My daughter got married 2 months ago. There was a picture I requested that may seem out of the ordinary. We weren't quite sure how to do it to get the best angle. But it turned out great!
You've probably seen the bride with her wedding band over the flowers. Maybe even the bride and groom together. But what about the parents and their wedding bands, especially when both sets of parents are still married.
You may think, ok, big deal. But here's the thing...it IS a big deal! In today's society when it's more common to have merged families, it seems rare to that both sets of parents will still be married. After all, in most cases that means the parents have been married for 20+ years. That's quite the accomplishment!
Now the question: Why have a picture taken of all 6 hands/rings? Because I think it's a great reminder of where this young couple came from. A reminder of the commitments their parents made. A reminder that when you work hard at it, you can make it work. When you put God first, nothing can break you apart. These reminders are SO important! It's not just a covenant between the bride and groom. It signifies the relationship between both families that have chosen to work together to help these newlyweds make a home and life together. It's a reminder that together, we can accomplish great things. It's a reminder of all of the times we have put God first and not listened to our selfishness or what the world around us has to say.
Hebrews 13:4 "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous."
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."
Colossians 3:18 "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."
*photo credit: SaltLight Photography
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We started homeschooling my kids as they were entering 7th, 5th, and 2nd grades. My husband and I had been thinking about it for years, but the idea of spending all that money held us back. But somewhere along the way we realized that it doesn't have to cost a lot. Being a single-income family, I had to find ways to stretch our dollars and make the most out of it so that we could provide our kids with the right education and tools they needed, and also allow me to stay home with them so that I could help them as needed.
Here is a list of 10 budget-friendly homeschool tips:
- Leverage Free Online Resources: Utilize free educational websites like Khan Academy (this is one I used with my older 2 as they navigated the high school years) and Starfall, which offer a variety of lessons, interactive activities, and even audiobooks for kids.
- Join Homeschooling Groups and Co-ops: Connect with local homeschooling communities to share resources, buy used curriculum, and participate in group activities and field trips. Share teaching responsibilities and resources with other homeschooling families. This can reduce costs and provide your children with more diverse learning experiences.
- Use the Library: Borrow books and educational materials from your local library. Many libraries also offer free access to online resources and educational programs.
- Buy Discounted Supplies: Shop for school supplies during back-to-school sales, use resell websites like eBay, and check dollar stores for basic supplies like paper, pens, and crayons. You can also join mailing lists and get notified when big sales are happening.
- Create a Budget: Plan your homeschooling expenses carefully. Make a detailed list of needed supplies and resources, then look for the best deals to stay within your budget.
- Choose Cost-Effective Curriculum: Consider using unit study curriculums that allow multiple children to study subjects like history and science together. This can save money compared to buying grade-specific materials for each child.
- Engage in Free Extracurricular Activities: Take virtual tours of museums, historical sites, and other attractions. Many places also offer free or discounted admission for local residents. Take Advantage of Community Resources: Utilize community resources such as parks, museums, nature centers, and historical sites for hands-on learning experiences. Many of these places offer free or low-cost educational programs and tours
- Incorporate Life Skills: Teach practical life skills like cooking, budgeting, and gardening as part of your curriculum. These activities often require minimal expense and provide valuable lessons.
- DIY Learning Tools: Create your own educational tools and resources. For example, make flashcards, use household items for science experiments, or design your own worksheets. There are many free templates and guides available online to help you get started.
- Online Used Curriculum Marketplaces: Explore online marketplaces specifically for used homeschool curriculum, such as Homeschool Classifieds or eBay. These platforms often have gently used materials at a fraction of the cost of new ones.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I combined a few that were similar. Sometimes it helps get those creative juices flowing when you see similar options together. The biggest way to accomplish budget-friendly homeschooling is to become a part of a homeschool community. Many homeschool moms love sharing their resources and swapping curriculum. Joining a local homeschool co-op was one of the best decisions we ever made for our homeschooling journey.
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
My mom, sister, and I did a thing over the past year. We realized we all had the same devotional book, one that we had all had for years. Each of us at one time or another had started to work through it, only to never finish it. So we decided to do it together...well, or at least all do the same day every day.
We live in 3 different places. So each night we would send a devo reminder. Sometimes we discussed it, sometimes it was just a simple "devo reminder" typed out into our group chat. It was really all about the accountability to just get it done.
