Anybody who knows our family very well knows that we are not what most people would consider “gun fanatics.” You’re more likely to find us shooting photos than firearms. Or hunting bargains than big game. Nevertheless, we are staunch supporters of the Second Amendment. And we believe a well-armed citizenry is a deterrent to crime….
As homeschoolers, we’ve always tried to pack as much educational value into our vacations as possible. So when we recently traveled through Vegas, we naturally tried to find area attractions that would teach us something new. These 4 must-see Las Vegas museums really made that objective super-easy. Here’s our family’s impressions of each one: 4…
God has called — and equipped! — us to stand firm against Satan’s schemes. We need to use all the resources He provides.
The start of a new school year is just around the corner! Accordingly, this post is chock-full of fun ways to celebrate starting back to school. Even though, as homeschoolers, our family usually does lessons year-round, I still love the fresh start August brings with regard to co-ops and school supplies and new routines. I’ve…
Today’s free printable is a dental health chart. With two dentists for siblings (and another taking his DAT in a month), you’d think good dental hygiene would be second nature to our little ones. That’s not necessarily so. They still need lots and lots of reminders to brush and floss regularly. When we had to…
Our family spent some time in the Smoky Mountains last month. We’ve visited Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge many times in the past but this trip we tried something we’d never done before: Flyaway Indoor Skydiving. After watching a brief safety film and learning a few hand signs our flight instructor would use to communicate with…
If you routinely shop online without going through a cashback portal, you could be missing out on some significant savings. How would you like to get up to 40% back on almost every purchase? With Cashback sites, you can. The following rebate programs are free to join and offer sign-up bonuses to new members: Ebates…
We spent some time in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, last month. While we were there, we paid a visit to the Hollywood Wax Museum using a blogger promotion discount we received through US Family Guide. They gave me two all-access passes for free in exchange for this blog review, plus discounted admission for the rest of…
Father’s Day is less than a week away. Even so, there’s still plenty of time to let Dad know how much you appreciate him. Here are a few simple gift ideas that will let him know he’s #1 in your book. 7 Last-Minute Gifts for Father’s Day: Write Dad a Letter If words of encouragement…
Yes, I know. The official start of summer is still more than a month away. But here in the south, warmer weather has arrived, school is winding down, and summer fun is beckoning, so I thought I’d publish this seasonal bucket list a little early so you can get a jumpstart on making memories with…
I’ve been using Mondays to clear out my mailbag. This week, we’re talking about how to get started as an aspiring author, as well as 6 places to find inspiration for book writing. Question: Hello, Mrs. Flanders! I hope you’re doing well. ? I saw your Facebook post about Jon Acuff’s Finish. I’m reading it…
One of the things our family enjoys doing this time of year is hiking along nature trails. There is such a riot of color to take in as wild flowers bloom, butterflies flit through the air, and birds build their nests. It’s also a great time of year for taking photos. If you have some…
In just a few weeks, two more of our daughters will graduate from high school. That makes eight out of twelve, which means I’ll be 2/3 of the way finished with my homeschooling career come May.So today I’m sharing a game to celebrate graduates like them. We recently hosted a party for their senior class,…
If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you’ve probably gathered by now that I’m a huge list maker. I’m very visual, and keeping lists in my notebook, on my phone, or tacked to the bulletin board in my closet helps keep important stuff at the forefront of my mind. My lists help…
When I was in college, I knocked the heel off my favorite pair of ballet flats in my rush to get to class. Since I didn’t have much time or money during that season of my life, I continued to wear the shoes for the rest of the semester, despite the mismatched heels. The tops…
I have mixed feelings about the latest book Timberdoodle sent me to review. Entitled Everyone a Child Should Know, this 120-page volume by Claire Heath-Whyte offers one-page summaries of 52 heroes of the faith. I did not immediately fall in love with this book. I thought at first glance it was too simplistic. But in…
Whenever I plan a family vacation, I always check these 9 noteworthy websites as I map our our itinerary. I do this whether we’ll be driving thousands of miles or staying close to home. Whether we’ll be gone for three days or three weeks. Whether we’ll spend all our time in one place or traveling…
