Thursday, August 30, 2012

40 Amazing Breakfast Casseroles



I was on Pinterest the other day looking for recipe inspiration and stumbled across this little gem of a post featuring 40 Breakfast Casseroles for the holidays. These look amazing so I am not waiting for the holidays to try them out, what you are looking at above is Overnight Peaches and Cream French Toast  (mmmmm.....somehow just typing that out made me really hungry!).



You can find these recipes HERE.



Happy cooking!





Pssst....Vision Forum is having a HUGE clearance of over 200+ items (they added more products) up to 75% off with great homeschool finds too for a limited time while supplies last!




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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Good-Bye Summer & Wise Woman Linkup!



Today we are saying an official good-bye to our summer...school starts for us tomorrow. In a way it is sad to see it leave but we are looking forward to school, fall, pumpkins and acorns and all the wondrous things the Lord has in store for us.



"Dost thou love life?
 Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." 

-Benjamin Franklin


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A Wise Woman Builds Her Home is a place to be encouraged in your high and noble calling of role of wife and mother and daughter to the King and we want to encourage each and every single reader out there to build up strong Christian homes to the glory of God.

We would love for you to link up with us---share your posts on  building up your home, homemaking, character, hospitality, femininity, family, tea, recipes, parenting, marriage, etc. we would love to have you share it with us!

If you link up here please use the image below or link back to let others know that you have linked up here so that they might join in the fun and be encouraged as well:







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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

United Bates of America on Amazon



When I first posted about the Bates family of 21 and their new cable show United Bates of America, we got quite a response with emails asking us how to watch the show without cable. Well, for those who didn't get a chance to watch it yet, I wanted to let you know that it is already available at Amazon (pay per episode) for $1.99 per show. I watched several last night and was quite blessed by watching their close knit family and father Gil Bates who has such a heart of a family man (yes, a couple of episodes made me cry!). It has a country twist on it which I found especially refreshing.


 
 I really hope you will get a chance to view them --there are not many shows that honor the Lord and are wholesome anymore. It also makes for a great family movie night too. Click HERE for the episodes.


Happy viewing!







Monday, August 27, 2012

Mother Culture



"Somewhere it is written that "A mother is only a woman, but she needs the love of Jacob, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Moses, the foresight of Joseph, and the firmness of Daniel." But a mother not only has to have all these things, she must have them all at once, often when she is quite young and too often when she has had not previous training of any kind for the marvelously varied duties she has to perform.

Before she marries, a young lady does not imagine herself facing the difficulties of managing the complicated working of a household. Untried responsibilities come upon her as soon as she does marry. And, perhaps, just as she is grasping the situation, her first child is born and fills her whole heart. then, not only her own health but that of another's depends on how she manages her life. The question of child training and how to "bring up" children becomes a new study and practical concern.


Another child is born, who eventually becomes a sunny companion for the first. But it seems that with each passing year, a mother's job description is revised. The desire for her husband's love and friendship is still strong, but a careful division of her attention is given up to the various aspects of maintaining a happy, well-managed home. Time alone with her husband now seems to have to be either previously planned moments or stolen ones.

There are holiday celebrations to arrange, extended family parties and visits, church functions, occasions for neighborly hospitality, etc. In the center of it all is one little woman---wife, mother, mistress all in one! As the children approach their years of more formal education, there is organization of home schoolroom, and thus she walk over new ground again.

Is it a wonder she feels overspent? In her efforts to be dietitian, laundress, nurse, hostess, teacher, taxi driver, wife, mother and mistress, she forgets that she needs a little time for herself."

~Karen Andreola, The Charlotte Mason Companion


Karen then goes on to share about "mother culture" a term she has coined to describe the small pockets of time a mother can make for herself to pray, read, sew, etc. and find time to recharge as well as simplifying our lives to allow for such time to occur.  I know it can be difficult to find time when the children are younger (and even when they are older), but I know how important it was for me as a  mother in all seasons to grasp some time in the God's Word, to raise prayers up to heaven, and find some golden silence for thinking.

Karen also has an encouraging blog called Moments with Mother Culture that you might want to visit:




May you be encouraged today, dear mothers in the precious ministry you have of raising His precious gifts and building up strong Christian homes! Never forget that even that hidden work is not unseen by Him, and by doing so you are bringing glory to your Savior.









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Friday, August 24, 2012

Our Visit to the County Fair

Every year we visit our local county fair so I thought I would share some pictures with you...



This was the largest pumpkin a whopping 819 pounds!

I just love the 4-H building, so many ideas that can be implemented in homeschooling...


A huge lego mountain display


Mini real life model displays


This pizza is really a cake and looks good enough to eat!


Vegetables made into animals, people and dinosaurs...


The Hulk made from straw


Rides everywhere..homemade fudge, elephant ears, alligator eggs, deep fried oreos, grilled corn, horse and camel rides, animal competitions and more...



