The 2024 TUH Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Recently, I searched online for Ferrari-themed novelties for my middle son. I didn't expect to find many. Boy, was I unprepared for the number of ideas that began to pop up? Turns out, he's not the only one preoccupied with a certain Italian racing car company. I snagged a hat, a shirt, and a handful of stickers. Admittedly, I don't love Ferrari--a car is a car to me. Not better or worse than any other. But I love my son, and he loves Ferrari. So, I make it a point to invest in his passion in order to invest in him. Sometimes, I need a little help, though. I need to be pointed in a good direction. 

Creating a Christmas Notebook

For a season that is draped in tradition, Christmas often has a way of making everyone feel a little frazzled and foggy-brained, especially moms. And while there are definitely many extras added onto the month of December--parties to attend, treats to bake, gifts to wrap, decorations to put up--most of the hubbub that happens around the holidays is routine. The to-dos happen every year at exactly the same time in exactly the same way.

Big ol' List of Christmas Schooling Resources

I've been told there are three types of homeschoolers in December: those who stick to a regular school routine until a few days before Christmas, those who take the entire month off and completely embrace the delights of the holidays, and those who incorporate seasonally-themed learning activities to create Christmas School.

I kind of land somewhere in the middle, taking a full three weeks off during the month to sprinkle in lots of Christmas traditions and learning activities into our days. Truth be told, I've never done an open-and-go Christmas curriculum but have always preferred to piecemeal my own resources.

The 2023 TUH Gift Guide for Book Lovers

There are ten of us in total. We gather in my living room every fourth Monday of the month. Scootching our chairs close together, we open our books. Whether we loved it or hated it, we're always ready to talk about it. We've got big thoughts about the month's title and even bigger thoughts about books in general. We're a book club.

Before settling in for a great discussion, I almost always pass out a slice of this or a scoop of that--a sweet treat for the women to enjoy. They balance their plates precariously on their laps and hold a hot cup of something in their hands. In the last two years of playing hostess to this motley crew of women, I've slowly curated a collection of book-themed mugs.

The 2022 TUH Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Helpful PSA: I'm not a fan of shopping. As a general rule, I'd rather braid the hair of my neighbor's cat than enter a department store. There is one teensy exception to my self-diagnosed shopping allergy, however. I'm sure you can guess what it is.

Books.

I'd also add their bookish next of kin--readerly accessories--to my short list of items that can lure me into the mall. (Why? Because as a reader, I'm not just here for the books, I'm here for the entire literary lifestyle. It's an incurable disorder. I've come to terms with it. If we're to be friends, you should too.)

20+ Christmas Chapter Books to Read Together

The crackling of a cozy fire swathed with red and green stockings, the warmth of an oversized cup of cocoa, the comfort of your children nestled beside you--it's a picture torn right from the pages of a Norman Rockwell calendar. The only thing missing is a book placed gently in the center, captivating the listeners and drawing them closer together through the experience of a shared story. But not just any book, mind you. A book that conveys the sentiments of the season. A book draped with the wonder of winter. A book that echos the joy of Christmas.

The 2021 TUH Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Warm flannel blanket, hot cup of cider, fuzzy socks, crackling fire--most readerly people aren't just here for the books, we're here for the entire literary lifestyle. 

When shopping for the library addict in your life or for yourself (No judgment. This is a safe space.), books are an easy YES. You can rarely go wrong buying the latest title from a favorite author, especially if it is clean and captivating! However, if you're looking for a little something extra to put under the tree for your bookworm, look no further.

Christmas-schooling Plans for 2020

Merriam-Webster's word of the year for 2020 is, of course, pandemic. Shocking, I know. The thought of being stuck at home for the tenth month in a row because of that particular word, and during the Christmas season, no less, has wrapped my holiday plans in monochromatic colors. Not to mention the fact that the nation is still shrouded in a blanket of political unrest.

Great Gifts for Curious Kids

Creating an atmosphere of learning takes some intentionality. Like a farmer who sprinkles seeds here and there expecting some, but not all, to sprout into something good, you'll want to strew educationally-rich books, games, toys, and tools all around your house, nurturing the God-given curiosity in each of your kids.