I love this season of year: The trees and flowers are starting to bloom. The days are getting longer. The weather is warming. And look! The birds are back! So birds seem a fitting choice for this week’s “Scripture Sunday” coloring page. This design is based on Matthew 6:26. Look at the birds of the…
This year for St. Patrick’s Day, we did something new. In addition to our traditional Leprechaun Lunch, I designed something fun for the kids to do after dinner. Entitled It’s Not Easy Being Green Trivia Quiz, it covers all things emerald, lime, and chartreuse. If you think this printable looks more like a pop quiz…
February is rolling right along and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. So I designed some more Color-Your-Own Precious Moments Valentines for you to share with the people you love: My drawings were inspired by all the Precious Moments figurines I’ve collected over the past three decades. My collection started when two different people…
Our family spent some time in Branson, Missouri, this week. It snowed A LOT while we were there, which was beautiful to look at but too cold to spend much time in, so we went in search of fun activities we could do indoors. We found fun to spare at the Hollywood Wax Museum in…
Never in all my years would I have dreamed a simple post on children’s chores would stir up so much controversy. But here we are, with highly opinionated readers weighing in on both sides of the issue. Many folks know instinctively that doing chores is good for children. Parents do their children no favors by…
Today’s printables all deal with cooking, food, and meal planning. Keep reading for a cooking measures equivalency chart, healthful snack ideas, and a pretty new menu planning template. Only three days into the new year, our family’s already noting positive change in regard to eating habits. Not only does eating more meals at home save…
What follows is another yearly installment in our family’s complete history told via the 2017 Flanders Family Christmas Update. To see a full listing, see Our Christmas Letters. For tips on writing your own family history in this fashion, follow this link. In the meantime, enjoy! The Flanders Family Update: 2017 December 2016 Happenings We…
Are you looking for ways to make the Christmas season less hectic? Do lengthy to-do lists overwhelm you? Then use our simplified Christmas bucket list to plan a holiday that is memorable and meaningful to YOU. Since one of our sons (along with his wife and daughter) moved to Germany last summer, we decided to…
December 1 is “Christmas Countdown Day.” So today I’m sharing a roundup of our family’s favorite advent chains, holiday bucket lists, and fun Christmas countdown calendars: Countdown to Christmas Bucket List This is the list I post every December. My kids helped me compile it years ago, and we use it to help jog our…
I know Thanksgiving is a national holiday, but as a homeschooler, I believe all of life is a classroom. Taking a break from lessons shouldn’t mean taking a break from learning. So… in typical teaching-mama fashion, I offer the following Thanksgiving Trivia Test for your perusal. Don’t tip off my kids, but they’ll be taking…
For those of you who’ve printed off copies of the free printable thank you notecards I shared earlier this month, here’s a pretty set of envelope seals that coordinates beautifully with them. I hope you’ll enjoy using them in your crafting, gifting, and letter writing. Have you written any thank you notes this week? Doing…
October 31, 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the day Martin Luther first nailed his 95 Theses to Wittenburg Castle Church Door. So, in honor of the occasion, I’m sharing the following Reformation Day Quiz. Use it to test your knowledge of Martin Luther’s life. (Scroll down for a free printable version.) Reformation Day Quiz…
I love to keep a variety of books going at one time. I keep one on my nightstand. Another on the end table in the den. Another in my purse. I also read chapter books aloud to the kids or listen as they read them to me. Plus there are the books my husband reads…
My kids and I are involved in a weekly co-op we all love. The younger ones take classes in things like sign language and math drills and geography and life skills (where they learn to use power tools and change the oil in a car), and the older ones knock out subjects like Chemistry and…
Today I’m sharing another free printable party game, something I like to call Back-to-School Ice Breaker Bingo. It’s been twelve years since I published the “Life Experiences Bingo” sheet I’ve used for breaking the ice at the various Christmas parties we’ve hosted over the course of our marriage, but it remains one of my most…
Many businesses do a lot to support education in a variety of ways. Some offer student incentives for time spent reading or for making good grades on report cards. Others offer teacher discounts for educational purchases. Some (like Half-Price Books) do both, and even extend their reading rewards and teacher discounts to homeschoolers like me….
