35 Christmas Countdown Activity Ideas

The longer I'm a mom, the more I realize that the things that bring our children the most joy are activities that allow us to spend time together. They love doing fun things as a family and it doesn't have to be extravagant. When it comes down to it, they feel most valued when they know that Mom and Dad enjoy spending time with them. That, to me, is the greatest gift we can give our children.

One of the ways that I try to make it special for our family each December is by doing a countdown to Christmas. I try to choose extra activities that allow us to spend special time together as a family. It may be a game night, popcorn and a movie, singing at the nursing home or eating cookies while driving around looking at Christmas lights together.

How to Make Homemade Honey & Cinnamon Butter in a Stand Mixer

Recently, another homeschooling friend and I took our kids to a local farm for a field trip. While we there, we had the opportunity to watch a farm show where the children learned a lot about different animals.

Part of the show taught the children where butter comes from and how it's made. It's such a simple process that it's really quite incredible that, with some agitation, a liquid can turn into a solid! (And a yummy one, at that!)

See the Light {Art Curriculum Review}

As a homeschooling Mom of children ages 9,7, and 5, there are certain subjects that I don't feel adequate to teach. While these may not be life altering subjects, they are ones that I believe will help our children to become well-rounded individuals. And, not knowing yet what God has called each of our children to as a vocation, I want them to be as prepared as possible.

God has been so faithful to help our children learn some important skills that are above and beyond reading, writing and arithmetic and I am thankful for that. He has provided a dear lady from church to teach them how to sew, a wonderful young lady to come to our home for piano lessons, Latin through DVDs and now, Christian based DVDs to teach art.

100+ Clutter Free Gift Ideas

*Affiliate links, including those from Amazon.com, may be present in any of my posts. You can read my policy in more detail at the bottom of this post.

Are you looking for ideas for Christmas gifts that won't clutter up your house? Me, too! I have compiled a list of 100+ Gift Ideas that won't take up much space in your home. Our own personal story of downsizing is what fueled many of these gift suggestions and many of them are on our own family's Christmas lists.

100+ Clutter Free Gift Ideas

I chose to go with a Christmas Gift Idea list that would focus on gifts that are practical, educational, don't take up much space or are things that are family wouldn't normally be able to afford. Basically, things we'd put on our own Christmas lists.

When a Season of Life is Hard

photo credit

There are seasons in life that are harder than others.

We're tempted to quit, to say we're not qualified, that we don't know how ends will meet and everything within us wants to run away to an easier place.

But, most of the time, the only way to get through to the spring in our life is to put our heads down and walk through the winter.

The dark of winter in our soul can either drive us to the Shelter of the Almighty or toss us, shipwrecked onto the cold, icy shore.

Keeping Perspective When You Find Yourself Tired, Irritated and Overwhelmed

I can still remember, sitting as a second grader in Miss Brungard's classroom hearing Charlotte's Web read to me for the first time.

My eyes were fixed on my teacher as she read us one chapter a day. I remember longing for her to read "just one more!" because my heart felt so warm and carefree each time she read that beloved book to us.

Twenty eight years later, I'm a mom of 4 (and one precious love in heaven) and, once again, someone is reading Charlotte's Web to me.

Maybe Another Mom Just Needs You to Love Her

Photo Credit

  

Philippians 3:3b "We put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what Christ Jesus has done for us."

When praying about the direction to take this topic, the Lord directed me to Philippians 3.
In this passage, Paul is sharing with the church at Philippi about how he used to think that all of the things he identified himself with were what made him important. Then, when he came to know Christ, he realized that all of those things he found his identity in were about as valuable as the trash under my kitchen sink.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you that there's nothing of value in there.

The Homemaker's Daily Planner {Review}

It's been awhile since I've had a review on here, but considering we have a new year just around the corner, I wanted to let you know about this great planner I found called The Homemaker's Daily Planner.  

Sue Hooley, a mom of six children ages 5-21, designed her first planner after several years of motherhood and homemaking. With the unpredictable schedule of a homemaker in mind, Sue thoughtfully came up with a planner that isn't regimented by hourly time slots.