Free - Prepare your HEART and HOME for Christmas!

Want more meaning in your Christmas this year, celebrating the real reason for the season?

Read our first issue of Kaleo about preparing your home and heart for Christmas! This is a great FREE online magazine from At The Well, where I write monthly devotionals and homeschool help articles. In this issue, my "article" is featured on the cover - the Advent/Activity Calendar. Enjoy! It's FREE! Click "FULL SCREEN" to see it.


Merry CHRISTmas!

Great Deals in Your City!

Check out this new site that is like Groupon for MOMS! I already purchased a great deal! $20 got me a $40 gift certificate to be used at a local super nice children's consignment store. Simply go HERE to sign up and enter in your city to see your local deals! Very nice!

Replenish Your Soul Online Marriage Conference!

As some of you know, I have contributed monthly to the wonderful woman's ministry, At The Well, since it first began. At the Well is a place to drink deep the knowledge and life experience that comes from living a Christ-centered life as a Titus 2 woman. Each of us on the writing team and staff have a heart to see women’s lives impacted by their faith. We take great pride in our Titus 2 roles and seek to encourage and inspire one another to live fully each day embracing what we have been called to do as women.

Replenish Your Soul is a new adventure that we are embarking on to bring the knowledge and life experience of Titus 2 women straight to you!

Our first conference, To Have and To Hold, is going to be on the topic of marriage. We are so excited about the group of women we have speaking and sharing their hearts with you!

Online conferences are a low-cost opportunity to offer encouragement through live sessions right through your internet browser. If you have a computer and internet connect, then you are ready to attend!

You can watch our conference from the comfort of your living room, in your pajamas, without having to travel, and there is no need to get a baby-sitter! Anyone anywhere can attend!

Blessed...

As one God has blessed with a home, my duty is to create and maintain a
space that honors God, nurtures the spirit, enhances growth, and ministers to
others. My delight is to enjoy the home I've shaped and the sense of
accomplishment that comes from obedience. - Donna Otto

Change The Mood In Your Home!

Repost from 2007

Written by Nancy Campbell

Do you use a timer when cooking and baking? Are you like me? If I don’t use my timer, I end up with burnt offerings. I am usually doing so many things at once, that I’m prone to forget that I have put something in the oven. Often I’ll put the bread in the oven to bake and then come downstairs to my office to answer Above Rubies letters. If I don’t bring the timer with me, I’ll forget all about it – then guess what kind of bread we have to eat?

Recently, I found another use for my timer. It all happened as I was reading the Word one morning. I was challenged by Colossians 2:7, NAS where it says we are to be "overflowing with gratitude" or as the King James Version says, "abounding with thanksgiving." Not only are we to have a daily "attitude of gratitude" but to be overflowing and abounding with gratitude. What does this word ‘abounding’ really mean? The Greek word is ‘perisseuo’ and it means ‘to super-abound, to exceed, to excel, to be in excess – enough and to spare, over and above; it goes beyond that which is necessary.’ Wow! I was challenged! As I continued thinking, I was reminded of how God’s Word encourages us to praise the Lord all day long! Not only are we to be overflowing with gratitude and thanksgiving, but we are to be continually thanking and praising the Lord.

‘How can I continually praise the Lord?’ I thought. ‘How can I constantly have an overflowing spirit of thankfulness?’ I find that I get taken up with what I am doing and the hours go by without thinking about praising the Lord. As I prayed and walked up and down our long driveway (this is where I take my morning prayer walk) God put in my mind the idea of my kitchen timer. Yes, that’s it. What a great idea! Thank you, Lord.

I decided to put the timer beside me as I work on the computer, or when I am busy in the kitchen preparing meals, or cleaning. I set it for half an hour. As soon as it rings, I stop for a minute or two and thank and praise the Lord. I then set it again for another half an hour. Now I am getting into a habit of continually thanking the Lord all through the day. It changes my whole day.

I’m sure you’ll find this a great idea too. You can set the timer each day as you work in your home with your little ones around you, or as you teach your children. When the timer rings, stop for a moment and thank the Lord together. Encourage your children to thank the Lord too. What a wonderful way to teach them to live a life of constant thankfulness and gratitude. Establish this habit pattern in the lives of your children.

