In the midst of lesson planning and yearly scheduling for our upcoming homeschooling year with two 9th graders and an 11th grader, I really shouldn't be taking the time to let you know about this. I'm so excited to let you know about what I discovered this summer - completely changing the way I manage our homeschool grades and develop a high school transcript for my girls - that I've stopped my lesson planning for the evening and am writing this here for you! When you see my full review of My Home School Grades and their new 3.0 version in a few weeks, you'll probably be sadly disappointed with my past years of, um, well, attempted recordkeeping. Yes, I tell all in my sad tale. That has all changed! Here's how: I discovered My Home School Grades this summer, and wow! I've tried other online grade recordkeeping programs, and I just haven't been satisfied with what they offer, both free and paid versions of available programs. Well, that all changed when I watched the video for My Home School Grades. If you are a homeschooling parent, I think you'll find the video, below, an amazing way to show you what My Home School Grades will do for your family and your recordkeeping sanity! MHSG Introduction from My Home School Grades on Vimeo. Now, here's the thing: What you see here, in this video, is My Home School Grades, version 2.0. That's the version I bought, and it is better than anything I've ever tried before. But coming out this autumn is My Home School Grades, version 3.0, and after talking on the phone with the owner, John Echols, version 3.0 is going to make version 2.0 look like a dinosaur. ☺ I can't divulge all of the new and extra features that My Home School Grades 3.0 will contain, but I can already tell that it's going to save me a lot of time. I'd share the details of how it will save me time, but I'm supposed to keep those details a secret for now. Shhhhh! ☺ My Home School Grades v. 2.0 has the following price structure:  . . . or a lifetime membership plan for $149.99. This weekend - Labor Day weekend - My Home School Grades is offering their lifetime subscription for $99.99. This includes all updates and versions they will ever develop in the future, as well as customer service offered seven days a week. And, after September 1, 2014 at 10 p.m., they will no longer EVER AGAIN offer a lifetime subscription. So . . . if you are homeschooling two children for 12-13 years each, that works out to be $4 per year per child. In order to receive this kind of discount, that will never be offered again through My Home School Grades, you'll need to pay for your lifetime subscription over the phone. Here's the phone number: 800-516-9872 and here's their website in case you want to check this out a bit more: http://myhomeschoolgrades.com/
Of all of the homeschooling items I've talked about here on Joy In Our Journey, My Home School Grades is one of the best! If you are stressed out about making report cards and developing a high school transcript, My Home School Grades completely takes off the pressure and automatically develops your child's transcript for you. It's truly amazing! Since My Home School Grades has been developed by a homeschool dad who couldn't find any grading software that did everything he wanted it to do, he developed it himself, and this is the product. If you have any questions, please call My Homeschool Grades between now and Monday, September 1st at 10 p.m. (Pacific). They are extremely helpful, and I'll be sharing more about their software and program in a few weeks!
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 Some content includes links to affiliates, which gives me a very small percentage of the sale. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you! After eating the Trim Healthy Mama way for over 18 months now, my family misses a few family favorites from the past, now and then. We used to love eating mashed potatoes and other potato-based dishes. However, we've discovered that in many cases, we can substitute lightly steamed cauliflower in place of the potatoes, and some of that favorite deliciousness from meals in the past comes right to our dinner table! This recipe received blue-ribbon scores from all of my family members as the top recipe we tried this month. ☺ Usually, one or two of us really like a new recipe, and the rest of the family is ho-hum about it. I'm usually one who likes just about anything, so I enjoy trying new recipes. In fact, we liked this so well that we doubled the batch to fill a very large rectangle baking dish so we could enjoy it for a couple of nights as leftovers - yum! Here's the recipe and the printable recipe page to download and print out. This recipe will work delightfully for all of you who are following Trim Healthy Mama or need to be on a low-carb or low-glycemic diet:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Cut fresh cauliflower into small florets, discarding the leaves and core. Steam or boil cauliflower until slightly soft, so it can be mashed. (I prefer to remove steamed cauliflower from the heat before it's fork-tender.)
 In a separate small bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, Greek yogurt, and sliced green onions. When cauliflower has started to soften, drain it well, place cooked cauliflower back into the pot, and mash it with either a potato masher, a hand mixer, or my favorite stick blender. (A stick blender will give more of a "mashed potato" texture, while a hand mixer or a potato masher will give more of a "riced cauliflower" texture.) Stir in the cream cheese mixture and combine well with the mashed cauliflower. Gently mix in the cubed ham. Season to taste with pepper. Spray an 8x8" casserole dish with nonstick coconut oil spray. Spread cauliflower mixture into the dish; spread out evenly and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the cheese has melted and lightly browned, and the mixture is hot throughout and has started to bubble. Remove from oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes for any extra liquid to be absorbed. Serve hot. Serves 4-6. Free recipe printable:
You just finished reading Ham, Cheese, and Cauliflower au Gratin. Consider leaving a comment! This post was originally published on http://www.JoyInOurJourney.com. If you see this posted elsewhere, it has been illegally scraped, and I'd love it if you would let me know. Thanks! 
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You can see that each packet of drink mix, which easily makes 2+ cups of Raspberry Lemonade, only contains 10 calories, no sodium, no fat, and only 1 gram of carbs. Woot!
Here is the list of ingredients:
- no artificial sweeteners
- Fresh-squeezed lemon taste with a burst of raspberry flavor
- Just 10 calories per 2-cup glass
- Preservative-free, sodium-free, and gluten-free
- Sweetened with a blend of Stevia and a very light touch of sugar
Here is the list of ingredients:
- crystallized lemon: citric acid, lemon oil, lemon juice, Vitamin C
- sugar (very tiny amount)
- natural raspberry flavor
- Stevia Leaf Extract
- Beet Juice and Turmeric (for color)
True Lemon's Raspberry Lemonade is so quick and easy to make. Just pour one drink packet into 16 oz. (two cups) of cold water.
But...if you love sparkling, bubbly beverages on a hot day, here's what I do!
But...if you love sparkling, bubbly beverages on a hot day, here's what I do!
 | I fill my SodaStream bottle up to the line near the top with cold water. I twist the bottle of water up into the SodaStream, push the button on top until it makes three "buzzes", and now I have carbonated water. ☺ If you don't own a SodaStream, you can buy club soda and chill it in the refrigerator until needed. |
Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade Recipe!
If you are going to use carbonated water for your Raspberry Lemonade, here's a caution:
***Pour the drink mix powder into a tall glass first! Then, pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of carbonated water into the glass; stir gently until powder has disappeared. Slowly add more carbonated water until you've added around two cups altogether. Stir, add ice, and enjoy!
And yes, I learned the hard way to add the drink powder first when using carbonated water. Ha! We're talking Raspberry Lemonade all over my kitchen counter, shooting up toward the ceiling, and all over me!
Wow. Lesson learned. ☺
There are some new flavors that True Lemon is also making:
***Pour the drink mix powder into a tall glass first! Then, pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of carbonated water into the glass; stir gently until powder has disappeared. Slowly add more carbonated water until you've added around two cups altogether. Stir, add ice, and enjoy!
