It took a few years of being surprised each time I peeled off the shell before I finally thought to ask Brad's Mom, a master with food, how to guarantee a perfectly boiled egg each time.
When I used my own method, soft-boiled eggs would turn out runny, and hard-boiled eggs resulted in an ugly gray film around the yolks. Now, they turn out perfect every time! Here's my mother-in-law's secret: For soft-boiled eggs (pictured above): Add eggs (don't use fresh ones as they're harder to peel) to a saucepan and cover with cold water. Dribble in a little vinegar and a dash of salt. Bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Turn the burner off and cover the pan with a lid. Set the timer for 6 minutes. Immediately immerse eggs in cold water to stop the cooking process. Peel, slice, and enjoy! For hard-boiled eggs: Repeat the same steps above, only increasing the cooking time to 8 minutes instead of six. My lunch above consists of a whole grain pita, old cheddar, mayo, organic salad greens, and a boiled egg seasoned with freshly ground pepper and sea salt. So easy, so yummy!
In Part 3 of this series, I emphasized the importance of keeping our priorities aligned as God desires (God, Spouse, Children, House) and listed 15 Good Things I DON'T Do so I can give them adequate attention.
You cannot schedule long, lingering hugs with your husband, heart-to-heart's with your children, or circumstances that bring you to your knees and compel you to worship your Creator; but you can learn how to manage your secondary duties efficiently. This does three things:
It affords you more time to invest in the souls entrusted to your care.
It keeps your home "company-ready," and open for hospitality, whereby some have entertained angels, unaware. (Hebrews 13:2)
It teaches your daughters, by your own example, how to care for their own homes one day.
There are thousands of books available to help learn how to organize your home (I'll list my favorites at the end of this post), so I'll keep it short and simply list a few small, but meaningful things that have been a great asset in helping me manage our own home:
Meals for the freezer. 1. Double up when you cook or bake. Get into the habit of cooking extra so you have one meal for dinner and one to put in the freezer or give away. It takes almost no extra time or energy to double (or triple) a recipe and having a healthy "heat-and-serve" meal available on busy days is a great stress reliever! Some of our favorite things to freeze are soups, chili, casseroles, muffins, cookies, and brownies.
Making granola and sweet potato fries in the kitchen while the kids do school at the table. 2. Make supper at breakfast. I try to make my meals in the morning, or at least get some of the prep work done while the kids are doing their independent work at the kitchen table. That way, if school takes longer than normal or we have swimming lessons in the afternoon, 5 o'clock isn't as rushed as it could be.
3. Learn to use the kitchen wonder-tool: your crock-pot! You don't even need to use a recipe. Throw in a frozen cut of meat, a few vegetables and some spices in the morning, cover and set to 'Low,' and you'll have a tender, flavorful meal ready by dinner.
Our "school" cabinet across from the kitchen. The small drawers contain our pencils, markers, crayons, glue sticks, erasers, etc., and the four larger drawers contain our workbooks (one for each child, and one for Mommy). 4. Manage your space efficiently. Don't make yourself walk across the kitchen to retrieve the pepper grinder while you're simmering soup. Keep your baking essentials in a cupboard above the area where your blender is stored; your plates and silverware in closest proximity to your table (or dishwasher, if you have one); the schoolbooks on a shelf or drawer near to where you normally do your lessons (for us, that's the kitchen); the toys where the children play.
An uncluttered house is easier to clean up! 5. Clear the clutter. Get rid of the stuff you wouldn't know was missing if it suddenly disappeared. Donate, re-gift, recycle, or throw out. You'll spend less time trying to organize and clean what you don't need and your home will feel bigger and brighter. Cleaning up their toys will also be less daunting for your children when they have fewer of them to put away (you can read more about the toy storage system for our small house here).
A typical wash day: Charity (4) helps me fold (she's better than I am!), Judah (2) mountain climbs the unfolded pile, and Anna (7 months) watches us for entertainment. 6.Devote specific days to specific tasks. This is not a new idea. For Ma Ingalls and other pioneer women, each day had its own chore: Wash on Monday.Iron on Tuesday,Mend on Wednesday,Churn on Thursday,Clean on Friday,Bake on Saturday,Rest on Sunday. Nowadays, with machines that speed up a great deal of these things and imported products that are cheaper to buy than make, my list looks a little different but the principle is the same. In addition to homeschooling everyday, I typically do laundry on Monday, groceries on Tuesdays, freezer cooking and baking on Wednesdays, swimming lessons and the bulk of my writing/blog business on Thursdays, housework on Fridays, outside work on Saturdays, rest on Sundays.
7. Multitask. I make dinner while the kids are doing their schoolwork at the kitchen table, check my emails or read aloud when I'm nursing, dust when I have a phone call to make, and review memory work while we're folding laundry.
What I aim to have our kitchen look like before going to bed at night. 8. Clean up the night before. I'm much more excited and motivated to start my day when I wake up to a clean kitchen and a tidy house. Every evening after supper, Brad and I wash and dry the dishes while the kids clean up their toys. They are rewarded with a bedtime story if they get the living room (also our play area) neatly organized before we're finished.
9.Ensure you're are being spiritually fed. You can read the scriptures out loud to your children while you are nursing, sing Psalms at the kitchen sink with your two-year-old, or pray while you're driving. I keep my Bible on my nightstand so it's the first thing I see every morning before starting my day. "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:29-31
When I remember to wear one, a pretty apron makes me feel like a real homemaker! My favorite ones come from Flirty Aprons. 10. Dress for the job. There's a reason the corporate world abides by a professional dress code. Dressing for success often leads to success. Your clothes make a strong visual statement about how you view your job. Comfort aids productivity and your personal, creative, feminine style tells the world your role is freeing, not stifling. Decide what you're going to wear the night before and put it next to your bed. Commit to not leaving the bedroom until you're dressed!
If you struggle with the temptation to stay in your robe like I do, I highly recommend reading Frumps to Pumps: Your 1-Month Motivotional to Getting Dressed and Staying That Way by Sarah Mae.
11. Take care of yourself physically. Eat healthy, take your vitamins, get fresh air, shower, go to bed on time, and adopt an attitude of joy that will energize you for the tasks at hand.
My very simple meal plan on a magnetic menu pad I found at Wal-Mart. 12. Meal plan. I'm not a rigid meal-planner, but I like to have a week's worth of dinners written down so I have a general idea of what I can prepare in the morning. It also saves me time and money at the grocery store.
13. Unplug. Turn off your distractions. Consider getting rid of the TV if it keeps you from going to bed on time and get an emergency only plan for your cell phone. Unplug the computer if you won't be needing it for several hours and keep it in an inconvenient location so it's a pain to check Facebook when you're supposed to be homeschooling.
Before and after the kids have cleaned up the living room/play area. 14. Involve the whole family. Managing a home doesn't mean you have to do all the work; it means you are responsible for seeing that the work gets done. Don't assume your children are going to learn how to run a home by osmosis. Let them take responsibility by giving them their own chores, and in the process of teaching them life skills, you will find more time to engage in fun, memorable family activities like hiking, tobogganing, or traveling together.