It’s been awhile since I’ve published one of my Sunday coloring pages, but the summer’s winding down and it’s time for me to get back on a regular schedule. Since many students are heading back to school this week, I thought 2 Timothy 2:15 would provide a fitting theme. “Study to show yourself approved unto…
As with any chore, teaching your children to clean their rooms thoroughly and to be mindful about maintaining their work takes a little extra time in the beginning, but it pays off in the long run. Kids gain speed and proficiency with practice and eventually even learn to identify on their own areas in need of extra attention.
Walmart is betting — and so am I — that your first time to use their new grocery pick up service won’t be your last.
Our family has been in Branson, Missouri, this week taking in all the sights. Yesterday, we took a tour of Talking Rocks Cavern. We timed our arrival such that we had a thirty-minute wait before the tour began, but there were plenty of things to keep us busy in the meantime. While Dad and the…
Our family is on the road again. This time we’re in Branson, Missouri. I’ll be posting this week and next about all the fun things we’re doing, but today I’ll start at the beginning with Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers. And when I say at the beginning, I mean it. The Baldknobbers have been in Branson since…
It’s Sunday, so it’s time to share another of my free printable coloring pages. The Bible commands us to take every thought captive, and this week’s coloring page provides a beautiful reminder of that directive. click to print this Take Every Thought Captive coloring page The thing I love about coloring Scripture verses is that…
One of the most memorable things we did during our visit to Orlando earlier this year was to take our kids to “an indoor trampoline arena” called Rebounderz in Apopka. We’d originally scheduled to meet some friends there early in the week. But one of them slipped that morning while walking the dog, broke her…
When we first started our homeschooling journey over a quarter-century ago, one of the staples of our school day was doing critical thinking exercises. I eventually built a huge library of books by Critical Thinking Press, but the title we started out with way back when was the very first book in their Building Thinking…
Our family spent two weeks in Florida last month, as I’ve already mentioned. This month, I plan to blog about many of the sights we saw while we were there, starting with our very first stop in the Sunshine State: The Tallahassee Museum. This museum is definitely a hidden gem. We missed our first exit…
We made it back to Tyler Sunday after a two-week road trip to Florida. Truly, there is no place like home! And we were all so grateful to pull into our own driveway. Getting locked out of our house Unfortunately, we had to stand outside for about 45 minutes when we first got back, because…
Remember when I promised you more love-themed printables last week? Since it’s already Sunday again, I thought I’d start with some new Scripture-based coloring pages for Valentine’s Day. I made the first two while we were on a long road trip recently. (You’ll hear more about that in future posts). The others I’ve published before,…
While I was busy getting settled into our new house, I fell behind on my blogging, so I’ll be spending the next few weeks catching up. In addition to reviewing some wonderful educational products from Timberdoodle and posting about some of the fun places we visited on a recent vacation, I’ll also be cleaning out…
What follows is another yearly installment in our family’s complete history told via the 2016 Flanders Family Christmas Update. To see a full listing, see Our Christmas Letters. For tips on writing your own family history in this fashion, follow this link. In the meantime, enjoy! The Flanders Family Update: 2016 December 2015 Happenings Benjamin…
I have a different sort of Christmas game to share with you today: a holiday version of an old family favorite. Check out these I SPY Christmas Printables: download all 4 I Spy Christmas printables in a single click I made these during an extended road trip last summer, and they helped keep my little…
My youngest kids are at an age where they really enjoy working word find puzzles. So, I created this Thanksgiving Word Find to help keep them and the grandkids occupied until dinner is ready. So I’m sharing it here today, in case you have young guests for Thanksgiving who might like it, too. click to…
Thanksgiving provides a perfect opportunity to count your blessings. And our Thanksgiving Scattergories printable provides a fun way to help you do exactly that. But autumn is a season not only for counting blessings, but for sharing them as well. And what blessing begs to be shared more than the good news of the gospel?…
Although our family normally schools year round, I try to give the kids a little bit of a break during the summer months by choosing fun and interesting courses that don’t require much homework. So when Timberdoodle offered me a review copy of Physics 101, I gladly accepted, suspecting it would be a pain-free way…
When you live in the piney woods of East Texas, like we do, you have a ready supply of pinecones for craft projects, especially this time of year. We have lots and lots of pinecones at our house, but you’ll rarely see any lying in our yard. That’s because we also have an army of…