Pondering All These Things in My Heart: 3 Simple Thoughts on Christmas Traditions

Written by Talvi McCuskey.

'Tis the season--that wonderful time of year when we can excitedly point our children to the truth of the gospel and celebrate with them. 

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.

A Repurposed Christmas Tree for Nature Study

Written by Jessica.

It is just one week until Christmas Day, and right now the family Christmas tree is a gathering place for many. In our house, we cozy up on the couch and read with tree lights aglow as we count down to Christmas.

The foot of the tree is everyone’s favorite spot to play or do schoolwork in December. It’s a place for sharing family memories; my children never tire of pointing to the ornaments and asking to hear the story behind each one. During Christmas week, branches, heavy-laden with the decorations of years past, provide a backdrop for our family’s celebrations.

The Best Gifts for Your Reluctant Reader

It's time I made a confession. I'm a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone kind of mom.* My time is finite, but my tasks are great. Besides that, I have a limited storehouse of energy and finances. I need to make every drop of both count.

So, when it comes to gift-giving at Christmas, I am very intentional. As I've mentioned before, my husband and I have a long-standing pattern of giving three very specific types of gifts.

Three gifts. That's it.

Some would say that's not nearly enough--that we're bordering on Scrooge territory by restricting our kids' gifts to just these three things. But, we've found our tradition to be just about perfect, especially because, as I said, we squeeze as much use out of each of those three gifts as we can.

Creating a Christmas Even a Mom Can Enjoy

Written by Jessica.

Psst…Christmas Eve is only five weeks away. Deep breaths, everyone. No need to panic.

The weeks leading to Christmas can bring a mixed bag of stress, feelings of excitement, and anticipation for the special memory making and festive celebrating. This is especially true for moms who tend to be the magic-makers during the holiday season. Let's face it, we wear a lot of extra hats at this time of year. Typically, we're the bakers, the wrappers, the shoppers, the crafters, the decorators, the party planners...and the list goes on. We can often get so busy doing that we have no time to actually just be--to enjoy the Christmas season ourselves. The month of December and the days leading up to Christ's birthday can sometimes feel more like a burden instead of a blessing.

If you find yourself dreading December, here are a few quick ideas to create a Christmas that even a mom can enjoy:

20+ Nativity Books That Tell the Real Story

Contrary to the popular Christmas carol, three kings did not visit a newborn Jesus in Bethlehem. While Scripture refers to them as magi, or wise men, it gives no indication that they were kings. Instead, it refers to them as educated men who came from the East, possibly the direction of Babylon or Persia. Some theologians speculate that they were from a similar order of philosophers and foreign priests as those in Daniel's day. They were obviously interested in signs of the heavens and were willing to travel a great distance to follow the clues given in the stars and the Old Testament (specifically Numbers 24:17) to find a child who was "born King of the Jews."

50 Stocking Stuffers for Sneaky Learning {all under $10}

There is a 107% chance that my kids will have already figured out what's inside each of their stockings before Christmas morning...or at least they'll know 4 out of the 6 items stuffed in there.

To be honest, guessing their stocking gifts ahead of time doesn't really require my kids to do much sleuthing. I'm a creature of accidental habit. I do something once, find success at it, and then continue to do the exact same thing until the end-of-time because as the old adage goes, "If it ain't broke..."

My stocking stuffing procedure has been on permanent repeat for as long as any of my clan can remember.

Pine Bough Wreath Print Tutorial

Written by Jessica.

This fun-to-make art project incorporates two items from nature that signify winter in all its loveliness: pine boughs and pinecones. The stamped wreath can be made in traditional reds and greens to display at home or to be gifted to a loved one, just in time for Christmas. Already had your fill of Christmas art projects? No problem! It can also be made with winter colors, all ready to brighten the walls during the cold and bare months ahead.

Curbing Entitlement During a Season of Excess

The "entitlement epidemic" isn't just another trite expression flung around on morning talk shows. It's not just sarcastic Baby Boomer banter. It is the sad reality of our current culture. From lack of responsibility, to lack of empathy, to overabundance of stuff, 21st-century kids are proving to be s.p.o.i.l.e.d. like no other generation of American kids before them.