15. Stay home. Novel concept, isn't it? If too many trips out are keeping you from fulfilling your duties at home, it's time to cut back. I try to set aside one morning a week to do all of my grocery shopping and limit our extra-curricular activities. Currently, we're involved in swimming lessons and leave one other afternoon open for visits to the library, a friend's house, or a field trip. I don't go to Ladies Bible Study at Church and rarely go shopping "just for the fun of it."
My to-do list, decorated by someone who found a pen. 16. Make lists. Remember all of those careers being a homemaker encompasses? Making bite-size lists can do wonders when you're feeling overwhelmed. You can see exactly what needs to be done and get the satisfaction of crossing off a task when it has been completed. 17. Just do the next thing. When your kitchen sink is overflowing with dirty dishes, the floor is sticky, and dinner still needs to be made, just do the next thing. Don't look over your whole list or get side-tracked by thirteen other things that are calling for your attention. Just pick up the dish-brush, fill your sink with hot, soapy water, and do the next thing.
18. Accept help when it is offered and ask for it when it's not. Accepting help is not a sign of weakness or failure; it means you're a human who understands that no one can do it all. Asking for help humbles a person and opens their eyes to the community of believers that God has arranged to encourage and support each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11-13).
If you could recommend one life-altering home management tip, what would it be?
Recommended Resources These are affiliate links for books I love, which means I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, but please don't feel obligated to do so!
Large Family Logistics by Kim Breneman
More Hours In My Day by Emilie Barnes
Saving Dinner Basics by Leanne Ely
Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley (The FlyLady)
The Christian Homemaker's Handbook by Pat Ennis
The Family Manager Takes Chargeby Kathy Peel
The House That Cleans Itself by Mindy Starns Clark
Part 1: Keeping A Growing Home | A Management Series for Moms Part 2: Keeping A Growing Home | Know Your Role! Part 3: Keeping A Growing Home | Making Priorities & 15 Good Things I Don't Do Part 4: Keeping A Growing Home | Time-Saving Home Management Tips Part 5: Keeping A Growing Home | My Daily Schedule
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox. Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, We ARE That Family, Raising Mighty Arrows, Hearts For Home, Frugal Homeschool Family,
Here is a deliciously simple crock-pot recipe for homemade apple butter that makes the whole house smell something wonderful! Enjoy it warm over ice cream, or on pancakes, waffles, or a slice of crusty French bread! All-Day Apple ButterTime: 15 minutes prep; 12 hours in the crock-pot. Yield: 4 pints Ingredients:
5 1/2 pounds tart cooking apples, peeled and finely chopped
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
Directions: Place apples in large slow-cooker (6 quart). Combine spices and sugar and pour over apples. Mix well. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hr. Reduce heat to LOW and cook, covered, for 9-11 hours until dark and thickened. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Uncover and cook on low for 1 hour longer. Stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Spoon into jars or freezer containers, leaving 1 in. head space. Cover and refrigerate or freeze. Makes 4 pints.
First, pick some apples. Try not to eat them all before you get home.
Mildly tart varieties like Ginger Golds are an excellent choice.
Peel and chop 'em up.
Sprinkle with sugar and spice, and everything nice.
Cook all day in the crock-pot until thick and brown and delicious.
Seal, tie with a pretty bow, and give one to a friend.
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox. Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, The Prairie Homestead, We ARE That Family, Make Ahead Meals, Moms The Word, Allergy Free Wednesdays. Gluten Free Homemakers
After several long weeks of writing, I'm thrilled to announce that my new eBook, Growing Your Blog While Managing Your Home | The Ultimate Guide for Christian Mommy Bloggers is finally here with a special launch week price!
Growing Your Blog While Managing Your HomeThe Ultimate Guide For Christian Mommy Bloggers by Jacinda Vandenberg PDF version
KINDLE version
Here's what people are saying about it: "One of the most important things that caught my attention in this book is that, she admits, she doesn’t try to do it all. Oh, how I loved this! Finally someone who was real about what actually happens during their day." ~ Shari A. Miller"Growing Your Blog is a worthwhile read if you’ve ever felt like your blogging was taking over your life, whether you are seriously considering monetizing or not. There’ve been many times over the past few months that I’ve felt maybe I just need to quit…after reading this book, I know I just need a better plan. My priorities have been out of whack. I knew it, but I needed a “blueprint” for turning them around." ~ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds"Growing Your Blog While Managing Your Home offers a great vision of keeping your focus where it should be, without having letting go of your goal to grow your blog." ~ A Diligent Heart"If your dishes have been known to pile high while you aim to type one more blog post, then this ebook is for you... Priorities. Priorities. Priorities. Come on a journey as she shares her own story, schedules, and tips for Growing Your Blog While Managing Your Home. You will be encouraged and inspired by her beautiful simplicity." ~ The Homeschool Village"Growing Your Blog While Managing Your Home is going to be a resource I turn to time and again. I am thankful to not have to use Google to find answers to my blogging questions anymore!" ~ Thankful Homemaker"Jacinda’s book is a great introduction to the how-to’s of blogging for business. It’s refreshing to read a take that is from a decidedly Christian viewpoint. I found the details for advertising, ebooks, and affiliates especially helpful. She is very transparent and shares her own advertising and reviewing rates, which is also very helpful." ~ The Sunny Patch"{Jacinda}gives a ton of information of how to blog while balancing home life helping women to keep a wise balance and does it from a Christian perspective. This is hard to find and why I recommend it." ~ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home"What kind of blogger are you, or do you want to become? If you merely blog for the sake of keeping a family journal then this eBook probably won’t benefit you. But, if you want to step it up a notch then it’s definitely for you!" ~ Raising Mighty ArrowsYou can read more about it and view the Table of Contents here, or sign up as an affiliate here.
LAUNCH WEEK: $7.99 $3.99 !Growing Your Blog While Managing Your HomeThe Ultimate Guide For Christian Mommy Bloggers by Jacinda Vandenberg PDF version
KINDLE version
Welcome to the 129th edition of our weekly homemaking link-up party: Teach Me Tuesdays! Each Tuesday, you're warmly invited to link up anything homemaking related from you own blog and mingle with others who've done the same.
How have you grown your home this week? Was it through gardening, preserving, baby-wearing, cooking, crafting, teaching your children, cleaning your house, loving your husband, or perhaps through something else the Lord has been teaching you? Encourage other aspiring Proverbs 31 women by linking up below. Share as many posts as you would like! A link back to Growing Home is greatly appreciated. :-)
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox.
To me, there's something comforting about tucking into a restaurant below street level.
Those few stairs that lead down to the dining room make the noise of traffic outside seem even further away behind the glass windows. It's like discovering a secret getaway in the middle of the city.
Big Willie and I popped into J & A Restaurant across from The Bay on 11th Avenue last weekend. The place was fairly full for a Saturday so I figured we were in for a good time.
Friends told us that J & A, which specializes in Chinese cooking, does a mean dim sum. Being dim sum fans, we just had to check it out.
We settled into a table fairly quickly -- our waitress just had to wipe it clean before we could sit down. She wiped it, though I wouldn't say it was clean. But we got past that. We were hungry, after all.
