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Jennifer Lambert

Raising Servant Leaders

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Be’chol Lashon and Repair the World Create New Passover Seder Supplements

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Be’chol Lashon and Repair the World Create New Passover Seder Supplements to Connect Biblical Exodus Story to Modern Struggles for Freedom
Resources are part of call to Act Now through education, service, and reflection as a multiracial, multiethnic Jewish community. 

To spark conversations connecting the ancient Passover Exodus story to modern struggles for freedom, Be’chol Lashon and Repair the Word are teaming up to offer specially designed seder supplements this Passover (werepair.org/passover). The materials, part of the Passover campaign, #MemoryToAction, encourage seder participants to engage in meaningful, sometimes difficult conversations about how we talk about individual and systemic struggles for freedom in the context of the Passover story.

“Jews are more diverse than many realize,” says Diane Tobin, CEO of Be’chol Lashon, which ​advocates for the ethnic and racial ​diversity of the Jewish people. “We focus on unique expressions of Passover around the world, while coming together over the universal Jewish story of Exodus. Our goal is to spark conversations, connecting the journey from slavery to freedom to the ongoing fight for racial justice.”

The Haggadah insert, with artwork from illustrator Shane W. Evans, is framed around the seder passage Avadmin Hayinu, Hebrew for “we were slaves.” The resource asks each participant to consider what it means to begin retelling the story of Exodus with the words, “we were slaves,” and leads one to explore today’s “fight for freedom on interpersonal, systemic, global and local levels” through the lens of the seder.

Print-at-home Trivia Place Cards offer a fun, interactive way to celebrate Passover rituals and traditions from diverse Jewish communities while also amplifying the multiplicity of identities and experiences within the American Jewish community. Trivia questions include, “Why do Jews from Gibraltar sprinkle a little bit of brick dust into their charoset?” Answer: “To remind them of the bricks that the Israelite slaves were forced to make.”

People not hosting their own seders, but who still want to use these resources at the seder’s they attend, can sign up to have the resources sent directly to their seder host at weRepair.org/Passover. Others looking to connect Passover with volunteer service, to bring #MemoryToAction, can search for volunteer opportunities at weRepair.org/Volunteer.

Repair the World’s ten-month call for young people to Act Now has included:

2017 High Holidays (Act Now for a Different Kind of Service),

Thanksgiving (Act Now Against Hunger),

MLK Day (Act Now for Racial Justice);

Purim (#ShareHerStory),

and concludes with the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Repair the World has found that during special times in the calendar people are looking to root their celebration in issues that they care about. Over 223,000 people participated in the digital Purim campaign and nearly 10,000 people participated in service experiences as part of MLK Day’s Act Now for Racial Justice.

“Right now, people across the country, specifically young people, are looking for ways to engage their friends, families, and neighbors in conversations about what matters most to them,” says Laura Belinfante of Repair the World, the largest Jewish service organization in the country. “Holidays, specifically Jewish holidays, are the perfect time to open up conversations about social issues with loved ones. We are excited to see people apply learnings from our history towards action today.”

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6 Steps Toward Financial Security

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Between the staggering statistics on average household debt and the difficult economic climate, there is a lot of discussion about family finances. If you struggle with budgeting, thinking about managing your money better can seem overwhelming. However, even small steps can make a big difference, especially in the long term.

Here some simple ways to start taking control of your financial independence.

1. Analyze Your Debt

If you are spending money every month paying off debt, you know how big of an impact it can have on your overall finances. You may have a goal of paying off all your loans, but that process can take several years. Before you start making bigger payments toward your debt, you may want to figure out the most efficient way to pay it off. You could start with the credit card with the highest interest. Maybe you want to refinance to consolidate your debt. Try to find the plan that works best with your income and goals.

2. Make Savings Automatic

You may find it much easier to allocate money to your savings account if you don’t have to think about it. There are several ways to make saving automatic. You can request to have part of your paycheck deposited in a savings account or set up an automatic transfer at your bank. You can also use a savings app to move money into savings automatically.

3. Recycle and Reuse

If a lot of your budget goes toward disposable items, you may want to think about changing to reusable alternatives. Switching to cloth napkins and ditching the paper plates can save you money and reduce your environmental impact as well.

4. Lower Energy Consumption

Utility bills can be expensive, but you can make a few simple changes to lower your usage and your monthly costs. Consider switching to energy-efficient light bulbs and low-flow showerheads. You can also use a programmable thermostat to reduce the load on your home’s HVAC system when you are out of the house.

5. Use the Library

For most families, entertainment takes a large percentage of the discretionary spending. Whether your family loves books, movies, or music, you can drastically reduce your spending by taking advantage of your local library. Most libraries have large selections of CDs and DVDs along with magazines and books. You can also check to see if your library offers eBooks through an online service.

6. Take It Slow

When you decide to take control of your family finances, it can be discouraging if you don’t see big changes in your bank account right away. However, changing your financial habits can take time. Be patient with yourself and your family, and find encouragement in small changes.

Financial management can take a long time to master, especially if you are overseeing all the income and expenditures for your entire household. If you are trying to save more money or pay off debt, there are several small things you can do to start moving in the right direction without dramatically changing your entire lifestyle. Reducing your home’s energy consumption, making savings automatic, and using the library are just a few ways to reduce your expenses and grow your savings.

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Kitchen Tools for Kids

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Our kids like being helpful and useful around the house and they want real tools, not just toys.

While we love and encourage pretend play, my kids also want to use real tools to make real food. Our kids quickly got bored with play kitchens and wanted to use the real kitchen. These tools are functional, sturdy, fun, and fit smaller hands well.

I’m a big believer in letting kids help shop for and make their own food, along with helping during the more boring preparation and cleanup. It’s an easy authentic way to teach about healthy eating habits and household management.

We live in our kitchen and show our love for each other by cooking and eating together.

I don’t assign chores or use checklists or charts. See how I motivate here. We all work together cheerfully to keep the household running smoothly.

These are our favorite kids’ tools for children to help with household chores.

Kuhn Rikon Knives were a huge hit for our kids. They loved the fun design and could really cut veggies, helping in the kitchen.

They’re sharp enough to chop carrots, but don’t slice into little fingers.

Peelers are appealing to kids and these bright fun ones are perfect for little and big hands!

We also like this spiralizer for all sorts of uses!

Toaster tongs are a great safety tool to keep little (and big!) fingers from getting singed by hot toaster parts. Toasted breads are an easy item for kids to make!

Even when they were too small to use the oven, my kids loved having their own oven mitts.

They would often just help by holding a corner of that cookie sheet to bring it near the countertop.

Silpats are great for nonstick baking and can also be used on the countertop for nonslip use when rolling out dough or kneading bread.

Immersion blenders are handy (almost mess-free) tools for whipping up sauces, scrambling eggs, and blending soups.

One of the first things our kids learn to cook is scrambled eggs and we love these pans for their quality, sturdiness, and nonstickiness.

This is my absolute favorite silicone whisk for so many jobs!

Electric kettles keep boiling water in a safe container rather than an open pot on the stovetop. The kids love helping to make tea!

Cleaning supplies made for smaller hands are great and my kids loved having their very own kid-sized items to help clean up!

Reusable cloths help get any cleanup job done with pretty colors and without harsh chemicals.

I love this fun mop, broom, and dustpan.

