Televisions, DVD players, and stereos are fixtures in the vast majority of American homes. In fact, their presence and use are so commonplace that it is easy to overlook their impact on the environments in our homes. Last week we examined how communication can influence the aura—the overall quality or environment—in a home. Today let’s … [Read more...] about The Sounds in a Home with a God-Honoring Aura (Part 2)
Strengthening Family
The Sounds in a Home with a God-Honoring Aura (Part 1)
The sounds in a home contribute significantly to its aura—the overall quality it emits. As I discussed two weeks ago, I’m seeking to create a home that has a God-honoring aura. Voices are one of the predominant sounds in most homes. Thankfully, the Bible has a lot to say about communication. If we follow the principles set forth in … [Read more...] about The Sounds in a Home with a God-Honoring Aura (Part 1)
Frugal, Practical Stocking Stuffers for Kids
Last week we looked at ideas for low-cost, useful stocking stuffers for adults. Now let’s look at some for the kiddos on our lists! Though I have identified a couple of toy items, I tried to minimize my focus on these because most little ones already have plenty. Stocking stuffer ideas for kids Snack containers. I initially saw these … [Read more...] about Frugal, Practical Stocking Stuffers for Kids
Frugal, Practical Stocking Stuffers for Adults
Stocking stuffers are one of life’s little pleasures. There is something delightful about pulling gifts from a bulging stocking, especially when you discover that the meaningfulness of a gift is masked by its small size. As I’ve noted before, I want to give my loved ones meaningful gifts, not “junk” that I resort to because I don’t know … [Read more...] about Frugal, Practical Stocking Stuffers for Adults
Embracing Quirks
Sometimes my husband comes into the kitchen as I finish preparing dinner. He’ll share a story or ask me a question as I line up our drinks and food to be transported to the table. I feel it’s pretty obvious at these times that I could use a hand transporting our dinner to the table, yet my husband exits the kitchen completely oblivious to my … [Read more...] about Embracing Quirks
Revitalizing Mealtime Prayers
Does your family “say grace” or pray over your meals before you eat? In the past I’ve felt that this was a very meaningful expression of my faith. In recent weeks, though, I’ve begun wondering if it’s really that significant. The prayers my husband and I pray before meals are often redundant. We say the same words—nearly verbatim—almost … [Read more...] about Revitalizing Mealtime Prayers
Christmas in July: Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas
Welcome to the fourth installment of Christmas in July 2013. You can read about the purpose of Christmas in July here. Links to the previous posts in the series are located at the bottom of this post. Have you ever experienced frustration, embarrassment, or other unpleasant emotions because your family didn’t discuss or didn’t agree … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas
Christmas in July: Gift Giving Guidelines
Welcome to the third installment of Christmas in July 2013. If you missed the first two posts in this series, including the explanation of the purpose of Christmas in July, you can see them here and here. Have you ever received an awful gift? Maybe a tube of anti-aging cream or a parenting book? How about a meat sampler (though it’s … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Gift Giving Guidelines