My children had fun rolling real beeswax candles...


But the funnel cakes are what we really go for!



Did you ever see a pig race? I love watching this every year because it is so cute and funny. They give the piglets a small piece of oreo cookie to reward them.



(Don't forget to turn off the music before viewing!)

I hope you enjoyed our pictures!








Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Seeing Beauty in All Things and Wise Woman Linkup


  
Never lose an opportunity for seeing anything that is beautiful;
For beauty is God's handwriting--a wayside sacrament.
 Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, 
And thank God for it as a cup of His blessing. 


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A Wise Woman Builds Her Home is a place to be encouraged in your high and noble calling of role of wife and mother and daughter to the King and we want to encourage each and every single reader out there to build up strong Christian homes to the glory of God.

We would love for you to link up with us---share your posts on  building up your home, homemaking, character, hospitality, femininity, family, tea, recipes, parenting, marriage, etc. we would love to have you share it with us!

If you link up here please use the image below or link back to let others know that you have linked up here so that they might join in the fun and be encouraged as well:







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Monday, August 20, 2012

Generations with Vision

Are you looking for a Christian radio show that promotes strong family values, multigenerational faithfulness, homeschooling and more from a biblical worldview?

Then you would like Generations with Vision by Kevin Swanson.



Kevin Swanson is a father of five children. He has also served as the Executive Director of Christian Home Educators of Colorado for the last nine years. He has also authored several popular books for homeschoolers that you may be familiar with, including












 The Second Mayflower,  and others. He is a popular homeschool conference speaker and has been interviewed on hundreds of media outlets, including Dr. James’ Dobson’s Focus on the Family and the Fox News Network.

Watch the trailer:


Generations Radio 2012 from Kevin Swanson on Vimeo.

(Don't forget to turn off the music in the sidebar before watching!)

You are able to visit the website at any time to listen to a plethora of topics from homeschooling,  parenting, to politics! I have been blessed by listening to him in the past and hope you will visit them when you get a chance.






Saturday, August 18, 2012

O' Church Arise


 Last Sunday we had a glorious day of fellowship and sang this at church. I love the lyrics...

O' Church Arise

O Church Arise and put your armour on
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle-cry is Love
Reaching out to those in darkness.

Our call to war to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valour
When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure
And Christ will have the prize for which He died
An inheritance of nations.

Come see the cross where love and mercy meet
As the Son of God is stricken
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet
For the Conqueror has risen
And as the stone is rolled away
And Christ emerges from the grave
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him.

So Spirit come put strength in every stride
Give grace for every hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful
As saints of old still line the way
Retelling triumphs of His grace
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in glory.


I especially like what you see emboldened, the lyrics just touched my heart.

Hope you have a peaceful day of worship and rest!



I thought I would add this so you could actually hear how the song sounds, it is timely too as fall is around the corner! If you do listen to it--don't forget to turn off the playlist in the sidebar.




Image 






Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Tests of Life





The tests of life are to make, not break us. 

Trouble may demolish a man's business but build up his character. 

The blow at the outward man may be the greatest blessing to the inner man. 

If God, then, puts or permits anything hard in our lives, be sure that the real peril, the real trouble, is that we shall lose if we flinch or rebel.









Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Our Garden Bounty and Wise Woman Linkup!




I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, 
but only God who gives the growth. 
He who plants and he who waters are one, 
and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

 For we are God's fellow workers.


  -1 Corinthians 3:6-9

(These photos are by my daughter, Naomi, after the children picked this basketful in the garden one day. Our cucumbers did amazingly well this year many over a foot long! My son, Ravi, was so pleased since it is his favorite vegetable to plant. He likes to run inside showing them to us and measuring each one asking me if it is good enough to enter into the county fair!) 


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A Wise Woman Builds Her Home is a place to be encouraged in your high and noble calling of role of wife and mother and daughter to the King and we want to encourage each and every single reader out there to build up strong Christian homes to the glory of God.

We would love for you to link up with us---share your posts on  building up your home, homemaking, character, hospitality, femininity, family, tea, recipes, parenting, marriage, etc. we would love to have you share it with us!

If you link up here please use the image below or link back to let others know that you have linked up here so that they might join in the fun and be encouraged as well:







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Guidelines for a Peaceful Household



Many moms write me and ask questions about parenting and running a household, and since I just shared about large families yesterday I thought I would share these Duggar Household Guidelines. You may have seen it on their website in the past or heard it on the show, but I wanted to share it again as it is a good reminder for our children to abide by. Some of you might even want to print it out, post it on your fridge or schoolroom to share with your children, you can use a point a day to discuss the different character qualities mentioned.

"Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; he shall give delight unto thy soul. "

Proverbs 29:17

As a mom of 8 children I am reminded everyday that our children are a work in progress. I pray for them and try to remember to be patient with them the way God is patient with me. I don't always do this perfectly but I am a work in progress too. ;)




Here they are:


Duggar House Guidelines

  1. Always use soft words, even when you don’t feel well.
  2. Always display kind actions and joyful attitudes, even if you have been mistreated. Have the right response by quickly forgiving others in your heart even before they ask.
  3. Always be enthusiastic and look for opportunities to praise others' character.
  4. Always deflect praise and be grateful to God and others for the ways they have benefited your life.
  5. Always use manners and be respectful of others and their belongings.
  6. Always do what is right, even when others may not, or when no one is looking.
  7. Thank God for how He made you, for what He has given you and everything He allows you to go through.     (Romans 8:28)
  8. Don’t mock or put others down. Develop compassion and pray for others.
  9. Never argue, complain, or blame. Quickly admit when you have done wrong and ask for forgiveness (even if you were only 10% at fault). Don't wait till you’re caught. Be sure your sins will find you out. He who covers his sin will not prosper, but he that confesses and forsakes it shall find mercy.
  10. Have a tough accountability/prayer partner to daily share your heart with and to keep you in line (your parents, spouse). The power of sin is in secrecy.
  11. Be attentive and look for ways to serve others with sincere motives and no thought of self-gain.
  12. Think pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8, Romans 13:14).
  13. Always give a good report of others. Don't gossip! Never tale-bear unless physical harm will come to someone. (Use Matthew 18.)
  14. Never raise a hand to hit.
  15. Never raise a foot to kick.
  16. Never raise an object to throw.
  17. Never raise a voice to yell.
  18. Never raise an eye to scowl.
  19. Use one toy/activity at a time. Share!
  20. Do your best to keep your surroundings neat, clean and     organized.
  21. Never let the sun go down on your wrath. 
    (Don’t go to bed angry or guilty)
  22. Amendment J.O.Y. -    
    -Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last. 

Remember, that children will sin and break "the rules"so to speak-- so be prepared. In our large family of 10, we are reminded that we are a bunch of sinners saved only by grace. This is a learning lesson for all in itself. As parents, we are always guiding our children unto right paths. My mother is 65 and still encourages me to do the right thing!

Finally, don't expect perfection, but do expect to give patience and mercy when needed. Our children need love and guidance from us (sometimes alot more than we thought) and not just a set of harshly driven rules.



May the Lord bless you as you faithfully build up strong homes!





Monday, August 13, 2012

Mega Family of 21 to Have Reality TV Show



Do you remember meeting the Bates family on the Duggar's hit TV show, 19 children and Counting?

They also have a large family of 21 and will now have their own reality show called United Bates of America starting Monday night (tonight) at 8 CST on TLC.

Here are some videos of the conservative Christian homeschooling family--DON'T FORGET to turn off the playlist on the sidebar before watching:

video platform video management video solutions video player
And another:  
 
    
Their website is HERE and you can view
the Duggars introducing the new show here.
In this day and age of teen vampire and occultic movies having run amuck, I am grateful to see wholesome shows that share families who are trying to live out their walk in front of millions.
How about you?





Friday, August 10, 2012

Back to School Sale


Calling all homeschooling moms!

I love a great homeschool deal when I find one so I just had to share this with all of you. I know that finding good curriculum is hard and finding curriculum that isn't going to blow the budget can be harder. Right now Vision Forum is having an extra 20% off their high quality homeschool products. Some of the items are already discounted at 50-70% percent which makes for an amazing deal!

They have all things to teach your child--from God's Word, science, history, law, spelling, drawing, economics, music, and much more.

The discount code is: BACKTOSCHOOL

CLICK HERE to view over 200 special selected sale items. 



Have a blessed day!























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Thursday, August 9, 2012

NEW: Reclaiming Beauty Webinar


Elizabeth and Anna Sofia Botkin have just announced a NEW webinar entitled Reclaiming Beauty: A New Look of How to Glorify God with Your Body. My daughters and I have been blessed by their resources in the past such as Return of the Daughters and  What is Biblical Femininity (a favorite) so we are looking to listening to this. Here is a description from the Ladies Against Feminism site that we contribute at:


"What is beauty?

Some say beauty fits in a size 0. Some say beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Some say beauty is only skin deep. Some say beauty is only a quality of the heart. Some say beauty is truth. Some say beauty is a lie. Some say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some say beauty is as beauty does. Some say Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly are beautiful. Some say everyone is beautiful. Some say beauty is divine. Some say beauty is corrupting.

From all this confusion, one idea emerges clearly: The world knows beauty matters. They talk a lot about it, write poetry and paint paintings celebrating it, and spend $160 billion dollars a year on it. But what’s equally clear is that they don’t know what it is. The question is: Do we?