We waited a few minutes for tea and then a few more minutes to order. With only two waitresses working the floor, the service wasn't exactly speedy.
Unlike most dim sum restaurants, J & A does not bring carts of hot food by your table. Instead, you are provided with a slip of paper on which to tick off your choices from the menu.
We went with a range of standbys, like dumplings and spring rolls, along with a few more unique items (like cassava cake).
As we waited for the food we started to take note of J & A's decor, which includes a strange mixture of fake flowers, pink chairs, and Walt Disney characters on the walls.
First to hit the table were the Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings. These weren't exactly proper Chinese food, but they sounded good. And they tasted good. At first.
I was on my third wing when our whole experience started to go downhill. I bit into the wing and noticed that underneath the crispy skin was a whole lot of blood. How a chicken wing can be deep fried and crispy on the outside, but bloody on the inside, I'm still not sure. I stopped eating the wings and waited for the next item to arrive.
The Vietnamese Spring Rolls were up. Three puny spring rolls came on a small white plate. That's it. No sauce, and an odd number of rolls (there were two of us, as I said).
The rolls tasted about as good as they looked. In fact, they really reminded me of frozen appetizers from Costco. I'm just saying....
We asked the waitress if she had any type of sauce for the rolls. She brought us some plum sauce. In a package.
Next we got the Cassava Cake. This dense, yellow cake was hearty and very filling. Cassava, a root vegetable common in the tropics, is mixed into a sweet cake and then cut into squares. It tasted OK but I'm no cassava expert so I'll refrain from judgement here. Big Willie grew up eating the stuff and he thought J & A's version was on the sweet side.
Next up, another item and another disappointment: the Shrimp and Vegetable Dumplings.
Unlike any other dim sum restaurant I've ever visited, J & A serves dumplings in metal steam baskets instead of traditional bamboo steamers. That's a bit of a shame because the metal seems to dry the dumplings out while bamboo seems to retain more moisture. Plus the bamboo adds a touch of authenticity.
These dumplings were overcooked and the pastry pockets weren't even staying closed. And they had almost no flavour. Good Lord, it was time to take action.
We still had at least three more items to come, but me and Big Willie had more than enough by this point. We called the waitress over, pointed out the bloody chicken and asked her not to send any more items. Oh, and Big Willie mentioned that his teacup was dirty when it came to the table.
You might be thinking that we should have pointed out the chicken incident sooner. And we probably should have. But I like to be an easygoing diner and I was willing to let it slide at first, until everything else turned out to be a disappointment too.
We asked the waitress for our bill and she brought it quickly. Thankfully, she took the chicken and the items that never made it to our table off the bill.
We settled up, threw on our jackets and made a beeline for a real dim sum restaurant: The Four Seas on Rose Street.
To read my review of Four Seas, follow this link: http://www.reginafooddude.com/2009/10/four-seas-restaurant.html
As for J & A, your quaint basement location in a convenient spot downtown almost had me at hello. Unfortunately, you blew it. Big time. We won't be back. And please lose the Mickey Mouse decorations.
Right up there with Broccoli Raisin, this is one of our favorite salads. Taco Salad finds its way to our table frequently; once every two weeks or so. We never tire of it. It's fresh, tasty, and simple to prepare. And best of all, it's gluten-free! I grew up eating this at my parents house, so I'm not entirely sure where the recipe originates; we probably had it memorized before we could talk. My guess is that it comes from Jean Pare's Kids Cooking Book - we wore the cover off that one. What follows is our Trim Healthy Mama version:
Ready in: 15 minutes Serves: 6 *For THMer's, this is a Satisfying meal Ingredients:
1 head of iceberg or romaine lettuce, shredded
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/4 of an English cucumber, diced
1/2 a small red onion, finely chopped
1 lb. ground beef, cooked and seasoned with Taco Seasoning (or replace half of ground beef with black beans)
1-2 cups Cheddar cheese, grated
a dollop of sour cream
Directions: Mix first six ingredients in a large bowl. Serve immediately with a dollop of sour cream!
1. Bible There is only one thing needful in a child's education: the Lord Jesus Christ. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are all very important, but of what eternal purpose do they serve if our child's soul is lost? Don't get me wrong; we can't save our children. Their salvation rests solely upon the grace of God. But instructing our children in the paths of righteousness is a parental commanded uttered from the mouth of God that we must obey - for our sake, and more importantly, so that our children would be given every opportunity to enter into a saving relationship with their Creator. (Ephesians 2:8; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6-7) How To Produce Godly Children is one of the best articles I've ever read on the subject.
Not to mention, that Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16). It is here where our children will learn God's pattern for society, how we are to live and work, and all that makes for a peaceful and joy-filled life.
2. Reading and Writing God has chosen to reveal Himself in His written Word which we are commanded to read. From the plumber who writes out a bill, to the pastor in the pulpit, to the mother who reads bedtime stories to her children, reading and writing are life skills used every day by people everywhere. These are the greatest gifts you can give your children. With them, they will be able to discover the Word of God for themselves, engage in every other secondary subject (science, history, foreign languages, etc.), and accomplish necessities like writing out checks, following a recipe, and filling out health card forms, etc.
3. Mathematics Though perhaps not consciously, people use math skills everyday in construction, cooking, banking, and grocery shopping. Basics like adding, subtraction, multiplication, and division allow the homemaker to be a prudent spender (and saver), and enable most men to land a job and excel in the workplace.
4. Their individual, God-given gift If your daughter is naturally fascinated with horses, run with it! Delving into something she loves can be the most effective means of teaching her about everything else she thinks she's not interested in. You can't learn a lot about one subject without learning something about the others.
What about all the other subjects and how do you teach them so that it sticks?
As much as I hated it, I aced biology in school merely so my grades would stay high. Ask me to name the parts of a dissected frog now I'll give you a blank stare. I had no purpose for it. I knew how to memorize something just long enough to pass a test.
Show me an ultra-sound, on the other hand, and I could probably tell you the gestational age of the baby. I know what the purpose of a placenta is and what it looks like, why I need a rhogam injection each time I get pregnant, what a molar pregnancy is, and what happens when the body miscarries a child. I know these things because I love babies. I've experienced the miracle of childbirth and have grieved at the loss of life inside my womb.
History, Science, Handwriting, grammar, music, art - I would love it if each one of my children excelled in these subjects, but I know they'll survive if they never manage to sing on key, speak French fluently, or understand the recessive genes in fruit flies. These facts are merely useless trivia that will be forgotten soon after the assignment has been handed in unless they know why or how it relates to real life. Focus on their God-given strengths and they'll learn something of all these things in the process.
Can she develop her math skills by calculating how many square feet a pasture for five thoroughbreds needs to be? At $X per eight feet of fencing, what would the total cost be? Could she describe the thrill of winning her first race for a creative writing practice? What new words from the thesaurus could she learn how to spell to replace the ones in her story to make it even more exciting? Does she know how often the horse is mentioned in the Bible or what it is compared to? How has man's use of the horse shifted over the years? Could she make a historical timeline that documents the major changes? Is it possible to watch a foal being born at a nearby barn? Have her look at various horse paintings by different artists. What style does she gravitate to? What influenced the artist's rendering? Could she go riding for a few hours every week or help muck stalls for exercise?
