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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Building a Family Economy- More Than Making Maple Syrup DVD Giveaway!
I just viewed the Moore Family's latest DVD, More than Making Maple Syrup and I love it! Whether you really do want to learn how to make maple syrup yourself to save money or make it to sell to help build your family economy; or if you just want to see how it is done as part of your homeschool cur
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Man Up to Love and Protect Life
This little guy that is staying with us LOVES to wrestle with "Poppy". Almost every night he says, "Come on Poppy, don't worry, I won't hurt you!" Friday night has become our big wrestling night...followed by a popcorn party and a movie. Boys need to know how to wrestle, how to be tough! They
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Real Food – Grow 100 lbs. Of Potatoes In 4 Square Feet
Jeff built one of these for this year. Short on space? This could help. Here are 7 other ways to grow potatoes: 1. Hilled Rows 2. Straw Mulch 3. Raised Bed 4. Grow Bag 5. Garbage Bag 6. Wood Box 7. Wire Cylinder The Real Food Link Up series will be posted each Wednesday. Please share
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Training Your Children for Heaven
“A true Christian must not be a slave to what’s currently ‘in-fashion,’ if he wants to train his child for heaven. He must not be content to teach them and instruct them in certain ways, merely because it is customary, or to allow them to read books of a questionable sort, merely because eve
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The Duty of ‘the Least of These’
“A family is a haven of rest, a sanctuary of peace and most of all a harbor of love.” -Manny Feldman Two weeks ago the Lord opened the door for us to take in 3 children (2, 6, 8), and we even had their mom for a few days. We did not know any of them and it is a long complic
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How to Build a Family Economy – Cake Decorating
When my first baby was born 24 years ago I took 12 weeks of cake decorating classes. I knew I needed something I would enjoy and be able to make a little extra money from home with. It didn't take me long to learn the skill and before I knew it friends and family were wanting me to make their
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How to Gut, Cut and Cook Deer
Here is a great book with excellent pictures and details about how to gut, cut and cook deer. This is a must have for your library. Gut It. Cut It. Cook It. The Deer Hunter's Guide to Processing & Preparing Venison
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Today’s Table – Make Time for the Little Ones
While they are young and eager MAKE TIME to include little ones in the kitchen. Let them taste and see that life is full of good things. MAKE TIME to reassure them they are IMPORTANT... and NEEDED. MAKE TIME to let them do their best... even if it makes a BIG 'Ol MESS! In the e
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Real Food – Constructing a Greenhouse
A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse or hothouse) is a building where plants are cultivated A greenhouse is a structure with a glass or plastic roof and frequently glass or plastic walls; it heats up because incoming solar radiation from the sun warms plants, soil, and other things inside
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Living a Legacy Giveaway!
Robin, Kelly and I will each be giving away a free registration to the Living a Legacy Conference to be held May 5-6, 2012. If you have already registered and your name is drawn, we will refund your payment or you could choose to gift it to someone else! My giveaway winner will be announce
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Fiber Arts Monday – Potholders
Making potholders on a loom is a great beginner project. It was the first crafty thing I ever learned as a kid. I remember giving potholders to everyone for Christmas. I believe that was the beginning of my love for fiber arts! I recommend a metal loom over the plastic ones, it will last a life t
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Building a Family Economy – Mint
I recently set up a Mint account (it's free). Mint brings all your financial accounts together online or on your mobile device, automatically categorizes your transactions, lets you set budgets and helps you achieve your savings goals. Although I know I am not using it to it's full potential yet,
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You are Invited to the Living a Legacy Conference
I am SO EXCITED to join my best real life friends Kelly Crawford, of Generation Cedar and Robin White, of Celebrating Motherhood Everyday in announcing the Living a Legacy Conference to be held on May 5-6, 2012, in Branchville, Alabama!!! Kelly, Robin and I have talked about hosting a blog conf
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Real Food Link Up – Soil Testing
Some things grow in better in certain types of soil. If you are having trouble getting things to grow you may need to have your soil tested. You can order kits to test or many county Cooperative Extensions will test your soil. What is a soil test? A soil test is a process by which elements (phos
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Work Ethic Challenged?