Did you know National Good Neighbor Day is right around the corner? Formerly celebrated on the fourth Sunday in September, it is now observed on September 28 every year. Do you have a good relationship with your neighbors? If so, thank God for that fact. If not, then pray that He would help you live…
Today I’m sharing a printable list of 50 Healthy Snacks. What inspired this list, you ask? The fact my husband and I recently made some pretty radical changes to our eating habits. Medical study after medical study has shown that the lower your consumption of animal products, the lower your risk of heart disease, cancer,…
When I was little and in need of a friend, I remember my mother leading me from house to house all around our neighborhood looking for a girl my age who would play with me. As an adult, I’ve noticed that my Father is the One who has found me my closest and most precious…
Although Constitution Day technically falls on September 17 (tomorrow), the US is officially observing it a day early this year. I’m all for celebrating the US Constitution, so I thought I’d share a Constitution Day coloring page today. It was originally published in my devotional journal, God Bless America. This free printable features a quote…
September has arrived. The kids are back at their lessons. After tomorrow, our neighborhood pool will close for the season. In some parts of our country, the nights are already growing cooler. The leaves are turning, the flowers fading, the grass withering. It brings to mind this wonderful verse of Scripture, which I wanted to…
One of our family’s favorite things to do on vacation? We love taking factory tours! That’s one of the biggest reasons we prefer road trips to plane trips, because it allows us to stop all along the way and learn about how stuff is made. 5 Things to Love about Factory Tours What’s so great…
I’m using Mondays to clean out my mailbox. This week’s question on avoiding potty-training accidents was written in response to my post, A Common-Sense Approach to Potty-Training. Read on for my best ideas for helping kids stay continent: Question: How can I prevent toilet-training accidents? Hi, Jennifer. My sons are 4 & 6. They can…
Our family spent a few days in New York City this month. While we were there, we took a couple of very different but very memorable Manhattan tours. Both were a blast, so I wanted to share them with you, together with one other attraction that is sure to appeal to movie lovers, as well….
One could spend a whole month in Washington, DC, and still not see it all. But what if you’re short on time? Is there anyway to see DC in less than a day? Our answer? Yes, provided you are motivated and wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes! Unfortunately, for the majority of our family…
If you were to visit us at Christmas time, you would find a long row of handmade felt stockings hanging from our mantle. We purposefully downplay the gifts around the tree. The kids exchange names to buy individual presents, and I usually wrap a family gift that we can all enjoy, like a new game…
Since today is “Cheer Up the Lonely Day”, I’m sharing a coloring page which fits that theme. Have you ever noticed there’s a special day for just about every activity under the sun? Fortunately, cheering up the lonely is an activity upon which God places great importance. We can tell by reading James 1:27: “Pure…
July is “Anti-Boredom Month.” Maybe that’s because kids have been on summer break for so long that they’ve run out of things to do. But I never run out of things to do, and I’m never, ever bored. In fact, I can think of more things I’d enjoy doing, more projects, more books to write,…
Can you believe our summer break is already halfway over? A lot of folks have asked me whether our family has any trips planned this summer. The answer is yes and no. We took a short cruise in May to celebrate our four graduates (not these four — they were just along for the ride):…
I believe children should honor our fathers (and wives their husbands) not only on the third Sunday in June, but every day of their lives. Nevertheless, since today is a day we traditionally set aside for recognizing fathers, I’ve designed the following Man of Integrity coloring page especially for the occasion. click to print Man…
In honor of “National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month” (and expanding on the fruit-themed coloring page I shared last week), I’m sharing this Bearing Good Fruit coloring page today. It’s based on Matthew 7:17, which reads: “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:17) I hope your…
Since today is National Best Friends Day, I thought I’d share a few links and printables to mark the occasion. One of the biggest benefits to having a big family is having built-in friends. That’s not to say there’s never friction between siblings at our house, but we try to defuse it quickly when it…
The Bible verse in this week’s coloring page highlights a central theme of Scripture, that of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice: “Greater love hath no one than this, that one would lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) This verse, of course, references the fact Jesus gave His life to purchase our freedom from sin….