And yes, I learned the hard way to add the drink powder first when using carbonated water. Ha! We're talking Raspberry Lemonade all over my kitchen counter, shooting up toward the ceiling, and all over me!
Wow. Lesson learned. ☺
There are some new flavors that True Lemon is also making:
- Peach Lemonade
- Original Lemonade
- True Lime Black Cherry Limeade
- True Orange Mango Orange
- True Orange-ade
 | Want to make Raspberry Lemonade |
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This post was originally published on http://www.JoyInOurJourney.com. If you see this posted elsewhere, it has been illegally scraped, and I'd love it if you would let me know. Thanks!
I didn't receive any True Lemon products free in exchange for a review. I wasn't paid to write this. I just no longer crave soda due to being able to make my own sparkling raspberry lemonade in 1-2 minutes, and thought you might want to know about this, too! Disclosure: Some content includes links to affiliates, which gives me a very small percentage of the sale. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
I didn't receive any True Lemon products free in exchange for a review. I wasn't paid to write this. I just no longer crave soda due to being able to make my own sparkling raspberry lemonade in 1-2 minutes, and thought you might want to know about this, too! Disclosure: Some content includes links to affiliates, which gives me a very small percentage of the sale. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
 See below for my giveaway of some amazing socks! | Maybe I'm the only person around who has this problem. I would enjoy wearing socks, but they drive me C-R-A-Z-Y! Those beautifully knitted and machine woven socks that should comfort my feet so cozily are just so uncomfortable. I think it all began when rayon and other nylon or man-made materials found their way into socks. So halfway through the day, or sometimes even after five minutes (!!!), my legs are telling me that my socks are pressing too firmly against my calves or ankles - and ouch! Okay, so I'm the sensitive type. ☺ But truly, even though my pre-diabetes rarely causes me to have swollen feet and ankles anymore, thanks to the Trim Healthy Mama diet, my lower carb eating lifestyle, and using a lot of full mineral sea salt these days, socks are just not comfortable. And the sock itch? If you get that from the socks squeezing your feet and legs, you know what I mean! |
I heard that there was a new type of socks being made for diabetics. Even though I'm not a full-blown diabetic, my feet are just sensitive, and have been since I was a skinny mini in college...so I decided to be brave and try the new Buster Brown Wearever 100% Cotton Socks for Women.
Oh, wow.
Oh, wow! Wow! WOW! ☺
 | Being completely truthful here about these socks...the minute I put them on, I knew right away that these socks were going to work well for me. I was so excited! |
 | Maybe these socks feel so comfy without being restricting because they are made of 100% cotton. Where I live, I truly cannot find any 100% cotton socks. The last time I looked at another online clothing company that sells socks, I couldn't find any 100% cotton socks there, either. But these Buster Brown Wearever socks are 100% cotton. Just like the photo here, they stay up without slouching, but THEY ARE NOT RESTRICTING. !!!!! I have a big dresser drawer full of socks from many brands and companies, and every single pair is not fun for me to wear. They are too restrictive, and cause major sock itch. |
A little bit about the Wearever Socks by Buster Brown:
Wearever's new 100% cotton socks are made by Buster Brown for maximum comfort and durability. Great for those who have poor circulation, easily irritated skin, or diabetes, Buster Brown's Wearever 100% cotton socks are made with no elastic or synthetics. (Hooray!!!)
The seamless design of Buster Brown cotton socks with cushioning are designed to improve comfort, reduce binding, and eliminate skin irritation. Wearever currently offers three comfortable styles of socks.
I personally prefer the socks on the far left. Knee highs haven't been my thing since I was a young child, and the web-look diabetic socks on the far right just really aren't me, either. ☺
My favorite!
Buster Brown Wearever Diabetic Socks come in the following shoe sizes for women:
Shoe size 5 - 7
Shoe size 7.5 - 9
Shoe size 9.5 - 10.5
Shoe size 11 - 12
Wearever decided to begin offering diabetic socks because they understood the difficulties associated with diseases which created complications related to problems with circulation. Many standard socks restricted the flow of blood, which, over time, caused clotting, bruising, and many other serious conditions.
After wearing these socks for a full day, I can say that I experienced absolutely NO chaffing, sweating, rashes, itching, and swelling. Wahoo! However these socks are made, they are amazing!
So just in case you think I'm super terribly picky about socks, a relative came to visit this week. Even though younger in years, she has experienced some medical problems that have greatly affected her feet and legs, even to the point of disability.
I wanted to see what she thought of these socks, since I was so happy with them. She put them on this morning (a clean pair - don't worry!), and told me a couple of hours later, "The instant I put those new socks on, my legs and feet felt so amazing! I've never had socks feel like that before!"
Okay, so it's not just me. She loved them so much that she refused to take my new socks off. ☺
So I gave them to her. And when I find the other two pairs that I received to review and tell you about, I'm going to give them to her as well.
Then, I'm placing an order for as many of those socks as I can afford to purchase...or get away with purchasing. ☺ Get a 6-pack of your favorite item and save big! Wearever U.S. also offers free shipping on all domestic 6-pack orders.
Drawbacks to these socks?
After wearing these socks for a full day, I can say that I experienced absolutely NO chaffing, sweating, rashes, itching, and swelling. Wahoo! However these socks are made, they are amazing!
So just in case you think I'm super terribly picky about socks, a relative came to visit this week. Even though younger in years, she has experienced some medical problems that have greatly affected her feet and legs, even to the point of disability.
I wanted to see what she thought of these socks, since I was so happy with them. She put them on this morning (a clean pair - don't worry!), and told me a couple of hours later, "The instant I put those new socks on, my legs and feet felt so amazing! I've never had socks feel like that before!"
Okay, so it's not just me. She loved them so much that she refused to take my new socks off. ☺
So I gave them to her. And when I find the other two pairs that I received to review and tell you about, I'm going to give them to her as well.
Then, I'm placing an order for as many of those socks as I can afford to purchase...or get away with purchasing. ☺ Get a 6-pack of your favorite item and save big! Wearever U.S. also offers free shipping on all domestic 6-pack orders.
Drawbacks to these socks?
- Price: $8.95 per pair of socks. Ouch - but thankfully it only hurts the pocketbook and not the feet.
- No markings: no markings near the toes or anywhere to indicate the Wearever/Buster Brown name...so hard to find in sock drawers because so many socks look alike when folded into a "ball".
- I'd love to see some ankle sock options; not the "no show" socks, but anklets.
- Would love to see navy blue and tan colors as well.
- These are thin socks, so I don't know how long they will hold up without getting holes in them.
Now for the 3-pack 100% cotton sock GIVEAWAY:
Entrants must be 18 years or older; only U.S. residents are eligible to enter this giveaway.
I will select the winner of this prize using Random.org (via this Rafflecopter entry form, below).