By the way, this idea is not just for the days when everything is going great. It’s for the trying and difficult days too. This is when you need the timer the most! Maybe the timer will ring just as the children are fighting and squabbling. This is the very time to stop, hold hands, pray, and thank the Lord together. Maybe the timer will ring just as you are ‘blowing your stack’ and the house is in turmoil. Oh what a blessing to have the timer! You are reminded to stop, repent of your attitude, and praise the Lord instead.

Maybe you are not very happy with your husband about something. The timer rings! Stop and think of five good things about your husband and thank the Lord for him. Or perhaps there is an urgent matter for prayer in your family or for people you know. What a great idea to have the timer ring every half-hour to remind you to pray.

Maybe the timer will ring when you are in a slough of self-pity. This is just the time to praise the Lord. Of course, you may not feel like doing it. Don’t worry. Feelings come and feelings go! Don’t let your life be governed by your feelings. Thank the Lord anyway. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 tells us that God’s perfect will for our lives is to thank Him in every circumstance and at all times.

I’ll never forget the first time God used this scripture to speak to me. It was about 35 years ago when we were first married. I was four months pregnant with Wesley, our first baby. My husband, Colin, left me in New Zealand to serve the Lord on a mission in the Philippines with Tell the Nations Crusade. The horrific part was that I didn’t know when he was coming back. They didn’t know whether the mission would take them three months or three years. In my emotional pregnant state I imagined that I would never see him again. I wondered whether this baby would ever see his father. I was heartbroken.

I went home from airport devastated. I cried inconsolably. Then the Lord spoke to my heart; "Do you want to do my will?" "Yes, Lord," I sobbed. "Then thank me, for this is my will concerning you," I heard God whisper to my heart. Because I wanted to be in His will, I began to thank the Lord for taking Colin to serve the Lord. I didn’t feel like it. I felt the opposite. I thanked Him in cold-blooded faith. I continued until I really felt thankfulness entering my heart. I won the victory. From that time, I lived in the joy of the Lord. God was good and Colin safely returned shortly after Wesley was born.

Dear wives and mothers, I trust that you will find the timer a wonderful idea in your home. You might even need to purchase a couple of extra timers, and keep them in different rooms. Set it every half-hour. Make it a habit of your daily life. Let love, joy, peace, praise, worship, thankfulness, gratitude, forbearance, forgiveness and longsuffering super-abound in your home. Remember, the word means ‘to overflow with more than is necessary – above and beyond.’

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE ALL DAY LONG

"I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1

"My tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long." Psalm 35:28

"In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name forever." Psalm 44:8

"My praise shall be continually of Thee…I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more." Palm 71:6,14,15,24

"Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise and with Thy honor all the day." Psalm 71:8

"Give thanks always for all things." Ephesians 5:18-20

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." Colossians 2:7 NAS

"Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 8

Arise and Shine - Being an Exceptional Mother in the Midst of the Ordinary

Homeschool mothers can most assuredly relate to the feelings that come from drudgery. The days are long and tedious. The success that comes of the toil sometimes goes unseen for months, maybe even years. Our lives seem downright plain and ordinary. Our work goes unnoticed. Our existence remains unobserved. Life can become commonplace. Where do we go from here? How can we keep going from day to day?

Oswald Chambers said, “Drudgery is one of the finest touchstones of character.” A touchstone is defined as “a hard black stone, such as jasper, formerly used to test the quality of gold or silver by comparing the streak left on the stone by one of these metals with that of a standard alloy.” A touchstone is a gauge, which is used to test the quality of a precious metal in comparison to a commonplace metal. During our times of drudgery, do we want to show our character as being that of pure gold or as a mixture of commonplace metals? I would much rather present myself to Jesus as gold - experiencing the ordinary, rather than being ordinary.