We live in 3 different places. So each night we would send a devo reminder. Sometimes we discussed it, sometimes it was just a simple "devo reminder" typed out into our group chat. It was really all about the accountability to just get it done.
You know what? It worked!! Today we all 3 finished the devotional book. We even have a few more lined up and ready to tackle.
If you, like us, need some accountability in doing a little Bible study each day, I would like to encourage you to find a group of ladies and simply hold each other accountable. If it turns into a full fledged Bible study, that's great! But even if it's just a simple accountability partner, you have still succeeded. The idea is simply that you get it done.
So, what is the book we finished? Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler & Jean E. Syswerda. It's an old copy, but good non the less.a
If you have done this study, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it. Did you enjoy it? What did you like the most when going through the studies? Did any particular woman stand out to you more than the others?
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
This is the perfect time of year for one of my favorite drinks, fruit infused water. I wrote this post a few years ago, so the date on it isn't accurate, but I wanted to keep the original post so I left the wording. I also had to leave this original because...just look at those pups! Our little Cookie (black pup on the right) was so tiny!!
Original post date: September 2019 (from my previous blog site)
My family loves being out in nature. Unfortunately, we don’t take the time to do it near as often as we should.
For Labor Day, my mom came for a visit and we decided to take a hike with our 2 little dogs.
We like to take a healthy picnic lunch for our outings. Chicken salad with homemade tortillas (you can find the recipe here) to the rescue!
We added a little fruit infused water for a refreshing drink and we were ready to go.
We each had a jar with our name on the lid. We simply added water and fruit to the jar, left it out in the sun while we enjoyed our picnic and then we were ready to sip away at our refreshing fruit infused water!
Pictured here is a frozen fruit blend of strawberries, mango, pineapple, and peach. Yum!
More fruit blends to try:
- berries like blueberry, raspberry, or blackberry
- apples
- mint leaves
- rosemary leaves
- oranges
- limes
- lemons
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
I have a new fun project that I just can't get enough of...ok, maybe it's more than just one new project. I've been busy making aprons. It all started with a cute little egg gathering apron, then I found an adorable harvest apron. I shared pictures of them because I LOVE the fabrics and how they all came together. Then that lead to making yet another cute apron!
One of my goals with homesteading is to find practical things to use around the home. I find it a big bonus when it's something I can be crafty with.
Egg Gathering ApronFirst, let's talk about this adorable egg gathering apron. What a neat idea! It has pockets for up to a dozen eggs. Perfect for daily gathering of fresh eggs. After sharing a few that I made, I was commissioned to make a toddler size apron. How fun!! Instead of making an apron that would quickly be outgrown, I opted to make a grow-with-me apron. It fits toddler-child sizes and is a great way to let your littles help you with egg gathering. No more smashed eggs in little toddler pant pockets (yes, this is why I was asked to make a toddler size!).
Shown here are the 2 different sizes. The smaller one folds up so that the toddler size has just the top row of pockets. What a fun mommy and me gift set!
Harvest Apron
Next up, the super fun harvest 
apron. I can't get enough of this one! There are SOOOO many cute fabric options. I have been told that they also work great for egg gathering, which makes this one perfect for any homestead mom! This multi-purpose apron can be used for gardening and egg gathering. How neat is that?!
apron. I can't get enough of this one! There are SOOOO many cute fabric options. I have been told that they also work great for egg gathering, which makes this one perfect for any homestead mom! This multi-purpose apron can be used for gardening and egg gathering. How neat is that?!I have made so many adorable fabric combos with this one. I basically want to keep one of each of them. But, I have limited myself to just 2. After all, if one gets dirty, I need time to get it all washed up and ready to use again without having to do without one for the next days' harvest.
Full Apron with PocketsThe latest edition to my apron making is a full apron with a bib. It even has pockets on each side! Sadly, I don't have as good of a picture to share with this one. I was on a bit of a time crunch so I considered myself lucky to even snap a pic. This particular one is custom made and a plus size. It comes in all sizes from adult small all the way up to a 3xl. Super cute!
If you would like to custom order an apron, please send me a message! Message Amanda
If you would like to make your own, I'll share some links below. I did make some adjustments on the egg gathering apron, but there are several great patterns you can use.
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
