Real Food Link Up – You don’t weed just once….
Gardening is so much like parenting. With our little ones right now we are weeding...a lot! This morning I was thinking about how much WORK weeding is. The planting of new seeds, new ideas in them is pretty easy and their heart soil is rich and workable. It's fun to plant, especially when the
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Living a Legacy Audios Available!!!
I've spent the past week focusing on my family and home as we've been in 'recovery mode' after the Living a Legacy conference. Preparing for and co-hosting the conference was a huge time commitment but worth every bit of it. I thought I'd be emotionally and physically drained afterward but I wa
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In Memory of Annie Jo
Tonight our family attended a memorial service for a lady who had been our neighbor for as long as we have lived here, I've known her for about 30 years. I am feeling very melancholy and this blog post is more for me than anything else, but there is a lesson here. We've never really had family t
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Real Food Link Up – Grow and Harvest Lettuce
We are enjoying fresh lettuce just about every day! :) Lettuce is the easiest vegetable to grow!!! How to harvest lettuce seeds for next season: How is your garden going? Have you started anything yet? We have some potatoes growing and we’re getting the ground
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Early Morning Snuggling
Just now, at 5:30 am, a sleepy 3 year old comes stumbling out of her room and says, "Will you rock me?" She is here with me, snuggled under my arm while I type as she fights sleepiness. It's way too early for her to be up and I know I'll pay for it later when the grumpies set in; but I know it
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The 2012 Legacy Ladies
What a FABULOUS time we had at the Living a Legacy conference Saturday! There were over 200 homes/future homes represented!!! I have so much I want to share from our weekend, but right now my kids need all of me and my house, my mission field, needs major attention. I'm just bubbling over on
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And the excitment builds….
I am so excited to announce that our Living a Legacy conference is sold out! OK, excited, nervous and humbled. I'm so excited about the topics and meeting so many of our readers that I can hardly sleep!!!! If there is no blogging next week it is because I am laid up in the bed...sleeping! ;)
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Fiber Arts Monday – Crochet Baby Bonnet
Here is another baby bonnet I made for a new little one at church. Learn how to crochet with our DVD. So how ’bout it? Do you have a project you are working or want to work on? Let’s share some inspiration! Fiber art is anything that includes stitching, weaving, quilting, sewing
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Sons – Strong and Well-Rooted
From C.H. Spurgeon concerning sons and Psalm 144:12: "That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth. Our sons are of first importance to the state, since men take a leading part in its affairs; and that the young men are the older men will be. He desires that they may be like strong, wel
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Real Food Link Up – Three Sisters Gardening, video
A great article from Renee's Garden: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Corn provides a natural pole for bean vines to climb. Beans fix nitrogen on their roots, improving the overall fertility of the plot by providing nitrogen to the following years corn. Bean vine
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Daughters – Polished Pillars or a Pile of Ruins?
 "When our daughters are graceful and beautiful both in body and mind are then polished after the likeness of a beautiful palace. When we see our daughters well-established and stayed with wisdom and discretion, as cornerstones are fastened in the building - when we see them by faith united to C
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Fiber Arts Monday – How to Tie a Knot for Hand Stiching, video
Fiber art is anything that includes stitching, weaving, quilting, sewing, rug making, crocheting, knitting, spinning, etc… Each Monday we can share ideas, patterns, finished projects and ask questions about fiber arts in the comment section. You can also link up to your blog po
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Building a Family Economy – Emergency Candles
I saw these on Pintrest and thought how they'd make a great gift this Christmas, or even for a bridal shower or housewarming. Place a book of matches and add a lid on and you'll have about 40-50 hours of light. These can be made for less than $2.00 if you are buying new jars, but less than $1.