I will be verifying the winning entrant's giveaway entry options to make sure they are valid. In the past several months, multiple winners were excluded from winning even though their names had been selected randomly as winners, because they said that they had signed up for email subscriptions but had not completed the process, which includes clicking on an email you will receive to confirm your subscription. An email subscription to Joy In Our Journey.com is not a requirement to enter our giveaways, but if you do use an email subscription option to enter to win, please make sure that you click on the confirmation email that you will receive. That will validate your entry. Thank you! :)
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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
This post was originally published on http://www.JoyInOurJourney.com. If you see this posted elsewhere, it has been illegally scraped, and I'd love it if you would let me know. Thanks!
 Read more, below, to enter the giveaway for one DVD copy of "Ragamuffin"! |  Singer and songwriter, Rich Mullins |  New DVD: "Ragamuffin" (based on the life of Christian music artist, Rich Mullins) |
I don't know if you enjoy listening to modern Christian music, the type of foot-stomping, soul-driven music that reaches deep into the heart.
I began listening to Christian music like this in the late 1970s and early 1980s when it was a new thing.
At some point in the 1980s, I began to hear songs on the radio which were written by Rich Mullins. I also enjoyed listening to other songs that I didn't know were written by Rich Mullins, like Sing Your Praise to the Lord, recorded by Amy Grant. Eventually, his group was named Rich Mullins and A Ragamuffin Band, and their biggest hit was the famous song, Awesome God. Rich Mullins was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) on April 29, 2014.
Maybe you remember this song? Rich Mullins didn't think it was the best song he had written, but Christians loved it:
| Videos and giveaway forms may not show up in email or RSS feeds, and the columns and photos/text may seem "off" a bit. If something seems to be missing in your reader or email, please click over to read the rest on my blog page. | When He rolls up His sleeves He ain't just putting on the ritz (Our God is an awesome God) There's thunder in His footsteps And lightning in His fists (Our God is an awesome God) And the Lord wasn't joking When He kicked 'em out of Eden It wasn't for no reason That He shed His blood His return is very close And so you better be believing that Our God is an awesome God CHORUS: Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above With wisdom, power, and love Our God is an awesome God | And when the sky was starless In the void of the night (Our God is an awesome God) He spoke into the darkness And created the light (Our God is an awesome God) Judgement and wrath He poured out on Sodom Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross I hope that we have not Too quickly forgotten that Our God is an awesome God  |
Several months before my oldest daughter was born in 1997, Rich Mullins suddenly passed away. We were shocked; we had worshiped with his music for many years at this point in time. We'd even seen him in concert and appreciated his deep love for Jesus Christ. He was the kind of man who wasn't an "entertainer" on stage; he felt it was important to talk to the audience and share the love of Christ in each concert. He was a man of meaningful quotes. Here's one of them:
I recently had the opportunity to view the new DVD movie about Rich Mullins' life: Ragamuffin. Rich's brother, Dave Mullins, felt it was important for people to understand Rich's life and ministry.
I can honestly say that this is one of the best movies I've seen in a l-o-n-g time. Truly, Ragamuffin gave us all a lot to think about when it finished. This is not an "everything turns out fine in the end" type of movie.
Rich Mullins was a man whose life was filled with torment, much of it stemming from his childhood with a father who was too stern and couldn't figure out how to say "I love you" to his son, Rich.
Over and over again, I wanted to shake Rich's father by the shoulders and say, "Don't you know what you are doing to your son by acting like this?"
Rich struggled his entire life with trying to comprehend God's love as a heavenly Father toward himself. Toward the end of his life, he begins to figure this out and make peace with his father, but I don't want to spoil all of the movie for you.
I can honestly say that this is one of the best movies I've seen in a l-o-n-g time. Truly, Ragamuffin gave us all a lot to think about when it finished. This is not an "everything turns out fine in the end" type of movie.
Rich Mullins was a man whose life was filled with torment, much of it stemming from his childhood with a father who was too stern and couldn't figure out how to say "I love you" to his son, Rich.
Over and over again, I wanted to shake Rich's father by the shoulders and say, "Don't you know what you are doing to your son by acting like this?"
Rich struggled his entire life with trying to comprehend God's love as a heavenly Father toward himself. Toward the end of his life, he begins to figure this out and make peace with his father, but I don't want to spoil all of the movie for you.
If you've been wary of a lot of Christian movies and DVDs because of the lack of professionalism in so many of them, Ragamuffin is different. Very different. The acting, cinematography, music - everything is done incredibly well. We will be watching this movie again...and there are quite a few Christian DVDs that I'll only watch once because the acting is poor, or the music is quite pitiful, or the cinematography just isn't right.
Ragamuffin has it right.
***I would caution families that this movie (rated PG-13) does contain several swear words as well as many scenes of people smoking and drinking. However, this content is not just thrown into the film to glorify this behavior. It is merely showing the type of life that Rich Mullins experienced.
Ragamuffin has it right.
***I would caution families that this movie (rated PG-13) does contain several swear words as well as many scenes of people smoking and drinking. However, this content is not just thrown into the film to glorify this behavior. It is merely showing the type of life that Rich Mullins experienced.
- Available on Blu-Ray, DVD or as a digital download
- Starring Michael Koch as Rich Mullins
- Rated PG-13 - (alcohol, smoking, depression)
- Single Disc - 137 Minutes
- Visit the Movie Website for more information
- Like the Rich Mullins Film Facebook Page; Follow @RichMullinsFilm on Twitter
- Watch trailers on the YouTube Channel
- Find a Store to buy your own copy
The new DVD, Ragamuffin, has just been released, and the soundtrack will be in stores on July 22nd. Fans of Christian music will want to own this one because it features Jars Of Clay, Derek Webb, Sidewalk Prophets, Audrey Assad, Leigh Nash, and more! As a bonus, the CD will include two NEW, original, never-before heard songs from Rich Mullins that were recorded in the early 1970's.
Ragamuffin is officially available in stores at WalMart on Blu-Ray and DVD, and online here at Walmart.com. Pick up a copy or buy a few copies to give to the ragamuffins in your life or those who need to be reminded of the love of God. You can also get the movie digitally on iTunes and Amazon.
Ragamuffin is officially available in stores at WalMart on Blu-Ray and DVD, and online here at Walmart.com. Pick up a copy or buy a few copies to give to the ragamuffins in your life or those who need to be reminded of the love of God. You can also get the movie digitally on iTunes and Amazon.
Ragamuffin DVD Giveaway:
Entrants must be 18 years or older; only U.S. and Canadian residents are eligible to enter this giveaway.
I will select the winner of this prize using Random.org (via this Rafflecopter entry form, below).
I will be verifying the winning entrant's giveaway entry options to make sure they are valid. In the past several months, multiple winners were excluded from winning even though their names had been selected randomly as winners, because they said that they had signed up for email subscriptions but had not completed the process, which includes clicking on an email you will receive to confirm your subscription. An email subscription to Joy In Our Journey.com is not a requirement to enter our giveaways, but if you do use an email subscription option to enter to win, please make sure that you click on the confirmation email that you will receive. That will validate your entry. Thank you! :)
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This post was originally published on http://www.JoyInOurJourney.com. If you see this posted elsewhere, it has been illegally scraped, and I'd love it if you would let me know. Thanks!
I received one copy of the "Ragamuffin" DVD for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while viewing this movie.