The truth is, our feelings of inadequacy overpower us when we fail to see God’s handiwork in the smallest details of our everyday lives. We wait for God to show us the extraordinary thing for which we have been laboring. We look for Him to guide us to our pinnacle of success so that we can, then, give Him the glory. We should be giving Him the glory throughout the mundane tasks that are before us each day. It is when we are in the valley - between the pinnacles of success - that we see where we have been and how far He has led us.

Jesus stepped down from His heavenly domain and meekly washed His disciple’s feet. In turn, let us walk the path of humility that He has placed before us. We are not so admirable that we deserve the praiseworthy work rather than what Jesus has given us to accomplish. His plan is perfect and we must accept the plan, no matter how ordinary that plan may seem. Seeing the exceptional within the ordinary, makes the mundane extraordinary.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the Glory of the Lord rises upon you.”
Isaiah 60:1

The Glory of God is upon you on the mountain tops of success and in the valleys of the commonplace. Take your place; accept your calling; place your feet firmly on the path; look toward the goal; arise and shine!

Wouldn't Trade This Life for Anything....

How quickly tiny bundles of joy grow! How fleeting are the lives we live! How ungrateful we are in times of stress for the blessings of little ones!

As a mother, many of us tire of the thankless hours and sheer amount of work that comes with motherhood. I, however, treasure all my sleepless nights, my cleaning of vomit and my endless loads of laundry all for....the smiles and memories that I make with my precious children!

I can't help but think what fools are they who intentionally refuse these sweet and precious blessings called children! There is no trial, hardship or everyday drugery that I would trade for an empty (or less empty) house and deafening quiet!

What's Your Homeschool Schedule with 9 Children? How do you do it?

The most-asked question our larger-than-average family gets is this: "How do you handle all those kids AND homeschool?" Well, to be completely honest, we probably get the "How many kids do you plan on having anyway?" one even more often, but you'll have to ask God for the answer to that one. :) I, however, will attempt to explain how we do all that we do with 9 kids, all while keeping the peace and order in our humble abode! So, here we go! Mark and I have 8 blessings on earth so far (and 7 in Heaven), ages: 18, 11, 10, 9, 6, 5, 3, 2 and a newborn.

Below is our usual schedule, but with a newborn and a preschooler and life in general, this can all change at a moments notice. Overall, I like having a schedule so that the kids know what to expect and when, but I do NOT let it rule me. It's just a guide. It helps tremendously that we school year-round! It allows for extended holiday breaks and breaks throughout the year when I feel "burnout" coming. :) I am also a firm believer that just because a schedule works well for one family it might not work well for another, so keep that in mind when trying to create one of your own!

Our Schedule

7:00 - wake-up, get dressed, make bed, tidy up rooms, put away night clothes and eat

7:45 or 8:00 - kitchen chores (95% done by children) and teeth brushed

8:15 - Preschool! The older kids teach younger ones preschool (it is really neat to have the older ones learn to teach their siblings...it develops their abilities in so many ways!)

8:15 - Schoolwork (math/English/spelling history/science/geography/typing - different requirements on different days). Annalise (graduated) blogs, Facebooks, keeps an eye on kids or bakes. To see our curricula that we use, click on Our Homeschool Tools (above).

12:00 - Everyone has finished school USUALLY.

12:00 or 12:30 - Lunch

After lunch - outside play time/educational games/reading/educational DVD's or YouTube unit studies (this varies according to my whim...ha)

2:30 - Judah naps until 3:30 or 4:00

4:00 - Kids are inside or start afternoon chores (feeding chickens, sweeping, weeding, sweeping/tidying garage, vacuuming stairs, cleaning bathrooms, etc.). Reading time begins when chores are completed.

5:00 - Get ready for Daddy's homecoming (vacuum, set table, ready dinner, etc.)

6:00 - Dinner kitchen cleanup by kids while Mark and I discuss our days (this is GREAT therapy for Mommy)

7:30 - Family Worship (Click Here to Read More)

8:00 - Bedtime for everyone, except Annalise. She will go downstairs to the boys' area/playroom and take a shower and read, blog, etc. until she goes upstairs to go to sleep.

When do you feel as though you've actually ACCOMPLISHED all that you need to accomplish?

