 Meal planning is something I've done since we were first married, however in recent years I've struggled to actually stick to the meals I plan. I'm challenging myself to stick to our menu for the entire month of November, and I challenge *YOU* to join me! Meal Planning doesn't only help us choose healthy food to nourish our bodies, it helps our budget, and it helps save time. While these they are in my store, I invite you to download these **FREE** meal planning printables and choose which one is best for you. Then join us on Instagram with the hashtag #mealplanningmommas so we can keep each other accountable as we crush November!
 If you are a Trim Healthy Mama, I use different colored pens to keep track of my fuels and to make sure my growing kids and skinny husband get enough Cross Overs .  I print two copies out. One goes in my Homemaking Binder and the other is hung in the kitchen for the whole family to see. Alright, Mommas! We've GOT THIS! 
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This is a project I've wanted to work on for so long now! We mommas pray for our babies from the moment we know we are carrying them, and sometimes, some of us pray for them even before they are conceived. Do you also pray for their future spouse? I have from the time my oldest was a tiny little thing cradled in my arms. I can see us. Standing in that tiny bedroom on McGuire A.F.B. The bedroom that was all hers. It had a rocking chair in the corner, a bookshelf with carousel horses, books, and stuffed animals she was too little to play with, and the crib was right in the middle of the room with a pink sheet. The curtains separated slightly to let the moon light flow in. I would stand between the rocking chair with the blue chair pad and the oak crib with her cradled in the crook of my arm. My head was almost always bent to drink in the intoxicating miracle of her tiny fuzzy head. She would either sleep or fight sleep and I would pray. Swaying with her, I would pray for her, for her father and me to somehow be good parents for her and for her future siblings. And I would pray for all of their future spouses. A couple years ago I read an article from a woman who put bow ties in a shadow box to hang on the wall to remind her to pray for each of her daughters' future husbands. I loved that. It was a project I filed away to be done as soon as I could. As time went on, I kept thinking about doing it, and decided that I didn't really need to go out and buy lots of supplies. I could just print it out and put it in a frame! Unbelievably, I even sat on that simplified idea for some time. It was on my To-Do list way longer than I'd like to admit. Then, this past Sunday in church a sweet mother was talking about how much she loves her daughters-in-law and how she prayed for them before she ever knew them. So, I have her to thank for giving me the kick in the pants I needed to finally get this done AND to offer it to you! I wanted my bow ties and flowers in age order for my children, and being a creature who twitches without symmetry or at least a way to make all objects even (which sometimes I can accomplish by creating or changing patterns ... but I couldn't change the order God gave me my kids, so I added a heart. I want this design to be exactly what you want so just let me know what symbols or icons (kind of like a charm bracelet if you will!) you want to go with your bowties and flowers. Colors are also completely up to you. Let's work together to create something special and one of a kind! Click the image below to get your very own Prayers For The Future Print!   Q: What would you tell yourself if you could talk to the New Homeschool Mom You? A: At the end of the day take inventory of everything you and your children accomplished instead of looking at the multitude of things you didn't get crossed off your To Do List. Yes, planning is definitely important. But being a slave to what you planned is a sure map to discouragement. Don't allow your growing To Do List to drag you down. Take time to go over everything you did in the day and give thanks to God for all you accomplished. Also use this time to pray about what could have gone better, what needs improvement and how to improve upon it then make a plan to make it happen ... NOT to dwell on and throw a pity party but to be prepared for next time because I promise you, there will be a next time. Please download and use these printables and let me know if they help any! Smile Mommas, ❤ Lisa  
 Mommas, How are *you* doing today?
I was getting some verses together for an assignment for my children and I came across this one. Hear, my son, your father's instructions and do not forsake your mothers teaching. That's just a verse for the kids, right? Or is it? We all want our children to follow Scripture. But I have a little niggling questions to ask. Are the things we are teaching them worthy of not forsaking? I'm not talking only the scheduled lesson plans, but the every day life, the words we speak, the tones we use, and the actions we take. Make your teachings worth not forsaking. Smile Mommas, 🖤 Lisa  My seventeen-year-old's birthday "cake" ... Lemon cake, raspberry mousse, and lemon butter cream with a few fresh raspberries. It was a hit.  