I don't know about you, but my experiences learning history in school were incredibly boring.
I don't use that word lightly. Teachers who require students to read a basic, uninteresting summary of a portion of history, chapter by chapter, assigning questions at the end of the chapter and then giving students a chapter test, is the most unimaginative way to teach a subject that I can think of, especially history.
And that is what I experienced throughout all of my grades in school - and in college.
Boring.
I actually learned very little of the 12 years of U.S. history that was presented to me in this way. I truly remember very little except the pioneer field trip in 3rd grade. Sad.
When I stopped teaching in the public schools and began educating my children in our home, I decided that we weren't going to learn history in that manner.
We haven't. ☺
Our years of learning history, from Creation through modern times, has consisted of:
...and much more, as well as working through several history texts that were actually written in a manner that was interesting and poignant to work through.
When I heard that Diana Waring had written some new historical books with accompanying CD's that would bring the Old West, a new nation, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder books to life, I was all for that!
I wanted to share this with you because if you are a home educating family, or you know someone who is - or you know someone who is a teacher and could benefit from a fun, well-designed addition to their U.S. history/pioneer curriculum, this is a great option to add for some learning fun!
If you have children or grandchildren, or other children in your life, and they haven't yet learned the folk songs that you'll see listed below, this would be fun to read through and listen to some fun and fabulous folk music that accompanies each historical vignette.
I don't use that word lightly. Teachers who require students to read a basic, uninteresting summary of a portion of history, chapter by chapter, assigning questions at the end of the chapter and then giving students a chapter test, is the most unimaginative way to teach a subject that I can think of, especially history.
And that is what I experienced throughout all of my grades in school - and in college.
Boring.
I actually learned very little of the 12 years of U.S. history that was presented to me in this way. I truly remember very little except the pioneer field trip in 3rd grade. Sad.
When I stopped teaching in the public schools and began educating my children in our home, I decided that we weren't going to learn history in that manner.
We haven't. ☺
Our years of learning history, from Creation through modern times, has consisted of:
- listening to music (see below to watch the short video of my daughter fiddling for you!)
- making foods from countries and eras
- art projects
- models
- timeline figures
- crafts
- reading biographies and historical fiction
- writing
...and much more, as well as working through several history texts that were actually written in a manner that was interesting and poignant to work through.
When I heard that Diana Waring had written some new historical books with accompanying CD's that would bring the Old West, a new nation, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder books to life, I was all for that!
I wanted to share this with you because if you are a home educating family, or you know someone who is - or you know someone who is a teacher and could benefit from a fun, well-designed addition to their U.S. history/pioneer curriculum, this is a great option to add for some learning fun!
If you have children or grandchildren, or other children in your life, and they haven't yet learned the folk songs that you'll see listed below, this would be fun to read through and listen to some fun and fabulous folk music that accompanies each historical vignette.
 Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder Contains these songs:
|  Westward Ho!: The Heart of the Old West Includes these songs:
|  America 1750-1890: The Heart of a New Nation Songs:
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Experience History Through Music contains 3 book/CD sets:
- America 1750-1890:The Heart of a New Nation
- Westward Ho!: The Heart of the Old West
- Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder
As the name of this series implies, these book and CD sets allow you to Experience History Through Music. Each title contains one book and one CD. The pages of the books hold dozens of historical pictures, bright and interesting stories connecting each of the songs to its moment in history, and even sheet music and chord charts! The CDs are rousing, professional recordings that draw in all listeners. The two combine for fond memories and a grand, knee-slapping good time.
These books are available for $18.99 each, but during July 2014, all 3 books with CDs are available for $50 as a set.
How Experience History Through Music works:
 Read a 1-2 page vignette that explains how a particular folk song came to be, or about a topic that may include something from a folk song. |  At the back of the book, find the accompanying song and watch as you listen to the song on CD. Fun! |
One of the songs from the CD (played by my daughter):
Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY! You could WIN your own copy of these books, along with a huge list of other great resources!
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I love giveaways...so when I heard that Diana Waring was celebrating her brand new musical method of experiencing American history through folk songs and stories by hosting a giveaway, I knew that many of you who educate your children at home or choose to supplement your children's education would be interested in this one! ♥
While my family hasn't used Diana Waring's full history program over the years, we have enjoyed her audio CDs to accompany different eras of history.
Diana has a brand new series of books with accompanying CDs that include folk songs and true retellings of America's westward expansion, the Old West, and even a book on Laura Ingalls Wilder - wow!
While my family hasn't used Diana Waring's full history program over the years, we have enjoyed her audio CDs to accompany different eras of history.
Diana has a brand new series of books with accompanying CDs that include folk songs and true retellings of America's westward expansion, the Old West, and even a book on Laura Ingalls Wilder - wow!
 Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder |  Westward Ho! The Heart of the Old West |  America: The Heart of a New Nation |
I'm excited to be participating in the launch of the upcoming release of Experience History Through Music by Diana Waring!
In a couple of weeks, I'll be sharing my family's review of these new history products, but for now, I'm joining members of the Diana Waring Launch Team for an amazing giveaway. Friends of Diana have joined in and as you can see, someone’s familyl is going to be greatly blessed!
Our family has used a number of these items in our own home and have found them to greatly enhance our children's education, including Diana Waring's products, Map Trek (one of the best map products I've found yet), and Philosophy Adventure.
Here’s what you have an opportunity to win, should you enter and win one of the giveaway items:
In a couple of weeks, I'll be sharing my family's review of these new history products, but for now, I'm joining members of the Diana Waring Launch Team for an amazing giveaway. Friends of Diana have joined in and as you can see, someone’s familyl is going to be greatly blessed!
Our family has used a number of these items in our own home and have found them to greatly enhance our children's education, including Diana Waring's products, Map Trek (one of the best map products I've found yet), and Philosophy Adventure.
