There is no formula for parenting, no guaranteed “method” for producing perfect children. There are, however, principles that can guide us through this daunting task. I love this one by Anne Ortlund: My greatest goal for my home is that it produce healthy, happy, secure, and mostly, God-bent children. This very principle is one that God has put on my… Read more
There’s a difference between being present physically and being present relationally and emotionally in your home. While both are important, it’s the latter that truly meets needs. Not the present-but-cranky, distant or distracted parent and wife I have often been, but the one that engages, sees, and builds up those in her home. Through intentionally choosing to be fully present, we are… Read more
“There is nothing more terrible than activity without insight.” Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Are you living more as a human being or a human doing? At our core, we were meant to be, not do. …To be in God’s presence. To be still. To be His people, and as an outflow from our identity in Him, to live godly lives and love others. Yet most of… Read more
I remember making the transition from working woman to stay-at-home mom when my oldest child was born in 2011. Although I had never been a particularly clean or tidy person, I imagined what a stellar housewife and homemaker I would be with ALL THAT time on my hands. Of course, the house would be spotless, sparkling and tidy. Plus I’d… Read more
True, godly hospitality is not a matter of sharing what we have for our own sake, to impress others or feel important No, true hospitality is sharing what we have for the sake of the other. That means God might call us to open our homes even if they’re not fancy or impressive or perfectly furnished or perfectly clean. It means He might call us to… Read more
We have a sweet little room in our house which was once set aside as a place to meet with God in quietness and peace (a “prayer room” if you will). As Christmas gifts, and birthday presents, and “just because” gifts from all our adoring family members and friends have piled up these last couple years, our prayer room slowly… Read more
In this day of modern technology, it’s all too easy to leave pictures buried in computer files and rarely enjoyed. The modern solution for many of us is not 4 x 6 prints and old-style photo albums, but rather, fun, customized photo books. Each year, my family and I do this in the form of a Family Yearbook. So What’s a… Read more
With the upcoming holidays, you may have more opportunities to host over-night guests, than normal. As much as it is easy to allow a “guest room” to become a “catch-all room”, putting a little extra thought into preparing a space for guests can help them feel comfortable and welcome. In fact, you can start by picking pieces from the Dreamcloud… Read more
The second I stopped judging people who are constantly looking at their phones was the second I got a smart phone for myself. No matter how much you believe yourself to value truly living, eyes up, hands-free, focusing on your children and all the important people right in front of you, owning a smart phone reveals how susceptible we all are… Read more
I’ve found that a minimalist baby is a happy baby, and a minimalist baby mom is much less stressed! Here are the inside tips of what you don’t actually need. My fourth and last baby just turned ten months old. I am officially a seasoned baby-mom. But I had my newbie days and I remember them well. When we had… Read more
We live in a work-a-day world. If we are swept up in the currents of the time, we could possibly find ourselves too exhausted to enjoy the lives we’ve been given. Embracing a simpler life is not just about cutting out stress, it’s also about finding time to do the things that light us up inside. This is different for… Read more
Keeping my home clean has felt overwhelming for years. I look around and see so many areas that need attention, and I’m daunted, so I put it off. Weeks or even months go by until, perhaps we’re having company or hosting a party, and life necessitates the dreaded duty of cleaning. Or perhaps, during one of my bursts of motivation, I… Read more
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