Faith, Family, and Forging a Difference
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
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
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
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
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
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
Our older relatives are quite diverse. Some enjoy good health and live independently in the community, while others are frail and live in residential care facilities. Regardless of their health and living situations, many of us find it challenging to select suitable Christmas and birthday gifts for these relatives. After all, they’ve … [Read more...] about Gift Ideas for Elderly Relatives
Though it is often fun and exciting, house hunting is a very serious endeavor. If you make a good choice, you’ll own a secure, comfortable home that meets the needs of your family. If you make a bad choice, you’ll own a hazardous, uncomfortable home that doesn’t meet the needs of your family. My husband and I have been house hunting … [Read more...] about The Most Important Things to Consider When Buying a House