Here’s what you have an opportunity to win, should you enter and win one of the giveaway items:
 | From Diana Waring Presents: Experience History Through Music – set of 3 books with CDs ($50/set) Diana Waring Presents is about to bring back into print the BEST folk music you have ever heard, combined with the fascinating stories they represent in American history! The Experience Music Through History series includes:
The musicians are amazing, every instrument is real, lots of great vocalists, and more toe-tapping music than you can imagine! The books tell the stories behind the songs. Together, they bring American history to life through its music!! With fascinating history books and toe-tapping folk music CDs, American history has NEVER been this fun! |
 | Also from Diana Waring Presents: Encouragement for Homeschool Moms Collection ($25) Every mom needs that word of encouragement from someone who has been there, who has grownup children and can speak with assurance about the journey. Homeschool moms have an extra portion of the journey to navigate, and often wish for an extra voice that will offer direction but without nagging or prodding. Diana Waring has that voice. |
 | From A Journey Through Learning $50 Gift Certificate to spend in the A Journey Through Learning store, applicable toward any digital download purchase. |
  | From Homeschool Legacy
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 | From Knowledge Quest Maps Map Trek: Atlas and Outline Maps of World History ($55) Map Trek is a historical atlas plus outline maps that allow you to teach geography alongside history. This is a resource that any homeschool parent can use with brilliant success, even if you don’t remember a thing from your history or geography classes in public school. |
 | From Home School Adventure Co. Philosophy Adventure™ Digital Download ($39.95) Philosophy Adventure™ is designed to help students 6th-12th grade cultivate and defend a biblical worldview by teaching them how to write skillfully, think critically, and speak articulately as they explore the history of ideas. |
 | From Heidi St. John (The Busy Mom and Real Life Press) Firmly Planted Family Devotional Digital Volume 3 ($39) The Firmly Planted Family Series is divided into ten-week studies and is your key to making sense of the Bible—even if you’re learning right along with your children. Each lesson provides a core idea, a simple narrative, memory verses and discussion questions for children of all ages. And the companion student workbook is filled with age-appropriate, full-color, reproducible activities for children of any age! |
  | From Raising Real Men
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 | From Excellence in Writing $50 Gift Certificate to spend in the IEW store, applicable toward any purchase. |
 | From The Old Schoolhouse Magazine SchoolhouseTeachers.com ($139) One-year membership to the curriculum arm of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Nearly 100 classes for Pre-K to High School, taught by expert teachers, and lots of extras including the Schoolhouse Planners, Schoolhouse Expos, monthly free ebook downloads and more. |
 | The Old Schoolhouse Magazine 2014 Print Book ($15) Be encouraged, enlightened, and educated with the all new 2014 Annual Print Book published by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine.You’ll get a year’s worth of homeschool support in almost 300 pages in this full color one-of-a-kind print magazine for homeschoolers, by homeschoolers. This is a magazine you’ll refer to again and again. |
  | From Writing with Sharon Watson The Power in Your Hands ($53.96) With The Power in Your Hands: Writing Nonfiction in High School, they’ll learn what they need to know for high school and will be prepared for college writing. Writing Fiction [in High School] ($35) Are you raising the next C. S. Lewis or Jane Austen? Help your students develop their fiction-writing talents with Writing Fiction [In High School]: Bringing Your Stories to Life . |
How to enter this amazing giveaway:
To enter the giveaway, all you'll need to do is to use the Rafflecopter form, below, and fill out or click on the specific parts you'd like to use to enter this giveaway.
This giveaway is only for residents of the U.S., age 18 and older only. Other terms and conditions can be found in the Rafflecopter form.
Also notice that you can earn up to 95 entries into this specific giveaway, so while it looks like thousands of people have already entered it, it is a lot fewer people than that. Do the math! ☺
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Disclosure: Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
Read all of my helpful articles on planning a family vacation to Washington, D.C.!
You've been planning a trip to Washington, D.C. (or somewhere else!) and want to pack as carefully and frugally as possible, but you need some helpful tips for your student or family?
Well, you've come to the right place! Keep on reading for some great packing and safety tips, as well as a FREE printable packing list.
I'm going to show you how to frugally pack your luggage so that you avoid baggage fees, bring the right items along with you (with my free printable DC packing list), and don't overpack.
Our family planned our trip so that we'd be in Washington, D.C. for 7 full days. We were told we could pack everything into carry-on luggage. My thoughts at first were, "Yeah, right!" But we did it, easily! I'll show you how.
Some of these tips aren't as frugal as they could be; for example, I didn't buy $12 el-cheapo shoes in which to walk. That's because I would have been in misery walking 5-10 miles per day in them! However, I wanted to show you some of the ways to help your trip be as comfortable as possible at the best price I could find for durable, long-lasting items.
The weather can vary greatly in the Washington, D.C. area. Read more about how to choose the right time of year to visit Washington, D.C. for your family.
 | Once I figured out how to pack a carry-on suitcase for a full week of clothing (or more, if necessary), we purchased a carry-on suitcase for each of us. This was our children's first time flying, so we didn't have the right luggage we would need. Below, you'll see a helpful video to show you how to pack several weeks of clothing in a carry-on suitcase. In our small town, we could only find two carry-on bags of the right size (and price) at one store, and two at another store. We purposefully bought luggage that we could return within 30 days if it broke during our trip, so we bought our carry-on luggage about two weeks before our trip. Two of our carry-on bags broke during the trip. They were still useable, but the zippers weren't working properly. We promptly returned them when we arrived back home and got our money back. However, the two American Tourister carry-on bags worked wonderfully! Each bag cost just under $50, but we'll use these again and again. |
You'll want to check with your airline to see what their exact requirements are regarding carry-on luggage. We chose to fly with Alaska Airlines, so we were each allowed one carry-on bag, which - including wheels and handles (very important to know this!) - could measure up to but not more than 10" H x 17" W x 24" L (25 x 43 x 61 cm), plus one personal item, such as a purse, briefcase, backpack, or laptop computer.
My smart husband found the carry-on luggage that most closely matched those size requirements so we would meet the limit but still be able to pack as much as possible. By the way, the Kirkland carry-on luggage from Costco is just a tad too large for many airlines' overhead storage. You'll want to avoid that brand for your carry-on bag.
We each were able to bring one carry-on piece of luggage plus a decent sized backpack...and we tied our lightweight hooded coats around our waists until we were allowed to move around in the plane after take-off.
Our family saved $200 just from not bringing any checked baggage with us. Woot!
My smart husband found the carry-on luggage that most closely matched those size requirements so we would meet the limit but still be able to pack as much as possible. By the way, the Kirkland carry-on luggage from Costco is just a tad too large for many airlines' overhead storage. You'll want to avoid that brand for your carry-on bag.
We each were able to bring one carry-on piece of luggage plus a decent sized backpack...and we tied our lightweight hooded coats around our waists until we were allowed to move around in the plane after take-off.
Our family saved $200 just from not bringing any checked baggage with us. Woot!
  | Before we packed for our trip to Washington, D.C., we frequently checked the weather forecast for our dates of travel so we'd know what to expect ~ in general:
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You'll want to bring clothing that reflects the kinds of activities in which you plan to participate and the weather that you expect.
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What to pack:
Pack comfortable walking shoes for travel to Washington, D.C.
 Clarks "In Motion" Women's Shoes  |
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How in the world do I pack for a week or two in carry-on luggage?
I'll admit it. Even after watching this video, I was skeptical. This guy owns a Packing Light store, so you could probably guess that the clothing he is selling is very thin, durable, easily washable in a sink, and is for those who are truly "going light" as they travel.
But after I laid out all of my clothes in the same manner that he did, I found that my clothes, shoes, and more fit easily into my small carry-on luggage!
Wow. I was really surprised. My girls didn't think it could be done, so our whole family watched the video together. My husband packed his own carry-on, and I worked individually with each of the girls to help them pack theirs.
Bottom line? This totally worked! ☺ It's a free 8-minute video that saved us $200 in luggage fees.
But after I laid out all of my clothes in the same manner that he did, I found that my clothes, shoes, and more fit easily into my small carry-on luggage!
Wow. I was really surprised. My girls didn't think it could be done, so our whole family watched the video together. My husband packed his own carry-on, and I worked individually with each of the girls to help them pack theirs.
