Jennifer Lambert

Raising Servant Leaders

Almost There Book Review

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Almost There: Searching for Home in a Life on the Move by Bekah DiFelice is a great book about nomadic life.

My Review

I can relate to Bekah DiFelice in her book Almost Home. Humorous anecdotes about military life and discovering the meaning of “home.”

As a military wife, I’ve moved five times.

Five times packing up memories, clothes, toys, books, kitchen items. Clearing out pantries and freezers. Having yard sales and donating items we can’t take with us.

It’s stressful living a nomadic life. It’s sometimes depressing feeling homeless.

We arrive at a new location and wonder, “What’s the point of even hanging pictures on the walls or buying curtains for this rental house when we’re leaving soon?”

We crave new friendships only to say goodbye.

As a military family, we learn to cling to each other through deployments and PCSes and other stressors than civilians don’t understand. Movies and books can only give a glimpse. This is our life.

We can find home anywhere. It isn’t necessarily our home of record or where our parents and siblings live. It isn’t where we went to high school.

I feel most at home walking along the cold beaches of Normandy, France, sitting in a café in Paris, eating moules frites in Bruges, gazing at the sunset in Greece.

My four children will most likely grow up scattered to the winds and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Then I can travel and visit and find new ideas for home.

Home is truly where the heart is.

About the Book

On the move . . . again? Wondering when you will “arrive”?

Sometimes God leads people out of familiar territory so he can tell them who they are. That moment you depart, you experience reinvention, renewal, and freedom. You get a redo on the adjectives associated with your name.

Almost There is for those on the move and those who feel restless right where they are. It’s for those who struggle with not belonging, with feeling unsettled, with believing that home is out of their reach, at least for the moment. And Almost There is for those who find themselves in a transient lifestyle they didn’t expect―say, moving across the country for a new job or the military or an opportunity to begin again.

With imaginative storytelling and witty, relatable prose, Bekah DiFelice offers wisdom for those struggling to belong in a world where home is constantly shifting. When our hope of home is rooted in an unchangeable God, we are not uprooted, lost, or made homeless by change. We become found ones on the move.

About the Author

Bekah DiFelice loves strong coffee, her home state of Colorado, and turning strangers into friends. She’s a wife, mom, and writer. You can find her at BekahDiFelice.com, where she shares her story of discovering pieces of home in the most unlikely places.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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Parenting Book List

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Parenting is hard.

Most of us are not equipped with the necessary tools to become good parents.

We sometimes think that there’s something magical or mystical that occurs when we grow up, get married, get pregnant, and start having babies.

But there’s no instruction manual.

There is so much information out there – in books, magazines, blogs…written by professionals and moms.

And some of it is so, so wrong.

I did lots of things wrong for so many years.

My three younger kids thankfully don’t remember much of the bad when I was desperately trying to find myself, discover what I believe, and learn my purpose as a mother.

Unfortunately, so many books, articles, and blogs are written by Christian parents and professionals go against the teachings of Jesus and the very core of my gentle soul. They teach harshness, physical punishment, isolation, shaming, blaming, abuse. These misguided Christians claim that blind immediate unconditional obedience is the only goal for parenting. Too many Christians confuse original sin with every baby being born bad or evil.

I beg to differ.

The goal of parenting is relationship. The goal of parenting is raise empathetic adults. The goal of parenting is to raise kind and loving people.

Children are never bad.

It is a parent’s role to model self-control, kindness, love, and those other traits that are important to your traditions.

I know many adults who are hurting. We hurt because of the harsh way we were raise. We hurt because we were spanked or neglected or shamed. We struggle with addiction and anger and anxiety and depression now because we lost who we were, who we were meant to be. We lost our child selves.