My kids each had their own Schylling set. The bright colors are really fun and they’re the perfect size and very sturdy.

 

Pretty soon, my kids are using the same tools I do and we’re dancing around each other in a lovely choreography as we make meals together.

You can see many of these tools in action here!

See all Kids in the Kitchen posts.

You might also like my Kitchen Essentials List.

What are your favorite kids tools?

 

Linking up: Modest Mom, Inspiration for Moms, Simple Life of a Fire Wife, MaryAndering Creatively, Create with Joy, Lori Schumaker, Holley Gerth, Godsized Dreams, Squishable Baby, Blessed But Stressed, Life of Faith, Blogghetti, Timeless Mama, Barbie Swihart, Our Holiday Journey, Meghan Weyerbacher, Purposeful Faith, Teaching What is Good, LouLou Girls, April Harris, Home Stories A to Z, Jaime Wiebel, Trekking Thru, Mississippi Mom, Wise Woman, Jessi’s Design, Sincerely Paula, Quietly Reminded, Soaring with Him, Jaime Wiebel, Creative K kids, Gingersnap Crafts, Ducks in a Row, Our Three Peas, Raven Would, Bringing up Georgia, East Coast Chic, My Learning Table, Organized 31, Penny’s Passion, Breakthrough Homeschooling, Debbie Kitterman, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Brenda Bradford Dottinger, A Bountiful Love, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Classical Homemaking, Creative K Kids, Simply Sweet Home, Create with Joy, Nancy on the Home Front, The Charm of Home, Counting My Blessings, Katherine’s Corner, The Blended Blog, Country Cottage, Coffee With Us3, Easy Peasy Pleasy, Back to my Southern Roots, Chic on a Shoestring, Anna Nuttall, The Answer is Chocolate, Susan Mead, Lyli Dunbar, Life with Lorelai, Sugar Spice and Family Life, Being a Wordsmith, Happy and Blessed Home,

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50+ Best Holiday Movies

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We begin watching holiday movies around Halloween.

This list has something for everyone – kids cartoons, comedies, romance, nostalgic, endearing…and those ridiculous or action movies that just happen to take place over Christmas.

A lot of these films are in the discount bins at Walmart. Some are on Netflix or stream free or cheap on Amazon. Others, we borrow from the library. We’ve collected quite a few over the years.

You know it’s not Christmas until Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi Tower.

50+ Best Holiday Movies:

  1. Elf

    One Christmas Eve a long time ago, a baby crawled into Santa’s bag of toys Raised as an elf. Buddy goes looking for his true place in the world–in New York City.
  2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

    The comic misadventures of the beleaguered Griswold family continue in this latest “Vacation” outing, the third and most successful of the series.
  3. White Christmas

    Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye team up to enliven a winter resort inn. The Irving Berlin musical score sparkles with some great tunes, including the magical title track.
  4. A Christmas Story

    Ralphie wants only one thing: a Red Ryder Range 200-Shot BB gun. When he mentions it at the dinner table, his mother’s immediate reaction is that he’ll put his eye out. He then decides it’s the perfect theme for a report for his teacher, but her reaction is like his mother’s. He fantasizes about what it would be like to be Red Ryder and catch the bad guys. When the big day arrives he gets lots of presents under the tree including a lovely gift from his aunt that his mother just adores. But what about the BB gun?
  5. Home Alone

    Accidentally left behind when his parents rush off on their Christmas vacation, eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) embarks on a hilarious, madcap mission to defend the family home when two bumbling burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) try to break in and find themselves tangled in Kevin s bewildering battery of booby traps!
  6. The Nativity Story

    In a story of profound faith one young woman struggles with the destiny as she is chosen to give birth to the Son of God and to become the object of salvation for billions of souls.
  7. The Star of Bethlehem

    From Producer Stephen McEveety comes an amazing documentary on the Star of Bethlehem. This presentation, has rapidly grown in popularity around the world by thousands who have seen this dramatic revelation as it explores the exciting truth of scripture and reveals the evidence for God’s existence as seen in the stars above. Presenter Rick Larson walks you through Biblical and historical clues revealing the incredible significance of this celestial event as well as the vastness of God’s creativity. Features: Produced by Stephen McEveety, Dramatic presentation on the significance of Bethlehem’s Star and its connection to the life of Christ.
  8. The Star

    Bo, a brave donkey, and all his new hilarious animal friends go on the adventure of their dreams filled with lots of laughter.
  9. The Nightmare Before Christmas

    Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home cause confusion.
  10. Ernest Saves Christmas

    High-flying reindeer! Mischievous elves! Warp-speed sleigh rides! Get set for a magical dose of holiday cheer, zany season’s greetings, and spell-binding special effects in this fast-paced, heartwarming comedy hit! When Santa Claus decides to retire and pass on his magic bag of Christmas surprises to a new St. Nick, he enlists the aid of a hilarious assortment of characters, including that lovable know-it-all Ernest P. Worrell (Emmy Award-winning comedian Jim Varney)! Along the way, Santa and Ernest help a cynical teen experience the season’s spirit like never before. And that’s where the fun — and magic — begin!
  11. Gremlins

    A small town is besieged by some furry and not-so-cute little creatures after a young man ignores the warnings of a wise elder regarding their care and feeding.
  12. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

    Steve Martin and John Candy star in John Hughes’ classic tale of holiday travel gone awry. Neal Page (Martin) is an uptight advertising executive trying to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. When his flight is rerouted to Wichita, he reluctantly partners with Del Griffith (Candy), a n obnoxious yet lovable salesman. Together, they embark on a cross-country adventure that includes various m odes of transportation, hilarious mishaps, and unforgettable rental car shenanigans
  13. Mixed Nuts

    Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, the only creatures stirring were a transvestite, a homicidal Santa, a serial killer, the staff of a suicide hotline and a very crazy pregnant woman.
  14. Trading Places

    The fun begins when the rich and greedy Duke Brothers wager a bet over whether born loser Valentine could become as successful as the priggish Winthorpe if circumstances were reversed.
  15. The Family Man

    Jack Campbell (Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage) is a single, wealthy Wall Street trader living the high life in New York City. All that magically changes one winter morning when he wakes up in suburban New Jersey next to Kate (Tea Leoni), the girlfriend he left 13 years ago. He’s now got two kids, he’s traded in his Ferrari for a minivan all while trying not to lose his mind. Find out what it takes for a single-minded businessman to become The Family Man in this heartwarming holiday comedy about second thoughts and second chances.
  16. Charlie Brown Christmas

    Christmastime is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without this classic holiday delight. Christmas lights may be twinkling red and green, but Charlie Brown has the Yuletide blues. To get in the holiday spirit, he takes Lucy’s advice and directs the Christmas play. And what’s a Christmas play without a Christmas tree? But everyone makes fun of the short, spindly nevergreen Charlie Brown brings back – until the real meaning of Christmas works its magic once again
  17. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

    Every who down in Who-ville likes Christmas a lot, but the Grinch who lived just north of Who-ville did NOT! So the cuddly as a cactus Grinch (with termites in his smile and garlic in his soul) tries to wipe out Christmas for the cheerful Who-villains, only to discover: maybe Christmas, he thought doesn’t come from as store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more! Magnificently narrated by Boris Karloff and animated by cartoon legend Chuck Jones, it’s an award-winning Who-roast-beast-feast of a holiday classic!
  18. Joyeux Noël

