Category Archives: Discoveries
Great Minds and Lost Souls
Last month our family swam through years of history together, dodging slave traders and rabid dogs courtesy of the pages of a Harriet Tubman biography. We spent evenings imagining how cold and frightening it would have been to slink through southern … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Deep Thoughts, Discoveries, Faith, Family Activities, God, Heartbreak, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Social Justice, Uncategorized
Tagged Dancing on the Ceiling, Dorchester County Maryland, Harriet Tubman, Lionel Richie, Lionel Ritchie, Moses, North Star, Slavery, Underground Railroad, United States
1 Comment
OWL MOON Winner!
My, My! What astute readers have I! Last week Friday I shared a fun family idea and opened a contest to those of you who could correctly identify the name of the audio book our family listened to. All entrants … Continue reading
Posted in Book Lists, Book Review, Contest, Discoveries, Education, Family, Family Activities, Family Friday, FREE BOOK, Giveaway!, Home, Kids, Kids in School, Literature/Books, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Things I Love!, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged audio books, Blog Giveaway, Book Giveaway, Caldecott Award Winner, Contest, family activities, FREE BOOK, Hardware random number generator, Jane Yolen, Owl Moon
Leave a comment
Anatomy 101 with Zac Brown
It’s been interesting to watch my oldest child grow up. He’s slowly interjected his fashion sensibilities, voiced desires for new hair styles, and independently changed the radio station away from my channels to those he enjoys. Seeing a unique personality … Continue reading
Family Friday: Crayons and a CONTEST!
In the spirit of loving competition, my husband started “Super Fun Dad Nights” when our kids were little. On evenings I was out he’d plan something spectacular to do together, usually involving candy, balloons, and duct tape. It won the … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, Book Lists, Contest, crafts, Discoveries, Education, Family Activities, Family Friday, FREE BOOK, Giveaway!, Home, Kids, Kids in School, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Random Fun, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged Arts, audio books, books on tape, Crayon, Duct tape, Eggo, Fine motor skill, Michigan, Paper, shopping
9 Comments
Michigan Maple Syrup!
The dormant, hibernating teacher in me is creeping to the surface once again. I may not be clawing to get back into the classroom, but I do love to turn our living room, kitchen, and the nearby woods into places where … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Education, Family, Family Activities, God, gratitude, Kids, Kids in School, Living Green, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Random Fun, Uncategorized
Tagged Business, Food, homeschooing, Maple, Maple syrup, michigan maple syrup association, shopping, Sugar house, Sugar Shack, Sweeteners, VandeBunte Maple
Leave a comment
Easy Recycling and Repurposing Craft
This past weekend my son was given a homework assignment to find an object that could be recycled or repurposed into something new and useful. [DISCLAIMER: by useful, we don’t mean turning a regular piece of paper into a paper … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, crafts, Discoveries, Education, Family, Home, Kids, Kids in School, Living Green, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Random Fun
Tagged 2 Liter, Bird, Bird feeder, Business, craft, homemade bird feeder, Jimmy John's, Paper, paper airplanes, Recycling, repurposing, Waste management, X-Acto
2 Comments
Shovel It In, Kids. And Quiet Down While You’re At It.
How long does it take you to eat your lunch? And what’s on your lunch menu, generally speaking? Today I surprised my oldest and snuck up to school with a bag of processed goodness from a certain “Clown-Based Establishment” in … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Education, Family, Food, Kids in School, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Rants, Things I Don't Understand Thursday, Things that are STUPID
Tagged Capri Sun, Chips 'Ahoy, cookies, Eating, Food, Golden Arches, Lunch, lunch box, McDonald's, Potato chip, school, school cafeteria
Leave a comment
On Jobs and Polished Nails
I went to college at a time when I thought I had six job choices: nurse, lawyer, doctor, teacher, church-something-or-other, or the mysterious “business” person. It never occurred to me that there might be other fields outside the scope of my … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Decor/Organizing, Discoveries, Education, Family, Growing Pains, Home, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged Bibhu Mohapatra, Business, careers, Church, decisions, doctor, dreams and fantasies, Fashion Group International, fork in the road, job changes, Kate Middleton, Lavender and Lilies, lawyer, Marc Jacobs, Michael Bastian, Nail polish, nurse, office spaces, offices, Peter Som, stay-at-home mom, teacher, working moms
3 Comments
More Exciting Than A Blizzard? A FREE BOOK!