We have to heal our own hurts in order to parent respectfully and with kindness and with love.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-4

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”  And he laid his hands on them and went away. Matthew 19:13-15

It is possible to parent without hitting or raising your voice or having control. It is possible to discipline with love and respect and relationship. It takes a lot of work. It’s really hard. We have to address our triggers and immaturity. We have to look at children as people and not as less-than because they’re small and easily controlled.

Parenting

These are some of my favorite respectful parenting books.

Parenting Girls

These are some of my favorite books for raising strong girls. I have three daughters and I feel it’s important to address some of the unique issues that girls face. I also want to counter some issues I had growing up.

Parenting Boys

These are on my reading list about boys. I have a young son. I want to raise him to be a sensitive and loving man.

Parenting Teens

Parenting teens can be a challenge but oh, so wonderful! These are my favorite resources. I taught high school and college for 10+ years and teens are really amazing. I’m coaching my teen daughter now into adulthood and it’s so exciting! If you don’t listen when they’re little, they won’t talk when they’re teens.

Technology

Books to help families navigate social media and the Internet. It’s a brave new world.

May we all strive to be the best parents to our children that we can be.

View all my book lists here.

Read my parenting articles here.

Linking up: Curly Crafty Mom, The Mrs Tee, Life of Faith, Blogghetti, Modest Mom, Barbie Swihart, Our Holiday Journey, God-sized Dreams, Blessed but Stressed, JEmbellish, Pilgrims and Strangers on Earth, Marilyns Treats, Donna Reidland, A Fresh Start, Inspiration for Moms, Create with Joy, Lori Schumaker, Holley Gerth, My Pinventures,

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School Room in Ohio 2017

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We moved to Ohio this summer.

It’s been a huge transition for us.

The kids have a basement again for the TV – that was in storage for 3 whole years.

Also, their desks and bookcases and manipulatives are in the basement for our homeschool time.

My office has its own little room beside the front door.

There are two lovely windows along the left wall.

Along that wall is a mess.

It’s a work in progress since this room is where all the unopened boxes currently are living until I can get organized.

This house has lots of storage and is the nicest we’ve ever lived in!

 

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Best and Worst of Robins AFB

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I grew up in Georgia.

I met my husband when he was at his first duty station in Warner Robins.

Most of my extended family still live in Georgia.

The Best of Robins AFB

Location.

Close to Atlanta and close to Florida and close to Savannah. Perfect for spontaneous weekend trips! The state offers beaches, rivers and lakes, plains, hills, and mountains. Something for everyone to enjoy!

Affordable.

Georgia is one of the most affordable states to raise a family. Houses are cheaper and yards are bigger. You don’t need much winter gear.

HOPE Scholarship

Students with a B average or higher can go to an in-state college or university with the HOPE Georgia Lottery Scholarship program. I did!

Southern Hospitality

Everyone really is that friendly. Everyone is smiling and chatty. You’ll feel like the grocery store cashier is suddenly your new best friend.

 

Other than a little bit of isolation since Robins is in the middle of the state and the closest city is Macon…it’s pretty fantastic to live in Georgia! The people are friendly and the food is amazing.

The Worst of Robins AFB

It’s humid.

The weather is really mild in winter, but summers are really hot, humid, and buggy.

It ices.

No one can drive in bad weather. Georgia isn’t prepared for the rare snowstorm or annual icy days. Even if it rains really hard, it’s terrible to drive. Hurricane season dumps lots of rain on the state!

Bible Belt

This may or may not be a negative. There’s a church on every corner. Blue laws are still in effect in some parts of the South, so you can’t buy alcohol on Sundays or until afternoon at least.

The base itself feels kinda isolated, but the town is growing around it. And there’s only a small clinic.

Have you lived in Georgia? What did you like or dislike?

 

 

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Best and Worst of Lackland AFB

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Lackland AFB was our second duty station.

We lived there only two years. I’d love to go back and explore San Antonio.

We had recently gotten married. I was pregnant. It was the first time I’d ever lived outside the state of Georgia. My husband’s parents both passed away within a year. My husband almost got decimated in budget cuts and had to change his career field from Communications to Medical Lab at Wilford Hall.