    JOYEUX NOEL (Merry Christmas) tells the true-life story of the spontaneous Christmas Eve truce declared by Scottish, French and German troops in the trenches of World War I. Enemies leave their weapons behind for one night as they band together in brotherhood and forget about the brutalities of war.
  19. A Midnight Clear

    This WW2 psychological drama plays out at Christmas. US GIs hold an isolated cabin in the Ardennes against a handful of Germans cut off from their main force. Combat-weary and short of rations, both sides are determined to survive.
  20. The Muppet Christmas Carol

    Greetings, holiday movie fans and culture lovers, I am the Great Gonzo…or, as I am better known to fans of this classic motion picture – literary legend Charles Dickens. Ready to laugh, cry, sing, frolic, cavort and enjoy yourself beyond belief!? Well, you’re in luck, because this 20th Anniversary Edition of Disney’s THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL is guaranteed to put you in a holiday spirit that will stay with you forever – or at least until your Aunt Ruth starts complaining that nobody is eating the fruitcake she brought…again! The incredible spectacle of Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Michael Caine as Scrooge, wonderful songs by Paul Williams, and, of course, my pal Rizzo the Rat as…well, Rizzo the Rat. A heartwarming and hilarious holiday classic, told as never before! Yule love it! Happy Holidays!
  21. A Muppet Family Christmas

    You’re invited to a zany holiday celebration, as Fozzie Bear and all of his showbiz pals head for the country to spend Christmas at Fozzie’s Mom’s farmhouse! With snow falling outside and more friends dropping by carolers from Sesame Street and visitors from Fraggle Rock something magical happens! The sparkle of the stage lights up the farmhouse as the Muppets share their gifts of music, a play, and of course Fozzie’s stand-up comedy act! When Miss Piggy arrives through sleet and snow to catch Kermit under the mistletoe the cast is complete for a warm and wonderful MUPPET FAMILY CHRISTMAS.
  22. It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas

    Join Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Miss Piggy and the entire Muppet gang in It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie! ‘Tis the night before Christmas and the Muppet Theater is in danger of being torn down. When bad goes to worse, Kermit begins to believe that the world would be a better place if he had never been born. With heavenly help and hilarious send-ups of just about every holiday movie ever made, Kermit and the Muppets discover what matters most is their love for each other. Featuring a celebrity cast including David Arquette, Joan Cusack and Whoopi Goldberg plus show-stopping musical numbers like ‘Moulin Scrooge!’, this heartwarming holiday classic will bring joy to the world every Christmas season!
  23. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas

    Disney’s biggest stars shine in a magical, heartwarming movie sure to become a holiday classic! Mickey, Minnie, and their famous friends Goofy, Donald, Daisy, and Pluto gather to reminisce about love, magic, and surprises in three wonder-filled stories of Christmas past. In the fine tradition of Disney’s superb storytelling, Minnie and Mickey recall the year they both gave up what was most important to them for the sake of the other, making for one unforgettable Christmas. Goofy and Max retell when they experienced a series of hilarious but season-shaking events … until a visit from the real Santa made it a most magical holiday. Thinking back to when they wished Christmas was every day, Donald’s nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie remember their dream turning into a comical catastrophe, eventually teaching them what true holiday spirit is all about. Featuring the entire cast in a finale of merry, magical Christmas songs — all the excitement of MICKEY’S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS is ready to unwrap for holiday family fun!
  24. Rise of the Guardians

    An epic adventure of a group of heroes with extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit, Pitch, tries to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces to protect the hopes, beliefs and the imagination of children all over.
  25. Alvin and the Chipmunks

    When down-on-his luck musician Dave Seville discovers singing trio Alvin and the Chipmunks, he seizes the opportunity to put together his songwriting skills with the ‘Munks unique talents.
  26. Babes in Toyland

    A little girl from Cincinnati is suddenly catapulted into a dream world, a fantasy town called Toyland. Populated by life-size teddy bears and puppets, Toyland seems to be a happy, cheerful community. But villainous Barnaby is scheming to turn Toyland into a nightmare and when the little girl finds out she tries to stop him.
  27. The Nutcracker

    The New York City ballet performs the Tchaikovsky-Petipa fairy tale of a girl and her doll-turned-prince.
  28. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Little Drummer Boy, The Miser Brothers, Frosty the Snowman…all those classics!

    The perfect way to get the Christmas season started. 4-disc gift set includes Rankin and Bass’s most beloved Christmas specials plus the Dr. Seuss Holiday classic. DISC 1: DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! From animation legend Chuck Jones comes one of the best holiday cartoons of all time, adapting the Dr. Seuss story and starring Boris Karloff as the voice of you-know-Who. Also Includes: THE LEPRECHAUNS’ CHRISTMAS GOLD, PINOCCHIO’S CHRISTMAS, and THE STINGIEST MAN IN TOWN DISC 2: THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS DELUXE EDITION When Santa decides to retire one Christmas, Mrs. Claus takes action. Baby New Year is missing – and a certain red-nosed reindeer leads the search. And a kind-hearted burro, mocked for his ears, takes a special journey to Bethlehem. Also Includes: RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR and NESTOR THE LONG-EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY DISC 3: FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND Frosty’s The Snowman’s marriage is threatened by jealous Jack Frost. ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Clement Moore’s classic poem comes to charming new life. DISC 4: RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY The feature-length delight about what happens when a certain reindeer’s nose stops shining!
  29. Arthur Christmas

    How CAN Santa deliver billions of presents to the whole world in just one night? With an army of one million combat-style Field Elves and a vast, state-of-the-art control center under the ice of the North Pole! So how could this incredible operation have MISSED one child?! To Santa’s young son, Arthur, it threatens to end the magic of Christmas. With retired Grandsanta, a rebellious young elf, an old sleigh and some untrained reindeer, Arthur sets out in a crazy mission to deliver the last present!
  30. Saving Santa

    A lowly stable elf (Martin Freeman) must travel back in time to save Santa’s Kingdom from the evil Neville Baddington (Tim Curry).
  31. Prep & Landing

    On Christmas Eve, a high-tech team of elves from an elite unit known as “Prep & Landing” ensures homes around the world are prepared for Santa’s visit. But when two hilarious little elves face unexpected challenges and are pushed to their limits, it’ll take a great big effort to save the season. Enjoy a heartwarming holiday classic sure to make everyone’s Christmas list! BONUS: The outrageous yuletide adventures of Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne continue in this totally tinsel adventure that reminds us there’s room for everyone on the “nice” list. Santa’s stealthiest little elves must race to recover classified North Pole technology, which has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking naughty kid, in order to stop Christmas from descending into chaos. Bring the family together for a comical adventure that puts the Ho, Ho, Ho in your holidays!
  32. The Santa Clause

    A bizarre twist of fate transforms a divorced dad into the new Santa.
  33. The Polar Express

    The Polar Express is the story of a young boy who on Christmas Eve boards a powerful magical train headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus’s home. What unfolds is a journey of self-discovery, which shows the boy that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
  34. Jack Frost

    Michael Keaton stars in this fantasy adventure about a man who becomes a real father to his son after returning to life. A year after his father’s death on Christmas Day, a young boy builds a snowman and dresses it with his father’s hat, scarf and gloves. That night, the boy’s wish comes true: His father returns to life–as the snowman.
  35. Jingle All the Way

