'Tis the season for goal planning. Are you taking part? My husband and I set aside time each winter to set goals for the coming year. This has been incredibly beneficial for our marriage and family! I wish I could say that faithfully setting goals means we consistently achieve them. Unfortunately, this isn’t how it works. Sometimes we … [Read more...] about How to Actually Achieve Your Goals This Coming Year
Archives for December 2015
Learning to Sip My Coffee More Slowly
Since my daughter was born a little over a year ago, I’ve been gulping down my morning coffee instead of enjoying it a sip at a time. I fell into this habit because I wanted to drink a cup of coffee but had little time to do so because I needed my hands free to care for my baby. I noticed a couple of weeks ago that I haven’t slowed down … [Read more...] about Learning to Sip My Coffee More Slowly
The True Light
It is still dark outside when I get up in the morning. In the weeks preceding Christmas, I like to turn on our Christmas tree lights when I rise so I can watch their bright, colorful glow dispel the darkness. These beautiful lights remind me of the incomparable brightness of our True Light. Without physical light, we’d stumble around … [Read more...] about The True Light
King Ranch Chicken
In honor of our move to Texas, we had to have King Ranch Chicken—a casserole that embodies the taste of south Texas—on our menu this fall. Though the origins of the dish are debated, most Texans love it. If you give it a try, you’ll understand why it is so popular. Ingredients (Adapted from this recipe.) 4 tablespoons butter 1 medium … [Read more...] about King Ranch Chicken
Making Fond Memories When Family Events Don’t Go As Planned
Several weeks ago we attempted to take cake smash photos for our daughter’s first birthday. Everything was “picture perfect” except our daughter’s response. One taste of the frosting on the cake and she had a meltdown! When this happened, I felt a little disappointed. After all, my husband and I wanted wonderful photos to help us … [Read more...] about Making Fond Memories When Family Events Don’t Go As Planned
7 Money-Saving Modifications to Popular Christmas Traditions
For many Americans, the "most wonderful time of the year" is also the most expensive time of the year. Just how expensive? Experts estimate that the typical American spends between $1,000 and $2,000 on Christmas each year (source). Thankfully, you don’t have to have a couple thousand dollars on hand to celebrate Christmas! We’ve never … [Read more...] about 7 Money-Saving Modifications to Popular Christmas Traditions
Christmas Cookie Bucket List
As far as I’m concerned, cookies are an appropriate accompaniment for any holiday. There’s something particularly special about cookies at Christmas, though. Somehow they’re a little sweeter than at other times of the year! When I was a child, one of my favorite Christmas traditions was baking and decorating sugar cookies. When my … [Read more...] about Christmas Cookie Bucket List
Book Review: 25 Questions You’re Afraid to Ask About Love, Sex, and Intimacy
I hesitated for a brief moment when I was contacted about reviewing a complimentary copy of 25 Questions You’re Afraid to Ask About Love, Sex, and Intimacy by Dr. Juli Slattery. After all, sex isn’t a common topic here on Of The Hearth. It is a very important topic, though, especially in our sex-saturated modern culture. We desperately need a … [Read more...] about Book Review: 25 Questions You’re Afraid to Ask About Love, Sex, and Intimacy
