Top Faith-Building Christmas Gifts for Kids

In our house, we call them Myrrh gifts.
If you know the history of myrrh--its purpose and value in the ancient world--you know exactly why we've chosen this name.

Myrrh is fragrant. It's medicinal. In fact, it was myrrh that was mixed with vinegar and offered up to Jesus while he was being crucified. Today, myrrh can be found in most antiseptics and healing salves.

Like most Biblical oils, it's currently high on the price list of most MLM essential oil companies, and for good reason. From before Christ to the present day, there's always been quite a social demand for its healing properties.

Adventschooling Plans for 2019

Celebrating Advent in a new-to-us home in a new-to-us city brings about mixed feelings. On the one hand, the reason for the season has not changed, our appreciation for a cradled King has not lessened, and our desire to focus our hearts on His birth and all that it has brought to the world has not wavered. But on the other, a new place means that we'll be celebrating all of these things with new people.

Will we bring unrealistic expectations of past Christmases into this one?
Will our new friends understand and value our traditions and make room for us in theirs?

Is Your Christmas Tethered & Anchored?

Written by Jessica.

Last year around this time, I purchased some Christmas songbooks so that our family would have the words to all our favorite Christmas carols and hymns. I knew the first verses to most of them, but my husband and children didn’t. Since it’s sometimes difficult to hear all of the words in songs just by listening, especially when the language is formal or old-fashioned, I thought it would help everyone to have the words in print to refer to. I didn’t realize that I was starting a new family Christmas tradition.

Finding Your Charlotte Mason Rhythm

Written by Talvi McCuskey.

Thinking about beginning any foreign feat can be a daunting task. When I first realized that I would soon have to begin formal schooling for my oldest child, I was quite scared. After all, I had never done this whole home education thing before.

The weight of my child’s education resting solely on my shoulders felt like a heavy burden. I had an idea of what method I wanted to pursue to teach her. But as with most things in life, there was a gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.

What We're Reading in November 2019

The bad news: I fell down my basement stairs.

Actually, using the word fell is painting it gracefully. Plummeted is probably a more accurate description of my landing. Crashed would work too.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I accidentally flung my entire 40-year-old body down a half flight of stairs and smashed into a cold slab of concrete.

And now all I can do is feebly hobble around like an elderly cat.

The good news: Sitting sedately on a heating pad leaves me plenty of time to read a good book. (What can I say...I'm a "glass is half-full" kind of gal.)

For the next few days, I'll be reclining comfortably with a book in hand. Here's what I (and my small people) will be reading this month.