Bottom line? This totally worked! ☺ It's a free 8-minute video that saved us $200 in luggage fees.
What should I pack, besides clothing and shoes?
 | Baggage I.D. tag: a baggage I.D. tag should be inside every one of your bags. Here's a free printable baggage I.D. tag from Alaska Airlines to fill out and place inside the large zipped compartment of your carry-on bag. You may also write your own, using an index card or piece of paper. |
     | Use packing cubes, like these Small Packing Cubes by Dot&Dot. Read my review of these here. Limit toiletries to necessary, travel-size items. Pack items like shampoo in small containers. You're only allowed to carry 3.4 ounces (100ml) or less (by volume) bottles of gels, liquids (including liquid makeup), and aerosols, packed inside 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger is placed in the screening bin. You can buy toiletry kits that are designed to match the liquid requirements of TSA for carry-on luggage, or you can pack your own using smaller travel sizes and containers. Just keep in mind that the tiny travel bottle of shampoo that you find in the stores isn't a frugal purchase at all; you'll save money after a couple of trips by buying a toiletry kit and filling the containers yourself. Silicone Travel Bottles: Regular plastic bottles tend to waste moisturizer, sunscreen, and hair products that can't be squeezed out as easily. These new, squishy travel bottles made out of transparent, soft silicone are easy to clean, more flexible to pack, and best of all, you won't waste any product in them. You can also find these at Walmart, Marshall's, and other department stores from time to time. Camera. I know, I know. Everyone is so excited to take photos and videos with their smart phones. Well, even though picture quality on smart phones has dramatically improved, it still won't capture memories quite the same as a high quality yet easily portable camera. My parents let us borrow their Canon PowerShot G15, and it took fabulous photos! When we arrived home, I reluctantly gave it back to my parents. ☺ While we felt we couldn't afford to replace my old camera with a G15 or the newer G16, my husband did purchase a Canon PowerShot ELPH 330/340HS for me for our anniversary, and we got a great camera that takes excellent photos and videos for a little price. Nice! (Hint: check the Canon.com website for "Promotions". We got our ELPH 330HS for under $150 in mid-December because of a short-term promotional price.) Additional camera memory. You never know how much video you might want to take on your trip! We watched Amazon.com closely and found a Sony 64GB SDXC Class 10 Memory Card on a one-day deal in September before our trip, so we grabbed that for around $18 (usually closer to $35). Its high speed enabled us to take faster night shots without flash, which worked out really well when visiting the memorials at night. At 64 GB, it also held thousands of photos and tons of video! If you can afford to bring a second memory card, in case your first one begins to fail, that's also a great idea. |
  | Batteries and chargers. The PowerShot ELPH 330 uses the NB-4L Battery Pack, so I purchased two additional batteries to accompany my camera. The Canon versions are $59.99 each, so instead I purchased two off-brand compatible batteries, rated highly by customers on Amazon.com, for $11.99 each. I've been using the off-brand batteries for six months now, and so far, they work just as well as the Canon battery. Every night, back at our motel, I charged my camera batteries to make sure they would be ready the next morning. Power Strip. We didn't take our Belkin multi-socket power strip with us, since we left our laptop at home. However, it would have been nice to have, since we had a smart phone, a Kindle Fire, and two iPod Touches with us that needed charging each evening. Next time! It has two USB-2 ports, as well as three 3-prong plug ins. If you're coming from outside of North America, you may need an electrical adapter and plug converter. |
 This pocket-sized travel guide even has a compass on the outside spine!  See how the maps "pop out"? They actually unfold to be quite large. | Guidebooks and maps. Joanne, my friend - and our tour guide - brought with her this amazing book. It's a tiny hardbound book, under $10, that easily fits into a purse, backpack, or even a pants pocket! InsideOut Washington DC has two very detailed, fold-out maps with a 64-page, full-color illustrated guide. The guide opens with two itineraries. If you're short of time and want to see all the best that DC has to offer, these itineraries are sure to help you explore and savor the best that Washington DC has to offer. The guide is then divided in to 7 chapters:
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 Totes Micro-slim Umbrellas | Travel umbrella. Totes makes a micro-sized umbrella that folds up to six inches in length. It easily fits into a jacket pocket, or a small backpack or medium- to large-sized purse. As I mentioned earlier, we each took one with us, knowing we could easily use them in the future. Thankfully, we only had about 20 drops of rain hit us one morning. |
 Jansport backpacks | Bring a backpack. You can use your large daypack/backpack as your "personal bag" on the airlines. If you normally carry a purse, just keep your small purse inside your backpack while flying. Place your umbrella, lightweight hooded coat, wallet, camera, maps, snacks, lunch, water bottles, and souvenirs inside! The Jansport backpacks are high quality - and large enough - and can often be purchased for around $25 if you watch the deals online year-round, or in the stores at the middle of September after school has started. If you decide to bring your backpack with you on daily trips, keep in mind that when entering some Smithsonian and governmental buildings, your backpack and/or purse will be searched. |
You can purchase a less expensive backpack if you'd like. All of the cheaper ones I found were much smaller, though, and not as well built. It's up to you. Our daughters use their larger sized Jansport backpacks for overnight trips to friends' houses, and as book bags, so they use them regularly, and will use them for years.
Security is taken very seriously in D.C. I would recommend not taking big bags or backpacks while sightseeing. Leave them at the hotel and make certain smaller bags and pockets don't contain anything that can be considered dangerous, even nail clippers. If you go to the Capitol Building or the White House, they won't allow your backpack to enter the building - or water bottles or food - so leave them in the hotel that day.
Security is taken very seriously in D.C. I would recommend not taking big bags or backpacks while sightseeing. Leave them at the hotel and make certain smaller bags and pockets don't contain anything that can be considered dangerous, even nail clippers. If you go to the Capitol Building or the White House, they won't allow your backpack to enter the building - or water bottles or food - so leave them in the hotel that day.
 Baggallini "Paris" (crossbody bag)  Baggallini Messenger Bag | Carry a purse. I carry a purse out of necessity, not because I enjoy carrying purses. I'd actually rather be without a purse! But for travel, "crossbody" purses work really well slung across your body so that your shoulder doesn't get so tired by the end of the day (or after an hour or two), and they are less prone to theft being carried across the body. Baggallini Travel Purses are a very durable "crossbody" style, meaning that you can either wear them with a long strap (up to 50" in length) across your body, for better safekeeping, or you can shorten the strap to make it a shoulder bag...or remove the strap altogether. For travel, this is an excellent brand. I've used two Baggallini travel bags: for our trip to Disneyland six years ago, I used a crossbody modified messenger bag style that would carry water bottles, maps, and everything else we would need. It was wonderful, and it's lasted for six years with no problems whatsoever. Baggallini purses and bags aren't the cheapest, most frugal options available, but they are extremely sturdy. You'll use these bags for years. Trust me - I have! |
For our trip to Washington, D.C., I knew that our bags would be searched in many locations, and I wanted everything to be easily accessible. I knew I wouldn't be carrying a water bottle around with me most days, so I selected a crossbody purse from Baggallini, the Paris version. Unfortunately, Paris is out of stock almost everywhere I've looked, even though I just bought it in October 2013, about 9 months ago.
