Finding Joy in Your Home

I've been getting back into reading this week and making plans to get caught up on my reading challenge for the rest of the year. I've read some really good books lately and a few not worth mentioning...but here's a little reading challenge update as well as a list of past and current books! Listen in here: 

Listen to the Podcast:

We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer.

Books I've Read Recently:

I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson

Caring for One Another by Edward T. Welch - I loved this book so much I ordered one for my sister and I ordered his new book Side by Side: Walking with others in Wisdom and Love

War of Words by Paul David Tripp

You and Me Forever by Francis & Lisa Chan

Better Together: Strengthen Your Family, Simplify your Homeschool, and savor the subjects that matter most by Pam Barnhill

Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins

The fiction series I've been reading this year: The Wheel of Time. And I just read the Red Queen series. And I highly recommend The Lunar Chronicles. One of the best series I've ever read!! 

What's up next for me to read: 

I need to read 39 more books by December 31st. Which is one book every 2.74 days, we'll see if I can do it. Honestly, if I get to 80 books I will be happy! Here's whats on my next to read list: 

A beautiful set of classics which includes: Little Women, Heidi, A Little Princess, and Anne of Green Gables. 

Praying Together: The Priority and Privilege of Prayer in our homes, Communities, and Churches

The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield 

Gospel Centered Mom: The Freeing Truth About What Your Kids Really Need

Spiritual Depression: It's Causes and Cures by Martin Lloyd Jones

Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline by Catherine McNniel

Even Better Than Eden: Nine Ways the Bible's Story Changes Everything about Your Story by Nancy Guthrie

Therefor I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy by Cameron Cole

Walking through Infertility: Biblical, Theological, and Moral Counsel for Those Who Are Struggling by Matthew Arbo

My word for 2018 has been Refresh. In many ways, I've found refreshment throughout this year and in a few ways...I need to work on it still! Join me in this episode as I share my 3/4 of a year update on my word and year. Listen in here: 

Listen to the Podcast:

We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer.

 

The definition of Refresh is: 

1. to make fresh again; reinvigorate or cheer (a person, the mind,spirits, etc.).

2. to provide new vigor and energy by rest, food, etc.

And my Bible verse for this year has been:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul. (He refreshes my soul in NIV)

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

– Psalm 23:1-3, ESV

The Lord is the one who strengthens my soul, refreshes my soul, and gives Grace during the hard times. That’s why my #1 area under my new REFRESH word is my spiritual walk with God. That walk with the Lord then in turn affects all other areas of my life. 

I broke my word for this year into 5 main goal areas so as a kind of mid to end of the year check, I'm going to talk about what I've been doing in those areas and how I've been changing/not changing. 

Refresh my Health

Refresh our Family Life

Refresh Relationships

Refresh our Business

Refresh my Spiritual Life 

Links & Resources: 

My 2018 word of the year - Hf #105

Our homeschool plan this year - Hf #150

Refreshing my routines for Fall - Hf #151

My Health journey this year with chronic fatigue - Hf #146

Meal Planning Help for Eating Healthy:  

I am really excited to share with you the sponsor of today’s podcast episode: PrepDish! If you ever feel like you wish you had a little help in your meal planning, then I highly encourage you to check out PrepDish. They offer gluten-free meal plans and paleo meal plans. 

But you don’t have to eat a gluten-free or paleo diet in order to take advantage of all that PrepDish has to offer! In fact, almost half of their customers don’t eat those diets. The meals are healthy and non-processed and work well for anyone who is trying to eat a healthy diet. And PrepDish is offering a super special TWO week free trail when you sign up through this link (how awesome!!)

When you sign up, you’ll receive an email every week with a grocery list and instructions for prepping your meals ahead of time. After only 1-3 hours of prepping on the weekend, you’ll have all of your meals ready for the entire week. I absolutely love how easy they make it. 

Free TWO week trial of PrepDish

We haven't had a marriage episode in a while and today I have the best guest to talk about this topic. Jolene Engle is joining us today! Listen in here: 

Listen to the Podcast:

You can listen to the full episode and then find the links and resources below. 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer.

What I love about Jolene, is that she doesn't back down from Scripture. She calls us to live godly upright lives, but she is so real about it. Life is hard. Marriage is hard. But our God is good and calls us to obey HIM. Jolene talks about humility being key to a thriving marriage and I love how she brings it all back to that. 

