(This is Hannah writing) My Mom’s spiritual gift is Exhorter. I think she does a great job with rewarding us, and encouraging us to do what we are supposed to be doing (I didn’t say we do a good job of doing it, though) . Every time my Mom introduces a new idea for chores all of us think we are going to die and it is the worst day of our life. (I am not exaggerating) After a few weeks … okay mont

Q: Kathy, I have a meal question for you…do you have issues with any of your children not liking what you cook for dinner? If so, how do you handle it? Do you try and remember and make meals everyone likes? Or they just have to eat if they’re hungry, and if not they go hungry? or what do you do? A: I was thinking recently that probably one reason I don’t cook much anymore is that I get so tir

I (Hannah) started an online program through Oak Brook College this fall. I am studying to become a certified paralegal, which is like a lawyer’s top assistant.  I am not sure if I will ever use the degree since the main thing I want to do with my life is to homeschool and train my children.  If I do ever use this degree, I can work from home!  Right now, I am really enjoying what I am learning. This would

I love to hear my children praise each other, but too often I hear criticism.  I think that is normal when people live in the same home! One thing that has worked for us is to have Praising Contests.  We certainly still have bickering and criticism, but hopefully it helps the atmosphere of our home to at least have a praise once in a while from a sibling! We have a laminated page on the fridge that says: Micah:__

Since I wear skirts/dresses a lot, many friends ask me what I do in the winter to stay warm in them.  It is true that dresses can be really cold!  What can you do? We’re not saying that every lady has to wear dresses all the time but that they should do what the Lord is leading their family to do.  If you do choose to wear them, hopefully here are some tips that will help. Hannah:  Under my skirts, I like

Here are some more links on free and cheap stuff: http://coupons.com http://hip2save.com http://frugallivingnw.com I also found out that the register rewards you get from Walgreens expire in about 2 weeks after you get them.  So if you don’t want the free or cheap stuff advertised that week and you need to use your register rewards, just buy milk or epsom salts or something.  (Did you know epsom salts are p