Having a good work ethic does not come naturally for most of us, and this is even more true for children. There are families where one parent is a bit carefree or even lazy, while then the other parent is a 'get-r-done' kind of person. This can often cause problems between husband and wife which
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Fiber Arts Monday – Yo-Yo (video)
Yo-Yos are a simple project. There are all kinds of projects that can be made with them, including complete quilts! Like this one from I am Along for the Ride. Printable instructions from SewMamaSew. A yo-yo garland from The Tortoise and the Hare. Someday I want to make one
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Children are a Blessing DVD – Review
Have you ever wondered what would provoke someone to want to have a bunch of kids? Have you wondered if there were other families like the Duggars? And what about birth control? Have you ever searched God's word about it or thought about the long term impact of it? Do you believe children a
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Real Food – Beets
Yes, beets ARE good for you! :o) Here is a good article explaining how. I love add some juiced beets to my carrot juice, so this year I want to try to grow some. Here is a great detailed article about growing beets. The Real Food Link Up series will be post
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The Curse of Busyness
Being productive is one of the drums I beat all the time, but there is a huge difference between being productive and being busy. We cannot be busy for the sake of activity, our busyness must have a purpose. Busyness: 1. the quality or condition of being busy. 2. lively but meaningl
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Fiber Arts Monday – Double Sided Headbands
Jessica, over at Happy Together, has this GREAT tutorial for double sided head bands. Aren't they just the cutest? These would be great for any age. They would also be a great item to give as gifts or even sell. ~~~ I bought some bright, spring-like colored cotton yarn for more dishcloths. I
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Do you distrust God’s goodness?
“Although it is very easy to marry a wife, it is very difficult to support her along with the children and the household. Accordingly, no one notices this faith of Jacob. Indeed, many hate fertility in a wife for the sole reason that the offspring must be supported and brought up. For this is what
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Building a Family Economy – Sewing Kits
I have featured the business savvy Wreckler girls here and here, and to be honest, I just can't get enough of them! Their business is growing as these two are learning skills that will really equip them for real life! Not only are they being industrious and creative, they are also dedicated to gi
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Today’s Table – Venison Stew
I love making venison stew in the cast iron dutch oven! Venison Stew Cook on med-high heat for 3-4 minutes, DO NOT OVER COOK: 2-3 tablespoons olive oil 2 pounds venison stew meat When it is just about done add and saute for 1-2 minutes: 2 onions - chopped
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Real Food- Germinate Seeds Inside
Last week we talked about planning the pantry and why heirloom seeds are so important. This week our focus is about getting those seeds started inside. You may want to start a gardening journal to help you keep track of when you started different seeds and how well they did, this way you can im
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What kind of mom will they say you are?
My 87 year old grandmother has been here visiting us since November. She is a very soft spoken, tiny woman, and her mind is still pretty sharp! I know our time together is getting shorter and there are moments I want everything to just stand still and let me savor all I
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Fiber Arts Moday – No-Sew Rag Rug
Here is a really good rag rug idea that uses no hooks or needles. On these long cold winter nights this would be a great project, even for the kids! Read more about making rugs here. Fiber art is anything that includes stitching, weaving, quilting, sewing, rug making, crocheting, knitti
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Good Enough for God
"Show me a woman who tends to her own business, leaving gossip, needless busyness, and trivial pursuits, and I will show you a content, successful woman who’s works bring her praise, who doesn’t need to compare herself to others." Read the rest at She Considers (Olivia's blog)...
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Occupy Opprotunity!
For our family we have many times of, "Thank you, Lord, for our DAILY bread." We are working hard to break the generational bondage of slavery in our family. The slavery spiritual blindness, the slavery of debt and the slavery of trusting the 'experts'. We know we'll never be able to accomplish e
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FREE Organic Gardening Book Download
This is free right now, not sure how long they'll keep it up. As long as it says $0.00 for the Kindle price it is FREE! This is the Kindle version, but if you don't have one you can download an app to read it on your pc, which is what I do!
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The Question Behind the Question
The QBQ!!! I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a fast read with short chapters that stress the importance of personal accountability. Although the book is focused on personal accountability at work it bleeds into EVERY area of life! I think this a great book to use at your dinner ta
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5 Survival Skills Your Kids Should Know Before They Turn 12!