Now you've got a child who's thrilled about learning because it involves something in His Creation that God has given her a passion about. Horses maybe just a quarter inch in the string of things there are to lean about, but her knowledge is a mile deep and in the process, she has learned valuable Math, English, Bible, Science, PE, History, and Art skills that she will never forget. Find out what your child is interested in and facilitate experiences in that area.
Photo source: Getty Images When we were on our honeymoon, I picked up a bacterial infection. I couldn't keep anything down and spent a day in the hospital on IV. The doctors gave me an antibiotic designed to kill the bacteria. I took it as prescribed, but the problem got worse. I sought the advice of a Doctor of Natural Medicine who suggested I take Black Walnut tincture. The infection was gone in two days.
A few months later, Brad lost thirty pounds in three months (and he didn't have a pound to spare in the first place). He saw multiple specialists and had every test under the sun. No one could make a diagnosis. He was eventually told, "Maybe this is your ideal weight. Not everyone is meant to be the same size." Another doctor recommended that he should start drinking Boost to gain weight.
We took a look at the ingredient list and were shocked to discover that the first three ingredients were water, sugar, and corn syrup which made up 47% of the actual serving! That's equivalent to swallowing your vitamins with a 237ml glass of water containing 7 teaspoons of sugar.
Brad wanted to gain the weight back but in a healthy way. He chose not to drink Boost. We quit going to doctors and started doing our own research. For two years, we tried various diets and eventually eliminated gluten, and limited corn, and cow's milk (we still love dairy, just not store milk itself). I started making smoothies full of good fat and kefir for breakfast and he started taking probiotics with his meals. We still have a long way to go, but he's slowly putting the weight back on.
When our then 18 month old son started getting chronic ear infections (at least one a month), we took him to a specialist. He said our son would eventually grow out of it, but in the mean time, we could either choose to have tubes put in his ears, or relieve the pain with Tylenol and Motrin. I knew Tylenol and Motrin would do nothing more than mask the real problem and was concerned with the toxic effect regular doses of ibuprofen would have on his liver and kidneys. A friend of mine recommended I take him to the chiropractor. After a series of four adjustments, he hasn't had an ear infection in over a year.
When our daughter was born 6 weeks premature, I was denied the right to breastfeed our daughter because the nurses said she would burn too many calories if I let her work for it instead of using the tube for feedings like they recommended. My midwife was happy to intervene on our behalf and when I finally got the chance to breastfeed our little girl, she gained four ounces overnight - more than she had gained on the tube since birth!
We were told our youngest baby's life was not "viable" (worth trying to save) until I reached 24 weeks; I hemorrhaged nine-days postpartum after a botched manual placenta removal; our ex-gynecologist had no problem delivering a child in one room and aborting another in the next.
Doctors are but men.
They have helped us on many occasions and to a large extent, we place a lot of faith in their expertise. However, we must be careful not to credit them with an infallibility they do not have, and remember that it's an individual's right and responsibility to choose who they trust with their healthcare.
We've been reminded many times over the past few years that the best men are men at best. Doctors make mistakes, just like everybody else. They don't have a solution to everything, and often their solutions are atomistic instead of holistic. If that's what you like, it's not a problem, but if your philosophy of healthcare has got you believing that we ought to focus on healing the root cause of a malady in addition to providing symptomatic relief, then it makes sense to investigate alternatives to conventional medicine.
It's odd to me that our advocating the use of natural means (which have proven to be effective and superior to conventional medicine several times in our experience) can bring out the worst in people. There seems to be some sort of understood rule that if you don't put all your money on a conventionally trained M.D. from the Mayo clinic, you must therefore be a fringe greenie who will drink herbal concoctions to the death!
We make our healthcare decisions based on a position somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. I'm not comfortable putting all my eggs in a basket I've seen break before, and I'm skeptical of advice that comes from a doctor who doesn't believe all of life is sacred, beginning at conception and ending with natural death.
I don't trust natural "medicine" doctors who believe the power to heal lies within yourself (this philosophy contradicts everything Scriptural), and I don't buy the lie that you can discredit diet, exercise, and proper hygiene so long as you take several handfuls of supplements and chug them down with a bottle of Pepsi. With conventional medicine now the third leading cause of death killing 225,000 people each and every year as recognized by the Journal of the American Medical Association and half of doctors routinely prescribing drugs they know won’t work, learning to stand up for yourself in any sort of medical situation and not take advice blindly can be a lifesaving skill. An informed patient is no doubt a doctor’s worst customer.~ The Healthy Home EconomistSo, who do we trust?
That's for you to decide, but these are a few principles our family tries to take into consideration when we have a decision to make regarding our health:
Find a Christian, pro-life doctor who respects your parental rights and invites inquisition. If your doctor ignores your questions, fails to give straight answers, or gets agitated when you don't immediately jump at his offer to write up a prescription, it's time to find someone who treats you like a human being instead of another cog in the wheel. Get a second opinion, and a third, and a fourth. I feel more confident of a diagnosis and prescription if multiple doctors are in agreement. If four doctors tell me four different things, I don't know who to believe and start seeking the counsel of others who have been in a similar situation. Seek counsel from seasoned mothers. Is there anything more sincere than a mother's love for child? Mothers who have dealt with a sick child are usually well-studied in all the different options available, and tend to have an empathetic heart to go along with it. Do your own research. By that I mean, don't believe everything you read online. Study reputable sources, consult with herbalists, chiropractors, nurses, nutritionists, doctors, and homeopaths. Self-educate and become well-rounded so you can make an informed decision. Trust your intuition. God gave that to you!
Pray! Too often I forget that the miracle worker of Nazareth is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God is not limited by time, space, medicine, or a diagnosis. He invites us to touch the hem of His garment when we've spent all our living searching for answers and finding none (Matthew 5:25-29). Remember that God has all our days planned. I can't explain the paradox of God's Sovereignty and man's responsibility, but it's a comfort, not a curse, to know that even though the responsibility of their healthcare falls into my lap, God entrusted them into our care after He had planned out all their days (Psalm 139:16). Not a hair can fall from their head without His permission (Luke 12:7). Recommended Resources:
Treating Fevers Naturally by Meagan Vissers, RN, FH. Meagan is a Christian friend of mine who has been trained in both conventional and herbal medicine. The information in her eBook was the answer to my concerns about Tylenol and Motrin's effect on our organs, and gave me a plethora of effective, natural solutions.
Treating Fevers Naturally taught meeverything the doctor didn't:what a fever is and why it’s a good thing; what’s going on with your child when they have a fever; what the difference is in “degrees” of fever; the concerns of fevers and how to deal with them appropriately; the difference in medical vs. natural treatment options; and natural treatments for bringing a fever down and making your child comfortable.
Treating Fevers Naturally sells for $14.97, but the education and confidence it gives a mother in charge of her child's health is priceless.
The Bulk Herb Store. The Bulk Herb Store is a Christian, family-run business that sells a vast collection of organic herbs and teaches people how to use them for practical and medicinal purposes.
