A simple, easy meal from scratch – caprese pasta, roasted brussel sprouts and breadsticks

The air had been heavy with rain all morning before it finally drenched our home and yard. It didn’t stop the kids from wanting to go out and play, who could blame them? The cool rain held promises of summer holding out just a little bit longer, and so we did just that….summer things. I let the dough rise in the kitchen while I captured mom moments. You know…the moments of a home filled with little ones, a house creaking and groaning under the weight of so many toys, millions of loads of laundry, and kids slamming the front door.  …

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A School Time Prayer

Father God, as I place my kids in the care of their school I pray Your hand of safety and guidance surround them. Help them to develop a love for learning. Give their teachers wisdom in how best to inspire a love for knowing. May their desire to know draw them closer to You. Father be with the other kids in their classes. May my kids be lights of encouragement to all the kids in their classes. Help them to treat others how they would want to be treated. May they point others to Your love and kindness. When they …

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When Your Child’s Path Looks Bumpy

On the night before he began kindergarten, my youngest son, Joshua, announced he’d “rather go to jail” than go to school. His big brother mumbled something sarcastic about the prison bars in the principal’s office, while his sisters attempted to soothe Joshua’s anxieties by pointing out the perks of being a kindergartener. “Did you know that when you lose a tooth at school you get to bring it home in a tiny treasure box?” my daughter Hannah asked. Joshua grinned and poked his finger in his mouth to check for loose teeth. But when it was time to brush those …

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Overnight Oatmeal Casserole (Gluten Free)

Moms around the world, suit up–it’s time. Moms around the world, suit up–it’s time. School starts & we’ve got help! Click To Tweet School is starting. While some of you may be jumping for joy, many of you may be bawling because you, me–we STRUGGLE with routines, baking, and getting every child out the door on time. Either way, I have a sure to please recipe that is not only healthy but a great way to start your day tomorrow. It is a gluten free baked oatmeal recipe. You have the option of putting it all together early in the morning or prepping …

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Our Back to School Bible Verse

Back to school time is here.  Like Every Home, USA the first day of school is hectic, exciting, and often a little emotional. I admit I started to cry when Grace and Samuel drove away in our Chevy Suburban. It was the first time Paul and I didn’t escort them ourselves. Having teenagers makes their mode of transportation different, but it doesn’t change a mother’s heart. I want them to succeed. How do I make that happen? God’s word is always the best way to start. When my four were much younger, I’d make a point every morning to say …

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Easing Your Kids’ Back-to-School Nerves

  We’ve all experienced the first day anxiety of something…You know that YUCKY feeling you get on the first day back to school when your stomach is turned upside down doing somersaults like it’s in the Olympics. As a former school teacher, I have seen that agonizing look of fear on so many faces on the first day of school. You know that YUCKY feeling you get on the first day back to school – 10 ways to ease your child’s nerves Click To Tweet  Believe it or not, most teachers go to great extremes to help ease their students’ …

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Helping a Child who Struggles to Fit In

  It’s enough to break a mother’s heart. Your child comes home and declares that no one likes him. Or worse, you witness him being rejected by those he’s trying to befriend. Maybe it’s a maturity thing. Maybe your child is one of a kind. Or maybe their choices set them apart. But, for whatever reason, they don’t seem to fit in with the kids in their peer group. Because we are made for community, feeling like we don’t fit in can be very disheartening. It’s instinctual to be part of a group, and being able to fit in gives …

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kid's summer reading

5 Easy Ways To Encourage Summer Reading

Summer. Just the smell of sunblock can bring all the images of summer rushing in. Thoughts of swimming, grilling, snow cones, watermelon, late nights and lazy mornings come flooding in. And, of course, the joy of freedom from government tyranny, errr, I mean school. And for our family, there is one more really important part of summer – books. We are readers all year long, but summer kicks it up a notch. My ten-year-old daughter has been scouring Pinterest for fifth grade summer reading lists for weeks. She’s compiling her own this year (which means I won’t have to fight her …

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50+ Things to Do with Bored Kids in Summer

Running out of things to do with the kids yet? I found a bazillion things to do on the internet. Narrowing them down to fit here was difficult. Some of these make great science projects. I won’t jabber on, so I can leave space for all the links and suggestions. So, here we go: * Instructions for things to make. 1) Make your own lava lamps http://slsmithphotography.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/06/lava-lamps-summer-fun.html 2) Make a city using masking tape * Let the kids go wild with a roll of masking tape. They can tape over the carpet, the furniture, wherever you allow, to make roads …

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Make This Summer Count

Making This Summer Count

18 summers, give or take a few.  That’s how many summers most of us will have with our children before they leave our homes.  I read once about a mom who put 18 rocks in a jar. At the end of each summer, she removed a rock. As each year passed, the jar looked more and more empty, reminding her of how fast time was passing.  The truth is, it’s tempting to wish the days away…especially the long, difficult days. It’s tempting to anticipate the next stage so much that we miss the beauty of the stage we’re in.  Last night, …

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