    Arnold Schwarzenegger returns in a new holiday comedy as a father determined to buy his son that “must have” Christmas toy during a frantic shopping spree on Christmas Eve.
  36. Prancer

    A wounded reindeer and a precocious eight-year-old girl form an everlasting bond in this tender holiday drama about true devotion and friendship.
  37. Scrooged or any version of The Christmas Carol

    A cynically selfish TV executive gets haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.
  38. Home for the Holidays

    Claudia Larson is heading home for yet another chaotic and exasperating family Thanksgiving. But a new visitor offers some interesting possibilities. If they can duck the flying turkeys, this romance may just have a chance.
  39. Four Christmases

    One happy couple; four dysfunctional, divorced parents who all insist on celebrating with their kids; a single, well-planned, happy day quickly spins out of control in to the madcap whirlwind of Four Christmases.
  40. Christmas with the Kranks

    When their only daughter Blair leaves the family nest, Luther and Nora Krank decide to book an island cruise to beat the yuletide blues and just skip the holidays. But their decision to boycott tradition has the whole neighborhood in an uproar, and when Blair calls on Christmas Eve to announce a surprise visit with her new fiancé, the Kranks have just twelve hours to perform a miracle and pull themselves and their neighbors together to throw the best celebration ever!
  41. Love Actually

    Funny, charming and heartwarming, this delightful romantic comedy follows eight couples whose lives intersect shortly before Christmas.
  42. Bad Santa

    The baddest Santa ever comes to town with the hilarious Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, and John Ritter! Ill-mannered store Santa Willie Stokes is really a safecracker with a holiday tradition of making one big score every Christmas Eve with his clever Elf-partner-in- crime Marcus. But this year’s heist-fest could be completely foiled by a snoopy store manager, savvy mall detective, sexy Santa fan, and an innocent 8 year old misfit who thinks the intoxicated and felonious Willie is the real Santa he seeks.
  43. The Ref

    Denis Leary plays an unfortunate cat burglar, who is abandonded by his partner in the middle of a heist and is forced to take an irritating Connecticut couple (Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis) hostage. He soon finds that he got more than he bargained for when the couple’s blackmailing son and despicable in-laws step into the picture. Before long they’re driving him nuts with their petty bickering and family problems. The only way for him to survive is to be their referee and resolve their differences before he can be nabbed by the police.
  44. The Royal Tenenbaums

    Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and his wife, Etheline (Anjelica Huston), had three children — Chas, Margot, and Richie — and then they separated. Chas (Ben Stiller) started buying real estate in his early teens and seemed to have an almost preternatural understanding of international finance. Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) was a playwright and received a Braverman Grant of $50,000 in the ninth grade. Richie (Luke Wilson) was a junior champion tennis player and won the U.S. Nationals three years in a row. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster.
  45. The Holiday

    In Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday, a romantic comedy from the director of Something’s Gotta Give and What Women Want, two women trade homes only to find that a change of address can change their lives. Iris is in love with a man who is about to marry another woman. Across the globe, Amanda, realizes the man she lives with has been unfaithful. Two women who have never met and live 6000 miles apart, find themselves in the exact same place. They meet online at a home exchange website and impulsively switch homes for the holiday. Iris moves into Amanda’s L.A. house in sunny California as Amanda arrives in the snow covered English countryside. Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing either wants or expects: a new romance. Amanda is charmed by Iris’ handsome brother Graham and Iris, with inspiration provided by legendary screenwriter Arthur, mends her heart when she meets film composer Miles.
  46. While You Were Sleeping

    The hit romantic comedy that woke everyone up to adorable Sandra Bullock. As Lucy, a lonely subway worker, she becomes smitten with a handsome stranger. But when she saves his life after he’s been mugged and fallen into a coma, his hilariously offbeat family mistakes her for his fiancee! Soon, the mix-ups escalate as Lucy fabricates a life between herself and a man she’s never met! And when Lucy falls for his charming brother the situation really gets uproarious as she’s forced to make a choice between the two!
  47. Serendipity

    Irresistible stars John Cusack and Kate Bekinsale are drawn together and take a chance on love in the critically acclaimed romantic comedy! In the course of one magical evening, Jonathan and Sara meet unexpectedly…then part without expectation when she decides they must let fate determine if they are meant to be together. Years later, they are both engaged to others but cannot give up the dream that- despite time, distance and the obstacles that conspire to keep them apart, they will one day meet again! Also starring Jeremy Piven and Molly Shannon, in a stellar supporting cast- you’re destined to agree with audiences everywhere who fell for the surprising charms of this delightful big screen romance!
  48. The Family Stone

    The Stones, a New England family, have their annual holiday gathering. The eldest son brings his girlfriend home to meet his parents, brothers and sisters. The bohemian Stones greet their visitor – a high-powered, controlling New Yorker – with a mix of awkwardness, confusion and hostility. Before the holiday is over, relationships will unravel while new ones are formed, secrets will be revealed, and the family Stone will come together through its extraordinary capacity for love.
  49. About a Boy

    Based on Nick Hornby’s best-selling novel, About A Boy is the story of a cynical, immature young man who is taught how to act like a grown-up by a little boy.
  50. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

    Based on the wildly popular J.K. Rowling’s book about a young boy who on his eleventh birthday discovers, he is the orphaned boy of two powerful wizards and has unique magical powers.
  51. Little Women

    With her husband off at war, Marmee is left alone to raise their four daughters, her Little Women. There is the spirited Jo; conservative Meg; fragile Beth; and romantic Amy. As the years pass, the sisters share some of the most cherished and painful memories of self-discovery, as Marmee and Aunt March guide them through issues of independence, romance, and virtue.
  52. Grumpy Old Men

    Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau reunite in this romantic comedy that examines the decades-old love-hate relationship between two neighbors.
  53. Better Off Dead

    After his girlfriend ditches him for a boorish ski jock, Lane decides that suicide is the only answer. However, his increasingly inept attempts bring him only more agony and embarrassment. Filled with the wildest teen nightmares, a family you can’t help but identify with and a host of wonderful comic characters.
  54. Edward Scissorhands

    An uncommonly gentle young man, who happens to have scissors for hands, falls in love with a beautiful teenage girl.
  55. Batman Returns

    Batman Caped Crusader is pitted against demented, ravenous Penguin, pitiful, orphaned, psychopathic freak and ‘power’ hungry capitalist villain, Max Shreck.
  56. Die Hard

    Bruce Willis stars as New York City Detective John McClane, newly arrived in Los Angeles to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged wife. But as Mclane waits for his wife’s office party to break up, terrorist take control of the building. While the terrorist leader, Hans Gruber round up hostages, McClane slips away unnoticed. Armed with only a service revolver and his cunning, McClane launches his own one-man war.
  57. Lethal Weapon

    Two tough cops: one carries a lethal weapon, the other is one. Teamed as unlikely partners in a highly unusual case.
  58. Four Rooms

    Don’t miss the fun in this hilariously sexy comedy that has Antonio Banderas, Madonna, and a sizzling all-star cast checking in for laughs! It’s Ted the Bellhop’s first night on the job…and the hotel’s very unusual guests are about to place him in some outrageous predicaments.

I remember watching these movies every year with my parents and I love sharing them with my family.

What’s your favorite holiday film?