It seems that nothing has the power to transform meteorologists into giddy children like a rollicking storm. Weathermen and women posted outdoors in the bluster seem thrilled to be at the center of such epic developments, their stern admonitions to skedaddle … Continue reading
Posted in Book Review, Contest, Discoveries, Faith, Family, FREE BOOK, Gifts, Giveaway!, God, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Holidays, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged blizzard of 2011, Blog Giveaway, Book Giveaway, Book review, Contest, facebook, FREE BOOK, Grocery store, Mary DeMuth, Meteorology, Online Communities, school closings, Snow Day, snow storm, storm, Thin Places, Twitter, Zondervan, Zondervan Publishers
11 Comments
Family Friday: Indoor Skeet Shooting
I have to give major props to my husband for this one–it’s totally his brain and creativity that adds so much color and life to our home. What can I say–he has a PhD. I guess you have to be … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Family, Family Friday, Holidays, Kids, Marriage, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged Balloon, chew, Christmas, Claire-Modern Family, cowboy, Family Fun, games, Guns, Kentucky, Luke-Modern Family, Modern Family, Nerf, Nerf Guns, Recreation, skeet shoot, Skeet shooting, Toy
7 Comments
Family Friday: Spiritual Formation
I’ve been thinking about posting this for awhile now, and thanks to the encouragement of a friend am finally getting around to it. This Friday I thought I’d share an idea I had for bringing Scripture into the kitchen–which we … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, crafts, CRAZY kids, Decor/Organizing, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Family Friday, Following Jesus, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Prayer, Recipe/Kitchen Success!, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, Candice Olsen, Christian, Divine Design, Family, Genevieve Gorder, God, Holland, Home, Home and Company, Kids, MI, Mothers, Parents, prayer, Scripture, spiritual formation, teaching your kids
1 Comment
What Women Tell Me: Finding Freedom From The Secrets We Keep, by Anita Lustrea
“As a girl and young woman, I memorized hundreds of Scripture verses in vacation Bible school and in Sunday school. I grew up memorizing the hymn book. I didn’t, however, grow up understanding much about God’s grace and freedom.” [pg. … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Discipline Issues, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Food, Friends, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Holidays, Home, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Social Justice, Summer, Travel, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged Anita Lustrea, Bible, Christianity, Divine grace, God, Moody Bible Institute, Moody Radio, Religion and Spirituality, secrets, Sunday school, theology, United States
3 Comments
For Your Olfactorial Pleasure
Ok, I’m not really sure that’s a word, but I’m guessing you know what I mean. Smells! Good ones! I discovered a wonderful new candle that I just have to rave about—and adding frosting and sprinkles to the news is … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, Discoveries, Holidays, Home, Random Fun, Things I Love!
Tagged Buy Local, candles, Holland, Home & Company, Lakeshore Candle Company, MI
Leave a comment
Should’a Would’a Could’a
Sure. There are lots of reasons I should have stayed home today: 1. A sink that appears to have vomited up fruit particles, dirty pans, and filmy glasses. You’d think that with a dishwasher directly adjacent to the sink I … Continue reading
The Lure of Summer
My blogging aspirations for the summer have, quite obviously, fallen flat, dying the pathetic death that comes with goals left unattended. The weight of summer presses in on my heart and I am drawn, again and again, away from this … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Family, Food, Friends, God, gratitude, Home, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Silly Lists, Summer
1 Comment
The Gift of Sand and Water
Anyone who knows me well can attest to the hold that the beach seems to have on me. The sound of pounding water, birds overhead, toes in sand, sun on shoulders, salty air — it’s almost too much. Living … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Education, Gifts, gratitude, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Things I Love!, Vacation
Tagged beach, Florida, Island, Sea Turtles, skim board
3 Comments
Found Art, by Leeana Tankersley
“Because such art is essentially redemptive, found art is also deeply spiritual, predating even urinal-man in its origins. In God’s hands, spit and mud become sight. Dust and rib become humanity. Darkness and void become world. Fishermen become followers. Virgin … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Home, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Nature/Outdoors, Seasons of Life, Travel
Tagged Bahrain, essays, Found Art, Leeana Tankersley, memoir, Middle East, Navy SEAL, San Diego, The Blog Tour Spot, Zondervan Publishers
2 Comments
Egg Cartons, Baby Chicks, and FREE Fun
My husband calls me a recycling maniac. I prefer to consider myself a “wise recycler” or “earth-conscious mother.” I’ll leave the title “maniac” to the kids, little angels though they are At any rate, I’ve been in the habit of … Continue reading
Posted in crafts, Discoveries, Family, Holidays, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Thngs I Love!