Links & Resources: 

Visit Jolene on her blog

Visit today's sponsor: Canvas People

Grab your ticket here for the 2018 Homemaking Ministries Online Conference

Wardee is back on the podcast for the second time this week! She is going to be sharing how to use traditional cooking and preparation methods for a healthier kitchen. And how, most importantly, you can fit it in to an extremely busy schedule! (You can listen to her first episode here) Listen in here: 

Listen to the Podcast:

You can listen to the full episode and then find the links and resources below. 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer.

Wardee's Tips & Links for Traditional Cooking: 

Wardee's soaked rice instant pot recipe

What is Lacto-Fermentation?

7 Fermenting Mistakes You Might Be Making

Wardee's recipe for homemade pickles

How to Cook Real Food with a Busy Schedule

From Jami: Using freshly ground grains in everyday life (how to make it work!)

From Jami: How to Use a Grain Mill Q&A

From Jami: Bread Making & Healthy Living with Stacy Myers

How to Make Homemade Pickles with Wardee: 

Here's Wardee's easy tutorial video on making homemade pickels! 

Join us for the 2018 Homemaking Ministries Online Conference! 

If you want to join us for the 5th annual Homemaking Ministries Online Conference - you will be able to access BOTH of Wardee's full sessions. Throughout these two podcast episodes, you've been able to get bits and pieces of Wardee's advice. But if you want to go deep and get step by step advice, then grab your ticket and join us September 25-28th!

Here are the other sessions and speakers in the In The Kitchen portion of the conference. There are 3 other themes we will explore as well: Homemaking Routines, Your Identity in Christ, and Family Life. Come grab your ticket by September 16th to get $10 OFF!!

The most important aspect of my parenting is teaching my kids about God. The short time that we have them under our roof, we want to teach them doctrine, theology, and to hopefully love the Lord. In today's episode we are going to focus on fun and different ways to teach your kids Scripture and about God. 

Listen to the Podcast:

We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. 

Becoming a Discipling mother

I love love love this encouragement to disciple our children. I need to focus on the Gospel within my home for myself and my husband. But another huge responsibility God has entrusted to me is instructing and discipling my children!

“Mothers can tremendously impact the future of the Lord’s heritage, as Paul testified about Timothy’s start for the Lord: ‘and that from childhood you have known’ (2 Timothy 3:15). Young Timothy, in a home with an unbelieving father, was shaped by a Word-filled mother. Everyday I prayerfully set out to do the same. During this short life on earth – this prelude to eternity – God has assigned us parents the role of standing in His place to show our children what He is like. My husband says, ‘God has given us their tiny hands to hold, to walk with in this world, step by step, until we lead them to their heavenly Father, and place their hands in His everlasting hand.” – Bonnie Barnett, Word-Filled Families: Walk in Truth

When you feel unworthy

There are so many times and places when we will feel unworthy. When we will feel our own sinfulness, our own failings, and our own shortcomings so acutely. We are not perfect and we will never have the right answers all of the time, no matter how hard we strive. 

This is an all too common feeling among women, especially for mothers. Here’s some encouragement: 

“God will help you, as you keep a steady focus on the Lord and search for His unchanging truths, to increasingly model the characteristics of a genuine disciple of Christ. Does He expect perfection? No, for that is impossible this side of heaven. Remember: God isn’t after your ability, but your availability. Simply put, God wants your heart. As you surrender yourself unreservedly to Christ, the Holy Spirit will use the Word of God to conform you into the image of God, for His Glory. (Romans 12:1-2). ” – Bonnie Barnett, Word-Filled Families: Walk in Truth

Our family devotions 

Most of what we do is in our morning basket time. I love having devotionals and other good books that teach them about God in our rotation. Here are some of my favorites: 

The Jesus Storybook Bible

The Biggest Story by Kevin DeYoung

I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God

The Garden, The Curtain, and the Cross

All of the R.C. Sproul kids books (like this one)

The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New

Catechisms: 

We have also found doing a catechism with the kids to be incredibly helpful! I know many people associate this with being a Catholic idea only, but it can be used very effectively for protestants as well. There are many catechisms out there and I'll share a few of my favorite that are Biblical sound. 

A catechism is "a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians." 

So Jason will lead them through the catechism by asking a question and the boys memorize the responses. It's an incredible way to introduce these doctrines to the family and for everyone to learn together. 

We started this when our oldest twins were 3 and we had to start slow at that age.