School’s out. Summer’s here. And with it comes the opportunity to ramp up our pleasure reading. Our kids love summer, because it means they can pick what they read, read to their heart’s content, and get rewarded for doing so. (For a current list of companies that offer reading rewards, check out this post: Reading…
Did you know May is “Date Your Mate” month? Of course, if a wife doesn’t treat her husband respectfully, and if her husband doesn’t act lovingly toward her, then neither of them will feel like spending much time together, date night or no. Love and respect are essential to the happiness and success of any…
If it seems like this blog has been on radio silence all week, it’s because our entire family has been on a Caribbean cruise (with the exception of Samuel, who was unfortunately in the middle of his surgery rotation in medical school and couldn’t join us). We had a blast, but we definitely learned a…
In honor of Mother’s Day, I wanted to share this special Blessed Mother coloring page from my new devotional journal for moms, Sweet Child of Mine: click to print “Blessed Mother” coloring page The title of this new journal came from a poem I wrote for the occasion: Sweet Child of Mine by Jennifer Flanders…
This week’s “Scripture Sunday” coloring page features James 1:2-3. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing this, that the testing of your faith, produces patience.” That’s easily said. Harder to apply. But well worth the effort in the long run in terms of reduced stress, peace of mind —…
The past eight days have been joyous but busy ones for our family. For better or worse, the week began with a triathlon in San Marcos last Sunday. Then came my baby’s birthday. Mine was the following day. Then my husband’s the day after that. Then the 30th anniversary of the day we met. We…
Our family is in San Marcos this weekend for the Texas State Triathlon. Dad and six of the kids trained for the event. Mom and the little ones just came along for the ride and moral support. Here we all are in a glass-bottom boat in Aquarena Springs yesterday (checking out the swimming portion of…
This week is National Library Week, and I didn’t want to let it pass without writing a post devoted to one of my favorite pastimes: Reading. Hence, I present to you 25 ways to encourage literacy. With twelve children, as you might imagine, we have a wide spectrum of personalities and interests. Some of our…
Since today is National Siblings Day, I wanted to share a coloring page I designed especially for brothers and sisters. This one features 2 Thessalonians 3:13. “As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.” That’s a good reminder, not only for children, but for parents, too. Wouldn’t…
I hope you had the loveliest of Easter celebrations last Sunday. I missed posting a coloring page on Resurrection Day but I wanted to share this one with you today. It looks back to Jesus’s finished work on the cross, something the Bible calls “a fragrant aroma.” “Christ loved us and gave Himself up for…
When we began our homeschooling journey nearly thirty years ago, there was not the plethora of curriculum suppliers that we see today. So I was very grateful when, as a young mom, I stumbled upon a family-owned company by the name of Timberdoodle that sold slightly quirky but wonderfully fun educational products and thinking games…
Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! That’s what the crowds called out as Christ rode into Jerusalem a week before His death: “Glory to God in the highest!” “Hosanna! Hossana!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” But what a difference a week makes! Since Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the…
I received the following message last week about my empty nest list from a reader in response to my post, When Strangers Count Our Kids and Ask If We’re Done, and I decided to share it here: Question: What is on your empty nest list? Oh Jennifer! I am 45 with 10 children, my youngest…
With Easter right around the corner, I thought you might enjoy the Cross of Christ coloring page I designed for you this week. It features one of my all-time favorite verses, Romans 5:8. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Ideas for using…
This week’s coloring page comes from one of my favorite Psalms. The whole verse reads: “For the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5) Some translations use the words “lovingkindness” and “faithfulness.” Either way, it’s a beautiful promise and deserves a beautiful coloring page. I designed…
Happy Sunday!! The coloring page I’ve prepared for you this week encourages us to run after righteousness. It features a passage packed with promise: “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” (Proverbs 21:21, NIV) Aren’t those great benefits? click to print our Running after Righteousness coloring page I hope you’ll enjoy coloring…
This week, I’m sharing a printable coloring page that’s one of my favorite verses. The verse reads, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10) Sadly, I often fall short on applying this principle to things like preparing meals or putting away laundry. While I usually do my work…
This week’s coloring page gets right to the point: Rejoice Always. Notice that God doesn’t tell us to “feel happy.” God commands us to “rejoice.” “Happiness” is a noun, a thing, an emotion, whereas “rejoice” is a verb. An action. A choice. What’s more, it’s the right choice. It’s the response God expects from us:…
Happy Sunday! This week’s The Earth is the Lord’s coloring page features 1 Corinthians 10:26. The earth and everything in it. The earth and all its fullness. The totality of our surroundings. The earth and everything it contains. All that abundance–every last thing that the eye can see belongs to the Lord our God. I…
Our family just returned home from vacationing in Florida. Since so many of our kids are so crazy about Legos, we squeezed in a visit to Legoland while we were there. With a little advanced planning, we were able to go without breaking the bank. Here are my top tips for saving money at Legoland….