Tagged Chicks, crafts, creativity, Easter, Egg-carton chicks, eggs, farms, Kids, Organic, re-using egg cartons, Spring
7 Comments
Hallmark Sends Its Very Best
I’ve already told you bits and pieces of my now-exposed [obsessive] affair with Hallmark Gold Crown Stores. It’s thorny territory for me to write about something so intimate and special, but at last I’m able to admit that sneaking away … Continue reading
Posted in crafts, Discoveries, Family, Gifts, Holidays, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Random Fun, Thngs I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged "What I Love About You", affection, cards, fill-in-book, Gold Crown Store, Hallmark, Kids, love letters, notes, pride, The Biggest Loser
10 Comments
Yoga With Kids is Soooo [NOT] Relaxing…
Yoga. The word, even to non-practicers, seems to evoke a sense of calm and relaxation. It conjures up images of super-fit Californians poured into black yoga pants, lean muscles taught and glistening on some Pacific cliff overlooking the gorgeous, sparkling … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Education, Family, Fitness, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Uncategorized
Tagged Bob Harper, by Poppy, California, calm, focus, football, Plank Position, serenity, The Biggest Loser, Triangle Pose, Weight Loss Yoga DVD, yoga, Yoga is Yummy
4 Comments
Ice Tunnels and Secret Caves
As the snow continues to threaten and temps stay frosty, cabin fever can set in and cause temporary insanity. To combat mental decline, we planned an adventure to Lake Michigan this weekend [free fun!] and the kids are already asking … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Family, Kids, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Random Fun, Thngs I Love!, Travel
Tagged beach, caves, Frozen water, ice tunnels, Lake Michigan, Little House on the Prairie, snow
2 Comments
Crazy for Brains
I lay there with one eye open, watching the TV move in blurry sequence. By now two kids warmed the sheets next to me so I could “rest my eyes.” Whatever cartoon Nick Jr. was peddling at that hour of … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Music, Play, Random Fun
Tagged gnomes, I Feel Crazy, Laurie Berkner, Nick Jr., So I Jump in the Soup, TV
3 Comments
Thin Places: a memoir, by Mary DeMuth
“The Celts define a thin place as a place where heaven and the physical world collide, one of those serendipitous territories where eternity and the mundane meet. Thin describes the membrane between the two worlds, like a piece of vellum, … Continue reading
Update your iPod
Sometimes I find myself dreamily swaying back and forth, occupying a snatch of time that feels special, different. I look to my right and see smiles, to my left, hear laughter, and know that God has given this moment for … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, God, gratitude, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Random Fun, Summer
Tagged Brandi Carlile, concerts, Grand Rapids, guitar, Happy Birthday, Interlochen, iPod, Jingle Bells, John Mayer, Music, poety, song
1 Comment
WIN THIS BOOK!
Zondervan was gracious enough to provide me with a second copy of this book to pass along to my masses of spellbound and excited readers [cough]; to that end I am happy to launch a spiderweb contest to determine the … Continue reading
Posted in Contest, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Food, Gifts, Giveaway!, God, gratitude, Home, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Random Fun
Tagged Blog Giveaway, Contest, FREE BOOK, Gary Thomas, Prize, rules, win, Zondervan Publishers
12 Comments
Pure Pleasure, by Gary Thomas
Check back tomorrow to see how you can win a copy of this book, courtesy of Zondervan Publishers! Little did I know when I tore into the envelope that I was the lucky recipient of something I never knew I … Continue reading
Posted in Discipline Issues, Discoveries, Faith, Fitness, Following Jesus, Friends, Gifts, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Thngs I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged "Pure Pleasure", Gary Thomas, The Blog Tour Spot, theology, Zondervan Publishers
3 Comments
All Hail Hallmark!