I used their herbs to help a complicated pregnancy, and to make the post-partum herbal bath I enjoy after each child is born. Their book, Making Babies, taught me how to make my own herbal tinctures and salves and how and when to use them. I also use their spices and sea salt in my baking and cooking.
Other hugely informative books and videos they carry include:
Be Your Own Doctor by Rachel Weaver
Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD, MMedSci(neurology), MMedSci(nutrition)
Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Harrod Buhner
Herbal Antivirals by Stephen Harrod Buhner
Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar
Practical Herbalism by Phil Fritchey
The Green Pharmacy by Dr. James A. Duke
The Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White, M.D., Steven Foster.
Trust Your Intuition by Jenni Wilson, M. H., wife of an M.D. Trust Your Intuition is the combined work of several Christian medical experts (three of whom are my personal friends), and seeks to provide balanced, grace-filled, information regarding both conventional and alternative medicine.
It offers easy ways to protect yourself and family from synthetic medicine and it's negative side effects, help you avoid toxic treatments, and choose natural therapies that have proven to be effective in homes all across the country.
The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin, Ph.D., N.M.D. We were thrilled to discover this book shortly after Brad's weight reached an all time low. Most diet books are designed to help people lose weight, but The Maker's Diet is the story of how Jordan Rubin, a once healthy young man in his prime, who experienced the same kind of weight loss as my husband and was eventually given up on for dead by several doctors.
He started patterning his diet and nutrition according to principles he discovered in the Bible, attained his ideal weight, and wrote about his journey in book that has helped people boost their immune systems, improve their physical appearance and digestion, regain their energy, and reduce their stress.
We don't follow The Maker's Diet explicitly, but it was the foundation for much of our diet change and investigation into holistic healthcare.
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox. Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, A Wise Woman., Walking Redeemed,, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, We ARE That Family, Raising Mighty Arrows, Time Warp Wife, The Prairie Homestead,
I have searched high and low for a good, affordable, gluten-free alternative to canned cream soups to use in recipes like Chicken Broccoli Casserole. Who knew such a thing could be so difficult to find?! Then a friend emailed me this from-scratch mix. I tried it, we loved it, and just had to share!
Adapted from Taste of Home.
Ingredients:
2 cups dry milk powder (non-instant is preferred)
¾ cup organic cornstarch
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Directions: Mix all ingredients together with a whisk. Store in an airtight container.
To make into soup, combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 ¼ cups water in a small saucepan. Whisk until smooth. On medium heat, bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, until thick. Cool. This amount = 1 can condensed cream-of soup. For Cream-of Chicken Soup: use 1 ¼ cups chicken broth instead of water. For Cream-of Mushroom Soup: use water; add ¼ cup diced, cooked mushrooms to soup after it thickens For Cream-of Celery Soup: use water, add ¼ cup diced, cooked celery to the soup after it thickens or add a dash of celery seed to the mixture while it’s cooking.
Linking to: Mind Body Sole, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Natural Living,Modest Monday, A Wise Woman, Walking Redeemed, Gluten-Free Homemaker
I can't believe I'm already saying this, but our "little" (18+ lbs) boy Judah will be half a year old this month and is nearly ready to sample his first taste of "big people food!" To kick off the big celebration, purred organic carrots are on the menu. I like to start with carrots because they're naturally sweet, are the highest vegetable source of beta-carotene (which the body converts into Vitamin A) which is good for the eyes, contain many anti-oxidants, and are easily digestible.
Making your own baby food is a great way to ensure a healthy start on solids. You know exactly what your baby is eating and can pronounce all the ingredients. It's not a difficult task either; all that's required is a little time. And, for those of you who are concerned about finances, you'll be happy to hear that you can make your own baby food for about 10% of the store-bought variety (I made mine at $0.08 per serving compared to $0.79 per jarred serving).
Here's how to do it in 7 easy steps:
1. Wash and peel carrots
2. Chop 'em up
3. Steam carrots in a minimal amount of water until just tender.
4. Puree in blender until completely smooth. Add some of the cooking water if you need to thin it out a little.
5. Spoon into ice cube trays and freeze.
6. Once frozen, transfer to freezer bags in meal-sized portions. Seal tightly and return to freezer.
7. To serve, simple warm in saucepan or microwave. Doesn't it almost look too pretty to eat?
New here? A warm welcome to you! Allow me to introduce myself and give you a whirlwind tour of Growing Home!
My name is Jacinda Vandenberg. I'm a 20-something Canadian girl who's happily married to the love of my life, Brad. We homeschool our three children, Charity, Judah, and Anna, and are passionate about home-based, parent-led, biblical family discipleship, mentorship, economics, and entrepreneurial endeavors, of which we have many!
I'm a second-generation homeschooler, passionate homemaker, lover of medium roast coffee, whole food novice, and deeply thankful for God's grace, without which I am nothing.
Growing Home is where we share a holistic approach to gospel-centered family building with the desire to encourage and engage our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Here you'll find our thoughts on everything from family life, biblical womanhood, homeschooling, whole food cooking, and natural remedies to preserving the homemaking arts and casting a vision for future generations.
We believe in the sufficiency of Scripture, and understand that it's not our work or methodology that saves us, but the perfect redemption bought and paid for by Jesus on the Cross when he died and rose again to satisfy God's justice on our behalf. To that end, we desire to live holy, holistically, and wholeheartedly for the glory of God.
A few popular posts around here include:
5 Things To Expect If You Homeschool
Child Trophies
Girls Shouldn't Be Highly Educated... (is something I've never said)
How A Single-Income Family Can Afford A Whole-Food Diet
How To Be A Perfectly Miserable Mother
I am a Feminist (not really)
You can browse through our collection of favorite recipes (all of them are delicious, most of them are healthy), peruse our bookshelf, flip through our favorite curriculum, and, if you're a blogger (or want to become one), learn how to grow your blog while managing your home.
In my spare time (cough), I enjoy creating homeschooling and homemaking resources and eBooks such as the 1777 New England Primer Cursive and Alphabet Printable Sets, Growing Your Blog While Managing Your Home, Homeschooling Day by Day (a collaborative effort of 11 homeschooling Moms), and The Pursuit of Motherhood (another joint project involving 17 moms), and providing them to my readers as cheaply as possible.
If you'd like to connect in other ways, you can find Growing Home on Facebook, Google +, Twitter, Pinterest, and subscribe via email to receive updates each time new content is published.
We welcome your comments and questions as well, and will do our best to respond to them as soon as we can.
Thanks for dropping by! Join us again soon? *** If you have a homemaking related product you'd like to give away on Growing Home, please vising our Advertising Page for more information.
Do you have homeschool a child between the ages of 4 and 8? You may want to snag the February Printable Packet created by Kristy Howard from Little Natural Cottage, which is on sale for $2.00! Kristy makes a new set for every month (and sells them for far less than they're worth!) and our 4-year-old adores them. It's all "fun" to her, but she's improving her penmanship, learning how to count by two's, discovering special days and people, developing her critical thinking skills, and much more. The printables are a great, inexpensive supplement to any homeschool, and the perfect solution to eager students who think "school" should happen on Saturdays when your plan is to catch up on housework. ;) Get the February set for $2.00, the January set for $2.50, and stay tuned for the March edition which promises to be just as good!