I have another coloring page for you this week. It features Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That’s a great memory verse for all of us — especially those who might be struggling to make good on New Year’s resolutions long about now. 🙂 Just click the image…
Can you believe how quickly the last twelve months flew by? Happy New Year, everybody! I grew up in a family that always ate black-eyed peas “for good luck” on New Year’s Day. But as an adult, I’ve found more helpful ways to jumpstart a great year. Here are my top six — with some…
As I mentioned last week, our family spent some more time in Tennessee this month where we took in loads of Ripley’s Attractions in Gatlinburg. We’d gone to Gatlinburg last January and realized there was much more to do than we could pack into just a few days, so we planned a return trip almost…
The response has been so positive to the free printable coloring pages I shared over Christmas that I’ve decided to make it a regular feature in the New Year, starting with this Teach Us to Number Our Days coloring page. I plan to upload a new one each Sunday. Many will be adapted from pages…
We hope you had a very merry and meaningful Christmas yesterday. Our day was simple but full, spent with those we love. And today, I wanted to share a few fun Christmas links to enjoy once you finish your after-Christmas chores. Just as every family has their own way of celebrating the holidays, I’m sure…
What follows is another yearly installment in our family’s complete history told via the 2015 Flanders Family Christmas Update. To see a full listing, see Our Christmas Letters. For tips on writing your own family history in this fashion, follow this link. In the meantime, enjoy! The Flanders Family Update: 2015 December 2014 Happenings For…
As much as we stress the importance of having daily quiet times, in an active household like ours, quiet moments are few and far between. Sometimes the best we can do is stop and be still. That’s because noise is a natural byproduct of having ten people under one roof. And when that number swells…
My inbox is backed up, so I’ve been using Mondays to respond to readers’ questions. This week, my Mailbag Monday column deals with large family gift giving. Keep reading to see how our family handles this important tradition at Christmas time. Question: Hi, Jennifer. What do you all do for presents with such a large…
I’ve had such fun creating these devotional journals! With ten titles currently available and more in the works, there’s one to suit just about any personality. These creative books include journaling prompts, word studies, vintage artwork to color, and lots of scripture on each and every page. What readers are saying about our devotional journals:…
I’ve been listening to Jon Acuff’s 3 Rules of Hustle this week while perusing his color-coded bookshelves. Not only does this guy have great motivational tips and a great sense of humor, but he also has two copies of Hooked. Can you spot them both in the photo above? Color-Coded Bookshelves Since I’ve never read…
Our family (including a few of the grandkids) spent the day in Dallas yesterday, visiting Nana and attending the BrickUniverse Lego Fan Fest at the Irving Convention Center (courtesy of a US Family Guide Blogger Promotion). Our kids are all huge Lego fans, so this convention was right up their alley. The Fan Fest featured…
Although we don’t have any pets of our own, we’ve been compassionately caring for animals in their hour of need for our whole married life. It was 1992 when the first black cat showed up on our doorstep during a thunderstorm. She was pregnant and pitiful, so we gave her a warm basket and a…
Should believers reject “All Hallows Eve” or celebrate it? Ban trick-or-treating or grab their buckets and traipse door to door collecting candy along with everyone else? Ignore the day’s festivities or try to redeem them in some way? Is there a way to honor God on this holiday? A middle ground? How, exactly, should Christians…
We have lots of Lego fans at our house, and I’ve recently run across a couple of resources I know they’re going to love. So on the off chance your kids are as crazy about those little building blocks as mine are, I thought I’d share a round-up of all these fresh, fun ideas for…
Hi, Jennifer. [In reference to you chore chart for children], maybe there is a difference – with kids that go to school and those that are homeschooled… My kids get up at 6:15, get to school at 7, get home at 2:45pm, and we have a snack and sit down and do homework – because…
