Early in our parenting journey, we heard about, the Five Gift Rule: Want, Need, Wear, Read and it became our Christmas gift-giving strategy. Years later, it is still the method that we use to purchase gift for our kids. When my children were young, purchasing a few little gifts helped create the perfect Christmas morning….
It’s important for so many of us to find age-appropriate ways of remembering September 11th with kids. September 11th, also known as Patriot Day, is a National Day of Service and Remembrance in memory of those killed during the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City. It is not a federal holiday so…
I love the feeling of a fresh start at all sorts of times during the year, but especially at the beginning of a new year. The sun comes up and a new day begins. Yesterday is washed away and a clean slate awaits. There are times that I deeply appreciate the feeling of a new…
There’s nothing like the smells of a new school year—cracking open the brand new books, sharpened pencils and a box of crayons, a clean slate and a fresh planner. But even with all the joys that come with a well-planned schedule, eventually, the materials get older, and the daily routine turns into a bit of…
The year I declared that I was done with the crazy Christmas season is still etched in my mind. No longer did I want to wake up on December 26th and wonder where the month went. I wanted to savor time as a family instead of rushing around like a mad woman focused on decorating and…
It is evening during the season of Advent. Our family gathers in the family room and plugs in a small, lighted tree. Hot drinks and yummy snacks serve to make this purposeful Advent tradition even more special. Someone reads the designated scripture passage and we discuss its meaning. After a brief discussion, an ornament is…
The baby was 6 months old. His siblings were 2, 5 and 7 years old and the Christmas season was upon us. December had arrived and I was an overwhelmed mom of four children under 8. Decorations. Dinners. Shopping. Serving. List making. Baking. Family. I was overwhelmed and exhausted and I knew I was going…