It was a stressful two years for us.

We didn’t get to enjoy our time there as much as we would have liked.

It’s Texas. I really like all there is to do and see. We began homeschooling in Texas and it is soooo homeschool friendly!

The Best of Lackland AFB

Great food.

I adore Tex-Mex and Mexican food. It’s the one style of cuisine I can’t seem to master in my kitchen, so authentic food in the San Antonio area was great!

Fun festivals.

There’s always a fun festival or event to attend in downtown San Antonio or the surrounding areas.

Travel.

So many day trips and places to see in the Lone Star State. So much great history and culture and art. Camping and other fun outdoorsy things.

Military-friendly.

Texas has lots of military installations. Most people are really patriotic and respect the military community.

The Worst of Lackland AFB

It’s really hot.

In summer, the temps are stifling and no wonder everyone had a siesta and went out at sundown! So A/C bills can run high. But you don’t need winter gear or clothes!

Texas is big.

It takes forever to get out of the state if you’re driving somewhere.

Traffic

San Antonio is a growing town and traffic in some areas can be rough at certain times. Plan accordingly.

Critters.

You have to be careful and watch kids and pets and keep your yard clear of snakes and other stinging, biting things.

Have you ever lived in Texas? What did you love or dislike?

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Best and Worst of Hill AFB

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We never wanted or expected to live in Utah.

It was a culture shock, but we made the best of it, as military families have to do.

We lived there for four years.

My husband deployed a few months after we arrived. On our anniversary. I spent the first winter of my life alone with four kids. Our cat died and the basement flooded while he was deployed.

The Best of Hill AFB

Outdoors Activities

We’re not so much into winter, but I hear the skiing is wonderful. I did like how sunny winters are and it doesn’t feel very cold. We enjoyed hiking, fishing, and camping. We explored national and state parks. It is beautiful there!

Affordable Housing

We rented a humongous house with a huge back yard and there were lots of nice houses for sale. There were new ones being built all over! We knew many who chose to retire there.

Deals for Families

Since Utah is known for large families, there are many deals for kids and families. Lots of museums and other attractions have family passes or free admission for kids. There were lots of consignment sales and thrift stores.

The Worst of Hill AFB

Religious Discrimination

The Mormon Tabernacle is in Salt Lake City. Many LDS military members put Hill AFB on their wish list to make their pilgrimage.

I wasn’t so surprised to be treated differently because we’re not Mormon, but I was surprised to learn that even non-Utah Mormons are given the cold shoulder.

And separation of church and state? Not so much in Utah. There were blanks on even gymnastics forms for my kids as to which ward we belonged. It came up way too often in conversation for our comfort.

Once my daughter reached age 12, she was excluded from activities in our neighborhood. This is the age that kids are more indoctrinated into their church. At the high school, kids even take classes at their ward for their mission.

Our kids couldn’t even play with any other children in the neighborhood on Sundays. Mormons take their Sabbath Day seriously.

Alcohol Laws

The alcohol rules and laws are very weird in Utah. I’ve never felt so like an incompetent child as going to a restaurant and being told I can’t have a cocktail without ordering food first. I grew up in the South, so Blue Laws aren’t news to me, but Utah alcohol sales laws baffle me. Liquor stores close at dinnertime, even on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Smell

During dry, warm days…the brine shrimp in the Great Salt Lake cast a disgusting rotten fishy smell over the whole valley.

Air Quality

The Inversion in late winter makes going outdoors unpleasant. Those with breathing problems should stay inside.

 

Have you lived in Utah? What did you like or dislike?

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Oahu with Kids

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We lived on O’ahu for three years. Living in Hawai’i isn’t the same as a vacation there. But every single day, there’s a rainbow!

My husband was stationed at Hickam AFB. We lived on base. It was mostly magical. The kids still call it home and we all long to go back.