When the “rewards” coupon comes in the mail, I’m the sucker who can’t wait to race out the door to Betty’s–Hallmark, that is. I love walking into the dreamy ambiance full of pretty bags and holiday decorations, and hearing the … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Family, Finances, Friends, Gifts, gratitude, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Random Fun, Thngs I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged "itty bitty greetings", cards, encouragement, Hallmark, lunch box, school, spiritual formation
6 Comments
From “Pure Pleasure”
This coming February I will be taking part in a blog tour for Gary Thomas’ latest book, the phenomenal Pure Pleasure. When I was invited to do the review, the title intrigued me [subtitled: Why Do Christians Feel So Bad About … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, Following Jesus, Food, Friends, Gifts, God, gratitude, Home, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Seasons of Life
Tagged "Pure Pleasure", Book, Christmas, FREE BOOK, Gary Thomas, James 1:17, piety, pleasure, sex, Zondervan Publishers
1 Comment
Struggle Bus
One of the many lovely things about Christmas and the New Year is the way families and friends come together around the table for a meal. The dimly lit dining room aglow with reflections of the Christmas tree and Percy … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, Following Jesus, Friends, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Holidays, Home, Illness, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged 2 Cor. 12:7-10, challenge, conditional love, Jesus, Mark 14:36, Paul, struggle, thorn in the flesh
2 Comments
Hello, My Name is Jane, and I Have ICD: Part 2
Welcome to my crazy brain, part two. Come on in, have a look around, grab a cookie and put your feet up. Ignore the wild ponies and flashbacks of college. I first revealed to you in August that I have … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Gifts, Random Fun, Uncategorized
Tagged football mom, ICD, Jim Miklaszewski, Jon Voight, Lee Ann Womack, Mission Impossible, NBC, Sean Roach, Sprout, Sunny Side Up Show
2 Comments
A Christmas Meditation
One of my husband’s favorite Christmas songs was written a few decades ago by singer-songwriters Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. Mary, Did You Know? is a thought-provoking song that wonders aloud whether Mary fully knew the entirety of who her … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Gifts, God, gratitude, Holidays, Kids, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties
Tagged "Mary Did You Know?", Bill & Gloria Gaither, Buddy Greene, Christmas, Christmas Songs, donkey, iTunes, Luke 2, Luke 2:219, Luke 2:51, mall, Mark Lowry, markdowns, Mary, mother of Jesus, sales, stable
3 Comments
After-Hours Shopping = JOY
Friends, I have to say: If you’ve never ventured to the mall during the week of Christmas to enjoy Macy’s “open ’till 10″ schedule, or Kohl’s “open ’till midnight” promise, take advantage of it! Sunday night I managed to peel … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Discoveries, Food, Friends, Gifts, gratitude, Holidays, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Random Fun
Tagged busy, Christmas Shopping, groceries, Kohl's, Macy's, Meijer, peace, phone, Rivertown Mall
1 Comment
Things I Don’t Understand Thursday: Cobwebs In The Christmas Tree?!
How can it be, Friends? The tree hasn’t even been up for a month, and apparently an army of spiders has covertly taken taken up residence in its branches. These busy little web-builders must be decked in green camo for … Continue reading
[We Are] Overlooked
I happened upon a wonderful organization the other day that captured by imagination and my heart. It’s called Overlooked, and it’s all about delivering justice to those in this world who are overlooked everyday by their governments, neighbors, politicians, and … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, Family, Finances, Following Jesus, God, gratitude, Heartbreak, Holidays, Matters of the Heart, Social Justice
Tagged Africa, charity, Christmas, Hope, India, life, malaria net, Overlooked, t-shirt, Uganda, We Are Overlooked
1 Comment
The Biography Channel
Last night while Norm Peterson my husband was upstairs working on our bedroom renovation/redecoration, I got sucked into several hours of the Biography Channel. I’m pretty confident that I can now tell you just about anything you need to know … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, God, gratitude, Matters of the Heart, Music, Uncategorized
Tagged "Johnny Cash America", "Walk the Line", 1950's, 1960's, Biography Channel, celebrity, DVR, ghosts, Hollywood, Joaquin Phoenix, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Master of Life, Nashville, Norm Peterson, outlaw, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson
3 Comments
Things I Don’t Understand Thursday: Ambiguous Deodorant Names
My girlfriend first raised this topic with me ages ago and I thought it was so true–and humorous–that I’m recycling it for today’s topic. Thank you, LEJS. What I don’t understand today are ambiguous deodorant names. I went to my … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Random Fun, Rants, Things I Don't Understand Thursday, Things that are STUPID
Tagged ACL, Adidas, Adidas Deodorant, ambiguity, candles, chicken wings, Da Bears, fragrance, Meijer, Old Spice, SNL, Toughskins
3 Comments
Soul Care & Simplicity
Today [November 18] I listened to another perfectly-timed radio broadcast on Midday Connection [Moody Radio]. The guest speaker was Mindy Caliguire, an author and speaker from Chicago who was discussing soul care & simplicity. This got my attention. As a … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Decor/Organizing, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Friends, God, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Seasons of Life
Tagged "Soul Care", author, Chicago, disorder, I Corinthians 14:33, Isaiah 30:15, Midday Connection, Mindy Caliguire, Moody Radio, peace, Shalom, simplicity, social networking, solitude, speaker, volunteering
2 Comments
Scouting the Divine
I hit the jackpot today with my addictive talk-radio habit: Midday Connection had Margaret Feinberg on discussing her new book, Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool, and Wild Honey. I was so touched–I cried, my chin … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Discoveries, Faith, Food, God, Growing Pains, Literature/Books, Nature/Outdoors
Tagged bee-keeper, farmer, Jesus, Margaret Feinberg, Midday Connection, Scouting the Divine, shepherd, vintner
2 Comments
