your kids dig in the dirt and have fun. Enjoy the extra time with your kiddos. It is a stressful time, but soak up the extra house with your babies. They will be grown all too soon.

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  • Check In

    March 13, 2020

    Check in, friends. How are we all feeling?

    Let’s see. I have a little bit of fear of Harper catching this virus– since it causes shortness of breath and she already battles that. Common colds result in lots of breathing treatments for her little body. She currently has the flu, and we’ve had some scares.

    The thought of going without a paycheck is scary– especially considering the fact that our van is ONCE AGAIN messed up. I know that many are fearing this more than the illness itself.

    Seeing what is happening in other countries is a little unnerving because it’s coming here. The thought of my child possibly needing medical intervention and being unable to get it.. that’s scary. If you haven’t watched your child in respiratory distress, you need to count your blessings. I can promise you that you will never be the same once you’ve watched something like that.

    Can we just all stop judging one another for how we are reacting? Everyone’s feelings are valid. You don’t know where their fears are coming from, so how about spreading kindness? Yeah?

    I am feeling extra grateful for where we live. We are in the country and can still socially distance ourselves from others for their safety and our own. We can play outside and soak up the sunshine while it lasts.

    Wherever you are and whatever you are doing– be well. Be extra kind. Be loving. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Wash your hands. It will be ok.



    The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    Whom shall I fear?
    The Lord is the defense of my life;
    Whom shall I dread?
    PSALM 27:1

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  • Pretty in Pink

    March 10, 2020

    Pink is my favorite color, and it’s such a fun color for spring. I really love the vintage and blush pink shades.

    toiletry bag // I’ve been wanting a new toiletry bag for quite some time. I love how functional this one looks– and the color options are perfection.

    keychain bracelet // Does anyone have one of these? What do you think? My hands are ALWAYS full when I need to unlock a door, and I’m really contemplating buying one.

    Blue Light Blocking Glasses // I have these and love them. If your work involves a screen, or you just look at a screen a lot, I highly recommend these. They have neutral options if pink isn’t your thing. 😉

    arrow backpack // I’m obsessed with these, and love that it is a family owned business. Seriously, click through and look at the way they open!

    Library t-shirt// Love this! Pink and a Harry Potter quote!

    Charging cord// I love the retro feel of this! It’s just fun. I have this brand of cord, and it has lasted SO much longer than any of my apple ones ever have.

    hip/crossbody bag // I love this one! I’ve wanted to try a fanny pack for a while. I love that this can be worn cross-body as well if you hate the fanny pack.

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  • Friday Favorites

    March 6, 2020

    I was gifted a brand new instant pot! It has been fun to learn about. I checked out a lot of cookbooks for it from the library. I wasn’t a huge fan of most of them. This one has several delicious recipes in it. Gyros.. yummm! Do you have a favorite recipe if you have one?

    This week, Chloe was diagnosed with Flu A and strep all at once. My kids don’t get sick often anymore, but they really go for it when they do. She bounced back quickly, but needs a little more rest. I am so thankful I bought some of this a long time ago (and that it was not expired) to help her kick it. Also, I’ve added this form of vitamin C to our wellness routine, and love it. I mix it into the girls’ water and it is completely tasteless.

    This post is also really helpful for remedies with a cold or flu.

    The cadbury bunny tryouts are so funny. I think Conswala may be my favorite, but it’s a tough call.

    Frozen II is out on DVD finally!! I LOVED this movie. The music is so good, the story is so thoughtful. I cried several times.. I was not expecting that!

    If you are trying to pay off debt, these charts are a “fun” way to keep track of your progress.

    Have a lovely weekend, friends!

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  • Spring is Coming

    March 5, 2020

    Spring is coming. Can you feel it? It’s so close. The skies have been blue more often. The days are getting longer. The weather is warmer. I can almost taste it.

    I can’t wait to experience another season in this home. I know it is just a building, but this place has been a soft pillow to land. I’m so happy when I pull into the driveway. I love the dirt and mud all over my van when it has been rainy. I love thinking about where to put our raised garden beds and can’t wait to get my hands in the soil.

    The sunshine feels so good on my skin. Waking up to birds chirping in the trees feels so glorious. It has been so good to see the kids running and playing in the yard. There is so much to explore. I can see the tulips starting to sprout already.

    Spring.

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  • March Book Club Announcement

    February 28, 2020

    I am so excited to announce that our March book club will be Anne of Green Gables!! I think we are probably all a little tired of dreary weather. We can all use Anne Shirley’s sunny outlook on life. I can’t wait to read this with you! It has been SO long since I picked this one up. I hope that you will join and read along!