The thing about living in paradise is that you’re living in paradise. It’s not a vacation every day. Dishes and laundry still have to get done. We homeschooled. Everything is expensive. Gas and food prices are high. Traffic is terrible. You have to watch out for centipedes.

But you can go to the beach whenever you want. There are lots of lovely parks and gardens and hiking opportunities. Those are FREE!

O’ahu is a great place for families!

Attractions in Kaneohe

The Windward Coast is a tropical paradise.

  • Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
  • Bellows Air Force Station
  • Sea Life Park
  • Hanauma Bay
  • Kualoa Ranch – Lots of movies and shows filmed there like Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor, Lost, and Hawaii Five-O. There are ATV tours.
  • Kane’one Sandbar

North Shore Attractions

The beaches on the North Shore are best for families to visit during summer months. The waves get huge mid-November through March and host the famous Triple Crown of Surfing Championships.

There’s TONS to do on the North Shore of Oahu!

  • Matsumoto’s Shave Ice
  • Shrimp Trucks
  • Ted’s Bakery
  • Haleiwa Joe’s
  • Uncle Bo’s
  • Ray’s Chicken
  • Art Galleries
  • Surf Shops
  • Puu O Mahaka State Monument
  • Waimea Beach and Falls
  • Turtle Beach
  • Sharks Cove

Honolulu Attractions

Honolulu is the Hawaii state capital and of course, there are lots of fun things to do in the big city!

  • Honolulu Zoo
  • Waikiki Aquarium
  • Discovery Center Children’s Museum
  • Pearl Harbor
  • Pacific Aviation Museum
  • Diamond Head
  • Ko’olina
  • Bishop Museum
  • Friday Night Fireworks on Waikiki Beach (FREE)
  • Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden (FREE)

We loved living on Oahu for three years, exploring most of what the island had to offer. Some things we didn’t get to see or do since we had very little children. We’d love to go back!

We also traveled to Mau’i, Kaua’i, Ni’ihau, and The Big Island.

Hawaii Coffee Company



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Honolulu with Kids

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Attractions in Honolulu, Hawai’i for families are plenty!

Honolulu is the Hawaii state capital and of course, there are lots of fun things to do in the big city!

  • Honolulu Zoo
  • Waikiki Aquarium
  • Discovery Center Children’s Museum
  • Pearl Harbor
  • Pacific Aviation Museum
  • Diamond Head
  • Ko’olina
  • Bishop Museum
  • Friday Night Fireworks on Waikiki Beach (FREE)
  • Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden (FREE)

Honolulu Zoo

This is a nice zoo with mammal, birds, and reptiles. There are also lovely gardens to enjoy.

There’s a great children’s area with a petting zoo and playground.

We loved the exhibits you can climb inside for closer looks!

General Admission
$14.00 – Adult 13+
$6.00 – Children 3-12 yrs.

Kama’aina/U.S. military*
$8.00 – Adult 13+
$4.00 – Children 3-12 yrs.
* I.D. required for kama’aina/U.S. military rates.
FREE – Children 2 and under

Waikiki Aquarium

A lovely Hawaiian aquarium with coral life, monk seals, aquaculture, seahorses, and jellyfish.

We loved viewing the shallow aquariums and experiencing the touch pools.

General Admission
$12.00 – Adult 13+
$5.00 – Children 4-12 yrs.

Kama’aina/U.S. military*
$8.00 – Adult 13+
* I.D. required for kama’aina/U.S. military rates.
FREE – Children 3 and under

Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center

A fun children’s museum featuring the temporary special exhibits and permanent exhibits like the human body, busy town, world cultures, farming, rainforest, and Hawaiian habitats.

General Admission
$12.00

Kama’aina/U.S. military*
$10.00
* I.D. required for kama’aina/U.S. military rates.
FREE – Children under 1 

Friday Night Fireworks in Waikiki!