Welcome to the 132nd edition of our weekly homemaking link-up party: Teach Me Tuesdays! Each Tuesday, you're warmly invited to link up anything homemaking related from you own blog and mingle with others who've done the same.
How have you grown your home this week?
Was it through gardening, preserving, baby-wearing, cooking, crafting, teaching your children, cleaning your house, loving your husband, or perhaps through something else the Lord has been teaching you? Encourage other aspiring Proverbs 31 women by linking up below. Share as many posts as you would like! A link back to Growing Home is greatly appreciated. :-)
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox.
We learned how to make these raw energy bites in a Goodness Me! whole food cooking class. I still have a hard time believing they're good for you. Usually anything I get cravings for is unhealthy, but I find myself wanting these things all. the. time. They're right up there with chocolate. Charity fondly calls them "Timbits" (you might have to be Canadian to get that). If you've committed to eating healthy (good for you!), Snicker Snackers are a guilt-free indulgence for when the urge to eat something rich is just too strong.
Ingredients
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup seasame seeds
1/2 cup raw honey
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup cocoa or carob powder
1/4 cup ground flax
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
Directions:
Combine ingredients in blender. Roll into small balls (refrigerate mixture for 1/2 an hour if it's too soft). Store in an air-tight container and keep refrigerated.
If you love whole food recipes, you'll love the Cottage Mama's eBooks written by Kristy Howard. The Cottage Mama Plans Her Menu is a favorite in our house with 29 healthy, tasty, budget-friendly recipes and a 2-week menu plan. You can download it here for $3.00.
The first step to becoming an excellent manager of your home is to understand your role and why it is so important.
As a whole, our culture dismisses the impact of a faithful homemaker and constructs stereotypes that are outlandishly opposed to our exemplary in Proverbs 31. For instance, note who gets attacked when one young girl says she's going to be a nurse and the other says she's preparing to be a homemaker, which, biblically and historically, is God's normative plan for women. It is considered a waste of talent and intelligence to bless your family with the gifts God has given you for eternal rewards, but admirable if a paper certifies a particular area of focus and you get paid monetarily.
We must not rely on society's view of homemaking as our source of strength, purpose, and encouragement. Our value and fulfillment is found when we understand that the almighty God of the universe has called us to this task, and therefore, there is no greater work as a wife and mother that we could be doing. "... teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2: 4The title "manager" denotes different types of jobs we must oversee to ensure our homes are running smoothly. Let's list them:
Accountant
Baker
Chauffeur
Cheerleader
Chef
Coach
Counselor
Dean of Education
Entertainer
Fashion Coordinator
Food Service Manager
Filing Clerk
Fitness Trainer
Gardener
Gift Coordinator
Health-care Practitioner
Interior Designer
Laundress
Maid
Purchasing Agent
Referee
Secretary
Short-order Cook
Travel Agent
Phew! It's no wonder conservative estimates suggest a homemaker's value is somewhere around 100K annually. Do it all "as unto the Lord," (Colossians 3: 23) believing that "as much as you do it unto the least of these my brethren, so you have done it unto me," (Matthew 25: 40) and you can be sure that your work is eternally priceless!
A woman who purposely trains to do all these things well will not just be an asset to her husband, but should the Lord call her to singleness, she will be able to minister well to anyone, wherever she is planted. This is why I tell my daughters that preparing to be a godly homemaker thrills Mommy's heart just as much, if not more, than having them trained, indebted, and degreed, in one particular field of interest at college. "Putting up the lunch for the children or cooking a good meal for the family may seem very insignificant tasks as compared with giving a lecture, writing a book, or doing other things that have a larger audience; but I doubt very much if, in the ultimate reckoning, they will count for as much." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the OzarksOnce you begin to understand and embrace the importance of your place inside your home, you can begin to draft a "mission statement" to refer to when you're feeling weary in well-doing, or you need to be reminded of your vision. It can be as simple as photo-copying Proverbs 31 and posting it on your fridge, or writing out your own summary on a note card and placing it above your sink. I've written mine inside my journal where I see it everyday:
"Called, authorized, and empowered by my Redeemer and Friend, with the blessing and support of my husband, my mission as the Keeper of our Home is to create an atmosphere of grace and forgiveness, order and flexibility, warm love and gentle affection, nutritious meals and fragrant aromas, conversation and education." I want our home to be: (Check all that apply)
Welcoming
Stressful
Warm
Light
Dark
Messy
Cluttered
Happy
Perfect
Neat
Chaotic
Tidy
Educational
Shiny
Sloppy
Organized
Attractive
Dusty
Beautiful
Positive
Well-arranged
Tense
Fun
Calm
Rigid
Creative
Chaotic
Cozy
Unique
Balanced
Homey
Joyful
Tacky
Intense
Purposeful
Simple
Appropriate
Immaculate
Functional
Fresh Bright
Expensive
Relaxed
As the Manager and Chief Executive Officer, you set the tone! Consider the list of words above; think about how you want your family and visitors to feel within your home. We'll start talking about practical ways to make your vision a reality next time!
Recommend Resources These titles encourage Keepers of The Home in their God-given calling. I'll list resources specific to organizing and maintaining different areas of the home as we cover them in this series. These are my affiliate links, but you are under no obligation to use them!
Passionate Housewives Desperate For God by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald
The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
Queen of the Home by Jennifer McBride
The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
Praise Her In The Gates by Nancy Wilson
Home-Making by J. R. Miller
Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman
Part 1: Keeping A Growing Home | A Management Series for Moms Part 2: Keeping A Growing Home | Know Your Role! Part 3: Keeping A Growing Home | Making Priorities & 15 Good Things I Don't Do Part 4: Keeping A Growing Home | Time-Saving Home Management Tips Part 5: Keeping A Growing Home | My Daily Schedule
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox. Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, We ARE That Family, Raising Mighty Arrows, Hearts For Home, Frugal Homeschool Family,
Dear Brad, I can hardly believe it has been five years since you slipped a ring on my finger and I slipped one on yours.
Five years since we promised to love and cherish each other as husband and wife until death separates us.
Five years since I was sure I had just lived the best day of my life.
But five years later, I know it was just the beginning of a love story that only gets better with time.
We added the roles of "father and mother" to "husband and wife" eleven months after saying "I do." You said you were nervous about holding a baby since you had little to no experience with newborns. But as soon as Charity Sofia entered the world at home in our bedroom, you embraced her like it was the most natural thing in the world. You were born to be a Dad.
19 months later, God gave us Judah Paul. I'm so glad you have a son. There's just something about watching you with our boy that takes my breath away. He is your shadow, your copy-cat, your biggest fan. The way he claps his chubby hands together and jumps up and down, races to find his shoes, and grins from ear to ear when I say, "We're going to see Daddy at work!" tells me you're his hero. I hope he grows up to be just like you and treats his future bride just like you treat me.