When our son was about 12, a fellow homeschool dad did a Survival Camp. They met once a week for 6 weeks and learned some very basic survival skills. They learned how to build a basic shelter in the woods, how to skin a fish, how to coat matches to keep them dry, how to start a fire without matches,
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Real Food – Heirloom Seeds, video
As we plan for our gardens we need to think what we want to grow and what the family will actually eat! Make a pantry list and keep in mind: what you eat the most of what you can barter with other growers for what you can buy at the farmers market at a better price For the next couple of
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The Most CRITICAL, PETTY, DISCONTENT People are…
Almost always it is those that serve (give, work, sacrifice, love) the least that will be the most CRITICAL, PETTY, DISCONTENT people in the crowd whether it be in the family, voters, church, occupation or group. Do you have one in your family who avoids work? He will be the one that compl
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Hand Sewing – Basic Stitches Video Tutorial
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 – Don’t Dismiss Farming
Before you dismiss the idea of your children growing up to be farmers, you may want to give it a second thought. As a nation we've had a huge shift from being an agricultural culture to one made of mostly factory workers and professionals. Materialism, birth control and government regulations
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To Have Peace and Love in Marriage…
Many times, especially after a meal, we will all gravitate out to the hammock, which has a swing opposite of it. I'm usually the first one out there, and then slowly I am joined. I don't mind sharing. :) On this particular Sunday afternoon Olivia brought her camera out and snapped some pictures
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Real Food Link Up Party -Setting Goals
Once you learn how to grow and cook some of your own food it will no doubt improve your health and your family economy. These are skills that few know today, it is our responsibility to learn and teach the basics of life. Even if you can just grow one thing this year it is a start; who knows, mayb
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Fiber Arts Monday – Bartering Goods
I've been working on some crocheted dishcloths that I am bartering for some heirloom seeds with a friend. Have you ever bartered handmade goods? Fiber art is anything that includes stitching, weaving, quilting, sewing, rug making, crocheting, knitting, spinning, etc… Each Monday we can s
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Baby’s 1st Birthday – Elephant Cake
The great thing about being able to decorate cakes is that you get to make special cakes for special people. The body and head of this cake are made of cake. The legs, trunk and hat are made of rice crispy. I used the high ratio buttercream icing for the green and a marshmallow fo
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Building a Family Economy- 2012 Goals
The beginning of the new year often gives us the added push we need to think differently and to try new things. I love New Years Day, I guess for the same reason I like Mondays, it's a fresh start! I urge you to get a notebook and start writing down some plans, even if you don't rea
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My Favorite Christmas Memory -2011
As I told you yesterday we had a really nice Christmas weekend. For those of you that have been here a while you know that life here is not perfect. We've experienced rebellion and our son leaving home on not-so-good terms at 18. I don't want to share the details of this publicly because it is als
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Fitness Team Report – How to Make Kefir Juice
I didn't do too good this week thanks to Christmas feasting and a LOT of house guest, but I did exercise some and I did get some good juice in me. I'm glad I signed up for the Fitness Team, it kept healthy eating and exercise on my mind rather than throwing caution to the wind for the month in the n
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The Brodock Family Christmas 2011
I guess you could say that our Christmas this year came in like a lamb and went out like a lion! Most of our family lives over a thousand miles away so we do not have heavy family demands for get-togethers. We do have some very dear friends that we always go out to dinner with and we always hav
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Fitness Team Report, Week 3 – How to Make a Green Smoothie video
I love a good smoothie! Fresh spinach is one green that can be easily added to almost any fruit smoothie and it not effect the flavor, but it does pack a punch of nutrition! You can also add nuts or flax seed to a fruit smoothie. The main benefit of a smoothie is that because the food is blended it
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Giving Generously – Almost Free Gift to Make
Olivia surprised me with an early gift for over the mantel. I love this phrase from the song, Come Thou Fount. This is my heart's plea..."never more to wander from Thee". Now I know our home is a bit different because my husband is a handyman, carpenter, and junkyard extraordinaire (a
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Don’t Let Your Ideal Ruin Christmas! Fake it til You Make it!
I think most of us truly desire to have one big happy family, all gathered around the table, holding hands to say the blessing and then to fill our hearts with laughter and our bellies with good food. I think most of us have our own version of the Walton family dinner table in our minds...especi
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