Every Friday night around 8 PM, Hawaiian Hilton Village sets off a fireworks show – and it’s FREE! It’s great to plan a picnic, watch the sunset, and then view the fireworks!

Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden

Portions of this garden were once the property and favorite picnic grounds of Queen Lili`uokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii.  She later donated her land to the City and County of Honolulu to be used for the public’s enjoyment.  This developing garden is devoted to native Hawaiian plants. It’s FREE!

Diamond Head

This is a great hike with gorgeous views!

$5.00 per car or $1 per person for pedestrians. CASH ONLY. NO PETS.

The 0.8 mile hike from trailhead to the summit is steep and strenuous, gaining 560 feet as it ascends from the crater floor. It was hard for us with little ones!

Pearl Harbor Historic Sites and Memorials

  • USS Arizona Memorial
  • Battleship Missouri Memorial
  • USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park

Kids have to be over 8 years old to go on tours, but most of the smaller memorials are accessible to military ID holders.

We took my parents on the private tour of the USS Arizona for military members and it was something we’ll never forget!

Pacific Aviation Museum

Over 70 years of Pacific aviation history. Full access to 50+ aircraft and all exhibits, including WWII Hangars 37 & 79, MiG Alley, historical videos, the Museum Store, Laniakea Café and the award winning Pearl Harbor documentary East Wind, Rain.

General Admission
Adult: $25
Child (Ages 4-12): $12
Kama’aina & Military Admission
Adults:  $15
Child(Ages 4-12):  $10
FREE – Children under 4

My daughter is a history buff and went to a Tuskegee Airman presentation and book signing.

Bishop Museum

Hawaiian cultural heritage and natural history, a planetarium and science museum.

We also loved the Farm Festival in July.

General Admission
Adult: $22.95
Child, ages 4-12: $14.95

Kama’aina/Military Admission
Adult: $14.95
Child: $10.95
FREE – Children under 3

Ko’olina

Kapolei has great quite lagoons and kid-friendly beaches. It’s just a short drive from Honolulu.

Whale watching is another great activity in this area. We saw honu, dolphins, a few spouts, and some fins.

Ko’Olina is a romantic location for couples to stay or dine or visit. The marina offers lots of options for fishing, snorkeling, and whale watching. Ko’Olina also has the Aulani Disney Spa and Resort now.

The area around Honolulu offers so much for families!

We loved living on Oahu for three years, exploring most of what the island had to offer. Some things we didn’t get to see or do since we had very little children. We’d love to go back!

We also traveled to Mau’i, Kaua’i, Ni’ihau, and The Big Island.



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Hawaii Coffee Company


Linking up: Life of Faith, Blogghetti, Our Holiday Journey, Barbie Swihart, Modest Mom, Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth, BLoved Boston, Blessed But Stressed, God-sized Dreams, Donna Reidland, Holley Gerth, Marilyn’s Treats, A Fresh Start, Create with Joy, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, JEmbellish, Squishable Baby, Curly Crafty Mom, Flamingo Toes, Domestically Speaking, My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies, Jaime Wiebel, Home Stories A to Z, Teaching What is Good, LouLou Girls, April J Harris, Simple Life of a Fire Wife, Trekking Thru, Purposeful Faith, Mumma Scribbles, Wise Woman, Makeovers and Motherhood, Jessi’s Design, Messy Marriage, Mississippi Mom, Raggedy Bits, Savvy Southern Style, Gingersnap Crafts, Our Three Peas, Raven Would, Bringing up Georgia, Soaring with Him, Pat and Candy, Becoming Press, Classical Homemaking, Brenda Bradford Dottinger, Organized 31, Bountiful Love, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Creative K Kids, Sincerely Paula, My Learning Table, Penny’s Passion, T Suzanne Eller, Flourishing Today, Joyful Homemaking, Bebe Voyage, Debbie Kitterman, MaryAndering Creatively, Mommynificent, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Marilyn’s Treats Thursday, Life with Lorelai, Missional Women, Happy and Blessed Home, Oh My Heartsie Girl Friday, Create with Joy, Easy Peasy Pleasy, Answer is Chocolate, Lyli Dunbar, Counting My Blessings, Creative K Kids Friday, Being a Wordsmith, Our Mini Family,

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Is Your Cat Experiencing One of the Big 3 Cat Concerns?