I would say that I feel as though I have accomplished everything I needed to accomplish if I have homeschooled the kids, done at least 1 load of laundry, done some everyday chores (dusting, vacuuming, counter tops, general upkeep, etc.), prepared a good meal, had the kids learn life skills of some kind, and I have basically "worked at home" all day. It varies so greatly what I do each day that I would say that if I felt as though I have been a worker at home, according to Titus 2. I am to be loving my husband, loving my children and being busy at home. If I've done that to the best of my ability, then I've accomplished a lot. However, it can get monotonous and it can feel as though I haven't accomplished much, BUT drudgery is part of motherhood and that's all part of God's perfect plan. See this post! The Proverbs 31 is an ideal woman, accomplishing A LOT. I don't believe that any woman could accomplish all that she did every day, and we need to keep that in mind or we'll drive ourselves crazy! BUT Proverbs 31 is a GREAT outline to use overall!

Any organizing tips or secrets?

1. Never leave a room empty-handed. Always return something to its proper place.

2. 30 second rule....If it takes less than 30 seconds to put away, do it immediately!

3. Have pick up time before Daddy gets home and before lunch time!

4. Teach kids to do chores and to pick up as they go (30 second rule with them, as well)

Any tips on how to get the kids to clean up after themselves?

As I've mentioned time and time again, we are big on "chore training". My kids all have chores. We use this age appropriate chore list as a guide. Our kids have chores as soon as they can crawl and they will pass them on to a younger sibling when the younger sibling is ready. The younger sibling will become the "apprentice" and the older becomes the "master or teacher". The younger will watch the older do the chore between 2 and 5 times before they attempt it themselves. Then they move onto doing the chore themselves, with the older one watching and instructing PROPERLY (no bossing allowed...Mommy's listening in). After about 2-5 times of the younger doing the chore under the older's supervision and instruction, the younger will do that chore on their own. From that point on, Mommy checks up on them randomly to see if it was completed properly. If it was not, then Mommy instructs the younger on how to correct it. Of course, age is always factored in.....I don't expect my two year old to wipe the table the way I would. BUT, they should be doing it to the best of their ability.

How old should a child be when they begin having chores?

Our kids start chores as soon as they can crawl, and although it's tedious to Mommy in the beginning, I've found that it pays off BIG TIME in the long run!!! What does God think about chores?

Shouldn't kids just be kids?

Unfortunately, today's society has taught us that life should be easy, kids should be kids, take the easy way out in life, but in all reality I can't find where it says any of that in Scripture. In fact, Scripture says that LEADERS and SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE will work hard! Shouldn't we be training up the future leaders of tomorrow's familys and world? Using the below Scriptures when teaching children about chores and hard work will mold their spirits now and train them for their futures! This is why we believe that children should regularly contribute to household maintenance.

*Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and never succeed. Proverbs 12:24

*He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment. Proverbs 12:11

*All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23

*Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:22-24

What are the consequences for not completing chores?

We have just recently (within the last year) paying for extra chores (not cleaning rooms or such as that....those are "normal chores" and do not receive payment. Nor do they receive payment for extra chores if their "normal chores" are left undone.). Right now "Extra Chores" are required to be done as follows:

Annalise (18) - Meal prep/cooking, Kitchen upkeep, cleaning and keeping organized the guest and children bathrooms (toilet, floors, door handles), mopping with Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn (11) - Some meal prep/cooking, vacuuming the stairs twice a week, cleaning and keeping organized the guest and children's bathrooms (sinks, counters, mirrors), mopping with Annalise.

Ethan (10) - Tidying/organizing/sweeping garage (a little each day), collecting and taking out trash weekly or as needed, feeding and cleaning up after chickens.

Trey (9) - Sweeps all areas outside (a section each day...covered patio, front porch, walk to door, walk to storage shed, driveway), blow basketball "patio/court"off on weekends, feeds the dog and washes dog bowls once a week.

Jake (6) - Brushes dog weekly, puts towels on our dining room chairs prior to meals (to prevent stains on the fabric from the smaller children), helps Ethan with garage cleaning and upkeep, Swiffers under sofas when I vacuum.