One year later, our third child was born to Heaven at 11 weeks gestation, shortly after we had excitedly announced to everyone that we were expecting again. By God's grace, we made it through that physically and emotionally painful week in the hospital. You knew Jesus could comfort me in a way that you couldn't so we cried over His Word together when I didn't have the courage to read it myself. I can't wait until we can see our Baby together for the first time when the Lord calls us to trade this life for the next.
Half a year later, we found ourselves expecting again but our joy quickly turned to sadness when we rushed to the hospital, convinced I was miscarrying again at 9 weeks. "I see a heart-beat!" Those words of life and hope would be repeated to us dozens of times by an ultrasound technician throughout the rocky pregnancy that included 20 weeks of bed-rest and moving in with your parents. At 34 weeks, I went into labor and our dear Anna Grace was born healthy and strong at 5 pounds, 2 ounces! We had been the objects of God's undeserved mercy and grace and were absolutely overwhelmed with joy by our precious miracle.
Our lives are busy and our days are full, but somehow you always manage to make me feel like the center of your world. Every day, in a thousand ways, you tell me how much you love me and though I often take it for granted, I couldn't imagine life without your sweet gestures and affection:
... "I love you," whispered in my ear each morning before you head to work,
... washing dishes in the evening together and putting off getting our dishwasher fixed because we enjoy the bonding time too much,
... curling up to you after the kids are in bed and hearing your deep voice read out loud to me,
... watching the kids shriek with delight when you run around the house with them on your shoulders,
... kisses planted on my cheek in the kitchen when you set your lunch box on the counter,
... witnessing the births of our children, and rejoicing over the blessings that God has entrusted into our care,
... driving into town when I'm pregnant to pick up a specific flavor of pizza from a specific franchise because it's the only thing I crave even though it's full of gluten and you won't be able to eat a slice yourself,
... coming home with my favorite coffee when you've "just gone to get gas,"
... forgetting and forgiving all the times I'm grumpy, whiny, and discontent,
... giving 110% at work all day and coming home to lovingly greet your wife and patiently listen to three excited children who have a hundred and one things they want to tell you as soon as you step inside the door,
... even though I find mowing the lawn therapeutic, you always beat me to it because you're a true gentleman. Same goes for shoveling the driveway, taking out the garbage, and emptying the compost,
... praying with and for me, leading family worship, long talks involving our deep, mutual interests: homeschooling, politics, entrepreneurship, and economics,
... you excel where I shy away, especially in positions that require leadership and efficiency,
... how you always call and ask, "Can I bring supper home?" exactly when I'm feeling overwhelmed and way behind on everything,
... how you send me an email every day from work asking how my day's going and and never forgetting to end it with: "Love you!"
... how you pat your stomach after dinner and say, "Honey, that was a meal fit for a king," even if it was one of my experiments gone wrong,
... I love how I fit perfectly inside your embrace when you wrap your arms around me and say, "Let's just hug for a few minutes," while I'm cooking dinner...
... the interest you take in this little blogging hobby of mine and how you happily take the time to edit my posts and compile my eBooks even though you could be doing so many other things,
... the way you put your family first, the way you mean what you say and say what you mean, the way you have never once raised your voice at me in anger, the way you make us feel safe, secure, cherished, and treasured.
How does that saying go?
You're the peanut to my butter, water to my ocean, glaze on my doughnut, spring in my step, twinkle in my eye, blue in my sky, cherry to my sundae, flip to my flop, milk to my cookie, sweet in my dreams, beat of my heart, cheese to my macaroni, best to my friend, love of my life.
Sweetheart, if the Lord tarries, I hope to spend dozens and dozens and dozens of half-decades with you. Each day, I'm more in love with you than the last and these past five years have been the best ones of my life. I would say "I do" all over again in a heartbeat.
5 years ago, I had no idea marriage could be this glorious... I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us for the rest of together.
I love you.
Your wifey,
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox. Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, We ARE That Family, Raising Mighty Arrows, Hearts For Home, Frugal Homeschool Family, Moms The Word, Hip Homeschool Moms, Trivium Tuesdays
Some of my fondest memories as a child were of summer vacations with our family. No matter how tight the budget (and with a large farming family, it was tight!), we always took a few days off from our regular routine in the middle of the year.
Sometimes we borrowed a trailer from friends and camped not a half-hour from home. Sometimes we tented in a provincial park. Four years in a row we cottaged at my Opa and Oma's resort up North.
We always come back refreshed and recharged after long nights of story-telling around the campfire, roasting marshmallows, early morning fishing off the dock, burying each other in the sand, and swimming across the lake. It bonded us closer together as a family and we excitedly looked forward to it every year.
Now that I'm married, we're carrying on the tradition with our own family and I have a whole new appreciation for the time and energy my Mom invested each year into our vacations! A summer holiday, especially with small children, requires a lot of work and preparation. There are plenty of ways however, to ensure that Mama enjoys some rest and relaxation too.
Here are 10 tips I learned from my Mom who's been camping with kids for 25 years!
1. Create a master checklist. Include everything from food to clothes and equipment. You may wish to incorporate multiple check boxes beside each item so you can reuse the list each year. Make mini check-lists for children who are old enough to read and be responsible for packing their own clothes.
2. Designate a "Camping Spot." In the weeks before hand, designate a room (or part of a room) in the house as "The Camping Station." Anything on the checklist that can be put together ahead of time can collect in that spot. Mark it off as you go.
3. Pack efficiently. This is especially important if your space is very limited. Camping with 3 kids ages 3 and under this year meant we had to take along many bulky items like strollers, a playpen, bassinet, and lawn chairs. We still had room to spare in our van by using stackable totes and diaper boxes for dry food and clothes, and large garbage bags for things that could be "squished" into awkward spots like blankets and towels.
4. Prepare your meals in advance. If you're hard-core camping (no electricity) this probably won't work. We rented a cottage this year that included an oven and fridge. I froze our dinners ahead of time in disposable foil pans. This made for quick and easy serving and clean-up! The ABC's of Freezer Cooking is worth a read if you plan on doing this.
5. Use paper everything. You're not going to win an eco-friendly awards for doing this, but if you want a real holiday from doing dishes, bring along paper cups and plates, plastic cutlery, and a large garbage bag. I thoroughly enjoyed a week off of dishes this year (and the kids loved having us be able to spend that extra time with them).
6. Prepare for bad weather. Bring along warm sweaters in case of cold and rain. Read-alouds and board games are great for days you're forced to stay inside.
7. Stick to your routine as much as possible. Children thrive on routine! Try your best to schedule meals, nap-times, and bed-time as you usually would for a family of happy campers.
8. Insist on small children wearing life-jackets. You don't want your vacation ending in tragedy! If you're going to be next to water, insist on young children wearing flotation devices any time they're outdoors. Two minutes of being distracted with something else is all it takes for a child to drown.
9. Use the "Treasure Chest" to keep long drives fun. Fill a container with fun finds from the Dollar Store and allow children to pick something new out of the Treasure Chest to play with every hour on long drives. Lap-sized Magna Doodles, snacks, plastic animals, and dinky cars are great hits! Audio books like Adventures in Odyssey, Jonathan Park and Farmer Boy (our choice this year) are great ways to keep older children occupied (and to be honest, Mom and Dad too!). 10. Keep your expectations low. Be determined to make the best of each situation, that way you won't be disappointed when it rains all week, the mosquitoes are vicious, you get a flat tire, and the kids don't sleep well at night. If the point of your holiday is to enjoy bonding time as a family, embrace the opportunities to display a selfless love towards them!