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Annual Review

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I think most holiday newsletters are impersonal, braggy, and rather insulting.

I don’t hear from people all year long (in this day of social media no less!), and then I get a (grammatically incorrect, mind you!) computer-printed, two-page holiday stationary outlining every accomplishment of every member in their family, including pets…like they’re saying, “Hey! See how we’re better than you?!”

I’m seldom on my personal private Facebook account (I only have 30 friends and family on there!). I post more often to my public Facebook Page. I post images very frequently to Instagram. I’m more political on Twitter. Since most of our friends and family are very stationary, having lived in their same house for like 20+ years, I feel like they should reach out to me to chat whenever they want to – online. It’s where I live after all. My mailing address changes every 2-4 years, but my email address and social media and blog stay the same. I realize the concept too well of “out of sight, out of mind.”

So, here’s my annual review for anyone who may want a summary.

Another year is coming to a close. We get to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and the lessons we learned along the way. But, perhaps, what’s more exciting, is that we get to dream of our goals for the future.

Winter 2017 was pretty uneventful. I don’t even have computer file folders for January and February. I took no pictures!

Spring 2017 was busy.

We had orders to Wright Patterson AFB and we were counting down to PCS.

We sold Aaron’s Audi in February because it couldn’t pass the German auto inspection without about $5000 worth of repairs and that just wasn’t feasible for us since we only needed it until the PCS. So that put us down to one vehicle – our new minivan – and our village was about 40 minutes from where Aaron worked. About once or twice a week, I got up early and went to the gym with Aaron and dropped him off at work and then picked him up.

We chose to have our household goods packed up and shipped as early as possible so they were available at our new location ASAP. We got temporary furniture in our house.

We  stopped going to church, using our time to take days trips and explore (like Wissembourg and Cologne and some of the awesome wildparks!) before we moved. We couldn’t justify enrolling the kids in sports or other extra-curriculars since we were in PCS survival mode and down to one vehicle.

I got a new tattoo to cover up my faded yin yang on my right ankle.

We took our last European trip in May to Bruges and Flanders.

We reluctantly moved from Germany to Ohio in June/July. We know we have many blessings living in unique places and we get to homeschool wherever the military sends us!

What most people don’t realize is that it’s really expensive (and stressful) to move every few years. While we get a “displacement allowance,” that doesn’t cover everything that moving entails. We often live out of suitcases for several weeks, even a couple months.

We took Patriot Express from Ramstein AFB to Baltimore, that was delayed 6+ hours, so we just sat in a huge waiting room with a lot of troops coming home from deployment. We arrived in Baltimore about 2 AM local time, instead of 7 PM.

I will say that the staff on Patriot Express are so kind and the meals are superior. We then took a commercial flight to Atlanta from Baltimore late the next morning. Then we began recovering from jet lag.

We shipped our two cats ahead to Atlanta in April, to ensure airplane temperatures for them were comfortable, and it was about $1500 to get their vet records in order and plane tickets and then there are import fees. My parents kept the furbabies and I had their food delivered. Those cats are pampered!

We also had to pay almost $1000 + gas for a rental van to drive from Georgia to Ohio. We pay most expenses upfront, out of pocket for food and lodging during travel to a new location – and usually get reimbursed.

We lived on base for a week or so and there is not even a library on Wright Patterson AFB! We were excited by how much organic and natural food the commissary had. We were horrified by the selection and prices of the Class VI.

We found a perfect rental house online right before we left Germany. We moved in July 5 because that’s as early as the movers could unload our stuff. A bookshelf got absolutely destroyed during shipment and our sofas were in even worse shape from the tape and wrappings. My lovely mahogany silverware case was warped and cracked from storage for 3 years. It took 6 months for us to receive our claim on the damaged items. But it could have been worse. Nothing was lost. Nothing valuable was damaged.

We didn’t get our minivan from Germany until mid-July. We had to drive to St. Louis to pick that up. It was inconvenient and took two days.

Elizabeth mostly graduated from our homeschool and began college as a dual-enrolled student. Ohio will actually fund students if you get your request in by April, but we didn’t have an Ohio address, so we had to pay this year. The grandparents actually came through for once and paid for two semesters, totaling 5 courses. She is considering a history major with a minor in business and she also desires to certify in aesthetics (beauty and skin care). She just got her first part-time job at Kroger. She has a 529 plan and 1/4 of Aaron’s GI Bill, but most likely, her Kroger money will have to pay for some of her senior year. We hope to stay in Ohio for her to complete her education.

We enjoy the Metroparks and local parks for playing and hiking and fishing. We love all the rivers, creeks, and ponds!

We got memberships to Brukner and Boonshoft and attend their monthly homeschool classes. The kids have made some friends in the neighborhood and it’s so nice that they ride bikes, scooters, roller blades, and play together.

We found a welcoming, growing church right around the corner.

The girls are very involved in youth group and Tori and Katie are acolytes.

Our humanities studies this year span approximately 1700-1900 and finally include America, so that’s exciting that we can see some of the places we’re learning about, just like we planned learning trips in Europe. We’ve been really focusing on science this year and it’s been so much fun doing experiments and learning together. Tori and Katie completed their level 6A math books yesterday. They’re continuing their studies in Greek, Latin, and French this year. Alex begins Latin next month!

Tori and Aaron have convergence insufficiency and begin vision therapy in January. It’s SO expensive and TRICARE doesn’t pay for it.

Alex played baseball for two years in Germany and just played fall baseball here in Ohio and really loves it. He’s already enrolled for spring season. He likes playing catcher, short stop, and first base.

Liz is realizing how broken people are. Who knew people were so angry about grocery shopping? We have amazing conversations about relationships and integrity.

Tori is becoming quite the artist. Katie’s sense of humor is disarming. Alex is very active and talkative, asking questions about everything.

They all constantly surprise me.

I found a lovely hair stylist and got my hair done for the first time in forever!

We’re excited that we can rebuild our essential oils and natural living home business. We couldn’t do a home business in Germany due to taxes. The blog business is coming along nicely. I mostly break even, with a little extra to pay for Netflix and Spotify services. I got a post republished on For Every Mom and some on Military Bridge. That’s pretty exciting!

Aaron is a Lt. Colonel select and will most likely pin on in March!

It’s certainly been an adjustment for us to be back in the States.

The kids had lots more freedom in Europe and were treated more respectfully than here. Europeans trust kids more and are typically delighted by them instead of seeing them as a burden or bad.

Airfare was super cheap in Europe, and we miss the ease of traveling. We miss the food for sure. The holidays seem uneventful after the Christmas we spent in Rome and Maui.

Water is very expensive here. Our utility bills are so high! And in a wry turn of events, BAH actually goes down in 2018, so we will still not break even on our rent. Our goal is to be debt-free, and we currently only have our minivan payment and one low-interest loan. We don’t use credit cards! It’s important to teach our kids financial freedom.

We don’t send out cards anymore since they seem a waste these days. We’re minimizing and simplifying.

We made some cookies to give to neighbors, but we ate them…so now we have to make more!

We’ve had a busy year.

We don’t measure ourselves by grades, trophies, or awards.

We measure our growth in how much kindness we can give to others.

 

Linking up: Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

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How to Apologize

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It seems that lots of people say sorry, but they really mean “sorry, not sorry.” It’s like a bad joke, but so many people don’t know how to properly apologize. Or they don’t want to or care to make amends in their relationships. That’s just selfish.They blame others. They don’t accept responsibility for doing anything wrong. They actually blame their victims. There’s a lack of empathy.