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Today’s Table – Fight-That-Cold-Soup
My sweet, hard working man has been home the last few days sick with a bad cold. Normally he just keeps going even when he is sick, but this one has had him flat on his back! There is nothing like a chicken soup to sooth a sore throat and open those nasal airways! I made a soup with a LOT of onions
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Real Food Link Up Party – Growing Celery and Garlic
This afternoon I laid the little one down for her nap , when I looked out the window I saw Jeff (who has been home sick) planting more plants in the garden with the older 2. It may be pepper plants he is putting in the soil, but what he is planting in the hearts of these children is food for the
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Fiber Arts Monday – Nine Patch Doll Quilt
Several years ago I made this Nine Patch quilt for a costumer. The pictures do not show the true bright colors of this quilt. This is probably one of my favorite quilts I've made. I had a bunch of extra 9 patch squares left over that I had planned on using in a quilt for me one day, but I still
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I need your help…
I'm working on my presentations for the Living a Legacy Conference next month. My 2 topics are: The Heart of Hospitality - How to Disciple the Nations One Home at a Time The Industrious Home – How to Teach a Good Work Ethic Through Daily Chores and Home Business Do you have any questio
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She Laughs at the Time to Come
This is one of favorite verses and it is so rich with meaning. This full verse actually says, "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come". Think about it. Women need security, we need to know that everything will be OK. All through Scripture the Lord would sa
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Today’s Table – Wild Boar
I love that we have a steady flow of wild flowers coming in. Tonight we had wild boar, brown rice and green beans. Olivia came in as I was finishing up cooking and made a Teriyaki sauce. IT.WAS.SO.GOOD! (brown sugar, garlic and soy sauce) You know it was a hit when everyone
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Education and Real Life- Part 1, Seeking Knowledge …Naturally
"...‘How will they learn to read?’ you ask, and my answer is ‘Remember the lessons of Massachusetts.’ When children are given whole lives instead of age-graded ones in cellblocks, they learn to read, write, and do arithmetic with ease, if those things make sense in the kind of li
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Real Food Link Up – What’s Growing
Here is the potato box that Jeff built a month ago. I took this picture last week (hoping to blog about it but never got around to it). And this I took this one this morning, one week later!!! They are growing like crazy. They need more dirt added...need to remind my gardener (aka...Jeff)
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Fiber Arts Monday – Hand Embroidery Pillow
I saw this on Pinterest and fell in love with it! This is a perfect gift for someone who has everything, maybe even for someone with limited space or someone in a nursing home. The design is simple enough you can draw it out for yourself. Go ahead and be thinking of anniversary and Christmas gift
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Who You Are and Who You are Not
One reason why I am a reformed Christian: Knowing God is sovereign and He chose me. With this comes an understanding that what He brings into my day are lessons that will only draw me closer to Him and acknowledging my TOTAL dependence on Him alone. He supplies my daily bread, He turns the heart
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Fiber Arts Monday – Pillowcase Dress
Peaches turns 3 today! I use to make my girl's birthday and Easter dresses, and now that they are grown (17 and 21) they are not too crazy about that idea anymore! ;) So it's fun to have little girls to dress up again, my problem is TIME. Yes, time was an issue when my children small too, but I use
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Living a Legacy Conference Early Bird Registration
This is the last week for Early Bird Registration prices for the Living a Legacy Conference. If you would like to come and the price is a hindrance please e-mail me. Â There are a couple scholarships available. Â The Early Bird price basically covers the cost of the 2 meals. Next week the price
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Fiber Arts Monday – No-Sew Fabric Flowers
It's been a long time since I've had a reason to make little girly things, and with spring being here and Easter just around the corner I am flooded with inspiration! I HOPE I can get a couple things made...we'll see.  ;) I'm hoping to make these flowers to embellish the girl's Easter dresse
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Are you snacking on poisioned fruit?
"It should come as no huge surprise that the secular world is confused and off-base about the identity and calling of women. But what I find distressing is the extent to which (this) has taken hold even within the evangelical world. We see the fruit of that revolution as prominent Christian spea
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What we do on rainy afternoons… Peanut-butter Icing!
Spring is here and so is the rain! Three little kiddos and a 'caged-up' hyperactive hubby calls for some drastic measures! I turned 8 year old Cherish loose in the kitchen to bake cupcakes by herself. She did all of the measuring and EVERYTHING just right... she was pretty proud of herself!
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Try not to envy my line…
I know I've talked about laundry a lot but there is no avoiding it! Our dryer went out last summer and we have not replaced it. For the most part I don't want to, that is unless we have several days of rain. I am amazed at how much our power bill has gone down without it. I've had one long line u
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Real Food Link Up – Heirloom Seeds, a Puppy and Record Keeping
Guess what happens when you leave your heirloom seedlings, the seedlings you have nurtured for weeks bringing them in and out from the cold, and you leave them out on the deck and someone locks the new puppy on the deck too? Yes, it is true. It makes me sick... but it is still early in the se
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We’ve been slimed!
Some of you may have noticed that the blog updates have tapered off some and the truth is we're living what we 'preach'... and some days it is hard. Shifting gears from a 'grown-up' household to one with 3 young children is taking almost all of my waking moments. I am NOT complaining and I am so VE
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Real Food Link Up – Plant Markers
Whether you are planting your seeds or little seedlings you usually need some way of marking your rows. Here is an idea I shared a few years ago, with a few other ways to make plant markers at the end of this post. This is a great project for the kids. It will help with plant identification, they
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How to Preserve Your Marriage with Children
 A family should be first and foremost Christ centered, with an emphasis on the MARRIAGE. Too many families, especially homeschool families, are child centered. Their schedules and budgets are made to fit the children's activities. The message that this sends to the children is that they are t
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24-7 In Your Face- Real Life Stuff!
