Travel Joy - Paris
Paris.
Just the name brings up thoughts of romance. Movies. Chocolate croissants. Glitz and glam. Art and fashion.
As part of our homeschool experience, my family was able to make the journey to Paris, France - in the middle of September. It was the perfect time to go. It was in the 50’s most days, and a little rainy off and on. We were ready and had packed rain jackets and water-proof boots so the weather didn’t hold us back.
For about a month, our library’s shelves were depleted of anything related to the France and it’s history as we prepared for the trip of a lifetime.
Motherhood: Complaining, Becoming a Group Drop Out and Deconstruction
Mommy groups have never been my thing. I just never fit in. As a younger mom, I really tried to connect with other moms in my church and community. Whenever I tried, it just wasn’t natural. Everything was awkward. Finally, I stopped forcing myself into uncomfortable situations.
For years I thought something was wrong with me and I was just a social misfit.
Guest Post by DNA Counselor Brianne Kirkpatrick
Brianne Kirkpatrick is the founder of DNA Watershed. She is a DNA Counselor, wife and Super-Mom to three children. And to top it off, Brianne has co-authored a book on DNA topics for adoptees which will be released soon! It’s such an honor that she agreed to be a guest on my blog!
Brianne and I met briefly at NBC Studios while on set for the Megyn Kelly Show a couple of months ago. She is leading the charge in the world of DNA Counseling. With the tsunami of people taking DNA tests via Ancestry.com, 23 and Me and others, there often come questions and surprises. Brianne is there to help you navigate the waters of understanding who you are, genetically.
Where Does All The Grace Go?
Hey friends, I’m excited to have been asked to guest post for Abby McDonald! Her blog is full of encouragement for Christian ladies as she helps you on your journey towards “Finding the Hope of Christ in a Messy Life.” I hope her words bless you.
Here’s an excerpt from my post, head over to Abby’s blog to read the rest.
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
Can a Christian celebrate Halloween in good conscience? Do you believe that Jesus came to redeem and set the captives free? That Jesus came to bring life? That Jesus came to conquer sin?
Hear me out…
Brokenness
After years of counseling, changing beliefs and thought patterns and seeking God's truth, the realization happened again, "I am broken. My family is broken. Will it ever end? I need help." My husband and I had just had a fight and my emotions were raw. Pain from the past and fear for the future was filling my heart. But then I heard, "We are all broken," inside my head, and the freedom of knowing this was a human condition, not merely a Rebekah condition calmed me. "I will always need help. No one can ever be perfect. That's why there's Jesus."
Brokenness is another Christian buzz word. Unfortunately, it's a word that has been used to control people and make us continue working to achieve God's approval.
The Last Tooth
I'd put my kid to bed, grabbed my lap top and nestled into my own King-sized. I had work to do for a client. Fifteen minutes later, my bedroom door flings open, crashing into the wall. "Mom, I think my tooth is going to come out!"
Like any good mother who thought their child was in bed, I had jumped into the the middle of a project. Looking up for two seconds I said, "That's nice, Love," and quickly started typing a few more things.
Non-DIY Remodel Tips
In this day of DIYing, there are three kinds of people…
Those who are amazing at it.
Those who can’t do it.
Those who financially can pay for someone else to do it!
I have fallen into all three categories. Some projects I’ve tackled and it’s been a major win. Other’s, a total failure or not within my ability. (Like my kitchen backsplash. Uhm, yeah, glad my husband tapped in for the save!) And then…we’ve paid someone else to do large or overwhelming projects.
In the World, Not Of It?
When I was growing up in church, this passage from Romans was paramount in the pulpit.
The not in the Bible phrase, “Be in the world, not of the world,” was basically a mantra. Unfortunately, this was wielded as a conformity weapon to bludgeon us into looking and acting the part we were supposed to play.
Travel Joy - The Trapp Family Lodge
For years I'd been wanting to go The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, and like so many other times, my husband made it happen. (If you're visiting as a family, watch The Sound of Music before you go it helps keep up with the theme and gives you some history behind the VonTrapp family.)
Flying With Kids Checklist
When flying with kids now, the whole game changes. Forget that novel you've been dying to read or those podcasts or movies. A latte to sip and Sudoku to solve is out. This is work now. And most likely some embarrassing situations.
Below are things I've learned about traveling with kids. Maybe it's just my system and my prodigy, but it works for us. Hopefully, what's written here will help your trip go smoothly.
Go LIVE!
Go LIVE! in Life
As I sat in a small cabin in the mountains of New Mexico, it was snowing. About four inches of good, powdery snow. The air was crisp and invigorating. Wild turkey and deer were venturing around the property. Thankfully, no bear sightings.
While on vacation, and for a bit before that, I'd realized something. I'd starting to buy into a lie. "Live for the picture."