Victims can’t accept a flippant “sorry” when they need a heartfelt apology.

And the accusers wonder why everyone is so angry.

We seem to live in a society of anger and unforgiveness. There’s little empathy.

Nobody is perfect. We make mistakes. We act stupid. We say dumb things in mean ways.

We need healthy relationships to be happy and that means we apologize when we do wrong and make amends.

Too many of us never learned how to apologize.

We would screw up and our parents or teachers or whatever authority would threaten us and make us say, “Sorry.” It didn’t matter if we meant it. As long as we said it, there were few or no consequences.

So we never learned how to apologize. We never learned the difference between sorry and a real apology. We didn’t learn well enough the concepts of empathy or right from wrong. We might not have learned self-control. We might not have learned cause and effect.

We struggle or fail in our relationships now.

But there are consequences. Eventually, the heart hardens and realizes sorry isn’t good enough.

Broken promises, lying, cheating, the cycles of abuse…

Our society has become numb to sorry.

What is sorry?

Feeling distress, compassion, regret, penitence, guilt, sympathy, pity.

“I’m sorry” is only appropriate when no one is really at fault and there aren’t any reparations.

We say it when we accidentally brush up against someone in a crowded store. We say it when we arrive a few minutes late. “Sorry, please excuse me.”

We also say it to express empathy when something bad has happened and there are no other words that make sense: “I’m sorry for your loss.”

We say it when we didn’t hear or understand: “Sorry, could you repeat that?”

What is an apology?

It’s a regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure.

It’s more than just saying “I’m sorry.”

It’s more than regret over getting caught doing something wrong.

It’s realizing there was an offense.

It’s recognizing guilt, repenting, and expressing grief over the affront to another.

How to apologize:

A real apology shows remorse, accepts responsibility, expresses empathy, asks forgiveness, and makes reparation.

Accidents happen. We speak harshly. We hurt those we love most. We forget important events. We are too often thoughtless.

Apologizing sincerely and completely helps to show how important relationships are to us and helps us to heal our hurts and prevent new harm.

Remorse

This is regret over a wrongdoing. It’s the first step in an apology. It’s more than just a quick “I’m sorry” and wanting to hurriedly move on.

Too many never get to the other stages of apology, remaining stuck here and getting angry at the victim for being upset for desiring more closure.

Responsibility

The apologizer must accept responsibility for a wrong committed. A victim must hear and understand the sincerity of the person expressing fault. It’s never comfortable, but it is very necessary.

Empathy

This is expressing understanding of another’s feelings. To realize that the victim is hurt by one’s actions or words is an important step in a real apology. Many scoff at apologies, using sarcasm or gaslighting techniques to minimize feelings and reactions. This is harmful and shatters relationships.

Forgiveness

It’s important to forgive to complete the closure process when one is hurt. This is seldom an instant feeling or action. A victim must feel safe and realize the sincerity of the apologizer not to repeat the words or actions. Sometimes, praying together helps healing.

Reparation

Sometimes, there is nothing that can make it right. Words can’t be taken back. Actions remain a vivid memory. True repentance is important. It’s more than flowers and chocolates to get out of the doghouse. It takes lots of work – daily, hourly, every minute – showing love and desire to heal relationships.

A genuine apology should say: “I realize and regret that I did or said {this} wrong. I validate your feelings about it. I won’t do it again. Please forgive me. How can I make it right?”

Linking up: Blessed But Stressed, Mrs. AOK, Life of Faith, Holley Gerth, Barbie Swihart, Modest Mom, Our Holiday Journey, Blogghetti, Marilyn’s Treats, Fresh Start, Inspiration for Moms, Simple Life of a Fire Wife, MaryAndering Creatively, Create with Joy, Timeless Mama, Purposeful Faith, Home Stories A to Z, Lou Lou Girls, April Harris, Trekking Thru, Jaime Wiebel, Meghan Weyerbacher, My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies, Mumma Scribbles, Jessi’s Design, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Our Three Peas, Raven Would, Breakthrough Homeschooling, Gingersnap Crafts, Ducks N a Row, My Learning Table, Organized 31, Penny’s Passion, Katherine’s Corner, Mississippi Mom, Becoming Press, Blessed Transgressions, Imparting Grace, Quietly Reminded, Debbie Kitterman, Mommynificent, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Creative K Kids, Brenda Bradford Dottinger, Missional Women, Home Crafts by Ali, The Blended Blog, Lyli Dunbar, Nancy on the Home Front, The Charm of Home, Susan Mead, Crystal Waddell, Counting My Blessings, Arabah Joy, Create with Joy, Happy and Blessed Home, The Answer is Chocolate, Coffee with Us3, Easy Peasy Pleasy, Overwhelmed to Fulfilled, Momfessionals, Our Mini Family,

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5 Ways to Cultivate Relationships

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I have decided not to give our kids presents anymore.

My husband and I have long not given presents to each other to save money and to reduce clutter and stress. I want to reduce the quantity of presents on birthdays and Christmas.

For years, I said we would downsize Christmas and birthday present piles. Yet, I would weaken and buy stuff anyway. Having four kids is expensive, and it’s hard to be fair and equal with different ages and interests. And I had issues with stuff. I felt less than and so bought more to combat those feelings.

I loathe the expectations and inevitable disappointment.

We moved to Germany. We purged and sold loads of stuff before moving. I have no desire to re-clutter. We had little storage.

We purged again when we moved to Ohio.

I feel that having too much stuff is the root of discontent.

And I’m really tired of arguing about the cleaning up and the putting away.

So, again a great purge.

I’m being very intentional and proactive about what I purchase for our homeschool and for the kids to play with. Mostly, if we get something new, something old has to go.

I don’t really want underneath the Christmas tree to be empty or the birthday child to wake up with nothing to unwrap. I just want those special days to be about more than stuff.

Because holidays should not be about stuff. Birthdays should celebrate the child. Thanksgiving should celebrate gratitude. Christmas should celebrate Jesus.

Celebrations should center on relationships.

(And food.)

I want to make memories with my kids and teach them the value of family. I have lovely recollections of family gatherings, and since my kids live far from any extended family, I want to cultivate a loving home atmosphere with our little circle of six.

As with any worldly thing taken away, it should be replaced with a meaningful option.

Our goal is to be debt-free and Christmas is no exception.

When we lived in Germany, we traveled every Thanksgiving (Prague and Porto and Venice!) and Christmas (Rome!) and during birthday weeks. It was convenient and usually not very crowded, so we took advantage of these opportunities. It became a new tradition.

Now, we’re back in the States, in Ohio. And we have to reinvent our priorities again.

5 ways we cultivate relationships over stuff:

  1. Cooking and eating special meals together as a family, passing down fun recipes.

  2. Focusing on serving others instead of ourselves by donating our time and money

  3. Attending religious services to worship, sing, celebrate, and fellowship

  4. Creating new traditions for our family to promote togetherness, such as board game nights and movie nights, as well as nightly read alouds all year round

  5. Making gratitude a lifestyle and teaching our kids how to be thankful for everything that comes from the Lord and content in all things.

Yes, this is difficult and I’m a work in progress! We try to overcome the obstacles to being frugal or debt-free during holidays.