My Gammy made these Copper Penny carrots with a whole cup of sugar, a whole cup of vegetable oil, and canned tomato soup. I decided to Trim Healthy Mamaify them just a little and boy am I glad I did! Vegetables: 2 LBS peeled, washed, sliced, COOKED carrots 2 medium thinly sliced onions Dressing: 1 cup white vinegar 1 can tomato paste 2 tsp mustard 1/2 tsp mineral salt 26 cranks black pepper 10 shakes Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup Pyure 1 cup fat free chicken broth Mix all dressing ingredients together. Pour dressing mixture over combined vegetables. Refrigerate over night or at least 6 hours. ENJOY!  I don't usually make New Year's resolutions as I prefer to set goals all through the year. However, this year I am really trying to focus on making healthy choices. Healthy physical choices, healthy spiritual choices, healthy emotional choices. One of the best ways to make healthy choices is to set a beautiful representation of those choices where you can frequently see it. This is such a delicious recipe from the magazine Bon Appetite. Seriously. So good. I didn't include it in the recipe, but I did include garlic in the image because I add it to mine but it isn't in the original recipe. You can add it according to your own garlic preferences. This recipe says it is two servings worth. I don't try to double or triple it because you only want a single layer on the cookie sheet. This would be a THM "S" for you Trim Healthy Mamas out there. I'll be adding more recipe prints to the shop as I create them. Do you 8ave a healthy recipe you would like to display in your kitchen? Let me know in the comments what you want me to create next! 8 ounces cauliflower sliced horizontally 2 Tbsp melted butter 1 Tbsp Olive Oil Pinch (or two ;) ) of mineral salt 1/2 Cup Parmesan cheese 1 tsp chopped parsley Preheat oven to 400°. Toss the sliced cauliflower with melted butter and olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper before arranging the cauliflower in a single layer on a baking sheet,. Roast for about 20-30 minutes. Remove from the oven to dust the now roasted cauliflower with Parmesan cheese and parsley. Return to the oven until the cheese caramelizes and is scrumptiously crusty, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately.  Chore charts. Schedules. Goals. To Do Lists. I've created and recreated billions over the years. I've learned that without accountability these things really don't have much worth. This is the Accountability Sheet I created for my family.
I have a daughter who is so amazingly dedicated and posts to her blog with incredible consistency. I want to be more like her. Like, a lot. But. Today's not the day for that so I'm just going to dust the cobwebs off my tiny nook of the internet a little and let her share about a blog tour.
So, please welcome the one who inspires me to do more: Rebekah Morris and Faith Blum have teamed up for a fun Christmas Duet Blog Tour! Why Christmas Duet? Because both books have titles that have to do with a Christmas song! Be sure to check out all of the blog posts as well as the giveaway. His Law is Love About: Will hate and fear drown the song of Christmas love? Amelia is eagerly anticipating her first Christmas in the west, but she soon finds that her brother-in-law's worry and her sister's exhaustion reach far deeper than the cares of a ranch and a family. A rash of fires and cattle thefts is plaguing the area, and the three young orphans they've sheltered are under suspicion from their prejudiced neighbors. As hostilities mount, Amelia seizes every opportunity to help and encourage, but how much can one girl do? Will Reverend Brown win the community over to the true spirit of love? And will help arrive before everything they hold dear is destroyed? Amazon link! Author Bio: Rebekah A. Morris ia a homeschool graduate, an enthusiastic freelance author and a passionate writing teacher. Her books include, among others, Home Fires of the Great War, The Unexpected Request, Gift from the Storm, the Christmas Collection series, and her best selling Triple Creek Ranch series. Some of her favorite pastimes, when she isn’t writing, include reading, playing with her seven nieces and nephews, and coming up with dramatic and original things to do. (Sometimes with the nieces and nephews!) The Show-Me state is where she calls home. Interview with Rebekah! What was the first story you completed? My first story I completed and published was “Home Fires of the Great War.” But, if you want to know what story I first completed, it was “Bill and the Redcoats.” (Written for a small newspaper–of–sorts edited by my brother when he was in high school ) It was terrible!!! I really