Julia (5) - Folds two towels that go on our dining room chairs prior to meals after meals, cleans the fronts of appliances (dishwasher, fridge, microwave, oven).

Ellie (3) - Folds two towels that go on our dining room chairs prior to meals after meals.

Judah (2) - Collects cloth napkins after meals and puts them in or in front of the washer and puts away the dining room chair towels after meals.

More chores will be added soon or reorganized, as the children become proficient in the chores they've been given. These might not seem like a lot of chores, but this would not include regular chores (setting tables, clearing tables, cleaning rooms, making beds, vacuuming and dusting their bedrooms, doing their laundry, helping with "buddies" and doing seasonal/odd chores as requested by me).

This system has worked really well and, honestly, we rarely have an issue with attitudes or chore completion. They know that Daddy and I mean business. They also are used to having chores, because they start doing chores as soon as they can walk. In fact, the older ones are so used to doing their chores and do them with a proper attitude that the younger ones CAN'T WAIT to go into an "apprenticeship" under the older ones to learn the chores! Now, yes, chores get repetitious, but they do get done with correct attitudes and without being told (the majority of the time, anyway - no one's perfect).

I hope this was of some help and an encouragement to you! May you all be WORKERS AT HOME and follow God and His Word in all you do!

The Homekeeper's Woes - If Only I Could Keep This House Clean for 20 Minutes!

Do you ever wish that you could keep something in your house clean for more than 2 minutes?

Do you ever wonder why the kids can't keep their sticky hands off of the walls or their muddy shoes off of your newly mopped floor?

Are you ever incredulous as to why your husband has to rifle through the neatly organized sock drawer looking for a pair of socks that were on top to begin with?

I know that we have all thought these thoughts, as homekeepers, at least twice every day! I've been there myself many times. However, how can we think like that if we realize what we have and what rewards we are reaping in the process of this entire homekeeping experience? Think of Proverbs 14:4 "Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox."

Labor has its rough, unpleasant side, yet it ends in profit. So also, the life of contemplation may seem purer, "cleaner "than that of action. The outer business of the world brings its cares and disturbances, but also "much increase." There will be a sure reward of that activity in good works for him who goes, as with "the strength of the ox," to the task to which God calls him. (from Barnes' Notes)

What if we had no "oxen"? Yes, our homes would be neat and clean. We'd be able to sit down with our cups of coffee or tea and read a good book for hours each day. The floor would only need to be mopped once a month. And, come to think of it, sock drawers would never again have to be organized because we would always keep them the way we had so meticulously arranged!

What if the Lord had not given us a husband or children? What would our lives be like anyway? They would certainly be much different. Would you really trade all that for a clean floor, clean walls and a bit of simple organization? I wouldn't dream of it!

I know that someday I will wake up to find that God has closed my womb. My children will have grown up and gone to raise their own families. Yes, my house will be clean and tidy. Yes, I can take a coffee break any time I choose. Maybe I'll still be taking care of my husband and meeting his needs in the area of keeping our home, but maybe he will have gone to Glory ahead of me.

We never know what the future holds. We need to appreciate the tasks set before us NOW by God! We need to take pride in our God-given roles of wife and mother! When we get discouraged, we really need to focus on what life would be like without our precious children and husband. I doubt that any of us would truly be willing to sacrifice all that we have for a little relaxation and ease. Think of our reward when we have raised Godly children for Jesus and helped our husband, as God had called us to do! How great is our reward!

Remember...."Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox." Proverbs 14:4

Get Organized and Save!

Order by January 18 and save 35% off the retail price when you use the coupon below*. The "Get Organized…and Save!" Resource Pack will save you hundreds of dollars on regular family expenses. At the incredible price of just $56 (after coupon) for these five hands-on resource books, the knowledge gained from The "Get Organized…and Save!" Resource Pack is an investment that will pay for itself again and again! Use coupon code GETORGANIZED and receive 35% off your purchase.