We read and worship through Advent. We learn about and celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas. We don’t do Santa Claus. See how we celebrate a Christian Hanukkah!

I participate or lead a Blue Christmas service.

We read lots of Christmas and holiday books.

For us, books and apps and travel are great presents. We can never have too many books! The kids love educational apps on their iPads, and as they grow in knowledge and understanding, they need more mature learning games to replace the old games they’ve outgrown. I only buy clothes as needed or when I find a great deal and know it will be needed soon. We don’t have too much storage for handmedowns. I’ve never seen kids so excited about socks in my life, y’all. I’d rather make travel memories with my kids than buy stuff that gets stuffed in a dresser or collects dust on a shelf. We’re trying to be minimalist and I hate dusting.

Presents are not the focus of our celebrations.

How do you focus on relationships instead of gifts during the holidays?

Linking up: Our Holiday Journey, Barbie Swihart, Spiritual Sundays. Curly Crafty Mom, Blogghetti, Our Mini Family, Marilyns Treats, Mrs. AOK, A Fresh Start, Inspiration for Moms, Lori Schumaker, Life of Faith, Holley Gerth, Create with Joy, Blessed But Stressed, Godsized Dreams, Rich Faith Rising, Timeless Mama, Modest Mom, Purposeful Faith, My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies, Simple Life of a Fire Wife, Meghan Weyerbacher, Jaime Wiebel, Maryandering Creatively, April Harris, LouLou Girls, Trekking Thru, Live Randomly Simple, Mumma Scribbles, Jessi’s Design, Wise Woman, Sincerely Paula, Penny’s Passion, Our Three Peas, Blessed Transgressions, Married by His Grace, Breakthrough Homeschooling, Becoming Press, Creative K Kids, Home Crafts by Ali, The Answer is Chocolate, Happy and Blessed Home, Overwhelmed to Fulfilled, Coffee with Us3, My Learning Table, Momfessionals, Create with Joy Friday, Nancy on the Homefront, Susan Mead Wednesday, Susan Mead, Crystal Waddell, Counting My Blessings, Arabah Joy,

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Becoming a Gentler Mom

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I’m becoming a gentler mom.

I was spanked as a kid. I grew up in an authoritarian home.

I feared everything.

When I became a parent, I surely went overboard with strictness, trying to counter the Disneyland father visitation syndrome with my preschool daughter.

I briefly attended a church that lived by the principles in the Pearl child-training book. That was disastrous.

When my eldest child just turned fourteen, I realized I was losing her. Despite everything. Too little relationship, too late. Too much coercion into compliance and obedience when she was younger was leaving her confused and broken when she was gaining independence and making bigger decisions.

Children who are coerced into obedience develop a victim mentality.

Coerced kids often become rebellious teens. I’ve seen it with some of our aquaintance’s families.

I’m raising servant leaders and I won’t succeed with opposition-based leadership methods. I was losing the battle.

I need to become a gentler mom.


I witnessed power struggles between my husband and daughter. I see power struggles between my four kids. I power-struggle with my kids occasionally.

Are discipline and obedience the same thing?

Many Christian and secular parenting articles and books and leaders would say yes.

Obedience is all about gaining control.

Discipline is all about cultivating a relationship.

Discipline and Disciple are from the Latin discipulus, meaning “student.”

As a homeschool mom, I certainly don’t expect my children to know everything. That’s the whole point of homeschooling them. Why do I expect their behavior to be perfect? Why do I expect them to know how to act in social situations, or to have self-control when they’re tired or hungry?

These are issues that even many adults can’t handle, much less children.

I must end my own selfishness and unrealistic expectations to disciple them, guide them, lead them.

I know many parents who are exhausted from the power struggles of getting their kids to clean up their stuff. They threaten, shame, punish, yell, spank, and follow through with the threats by getting rid of the stuff, as if that’s the culprit.

I’m not perfect. I used to be like that, but I’m changing as I realize these methods don’t work.

And the greatest manipulations of all?

Timeout.

Using the Bible as a weapon.

Forcing kids to clean the plate.

Making decisions for them that they can and should make themselves.

What lesson do we teach our kids?

Timeout sends the message that our love is conditional since isolation breeds fear and dissension.

Throwing the Bible around as a lesson to kids doesn’t make them understand or want to know Jesus. They learn to see Him as an extension of abusive authority.

Food issues become about control instead of loving hospitality and fellowship.

Kids who never make their own decisions grow up into adults who don’t know how to make wise decisions. They fall into addiction or promiscuity. They become victims.

Really, as parents, we need to separate our emotions and our past issues from our parenting.

I fear all these parents who don’t respect their children as people and command and demand and have little relationship with their kids. All in the name of Jesus.

And they wonder why they lose them to the world.

We parent from fear.

Fear that we’ll be like our parents or the kids will make the same mistakes we did, fear that our kids will harm themselves or others, fear that we’ll look bad.

It’s time to trust in God to put down fear and to parent from the heart.

That may make us unpopular. We may look bad on the outside. We’ll learn who our real friends are. And we’ll gain our children in the process.

What can we do?

Pray. Jesus is the gentlest parent.

Apologize. Tell children we haven’t loved well and we’re going to do better.

Deal with our past. Know our triggers and problems. Forgive ourselves. Relinquish control.

Parent with respect. Realize that children are thinking people who can make decisions for themselves, with our guidance instead of coercion and control.

What does this look like in our home?

Simplicity.

We threw out all the printables. Kids can learn on their own. It’s amazing to stand back and watch them explore their interests. I’m a guide, helping them in their research and finding materials for them. See how we learn.

Frugal.

It’s our goal to be debt-free. We constantly minimize to maintain our goals. It’s important to encourage our kids to see value in experiences instead of stuff. We don’t like clutter in our lives or hearts. See our frugal journey.

Discipleship.

Obedience is not wisdom. We focus on discipling and it’s a constant process, reevaluating and learning ourselves. We focus on relationships, self-control, and kindness.

Proactive.

I have to plan and be proactive for our family to stay healthy and happy. We don’t punish or reward or praise. Behavior issues are not to be punished, but are cries for connection. My favorite parenting book list.

We’re not perfect. It’s been a struggle sometimes. No one has all the answers. We certainly know what doesn’t work.


Linking up: Life of Faith, Blogghetti, Mrs AOK, Curly Crafty Mom, Modest Mom, Our Holiday Journey, Barbie Swihart, Marilyn’s Treats, Donna Reidland, Blessed But Stressed, Godsized Dreams, Fresh Start, Inspiration for Moms, Simple Life of a Fire Wife, MaryAndering Creatively, Create with Joy, Lori Schumaker, Holley Gerth, Southern Beauty Guide, Trekking Thru, Home Stories A to Z, Teaching What is Good, April Harris, Mumma Scribbles, LouLou Girls, Aprons & Pearls, Jessi’s Design, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Our Three Peas, Raven Would, Five Kids a Dog and a Blog, Soaring with Him, Breakthrough Homeschooling, Becoming Press, Messy Marriage, Ducks N a Row, Classical Homemaking, Sincerely Paula, Organized 31, Brenda Bradford Dottinger, Saving 4Six, My Learning Table, Penny’s Passion, Flourishing Today, Debbie Kitterman, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Creative K Kids, The Charm of Home, Missional Women, Nancy on the Homefront, Lyli Dunbar, Counting my Blessings, Coffee with Us3, Easy Peasy Pleasy, The Answer is Chocolate, Life with Lorelai, Create with Joy, Momfessionals, The Blended Blog, Susan Mead, Arabah Joy, Crystal Waddell, Katherine’s Corner, Happy and Blessed Home, Becoming a Wordsmith,

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Learning to Let Go

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With a new year comes evaluation, changes, praise, regret, resolution.