I wanted something that was very durable, lightweight, weatherproof, and zipped/fastened well. I also wanted a long shoulder strap. In addition, I wanted to be able to carry my Kindle Fire with me, since I don't own a smart phone. With the Paris purse dimensions being 10 1/2" wide x 8" high x 4" deep, this met my needs! While I don't have much room left in the main interior pocket, I can still get my Kindle Fire (in a thicker zipped case) in the purse, and still carry my checkbook and several other things, plus a lot more in the outside zip pockets.
- Shoulder strap length: 50"
- Includes interior back wall zipper pocket and two interior multi-function pockets
- Small bag included
- Two small exterior pockets
If you're looking for a durable purse that will hold a Kindle Fire in its case, plus quite a few other things, yet still be lightweight and not a "huge" purse, these dimensions should work for you. The 4" depth is pretty important. If a purse only has 1" or 2" depth, it will be tricky to get a Kindle Fire in there along with anything else. You can try googling the Paris style of purse, or find something else on the Baggallini website that will meet your needs. Also, PackingLight.com has an excellent selection of Baggallini crossbody purses (not an affiliate link).
Whichever style of purse or crossbody bag you decide to purchase, I recommend that it's made out of lightweight heavy duty nylon instead of heavy leather or alternative leather options. Leave everything out of your purse that you truly won't need on your trip, to lighten the weight.
You want me to bring what?
I know, these are kind of oddball items to include for your trip, but they don't take up much room. They could be very helpful to you on your trip, depending on what you encounter:
 | Duct Tape has so many uses that I won't be able to list them all. What about taping up exploded luggage or removing lint from clothing? Carry a small roll (about $5) with you to patch tears in shoes, bags, or clothing. Needing to baby-proof your hotel room by covering outlets and securing drawers shut? Duct tape will work well for that! You can also hold together a well-worn guidebook when the spine gives out. |
 | Moist Wipes are so useful when traveling! You'll be able to sanitize your hands and kill germs on tray tables, doorknobs, tabletops, and other public places, and you can also use them as a refreshing face cloth after a day spent traveling. The alcohol in many wet wipes helps remove ink stains in a pinch, too. (For guaranteed stain-protection, pack a few Shout Wipes.) |
 | Safety Pins - Have you ever thought of clasping the zippers of your day pack together to keep thieves at bay? Or use a safety pin in place of a missing button or zipper pull? If you're walking through muddy areas, you can tack kids' pant legs up so they don't get as filthy. Safety pins also prevent static cling in a dress or skirt if you slip the safety pin into the seam of your slip (the metal has repelling properties). |
Safety tips for traveling:
- Before you leave on your trip, digitally scan your passports, plane tickets, driver license, and other important papers and store them in an online email account (like Gmail or Google Docs, etc.). This allows you access to important information if it's lost or stolen.
- Also before you leave town, get travel insurance on your trip; this covers flights and lodging, among other pre-arranged expenses, in case you become ill. Make sure your medical insurance will cover you in another country, and consider purchasing emergency travel medical insurance as well.
- Spread out your cash, credit cards, and debit cards into different pockets and bags in order to limit your losses in case you're a victim of robbery or you lose something.
- Each day, take a picture of your traveling companions in the clothing they are wearing that day. This way, if someone is missing or lost, you will have a very current photo to show the police.
- Everyone in your group should carry emergency contact information on them, including I.D. and the name of the hotel where you will be staying, parents' names (for children), phone numbers to reach parents, etc.
- Don't keep your wallet in your back pocket!
- Leave your jewelry and expensive cameras at home. Don't say or do anything that would indicate you are wealthy or of affluence. And remember, if traveling to a poor area or a third-world country, even the poorest Americans are usually wealthier than many of the residents of that area or country.
- When sitting in a restaurant or cafe, don't leave your purse or bag dangling from the back of your chair, or set it at your feet. Instead, keep it on your lap or wrap the strap around your leg.
FREE printable packing list:
Click on the packing list image, below, to download and print my FREE printable packing list!
Share your packing and traveling experience with us all! If you think I've left something important out of this information, let us know! Thanks!
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Disclosure: Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
Mother's Day 2014 has officially passed...well, in 36 minutes, it will have ended.
If you are a mother, how was your Mother's Day?
Glorious?
Disappointing?
Ho-hum?
When my girls were little, they were sweetly guided by Daddy to pick out a card and a small gift for me. Mother's Day was a special day for me.
As the girls grew a bit older, I found myself having bigger and better expectations of what Mother's Day would be like for me. You know, breakfast in bed...(yeah, right; it's a busy Sunday morning!)...lots of gifts...everyone picking up after themselves and putting all of the dirty dishes into the dishwasher...lunch or dinner made for me...me sitting on the couch and eating bon bons...and on and on.
You've been there, right?
Unfortunately, the girls didn't have the same expectation for themselves. They would forget to make a card...or be so busy in their childhood "busyness" that they didn't get around to making it seem like a very special day for me.
There were even a few Mother's Days where I found myself making my own breakfast while we all rushed to get out the door to go to church. And I found myself resenting the day a little bit, because I "expected" a lot more than that.
A couple of years ago, I began to think about the rewards of motherhood. I have loved being a mom to our two daughters. They are a joy in my life - every day!
But if I set "Mother's Day" too high on a pedestal, as a day to be worshiping me as a mother and meeting my every need and expectation, I am going to be brutally disappointed.
Instead, I look forward to Mother's Day because I know that some sort of recognition and love will be shown to me. And I treasure the thought of that, though I know that my girls honor and show love to me almost every day. :) I am truly blessed.
And I know that even if my family doesn't recognize my efforts, God does. Serving my family is an incredible gift I am giving to them. Nurturing and raising our children is a huge ministry that I don't take for granted.
This Mothers' Day, the girls put some time into planning a special day for me. ☺
If you are a mother, how was your Mother's Day?
Glorious?
Disappointing?
Ho-hum?
When my girls were little, they were sweetly guided by Daddy to pick out a card and a small gift for me. Mother's Day was a special day for me.
As the girls grew a bit older, I found myself having bigger and better expectations of what Mother's Day would be like for me. You know, breakfast in bed...(yeah, right; it's a busy Sunday morning!)...lots of gifts...everyone picking up after themselves and putting all of the dirty dishes into the dishwasher...lunch or dinner made for me...me sitting on the couch and eating bon bons...and on and on.
You've been there, right?
Unfortunately, the girls didn't have the same expectation for themselves. They would forget to make a card...or be so busy in their childhood "busyness" that they didn't get around to making it seem like a very special day for me.
There were even a few Mother's Days where I found myself making my own breakfast while we all rushed to get out the door to go to church. And I found myself resenting the day a little bit, because I "expected" a lot more than that.
A couple of years ago, I began to think about the rewards of motherhood. I have loved being a mom to our two daughters. They are a joy in my life - every day!
But if I set "Mother's Day" too high on a pedestal, as a day to be worshiping me as a mother and meeting my every need and expectation, I am going to be brutally disappointed.