Learn how to reduce your grocery bill, save time in the kitchen, plan ahead, improve your laundry and cleaning routines, prepare for emergencies, and maximize your budget. Presenting a myriad of inspiring ideas and practical "how to" tips, this collection is sure to be an important part of your day-to-day life and help equip you to excel in running your household.

The Get Organized, and Save Resource Pack includes the following five books:

Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

Find out how much your family can save in Steve and Annette Economides’ new book, Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half.

Imagine grocery shopping once a week or less, eating healthier, and having more free time — all while saving money. Sound too good to be true? “America’s cheapest family” takes one grocery trip per month — and spends only $350 for their family of seven! For the Economides family it’s a reality, and it can be yours too.

What could the average family do with an extra $3,000 a year? “America’s Cheapest Family” shows you how to use strategies, tips, tools, and tricks in Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half so that you, too, can achieve huge savings year after year. It’s a fact, the Economides say: saving money on groceries is one of the quickest ways to start making a positive difference in your family’s financial future.

And these tips and strategies can work whether you’re shopping for seven or for one!

Spend less time shopping and cooking
Get more bang for your organic buck
Discover kitchen tools that simplify and streamline meal preparations
Learn many ways to eat out or eat in and save big
Turn your freezer into a money-making machine

By Steve & Annette Economides. Paperback. 272 pages.

America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money

As you read America’s Cheapest Family, you’ll feel like you’re getting your own private coaching session from two frugal experts who preach what they practice. Steve and Annette Economides, a dynamic husband-and-wife duo, include lots of stories — their own, and the stories of others they've helped. You'll be taken through every area of a household budget, from clothes to cars and lots more in between, as you discover how to trim debt and develop the right budget for your home.

Learn to save money and time on feeding your family, plan fun and inexpensive recreation, and even take great vacations — all without debt. It's not about formulas and calculations, it’s more about figuring out what’s really important to your family, and then making it happen.

Get a first-hand “behind the scenes” look at how this frugal family has lived, raised five happy kids, paid off their first house in nine years, never had a car payment, and had lots of family fun along the way.

By Steve & Annette Economides. Paperback. 288 pages.

Large Family Logistics: The Art and Science of Managing the Large Family

Moms have many tasks to tackle and obstacles to overcome: the laundry monster, household clutter and cleaning needs, caring for babies and little ones, menu planning and mealtime routines, town outings, homeschooling, bill paying—and even more!

Like many wives and mothers, author Kim Brenneman didn’t start out with all of the answers. She struggled to figure out: What do I do next? What’s the best way to actually do the many things that need to be done? And how do I get everything accomplished in a 24-hour day and keep my sanity?

In Large Family Logistics, Kim outlines practical solutions she has learned to effectively manage a busy household. This how-to manual is filled with step-by-step procedures, easy-to- understand organizational advice, and a myriad of tips and hints for managing a bustling home with greater efficiency in a way that honors God and builds up family relationships.

Sensible and straightforward, Kim tackles the nitty- gritty, day-to-day challenges moms face and also offers sound counsel on how to plan and accomplish long-term domestic goals. An invaluable home management resource that will equip busy moms to get beyond survival mode and thrive!

Large Family Logistics has lots of helpful ideas to encourage moms to prioritize their lives and get their surroundings organized using creative methods. These tips will free up time and allow moms to stay focused on their children's hearts. —Michelle Duggar of '19 Kids and Counting' How I would have loved to have had a manual like this when I first started having children! Kim's eminently practical book offers real solutions to a multitude of the logistical issues of running a household, and these solutions apply whether you have a household of two or twenty! —Beall Phillips, mother of 8 and author of Verses of Virtue

Problem Solving How-Tos Include:

Fit it All in a Day
Take Control of Clutter
Conquer the Laundry Monster
Homeschool a Large Family
Manage Your Family's Expenses
Train Older Children to Help Younger Children
Achieve Good Physical Health
And Much More!

By Kim Brenneman. Hardback. 312 pages.