Do you enjoy vacationing with your family? What are some tips you've found helpful in making your time together as restful and relaxing as possible?
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support. Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, A Wise Woman.
I lied. These aren't really my Grandma's cookies. Nor did this recipe come from her. They do, however, taste like hers, and if you've ever tried them, you're probably smiling right now because her recipe is impossible to duplicate and anything that tastes remotely close to the original is bound to be delicious at the very least! :-) If you like them soft and chewy like we do, cooking them on stoneware and flattening them as soon as they come out of the oven is key. The heat from the stone will continue to cook the bottom while the rest of it cools, leaving you with a perfectly scrumptious new addiction! Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. butter, softened
1 1/4 c. granulated sugar
1 1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla
2 eggs
4 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 c. butterscotch chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in chocolate chips.
Roll Tbsp sized dough balls and placed 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly.
Bake 11-13 min. Flatten with flipper immediately after they come out of the oven. Cool. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
This recipe makes a huge batch - 80 cookies or so, depending how big you make them. Disclaimer: These cookies are not for people on a gluten-free diet, or anyone who's concerned about weight gain, or has difficulty with self-control. ;-)
Last week, I was sent a copy of Real Food for the Real Homemaker and let me tell you, this is one gem of a cookbook! I love a good, hearty, healthy, home-cooked meal almost as much as I enjoy making them so when the opportunity to get creative with new recipes in the kitchen presents itself, I jump!
Real Food for the Real Homemaker sifts through the myriad of information (and misinformation) we've all heard about fats, grains, raw milk, and organic produce and provides a condensed and sensible approach to eating healthy, hearty food that tastes like it came from Grandma's kitchen.
No offense to the authors, but this eBook is reminiscent of those coil-bound United Church Cookbooks put together by sweet little seventy-year-old members of the Ladies Guild. I mean that as the sincerest compliment!
It teaches the basics every cook should know like which kitchen tools are absolutely necessary (and which brands give you the best bang for your buck); how to practice hospitality; how to make granola, yogurt in a crock-pot, and tortillas from scratch; how to save at the grocery store, freezer cook, and substitute ingredients.
Plus, you'll enjoy over 75 home-style recipes with a healthy twist. Among them:
Breads & Breakfast Recipes Apple Nut Muffins with Caramel Glaze Baked French Toast Baked Oatmeal Banana Bread Best-Ever Scrambled Eggs Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch Quiche Cornbread Egg Bake Egg Sandwiches Eggs in a Nest Granola Orange White-Chocolate Chip Scones Perfect Pancakes Popovers Rolled Biscuits Sausage Gravy Simple Cream Biscuits Tortillas Yogurt
Sides, Soups, & Salad Recipes Applesauce Baked Beans Caesar Salad Cheesy Potato-Vegetable Soup Homemade Garlic-Herb Croutons Chicken Salad with Grapes and Apples Chicken Stock Chili Cucumber Salad Fruit Salad with Yogurt Dressing Fruit Salsa Ham and Cheese Soup Italian Pasta Salad Italian Vinaigrette Mashed Potatoes Mushroom Soup Oven-Fried Potatoes Peaches with Ginger Syrup Quick Tomato Soup Ranch Dressing Roasted Root Vegetables Ruby Red Fruit Salad Tomato and Cucumber Salad Vegetable Beef Soup White Chicken Chili
Entrée Recipes Bean, Rice, and Salsa Bowls Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet Cheesy Chicken-and-Rice Casserole Chicken and Pasta with Balsamic Vinegar Sauce Chicken Fajitas Chicken Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie Chicken Stir-Fry Couscous Chicken Pilaf Creamy Lemon Pasta Fresh Tomato-Vegetable Sauce Fried Rice Grilled Shrimp Pasta Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Meatballs Pasta al Fredo Pizza from Scratch Slow-Cooked Chicken Slow-Cooked Pork Chops with Gravy Slow-Cooked Herbed Pork Roast Stuffed Bell Peppers Tilapia Variations Toasted Tomato-Cheese Sandwiches Tuna-Stuffed Tomatoes
Dessert Recipes Baked Apples Butterscotch Pudding Classic Pie Crust “Everything” Cookies Homemade Brownies Lemon Cheesecake Squares Lemon-Lime Ice Rice Pudding Strawberry Pie
Best of all? Full-color photos are included with almost every recipe! Whether you're a rookie in the kitchen, deep inside a cooking rut, attempting to replace your favorite dishes with healthy versions, or simply looking to expand your recipe repertoire, Real Food for the Real Homemaker is valuable resource for any cook and a guaranteed hit with the whole family!
For $12.95 $9.99, you get all of the following:
Real Food for the Real Homemaker in both the KINDLE and PDF version,
a set of beautiful recipe cards,
an Excel program for creating shopping lists and menu planning!
Enter below to win a copy or purchase yours here for $9.99 - this week only! a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox. In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. Thank you for your continued support! Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, The Prairie Homestead
What if you could be mentored by 17 Moms? Well, you can through our brand-new, 153-page eBook, The Pursuit of Motherhood! It covers everything from homeschooling, adoption, and infertility, to breast-feeding, special needs children, and leaving a legacy... and best of all, it's on sale for $3.99 to help you start the New Year with a new attitude! You can read more about it and view the Table of Contents here.
The Pursuit of Motherhood 153 pages $7.99 $3.99
Welcome to the 128th edition of our weekly homemaking link-up party: Teach Me Tuesdays! Each Tuesday, you're warmly invited to link up anything homemaking related from you own blog and mingle with others who've done the same.
How have you grown your home this week?
Was it through gardening, preserving, baby-wearing, cooking, crafting, teaching your children, cleaning your house, loving your husband, or perhaps through something else the Lord has been teaching you? Encourage other aspiring Proverbs 31 women by linking up below. Share as many posts as you would like! A link back to Growing Home is greatly appreciated. :-)
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox.
Don't forget! This week is your last chance to get two of our top-selling eBooks for 50% off or more!
The Pursuit of Motherhood 153 pages$7.99 $3.99
Homeschooling Day By Day:$4.99 $2.00 40 Chapters (with Discussion Questions) PDF Version:
KINDLE version:
This is also your last chance to take advantage of Homeschool Enrichment Magazine's 58% OFF sale! (Read all about why we love this magazine so much here).
Welcome to the 131st edition of our weekly homemaking link-up party: Teach Me Tuesdays! Each Tuesday, you're warmly invited to link up anything homemaking related from you own blog and mingle with others who've done the same.
How have you grown your home this week?
Was it through gardening, preserving, baby-wearing, cooking, crafting, teaching your children, cleaning your house, loving your husband, or perhaps through something else the Lord has been teaching you? Encourage other aspiring Proverbs 31 women by linking up below. Share as many posts as you would like! A link back to Growing Home is greatly appreciated. :-)
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox.
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