Instead, I look forward to Mother's Day because I know that some sort of recognition and love will be shown to me. And I treasure the thought of that, though I know that my girls honor and show love to me almost every day. :) I am truly blessed.
And I know that even if my family doesn't recognize my efforts, God does. Serving my family is an incredible gift I am giving to them. Nurturing and raising our children is a huge ministry that I don't take for granted.
This Mothers' Day, the girls put some time into planning a special day for me. ☺
I woke up to a beautiful bouquet of freshly cut flowers from our backyard, and two delightful homemade cards.
I also love these homemade Low-Carb Quick & Healthy Waffles. But we didn't plan ahead really well, and were out of cottage cheese, so Kelsi and I drove down to the nearby grocery store and bought some cottage cheese this morning so she could make these for us all to enjoy.
I also love these homemade Low-Carb Quick & Healthy Waffles. But we didn't plan ahead really well, and were out of cottage cheese, so Kelsi and I drove down to the nearby grocery store and bought some cottage cheese this morning so she could make these for us all to enjoy.
My parents attend the same church as my family, so I was able to sneak into my mom's adult Bible study class this morning and give her a little orchid corsage. I love surprising her with pretty things like that. She deserves it!
We were blessed with a convicting and God-honoring message from our pastor at church this morning, focusing on the first chapter of the book of Ruth. I love that part of the Bible!
We were blessed with a convicting and God-honoring message from our pastor at church this morning, focusing on the first chapter of the book of Ruth. I love that part of the Bible!
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After visiting with different friends after church, my parents and my family set out to find lunch. Our first choice, a local Greek restaurant, was closed for Mother's Day. While we were disappointed, I'm glad that their employees were able to enjoy a nice day away from work so they could spend time with their moms and wives. ☺ We settled on eating at a gourmet hamburger restaurant and enjoyed taking our time to sit and visit with each other.
After lunch, we did a couple of little errands around town, and then my husband and girls surprised me with this!
After lunch, we did a couple of little errands around town, and then my husband and girls surprised me with this!
If you haven't seen "Moms' Night Out", it is a hilariously funny movie - yet is so poignant that it will make some of you cry. It's totally worth going to see this in the theaters! Here's a preview of the movie, if you haven't heard of it or haven't seen it yet:
We had fun watching the movie. The girls laughed so hard! But after the movie, one of them said to me, "Mom, has being a mommy been that difficult? Because if it is going to be like that, I'm scared!" I giggled. "Sure, there were some moments like that, but no, our lives have not ever really looked that bad...but for some moms, it might."
"Whew!" and a big sigh of relief was heard. :)
After the movie ended (around 5:00 p.m.), we came home.
The girls begged me to open presents and read through their cards, so I was happy to do that. Who wouldn't be? :)
"Whew!" and a big sigh of relief was heard. :)
After the movie ended (around 5:00 p.m.), we came home.
The girls begged me to open presents and read through their cards, so I was happy to do that. Who wouldn't be? :)
 The girls bought me two scarves and some new cosmetics! Fun! |  |
But the best part of Mother's Day were the homemade cards and sentiments inside them:
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After that, it was back to business for us all. ☺
Elmer needed to pay the bills, and the rest of us had some chores to do as well. Brittany cleaned out the guinea pig cage...Kelsi practiced violin for a couple of hours...and I paid some medical bills and sorted and filed the papers that had stacked up on the kitchen counter.
Then, we all relaxed the rest of the evening until it was bedtime.
If your Mother's Day wasn't what you had hoped it to be, please know that God sees your efforts as a mother, and He honors the service and love you provide to your family. Some day, your family will look back on how you sacrificed for them, and they will treasure you even more.
How did your family help you celebrate Mother's Day this year? Also, what has been your favorite Mother's Day memory?
Elmer needed to pay the bills, and the rest of us had some chores to do as well. Brittany cleaned out the guinea pig cage...Kelsi practiced violin for a couple of hours...and I paid some medical bills and sorted and filed the papers that had stacked up on the kitchen counter.
Then, we all relaxed the rest of the evening until it was bedtime.
If your Mother's Day wasn't what you had hoped it to be, please know that God sees your efforts as a mother, and He honors the service and love you provide to your family. Some day, your family will look back on how you sacrificed for them, and they will treasure you even more.
How did your family help you celebrate Mother's Day this year? Also, what has been your favorite Mother's Day memory?
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Some content includes affiliate links, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
I stopped eating flour-based foods and most processed foods in January 2013.
While much of the transition to gluten-free, low-carb eating has worked well for my family, I've really missed eating crackers and chips.
Yup. It's the simple things in life that inspire me. ☺
I used to love to nibble from a box of Wheat Thins crackers from time to time. So there were supposed to be 8 servings of crackers in a box of Wheat Thins? I guess I missed that part. Ha!
Recently, I saw a recipe for Sour Cream and Chive Crackers on Low Carb So Simple.com. Could a homemade, gluten-free, low-carb cracker actually be as good as that website promised?
I decided to give it a try. And I was astounded with the amazing results! I changed up the recipe a little bit, making it work better for my finicky taste buds, and here are my results:
- 4 cups almond flour (I love the Honeyville brand for being finely ground)
- 1.4 oz or 40 grams green onion stems or fresh chives
- 1/2 cup + 2 tsp. full fat sour cream (I love the Daisy brand - no chemicals!)
- 1-1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt or to taste (Redmond RealSalt is wonderful)
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
Preheat oven to 250° F (100° C). Holding a small bunch of green onion tops or chives, use kitchen scissors to snip them into very small pieces, or use a knife to slice them thinly. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients with your hands or a heavy spoon. Knead dough until smooth, approximately 30-60 seconds. Divide dough into two balls.
Place each ball of dough on a separate baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat silicone baking mat. Cover each dough ball with a piece of parchment paper. With a rolling pin or pastry/pizza roller, roll the dough as thin as you can - the thinner the dough, the crisper the cracker. Remove the top parchment paper.
Cut the dough into 1" or 2" squares with a knife, pizza cutter, or pastry wheel. The pastry wheel does a nice job of giving the crackers that zig zag look. ☺ I use my grandmother's 80-year-old pastry wheel, but this one would work well, too.
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Place baking sheets in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, checking several times so make sure the crackers don't get too brown or burn. Lower heat if they are getting too brown but aren't quite crispy enough yet. Cool completely and break into squares.
After crackers have cooled, store them in airtight containers or ziplocks. They will stay crisp for at least 4-5 days...if they last that long!
After crackers have cooled, store them in airtight containers or ziplocks. They will stay crisp for at least 4-5 days...if they last that long!
Here's the free printable version for your 3-ring binder:
(Email subscribers may need to click back to the original post to download the PDF printable recipe page.)
Click on the picture, below, to download the printable recipe:
Click on the picture, below, to download the printable recipe:
If you've switched to a low-carb eating plan, what's been the hardest part for you?
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In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Hi! I'm Julieanne!
You'll find me in the kitchen
trying new Trim Healthy Mama recipes, loving God, and carrying out that love as I bless my husband and teen daughters.
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