    “It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”

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  • Homeschool FAQs

    February 19, 2020
    Image source

    I have been getting a lot of questions about homeschooling recently, and I thought I would answer them here.

    What grades are you children in?
    I have three daughters. They are in K4, 2nd grade, and 4th grade.

    What curriculum do you use?
    We use Abeka Academy. We started using it in 2017 and did parent-led that year. I was very overwhelmed with a big move, losing a very close family member, and trying to keep up with life. So, the next year we did academy. It was a game-changer. I honestly wanted to quit homeschooling until we made the switch. With academy, you get DVDs or can stream the videos online. This makes the parent more of a facilitator. There is still a lot of work for the parent, but it is much more manageable.

    What other curricula have you tried?
    We started out with Horizon’s. The next year, I tried Heart of Dakota. The following year, we did LIFEPAC. They were fine, but not a good fit for our family. We also visited a Classical Conversations group in Oklahoma in 2017 and seriously considered that switch before finding Abeka.

    What about college?
    There are MANY homeschool curriculums that are accredited. Your child will have records just like if they were going to public or private school, and be able to send them to any college that they apply to. (Abeka is one of them.)

    What about socialization?
    Every homeschooling parent’s eyes just rolled. Did you hear it? Perhaps MANY years ago this may have been a concern. These days, there are so many groups that your child can be a part of. There are homeschooling groups that throw dances and parties. Also, don’t you remember your teachers telling you “We aren’t at school to socialize?” My children are comfortable speaking to people of all ages. There is the normal shyness, but overall they are very well adjusted and comfortable making friends. I’m not worried at all.

    Are you part of a co-op?
    No. We have moved MANY times over the past 4 years. I did just learn about a local co-op that I am looking into joining next year.

    Do I have to know everything to teach my children?
    No! You can learn along with your child. Obviously, you will want to go over the lessons in advance so that you can be able to help your child when they are doing something. Abeka has a support line that you can call if you need additional help. There are also facebook groups for each grade level that offer a ton of support and encouragement. It’s such a misconception when parents think they aren’t smart enough to teach their children. You can do it!

    How long is your school day?
    We typically start our day around 8 AM and are done by 3. My children take 10 minute breaks after completing two subjects. This has helped them stay focused so much better. There is also an hour break for lunch and “recess” to help them reset and be ready to finish strong.

    Were you homeschooled?
    I was not. I went to public school until I graduated. I loved those years, and didn’t have a bad experience with it at all.

    Why do you homeschool?
    Originally, I started because we lived in one of the most unsafe places in the country. I wanted to know that my babies were safe. I did a lot of praying and ultimately feel that God has called us to this. I love that I got to be the one to see my daughters read their first word. I’ve been involved every step of the way. I also believe that schools are trying to force kids into a box. If they don’t learn this one specific way, it’s just too bad for them. I get to help them where needed. I can adjust and teach something a different way if they are struggling to understand. Each year, I stop and pray about whether we are going to continue. Each year, it has been a yes.

    Is your family supportive?
    Not always. Especially not at first, but I think that is because they didn’t understand it. None of us had experience with homeschooling, so no one knew what it was going to look like. We still have family that doesn’t get it, and like to give quizzes over holiday meals. That is really frustrating. I feel a lot more supported now than I did when we first began, and I’m really grateful for that. It’s hard to be on an island.

    Where do you homeschool?
    Currently, we have a room with an old kitchen table set up. The bigger girls share this table. The youngest has a desk that sits next to my desk in the office. We have homeschooled around the kitchen table in the past, and it all works great. You can see a tour of an old setup here.

    How can you save money?
    Many parents buy used textbooks– which can be purchased in various facebook groups or on ebay. Once you have one child in that grade, it’s easy to save those textbooks for the next child. Dollar Tree has a lot of great flashcards and workbooks. I’m always looking at the clearance racks of stores for school supplies that we will need.

    Do you have to register with the state to homeschool?
    It depends on your state. Some states require that you send a letter with intent to homeschool. The parents have to send in reports at the end of each school year. Some states require you to send your intent to homeschool, and thats all. Other states are completely hands off, and even registering as a homeschooling family is optional. Make sure you check the laws of your particular state. You are considered a private school when homeschooling, and you want to be sure to have everything done properly.

    If there are any questions that I didn’t answer, please let me know! I have loved our homeschooling journey. Yes, there are days that I just want to quit because it would be easier to send them to school. But, the benefits far outweigh any of the passing frustrations! I certainly don’t consider myself an expert, but I have been homeschooling since 2014 and have some experience under my belt.

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