should find a copy of it. Or maybe not. ;) So let’s stick with “Home Fires." Who is your biggest inspiration when you write? My readers. Seriously, I’m the kind of person who requires feedback from readers to keep writing. As much as I love writing, I can put it off when no one is begging for the next story, or asking what I’m writing next. When I get an email or comment from a reader I get inspired to get busy and write knowing that someone is waiting for the next story, or chapter, or whatever. Of the books you have published, which is your favorite? Oh, dear! I’ve only published 40 books and short stories so this shouldn’t be too hard. Right? Hmm, let me think . . . “Home Fires” because it is my first published work, and I spent 6 years with the characters. (Yes, I did shed some tears when I reached the end.) “Gift from the Storm” because it was just so fun to write since I didn’t know what happened when I wrote it. “Through the Tunnel” because I’ve always had a heart for children in foster care or needing adopting. “Unto Him” because it is my very first Christmas story to write. “At the Christmas Lodge” because it’s such a mixture of reality (I spend every Christmas time, until the last few years, with my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins at a camp for about 5 days) and dreams (I only dream of that much snow, and such delightful adventures). I guess I should stop picking favorites or I’ll end up listing them all. :) Out of all your characters which is your least favorite? Uh, the bad guys? I don’t really know. Each character is so different, but that’s what makes them interesting. Even Fern (from “Dylan’s Story”) I like, even though she isn’t very nice. But I see why she acts the way she does and it makes me what to help her. And Orlena (Triple Creek Ranch character) was awful to begin with! But it was rather fun because I got to see her improve. So, I don’t think I have a least favorite character. What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Eating Cinnamon bread and Nut bread on Christmas morning. My dad’s mom used to make us these special breads and send them to us. (She lived in PA and we live in MO.) Every Christmas morning it was our breakfast from Grandma. Now Grandma has passed away, but my sister still makes those breads and I think of Grandma every Christmas. Going up to my grandparents and spending time with them. :) It used to be my mom’s entire side of the family would get together at Christmas time and we’d get to spend time with everyone. Now the cousins are grown and we don’t do the big get together any more. But we still go up to my grandparents each year to visit and hang out for a few days. Sorry, that was two favorite things. :) That was my interview with Rebekah and now for my interview with Faith! O Come All Ye Faithful About: Edwin wanted to be home, but instead he crouched in a trench. The English on one side of No Man’s Land and Germans on the other. What a way to spend Christmas. Could anything make it better? Peace on Earth Emmie and Elana are estranged sisters, torn apart by an old boyfriend five years earlier. Will they survive a night in the same hotel room after a blizzard forces them together or will peace on earth go out the window? Silent Night Christmas decorating had never gone this wrong. Jenna had just started when a crazy, gun- waving woman, walks right in the front door and ties her up in her own Christmas lights. Will Jenna even see her family this Christmas? The Gift Goes On Four friends and a year to reflect on. The year had been good for Carlotta, but Priscilla, Remus, and Newton all had at least one trial through the year. A mysterious giver the previous year had helped them all out, though. What would this year’s gifts bring? O Christmas Tree Gareth loves Christmas. But more than that, he loves Christmas tree hunting. As the family prepares for their annual trip, Gareth can barely contain his excitement. But what are all the spray bottles for? Amazon link! Author Bio: Faith Blum is a small-town Wisconsin girl. She’s lived in, or outside of, small towns her whole life. The thought of living in a city with more than 60,000 people in it scares her, especially after some interesting adventures driving through big cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Faith currently resides in the middle of the state of Wisconsin with her husband and their cat, Smokey. She is blessed to be able to have writing as her full-time career with household work and cooking to do on the side. She loves to paint walls as long as she doesn’t have to do hallways or ceilings. When not writing, you can find her cooking food from scratch due to food allergies (fun), doing dishes (meh), knitting, crocheting, sewing, reading, or spending time with her husband (yay!). She is also a Community Assistant for the Young Writers Workshop and loves her work there. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her on her website. What was the first story you completed? It’s been a while, so I honestly don’t remember. It was a short story, that much I know for sure. MY first novel I finished was one about twins who did competitive Frisbee throwing. Who is your biggest inspiration when you write? I’d say probably God because I write Christian fiction, so He’s the most consistent inspiration. Of the books you have published, which is your favorite? That’s like asking a parent to pick a favorite child! But I have answered this before, so I’ll stick with that answer. My novella, Blessed Assurance. I like it because it was my second mystery story I had written and I think it also turned out very well. Plus I would love to be friends with Adelaide. Out of all your characters which is your least favorite? Ross. He’s the villain in The Solid Rock and a truly despicable person. What is your favorite Christmas tradition? My family has some Christmas bulbs. Each one has an Old Testament reference and a New Testament reference. The OT one is the prophecy and the NT one is the fulfillment of the prophecy. It’s one of the things I look forward to the most. That is my interview with Faith, and I want to thank both authors for letting me interview them! GIVEAWAY! Just like Rebekah and Faith teamed up for this tour, they have also teamed up on the giveaway! Grand Prize: Paperback of each (US only)1st Prize: eBook of each (International and US)2nd Prize: eBook of choice (International and US) Click here to enter he GIVEAWAY! Tour ScheduleNovember 26 Bookish Orchestrations– Introductory Post Cover Lover Book Review– Book Spotlights November 27 Read Another Page– Book Spotlight Kaylee's Kind Of Writes– Two Book Reviews Jaye L. Knight– Excerpts November 28 Lit Aflame– Book Review and Excerpt Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections– Book Review of His Law is Love Jenny Berlin– Excerpts November 29 Frances Hoelsema's Blog– Two Book Spotlights Rebekah Ashleigh– Review of His Law is Love and Book Spotlights Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors– Book Review and Spotlight Salsa And Tea– Author Interviews. (You’re here!) November 30 Purely by Faith Reviews– Two Book Reviews Once Upon An Ordinary– Author Interview and Book Spotlights In the Bookcase- Excerpts December 1 Books, Life, and Christ– Two Book Reviews Maidens for Modesty– Two Book Reviews Chosen Vessels– Two Book Reviews Harvest Lane Cottage– Two Book Reviews Jessica Greyson– Book Spotlights Twin Thoughts– Book Spotlights Heart of the Rose– Two Book Reviews Read Another Page– Book Spotlight and Review December 3 Bookish Orchestrations– Giveaway winner We live in a small townhouse. Very small. All of us. All ten of us. And all of our things. All of our things including our books. All of our books. These books need places to go. About a year ago we bought four bookcases from Ikea. We really didn't have "the perfect spot" for them. We decided to try lining the hallway with them. There was still enough room to get through, our books were nice and neat, and we used the bottom two shelves on each case for little kid toy storage. These are all good things, right?
Well, after a while some books started to hang off. Toys would get knocked off onto the ground. When walking by with a laundry basket books would get knocked off. What was meant to serve us became something we were serving. We were constantly picking things up, moving out of the way for other people, getting trapped in the bathroom, and it got so I actually held my breath when walking through because it frustrated me so much. Our homeschool life is incredibly similar to my bookcase situation. Co-ops, book clubs, extra classes, etc are all good things. But. If they get in the way of our purpose, if they become something we are serving to the detriment of our family, if we find that we are holding our breath just trying to get through it ... we need to let it go. I've moved my bookcases and breathe a sigh of relief when I walk through my hallway now. Don't let your outside activities make your entire homeschool life miserable. |
Lisa HarrisDaughter of the King, Wife to one Smokey, Homeschooling Momma to many, entrepreneur, handmade seller here to share life as it happens. 
Hello! This is me ... or it was about three and a half years ago but well, I'm always behind the camera not in front of it.
Thanks for joining me at my little home on the web.
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