Perhaps these are amplified for the homeschool mom. I sure feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders constantly.

And even moreso for the homeschool mom of a teenager.

Teens have a way of putting you in your place, don’t they?

We’ve spent the last few months tapering back, evaluating priorities, setting goals, discussing plans for success. It’s time to simplify.

My daughter was fired from her piano lessons. Her teacher called me and gave me no notice that lessons would not continue. Nice. Apparently, theory hadn’t been completed in a month and practicing had been scarce to none. She needed to cut her client list and my daughter was at the top of that list. Ouch.

Way to feel inferior as a mom.

I should’ve been checking and encouraging, nagging about practicing and the homework, right?

But it’s not my piano lesson. It’s her responsibility.

While reviewing curriculum for the blog is a blessing for our family, it also causes upheaval for a time to see if this or that is a good fit or is fun or works better than that other one. Often, changing midstride is necessary if something doesn’t work. Sometimes it’s hard to make the call. Is it too difficult? Is the child just being stubborn? Does it not fit our learning or teaching style? I’ve struggled over the years with making changes and wasting time and money on curriculum that doesn’t work for us. But it’s also great to have the freedom to choose what works best for us. We seldom do reviews now and we’ve settled into a good routine.

Homeschooling and having my four children home with me all the time gives me a better glimpse into their needs, desires, personalities, preferences. I have a better idea of how to guide them since I’m with them all the time and see the dynamics of their interactions.

It’s my job to be proactive and recognize when their needs change and how I should adapt.

As children grow up, relationships and responsibilites change.

I’m still set on mothering toddlers, young children, tweens…and suddenly, I’m stuck with this woman-girl and I’m at a loss as to what to do with her.

Me, who had no qualms as a high school English teacher, standing toe to toe with burly high school football players and telling them what for.

This girl with her flashing eyes undoes me.

I expect more from a 17-year-old than an 11-year-old than a 3-year-old. Yes, it sucks to not be able to play all the time. Being a responsible citizen is sometimes tiresome and I would rather lie around and read novels than do dishes, laundry, or pay bills. It’s my job to be positive and proactive and teach my teen daughter these things are better done quickly and cheerfully. Work before play. I must lead by example.

My attitude matters.

There were a couple difficult years in the teens when I doubted everything.

I’ve learned that my eldest daughter gets rather run down without one on one time with me. She needs to be away from her younger siblings to recharge once in a while. I need to be intentional about making this happen more. She’s very social but gets easily overwhelmed. My middle girl needs lots of exercise and outside time to blow off steam and she gets very tired in the evenings, so we try to get book work finished early. My youngest girl is a free spirit and it’s heartwarming to watch her explore and create. My son is so compassionate and thoughtful of others and I pray that is never compromised by this cruel world.

It will be proactive to help our household be more stable too in any way I can. Despite moving every few years.

I’ve watched them blossom and grow and become so independent, but they still ask what I think, what should she do.

My eldest just began college and got a part-time job!

It’s a delicate balance, this granting little freedoms with open hands. While wanting to clench the fingers into tight fists. All the while, praying.

My eldest has an iron will. I know it will serve her well in the future.

The Holy Spirit can mold them to His will and they will do great and wonderful things for the Kingdom.


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Kitchen Pantry Makeover

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I’m not typically crafty or DIY.

But this pantry needed a makeover.

I feel like our lives have a makeover every few years.

We move around a lot as a military family.

It’s kind of nice to start fresh.

You don’t even really want to see the “before picture” of this pantry.

And that’s good, because I don’t even have one!

It was once white, I’m sure, but the wooden shelves were scuffed and the walls were stained. And it smelled bad.

The owner updated all the floors, cabinets, walls, and trim, but left the closets as-is.

I didn’t want to look at those scuffed shelves.

It was a simple project to update this pantry and make it pretty.

We painted the inside walls and shelves white.

I wrapped sticky paper around the shelves for extra protection.

I already had all the jars, canisters, and baskets for my grains and sugars and nuts.

I have several kinds of flour on the bottom shelf. Brown sugar and white sugar and snacks are on the next shelf. Breakfast cereals, granola, and nuts are on the third shelf. Popcorn, seeds, and nuts are in the plastic baskets and my plain rice jar. Cornmeal and an empty canister are on the top shelf.

I love my new nifty jasmine rice storage container!

We also have a butler’s pantry across from our laundry room for all our kitchen appliances that we don’t use every day.

There’s a large pantry inside the laundry room with those terrible wire shelves where I store canned goods and other food items that moisture won’t bother.

We’re still in the process of stocking our pantry with staples after moving to Ohio from Germany. It’s nice to start fresh.

This kitchen is pretty amazing.

I have an amazing beverage station with little drawers for coffee and tea!

Here’s where I store my spices.

I love this Lazy Susan cabinet for my sauces!

We always pray before and during our PCSes. We pray for smooth travels. We pray for certain, specific things in a new rental house. We pray for kind neighbors. We pray for a healthy and welcoming church. We pray for friends for our children.

In the beginning of our journey, our prayers were vague. We know exactly what we want and need and how to pray for those things now.

God answers prayer!

This is the nicest house we’ve ever lived in!



Linking up: Blogghetti, Life of Faith, Modest Mom, Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth, Barbie Swihart, Our Holiday Journey, Lori Schumaker, Curly Crafty Mom, Fresh Start, Holley Gerth, Marilyns Treats, My Pinventures, Lisa’s Creative Designs, Create with Joy Monday, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, JEmbellish, Blessed But Stressed, GodSized Dreams, Donna Reidland, Mrs. AOK, Purposeful Faith, Sarah Frazer, Mummascribbles, Jaime Wiebel, Home Stories A to Z, Simple Life of a Fire Wife, Live Randomly Simple, Teaching What is Good, LouLou Girls, April J Harris, Flamingo Toes, My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies, Domestically Speaking, Jessi’s Design, Sincerely Paula, Wise Woman, Raven Would, Southern Beauty Guide, My Learning Table, Raggedy Bits, Gingersnap Crafts, Savvy Southern Style, Penny’s Passion, Marilyn’s Treats Wednesday, Happily Ever After, Debbie Kitterman, Suzanne Eller, Becoming Press, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Flourishing Today, Brenda Bradford Dottinger, Organized 31, Pat and Candy, Joyful Homemaking, Feathering My Empty Nest, Our Three Peas, Soaring with Him, Jaime Wiebel, Messy Marriage, Creative K Kids, A Bountiful Love, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Katherine’s Corner, Happy and Blessed Home, Coffee with Us3, Missional Women, Simply Sweet Home, Easy Peasy Pleasy, Answer is Chocolate, Imparting Grace, Arabah Joy, Counting my Blessings, Artsy Fartsy Mama, Crystal Waddell, Life with Lorelai, Momfessionals, The Blended Blog, Lyli Dunbar, Our Mini Family, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Mother2Mother,

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