Category Archives: Holidays
Valentine’s Day Part 2: Hunting for Treasure
It’s probably the hibernating teacher within that brings me round to setting up riddles and scavenger hunts for my kids. Yes, after all these years of standing in slippers wiping butts and noses, there are moments when that alter-ego is … Continue reading
Posted in Contest, CRAZY kids, Education, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Gifts, God, Holidays, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Silly Lists, Things I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged alter-ego, Bible, Bible verses, bingo, Classroom, Genesis, gift, Holiday, Home, John 3:16, Kids, look up 3:16, Opinions, Religion and Spirituality, Riddle, scavenger hunt, Spiritual Development, spiritual formation, teacher, the story of St. Valentine, valentine day
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Valentine’s Day Part 1: Spread Some Love
Don’t we all wish there was a fool-proof recipe or some sort of silicon mold that promised to shape our children into the caring, generous, love-filled humans we want them to be? Or perhaps some magic powder we could sprinkle … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, CRAZY kids, Decor/Organizing, Discipline Issues, Education, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Food, God, gratitude, Holidays, Home, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Recipe/Kitchen Success!, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!
Tagged Awana, character education, compassion, cookies, Family Fun, Family Time, generosity, Home, kindness, Love Wins, sharing love, Spreading Love, teaching your kids, Valentine's Day
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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
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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
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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
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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
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New Year’s Eve Traditions
Contrary to the throngs of Time-Square-pounding, diamond-clad, smoky-eyed, horn-blowing ladies waving their champagne flutes to the thumping beat of the Black Eyed Peas, I was at home this New Year’s Eve wearing hoops and yoga pants, sporting mascara-free lashes and … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Food, Friends, Gifts, gratitude, Holidays, Home, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Recipe/Kitchen Success!, Seasons of Life, Thngs I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged Black Eyed Peas, China Dinnerware, Crystal Glasses, Dick Clark, Family Traditions, Grape juice, Michigan, new year, New Year's Eve, Ryan Seacrest, Time-Square
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Meet Rob and Kelly…
One thing I so appreciate about our family is that we try to be purposeful about planning special nights together where TV and telephones fall to the wayside, and imagination and teamwork grab the spotlight. They are nights when we … Continue reading
Posted in Contest, CRAZY kids, Education, Family, Holidays, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Things I Love!
Tagged Family Challenge, Family Time, Saturday Nights at Home, Wii
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Little Star, by Anthony DeStefano
“Little Star knew that Jesus could have chosen to be born in a palace, surrounded by riches, but instead, he had humbled himself to be born in a stable…Of all the stars in the heavens, Little Star was the only … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Literature/Books
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[A Different Kind of] St. Patty Green
Contrary to most St. Patrick’s Day festivities I’ve been privy to, we’re steering away from shamrocks and ale and making a B-line for healthy greens this Wednesday. Not because I’m a prude who doesn’t like cabbage or has nightmares about … Continue reading
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 … 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
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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
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Keeping Christmas Alive
In truth, I can’t completely remember if I read about this craft or adapted it from several other ideas, but this year we actually got out the scissors and did it. We purposely saved our Christmas photo cards so that … Continue reading
Posted in crafts, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, God, gratitude, Holidays, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Random Fun, Uncategorized
Tagged Christmas, craft, photo cards
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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
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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
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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
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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
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No School!
Ah, the childlike joy of having school canceled–what thrill can compare in the mind of a 6 or 7 year old? Yesterday our kids had an unexpected day off due to a power-outage in their elementary building, followed up [with … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Food, Gifts, Holidays, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Random Fun, Recipe/Kitchen Success!, Uncategorized
Tagged Blizzard, Breakfast, Christmas, cinnamon rolls, Montana, oven, raisins, recipe, Rhodes Bread Dough, Snow Day, yoga
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It Must Be Raindrops…
I grew up listening to Oldies, and to this day I still enjoy a sugary doo-wop song or something that emerged from Motown at the height of its glory. I love The Platters, The Fleetwoods, Martha & the Vandellas…pretty much … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Food, Gifts, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Holidays, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged "Making a Difference", "R.A.M.P", American Graffiti, Angel Tree, Appalachia, Appalachian Mountains, Bob Vila, Brian Williams, Chevy Suburban, Christmas, Country Music, Dee Clark, Doo-wop, guacamole, Hershey's kiss, Lowe's, Martha & the Vandellas, menopause, Motown, NBC News, rain, Raindrops, Salvation Army, Skype, soundtrack, Thanksgiving, The Fleetwoods, The Platters
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Things I Don’t Understand Thursday: Toy Packaging
Last week my daughter decided to use her long-saved-up birthday money to buy a new doll at Costco. Maybe you’ve seen them? They’re adorable American Girl look-alikes at about a quarter of the cost…which only makes them more adorable. Of … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Family, Gifts, Holidays, Kids, Rants, Things I Don't Understand Thursday, Things that are STUPID
Tagged American Girl, Christmas, Costco, Gifts, girls, ridiculous, thief, toy packaging, toys
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Last Thoughts: The Year of Living Like Jesus
Tonight, over sour cream-laden chimichangas and icy Cokes, my husband and I had our annual gift-giving budget conversation. At our house, November and December are packed with several family birthdays and, of course, the simultaneously beloved and commercially vexing: Christmas. … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Following Jesus, God, gratitude, Holidays, Literature/Books, Uncategorized
Tagged Adoni, birthdays, budget, chimichangas, Christmas, Coke, Dayenu, December, Ed Dobson, Family, gift-giving, Judaism, November, Passover, Seder Dinner, sour cream, The Year of Living Like Jesus
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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
BOO! I know, these pictures are scary, but I wanted to share in the festivities tonight by going 80’s punk: my own tribute to Cyndi Lauper. ‘Cause, haven’t you heard? Moms in the ‘burbs just wanna have fun! fishnets + … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Holidays, Kids, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life
Tagged 1980's music, Boo, cozy, Cyndi Lauper, Halloween, harvest, pumpkins, punk, Reformation Day
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Admissions of a Suburban Philosopher 