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With International Cat Day happening on August 8, and Happy Healthy Cat Month in September, now is the perfect time to address the “cat in the room”—and that’s your feline friend’s diet. I’ll be the first to admit my own cat’s diet isn’t “purr”fect.
Sinéad, and especially, my boy Rubeus, can be picky eaters, or ignore their water bowl even when it’s placed right next to their food. I struggled to understand how I could address these issues. But then I realized I wasn’t alone—my cat was just experiencing one of the three most common cat concerns: picky eating, weight gain, and urinary tract issues.
I learned about the Big 3 by partnering with Weruva —a luxurious, natural pet food dubbed “people food for cats,” which is launching a full line of gluten, grain, and carrageenan-FREE cat food in honor of International Cat Day.
Look at this fun Weruva package for my fur babies and Skittles for me!
It’s called B.F.F. OMG! (that stands for Best Feline Friend, Oh My Gravy!), and it’s all about preventing these Big 3 Cat Concerns.

If your cat has any of these, you might want to consider changing their diet:

Is your cat picky?

Picky eating is usually a problem with texture, since cats are carnivores whose tongues and teeth are perfectly designed for meat-eating. It’s easy to see why a cat might dislike something without real shreds of meat. Would you eat a steak with the texture of tapioca? Weruva’s food features these shreds of real meat right off the bone, which is why my cats took to it like a duck to water (or a cat to gravy)!

Got a fat cat?

The problem is in the kibble. It’s filled with unnecessary carbs, which are almost impossible for cats to process (they don’t produce amylase, an enzyme which helps humans digest their food). Weruva’s B.F.F. OMG! has no kibble to worry about because it’s 100% real meats in their true form.

UT-why?

Urinary tract issues often stem from dehydration—even if you’re giving your cat plenty of water. In the wild, cats stay hydrated through the food they eat instead of what they drink. Cats are used to “eating” their water—but most wet foods don’t have nearly enough hydration to keep them satisfied. All of the products in Weruva’s B.F.F. OMG! line are over 85% hydration, which satisfies my cat’s hydration needs. We’ve had UTI and crystals issues with our boy cats and it’s so upsetting to see my fur babies in pain. I know this food will help prevent any more urinary system issues!
I love Weruva products because they are considered “people food for pets.” It really does smell great, just like all the online reviews say!
The new line of B.F.F. OMG! cans and pouches feature proteins like boneless and skinless white chicken breast, salmon, beef, duck, lamb and more. All recipes are grain, gluten, and carrageenan-FREE. And if you are a BPA-free home, check out the pouches because they are are BPA-free. Best of all, my kitties love it!
Health isn’t just for humans! I’m glad I took the time to learn how to feed my BFFs properly. Even better, in the process, I found my kitty’s new favorite food.
She especially likes Weruva’s Chicken and Shrimp flavor, which you can read about at Weruva. You can also explore the whole B.F.F. OMG! lineup there, and find a flavor your cat will “paw”sitively adore, at Chewy.com.

Has your cat experienced one of the Big 3 Cat Concerns? Share your experience in the comments!

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Stella and Dot Apparel

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**I was compensated for this post, which contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Style in a snap. It all comes together with Stella & Dot’s new tops.

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These new tops will also help Independent Stylists offer their shoppers the full package – making selling Stella & Dot items that much more rewarding! Stylists will earn 15% commission on all apparel sales.

Style in a Snap: Shop Stella & Dot’s entire look here!

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