As a little girl, my childhood savings bank was a pink ceramic dog. The removable stopper on the bottom enabled me to take the money out, which I often did—far too often. Recently, while visiting my parents, I noticed a small wooden box with a hole in the top. “What’s that, Dad?” He smiled that…
Home & Garden
Frosty the Snowman Door Art
The house always seems a bit empty once the Christmas decorations are packed away for the New Year. Remember my Mr. Turkey door art back in November? Now is a great time for Frosty the Snowman door art to make an appearance. What you need red construction paper black construction paper orange construction paper green…
How to Confront Dark Images
I struggle in the month of October. There seems to always be a scary movie on television and many things around celebrating dark and evil things in the world. As a believer I struggle to know how to meet these dark images in a way that honors God. Ephesians 6:10-12 says, “Last of all I want…
Chocolate Play Dough
A fun way to encourage learning is to use play dough–with the great scent of chocolate–to form letters or numbers. Have older children create a fun picture or even reproduce a form that you’ve made. It is also a great way to teach shapes. Learning can be fun and the summer is a great time…
Homemade Play Dough for Summer Fun
Are you looking for a fun cooking activity to do with your children? How about making homemade play dough for summer fun? Have the children help with the measuring of ingredients and stirring. Let them add the color of their choice then work it through the dough and see how the color permeates the white…
A Tea Party that Says “I Love You”
“God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5 NIV) When I learned my friend Sally (name changed) had cancer, I wondered what I could do to encourage her. I decided on a tea luncheon. She provided the names of friends, and we…
How I Said Goodbye to Sugar, Part 2
Yesterday I began sharing how I said goodbye to sugar. It didn’t take me long to realize that I didn’t want to live without chocolate. Viewing it as medicine, I replaced milk chocolate with dark chocolate. If it’s the only chocolate you allow yourself, you will come to love it. Obviously, even this is to…
Parting Was Sweet Sorrow: How I Said Goodbye to Sugar, Part 1
I remember the feeling of days long ago, before my Christian conversion, when I got high–a feeling of lethargy, as if my arms weighed 50 pounds each. I could actually feel the blood course through my veins. I could feel my heart beating without touching my chest. Suddenly things would get very quiet, and my…
Decorating for Fall 2013
Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year to decorate. Maybe it’s the promise of cooler days and evenings after months of blistering heat. Maybe it’s the smells of burning leaves, apple cider, and dried peach pies at fall festivals. Here in the South, we fake Fall until it officially arrives (usually October) by…
Money Savers: Homemade Laundry Detergent
For over a year I’ve wanted to make homemade laundry detergent, especially after learning it can be used in front loading machines. Yet time and forgetfulness (mainly forgetfulness) won out month after month. Two weeks ago I determined to take this project by the horns and once-and-for-all plunge in. Watching youtube videos, hearing the praises…
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