Our life has become so VERY hectic over the last 6 weeks when we welcomed 3 little ones into our home. It has been incredibly busy, as we are all adjusting to each other, learning likes and dislikes, character weaknesses (in the children and ourselves), figuring out where they are
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Real Food Link Up – Rabbits and Composting
Last week we took a ride over to the Whites and picked up rabbit manure for our garden. We got a big 'ol bucket for just a few dollars. I'm hoping we will have some rabbits soon to make our own rabbit manure. This is also a good way for your kids to make a little extra money. ;) I saw this GREAT id
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Fiber Arts Monday – Cleaning Your Sewing Machine
Taking good care of your machine at home will save you a lot of frustration and money for repairs. Here is a great post about how and when to clean your sewing machine. Fiber art is anything that includes stitching, weaving, quilting, sewing, rug making, crocheting, knitting, spinning, etcâ€
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Building a Family Economy – Multiple Streams of Income
Our household has many streams of income. For me personally I sell: cakes and a little catering an occasional quilt order teach domestic classes produce and sell our DVDs e-books I also run Teaching Good Things where I generate some income through advertising and affiliate marketin
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A lively hope…
"...it is called a lively hope because it puts the soul upon lively endeavors. Hope will make a man pray as for life, hear as for life, mourn as for life, obey as for life and work and walk as for life. Hope will not say this work is too hard and that work is too hot; this work is too high and
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And the winner is…
Congratulations Leslie from Virginia! After using Random.org to choose a winner for our Living a Legacy Conference giveaway, comment number 14 is the winner! For the rest of you, be sure to get in on the Early Bird Registration price! Our desire is to keep the cost of this conference as affor
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Real Food Link Up Party – Grow and Use Stevia
I try to stay away from sugar and I will not use an artificial sweetener, but I will use Stevia. I use a little in my coffee in the morning and then I sip a diluted bottle of filtered water and lemon juice, with a little Stevia all day. My goal is to get 100 oz. of water in me a day, the lemon juice
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Last day to enter for the conference giveaway…
Tomorrow I will announce the winner of the free pass for the Living a Legacy Conference. If you have not entered yet, do so today! Living a Legacy Conference Giveaway
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Building a Family Economy- Teach What You Know
I've talked before about how you can generate income by teaching what you know. Here is another example of that. Olivia teaches cooking lessons. She uses our church's kitchen which is a huge blessing! She has a long term goal (actually a 10 year goal) to own a cooking school. What are your goals?
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Winner of the Maple Syrup DVD
The winner of the More Than Making Maple Syrup DVD Giveaway is Tiffany (comment #4). Tiffany, send me your mailing address. :) Save $3.00 if you buy this before Feb. 29, 2012. More Than Making Maple Syrup from Moore Family Films.
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Where REAL Change Begins
"The answer to changing the future does not begin at the White House, it begins in *your* house. It begins in the hearts of the families in the nation...the real solution comes when we start training our little ones around the table and preparing them to take on the future. But this all comes from
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Black and White Fondant Wedding Cake
I made this cake using a marshmallow fondant, the black and white balls are also made from the fondant. I also used the food markers to freehand on the design. Learn Basic Cake Decorating This DVD does not include fondant icing.
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Real Food Link Up Party – How and When to Prune Chart
I've written about the importance of planting fruit bearing trees and bushes for your family economy before. These trees/bushes require so little maintenance, but can produce so much REAL FOOD not only for your family now, but for generations to come! Pruning is necessary to maintain the health o
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Laundry… need I say more?
LAUNDRY! It's a family affair! All the kids big and small help to knock out the folding. And tomorrow...we'll do it all again! If I had my way I'd outlaw socks until everyone was grown, married and out of the house. How to Do Laundry- Drying Clothes -video How to Do Laundry- Folding Cl
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Ever want to give up on motherhood?
Some days are down right hard...some weeks are miserable.  Many of us do not have family that helps to hold up our arms in the battle. I am so VERY GRATEFUL that the Lord has placed me, my family, in the midst of a covenant believing community.  At any moment of the day I can call a friend and s
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Fiber Arts Monday – Friendship Bracelets
Making friendship bracelets is a great way to keep hands busy and develop critical thinking skills. Once some basic knots are learned the sky is the limit when you add some creativity.
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