Today’s young Christian women have grown up in the most image-obsessed generation in history, a generation that worships some of the most twisted ideals of beauty the world has ever seen. But whether we love them or hate them… they tend to shape our own perceptions of what beauty is. 

Some of us accept its ideals, and struggle to fit into its mold – others of us are repulsed by it, concluding that physical beauty itself is immodest, worldly, and unspiritual, and reject the realm of beautification completely. But when all we’ve ever seen is the counterfeit the world offers, we can sometimes forget that the world did not create beauty – God did. And though we all know the world has a lot to say about image, we sometimes don’t realize how much God does too.


 Read the rest and  HERE.
























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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Dealing with Difficult Circumstances and Wise Woman Linkup!




“I have learned that in every circumstance that comes my way, 
I can choose to respond in one of two ways: I can whine or I can worship! 

 And I can't worship without giving thanks. It just isn't possible. 

When we choose the pathway of worship and giving thanks, especially in the midst of difficult circumstances, there is a fragrance, a radiance, that issues forth out of our lives to bless the Lord and others.”





-Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Choosing Gratitude

 
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home is a place to be encouraged in your high and noble calling of role of wife and mother and daughter to the King and we want to encourage each and every single reader out there to build up strong Christian homes to the glory of God.

We would love for you to link up with us---share your posts on  building up your home, homemaking, character, hospitality, femininity, family, tea, recipes, parenting, marriage, etc. we would love to have you share it with us!

If you link up here please use the image below or link back to let others know that you have linked up here so that they might join in the fun and be encouraged as well:







It's easy--just copy and paste the code in this box!



























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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Super Woman VS. Abiding Woman





What a wonderful reminder!

I am grateful for Titus 2 woman in our lives who encourage us in our walk with the Lord.

Thank you for sending this to me, Jacqueline!


























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Monday, August 6, 2012

Creative Homeschool Curriculum Planning

 Have you started your homeschool planning yet?



I have started and today I am participating in this:


It's a great place to get your creative juices flowing in planning your curriculum, homeschool room, and overall just getting inspiration for your new school year!

As I began to reflect over this new school year, I know the Lord has been urging me to make this year very different from the others. A "homeschool as  if it is your last year" approach, followed with "do it with your whole heart for your children with not be with you forever" kind of tugging which I am grateful for, especially after homeschooling for 15 years.

I have ordered our books and will once again be using an eclectic style curriculum for my children. But it is not about the books at all.

It is about everything else. 

Our hearts entwined, teaching them to explore, influencing the formation of their character, the imparting of wisdom and instruction in the Lord, creating an engaging atmosphere, the whole living to learn and gaining real life experience, and passing on a legacy...


SO different from what I remembered in the classroom, I am grateful for a chance to change that!

Homeschoolers are blessed in their freedom to approach education with thinking that is"outside of the box". The sky is the limit and we are not limited by any educator's scope or philosophy.




With that said I want to share with you two posts that really blessed me this morning. One was by Lillibeth of The Pleasant Times. I love how she shares with passion her heart on what she will be teaching this year AND her past homeschool experience being taught by her mother, whom is Lady Lydia over at Homeliving. Here it is:



And also another article that will bless you over at Visionary Womanhood:




I couldn't have said it better myself! 

I hope you are encouraged!

And if you are looking to ease your mind about curriculum choices I recommend this:





Curriculum Advice (2 set CD)

(Now on sale for 30% off) 


I hope you will find it as helpful as I did!






 






















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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Homemade Recipe: Baked Kale Chips


You might remember earlier this year, my husband went on a juice fast for 60 days and lived to tell about it. Well, I wanted to be a supportive wife and grow some kale in our garden for him since that was one of the key ingredients in his juicing and so that he would always have it available whenever our farmers market was out.

We grew a lot, and I didn't know what to do with it. I had never grown up eating kale (kale? what's that?) so I didn't have any experience with it there. Steve liked to go to the garden and eat it raw and so did my kids and the neighborhood kids. I was glad to know they were enjoying this superfood right in our backyard, but what to do with the rest?


 (some kale from my garden)

Now I've found the answer! Super easy and the kids love it---baked kale chips. Sounds strange, right? Don't knock it until you try it! I whipped up a batch and they gobbled that up in a flash so they requested that I make another batch. That was gone instantly too.

I think we found a winner.

Here is the recipe. Just three ingredients and so simple!

Baked Kale Chips

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch kale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Directions

  1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a non insulated cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  2. With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt. 
  3. Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes. 

I was told you could also use water in this recipe instead of oil and use different toppings such as garlic powder, crushed almonds, etc. Experiment with cooking time and how much oil you use, it can make all the difference.

I also found this link to make kale 10 different healthy ways. You can throw it in soup, spaghetti, casseroles, and a whole bunch of other ways.



Do you have a special recipe for kale that you'd like to share? I'd love to hear from you!


















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