Fix, Freeze, Feast 125 Recipes

Learn how to buy groceries in bulk, prepare family-friendly meals, freeze appropriate portions in labeled bags, and defrost and serve whenever a quick, homemade meal is needed. Fix, Freeze, Feast presents a complete system for getting organized and putting healthy, satisfying meals on the dinner table. Most recipes begin with a warehouse club tray pack of chicken, beef, or pork, and include instructions for dividing, preparing, and storing the raw ingredients. A second set of simple directions describes how to thaw and cook the food. With Fix, Freeze, Feast, dinner is always in the freezer!

By Kati Neville & Lindsay Tkacsik. Hardback. 250 pages.

Just In Case: How to Be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens

Disaster can strike at any time. Be one of the prepared few by following Kathy Harrison's practical plan for emergency self-sufficiency. Learn how to evaluate, organize, and rotate your food supply; pack an evacuation kit; protect important documents from fire; develop a communications system; make nutritious soup with canned and dried pantry items; and entertain the kids in difficult circumstances. Everything you need to know to survive when public services fail is covered in this essential guide to family preparedness.

"An ideal preparedness guide for families." - James Wesley Rawles, editor of SurvivalBlog.com

"This book has information that will save lives." - Russel L Honore

By Kathy Harrison. Paperback. 240 pages.

Nagging Your Children About Chores?

Solution: "Inspect what you expect"! - Large Family Logistics

After your children know what's expected and can properly accomplish their chores, INSPECT WHAT YOU EXPECT....and do so DAILY! Wow, what a novel idea!

Love that book! Click on the image below to order your copy....great instructional book for moms of large [or small] families!

Great Vision Forum Deals!

Homemaking Resources

Homeschool Resources

Family Resources

Overcoming Sinful Pulls of the Flesh

"Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

Galatians 5:24

As we can see from the above verse, we most certainly have the power to rid our lives of those nagging fleshly desires. Maybe your fleshly desires include procrastination, being easily angered by your husband or children, or not being consistant in disciplining and training your children. Whatever your downfall remember that since we have been crucified with Jesus, by way of our salvation, and that salvation is what enables us to conquer our flesh. However, to succeed in doing this, we must be purposeful in defeating what our natural man is calling us to do. Take every thought captive and make it obedient unto Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). When every thought is taken captive and called to obedience, then your actions will follow. You can defeat your natural man's sinful desires! Be purposeful and surrender your own selfish rights and desires, in order to bring Glory to God and acheive His purpose for you in life!

Free or Inexpensive Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Tree Branches!

I always have so much fun trying to find new ways to decorate my house (especially at Christmas) inexpensively! The cheaper, the better! BUT I want it to look nice and classy, too. Look at how I used leftover branches from our frasier fir Christmas tree for Christmas decor....

~ Lisa

This little basket was free (a gift basket that we received years ago). I added the after-Christmas-sale flowers (50 cents a piece and there are 4 of them) and some leftover pine branches. Total cost: $2.00

Here is a basket that I received as a gift (Valerie Parr Hill - QVC). It had candles in it, but now....just pine branches! Totally free!

And here's where it sits...on our entertainment center.

Last, but certainly not least...my favorite! This is my dining room centerpiece!

I used a candle I already had (gift from my Mommy), some after-Christmas-sale fruit ($2) and a fruit/bread pedestal display that I use year-round for centerpieces ($20 at Sam's Club) and OF COURSE my free pine tree branches! Total Cost: $22!

And one more shot....just LOVE it!

Okay, just one more...I promise!

First Corinthians 13 - The Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,but do not show love to my family,I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen,baking dozens of Christmas cookies,preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime:I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen,carol in the nursing home,and give all that I have to charity;but do not show love to my family,it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angelsand crocheted snowflakes,attend a myriad of holiday partiesand sing in the choir's cantatabut do not focus on Christ,I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.Love is kind, though harried and tired.Love does not envy another's homethat has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way,but is thankful they are there to be in the way.Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things,believes all things,hopes all things, and endures all things.Love never fails.
Video games will break,pearl necklaces will be lost,golf clubs will rust,but giving the gift of love will endure.

--Author Unknown

The Obedience of Scripture vs. The Obedience of Selfish Desires

The obedience of Scripture should be the first and foremost of our goals as single women, wives, mothers, and homemakers. Whatever we do in life without the confines, direction, and obedience of Scripture makes our roles ineffective and unproductive. Ultimately, it destroys the Lord’s plan for our roles and fails to bring Him the Glory. If we set out to make up our own rules and goals for our lives – ignoring Scripture – because in our weak flesh we cannot or will not hold to that biblical standard, we will destroy all that God has intended for us to do. We will miss out on all that He planned because we steered our own course and maintained our own selfish desires. Read the rest of my post here on At The Well...

Christmas Organizational Links

I don't know about you, but I LOVE to plan things out and organize every detail of things! Here are some great links for organizing your Christmas! REMEMBER....Keep it SIMPLE and Keep it FOCUSED on JESUS! EVERYTHING should center around JESUS and HIS BIRTH! If it doesn't, nix it from your plan and go back to the drawing board!


Organized Christmas

Christmas Organizing

Christmas Checklists

I'm an Organizing Junkie

Plan and Organize Life - Christmas

Christmas Planner (FREE)

Ann's Amazing Holiday Planner

The Potential Dangers of Women's Retreats - Bloom Where You're Planted

"Argh, I don’t want to even really talk about the weekend. The praying part was very good. The alone time with the Lord was very good. And the service on Sunday was a very good message. And the time I had to get to know, and do a little preaching myself to, the ladies that I went with was also good. But the rest, *sigh*. The ladies all seemed to be working, and hating their jobs, those who stayed at home were miserable at home and unhappy with their husbands."

I am NOT, nor have I ever been, "into" the ladies retreats or getaways. For the most part, they are superficial, if you ask me. Even if the goals of the retreat are well intentioned, the down times usually lead to self-vindication about the way you feel about your less-than-perfect life. The funny thing is that women in the Church these days are programmed into thinking that we need time away from our families in order to find God and draw near to Him. If that is so, how did women in Bible times found God within their own daily walks in life? Was God's plan for those women insufficient?

"But if **from there** you seek the LORD your God, you will find
him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."

Deuteronomy 4:29

We do not NEED to go somewhere else to find God or to get closer to Him. He's always with us and available to us, but we need to take the time to seek Him! The mountain-top spiritual experience of retreats is not enough to propel us through until the next scheduled spiritual event. Daily time with God is necessary for the happiness we all want in life.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your
heart." Jeremiah 29:13

The "happiness is found in me-time" is a myth. Those who fall for that myth (whether disguised as a "Bible study" retreat or not) are either be searching for true time with God, are self-centered or just plain misdirected. The women looking for "me-time" will be just as unhappy when they get home as they were when they left, if they don't understand and embrace their true callings as a Christian woman. They have no idea how good it could be, if they just followed the Biblical role clearly laid out before them in Scripture. Overall, Christian women don't know what they are yearning for, and that's the problem. We all have what we need and desire right here within our four walls of our home. It's when we go out of those walls (either via the phone, the internet, TV, pop-culture, etc.) that we start believing that we are deprived and in need of being revived. Yes, a weekly date with hubby or daily Bible reading time is nice and needed. BUT I think that the Church has bought into the worldly reasoning of this "me-time" thing; they have marketed it to women and peppered their events with speakers, prayer time and such. These can be good events, but not always the best.

"Good is often the enemy of the best." Oswald Chambers

Another problem is that at those retreats and getaways is that women are left in the off-time with idle hands and chattering lips. The dominant ones take over the conversations, indoctrinating the other women on what's good and bad in the life of a stay at home mom. The women stop exhorting, and start gossiping or complaining. Where did that Titus 2 way of thinking go? Where are the older ones consistently mentoring the younger ones in sound doctrine? I just don't see that, in general, in the Church these days...in any denomination.

Women's retreats can be good, but often the spiritual is traded for complaining about the life that God has given you. Be sure to bloom where you've been planted by God! Be the shining example of what a godly woman should be at your next women's retreat! And be sure to SEEK God every day, and not to depend upon spiritual retreats to move closer to your Father!