As I mentioned in an earlier post, we took a (not so) short trip to Arizona a few weeks ago. Fortunately for us, finding family fun in Phoenix was no problem! We packed lots of shorts and tank tops, as we had heard Phoenix was having their hottest summer on record. The thermometer hit 117…
Four of our children are already grown and gone. One (so far) is married with children. Since his family lives in town and his kids are best friends with their littlest aunts and uncles, we see a lot of them and get to hear most of their news firsthand. The other three live several hours…
I know that summer doesn’t officially end for another month, but school starts up again tomorrow, so it may as well be over. No more late, leisurely mornings for this family! Three of our children are beginning dual credit courses at the local junior college this semester: Which means that — for a few months,…
A few weeks ago I started a series of scrapbooking posts, highlighting the methods I use and how those practices have changed over the forty years I’ve been making memory books. Today’s topic? Going digital. That’s because one of the biggest changes occurred when I switched from using film to taking digital photos. Whereas before,…
For years, my husband has talked about getting a drum set, but resisted the urge, because drums take up so much space. That decision suited me just fine, as the thought of having twelve kids in the same house as a set of drums didn’t appeal to me in the least! I imagined them beating…
This post on quick and easy page layouts is the fifth in a series devoted to Scrapbooking Shortcuts. To read the first four, follow these links: Introduction: Making Scrapbooks for Multiple Children First Things First: 4 Steps to Getting Started Sorting: How to Get Organized without Getting Overwhelmed Scrapbooking Supplies: The Bare Essentials Then check…
Today I’m sharing all my favorite (and most essential) scrapbooking supplies. This is fourth in a series of posts devoted to Scrapbooking Shortcuts. To read the first three, follow these links: Introduction: Making Scrapbooks for Multiple Children, First Things First: 4 Steps to Getting Started, and Sorting: How to Get Organized without Getting Overwhelmed. Then…
This is the second in a series of posts devoted to Scrapbooking Shortcuts. To read the introductory post, click here. And check back tomorrow and throughout the coming weeks for more installments. What follows might be called my philosophy of scrapbooking. I know it’s very basic, but I think it is a good starting point…
Hi, Jennifer. I can’t remember if I thanked you for posting the free printable of the Children’s Keepsake Record. I was the one who inquired about it, so thank you. That leads me to another question for you. I read that you do a scrapbook for each of your kids. That’s a lot of scrapbooks…
School’s out. Books are in. And today I’m sharing some of our family’s favorite picture books about summer. That’s because at our house, summer means reading. Reading one of our family’s favorite things to do all year long. But summer gives us extra free time (and sunshine) to enjoy even more of it, whether we’re…
My husband and I are often asked about cultivating friendship between siblings. That’s because one of the first things people usually notice about our children is how well they get along. Sure, they have occasional squabbles, but that is the exception rather than the rule. For the most part, they really love and admire one…
I finished some fantastic books in June, including Lysa TerKeurst’s phenomenal The Best Yes. If you’re looking for a good summer read, check out the following selections. There’s something for almost everyone on this list. The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst I started reading Lysa’s book on the way to a restaurant for a family…
Some of the best learning kids do takes place outside the classroom. And summer is a great time to focus on broadening horizons, acquiring new skills, and rounding out your transcript. Here are ten of our favorite ways to do that. As homeschoolers, we’ve let many of these things count as elective hours on our…
In honor of Father’s Day, I thought I’d share a poem I wrote for my husband many years ago when our children were younger. Enjoy! A Hero in the Making (by Jennifer Flanders) Our little one is watching– Can’t you see it in his eyes? How he brightens at the sight of you With happy,…
Earlier this year, our family took a 2 1/2 week tour of the East Coast and stopped in the Old Mill District near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on our trip home. This was our first time to visit this part of the country. It’s gorgeous, even in the dead of winter. We were only in town for…
In honor of National Garden Week, I wanted to share the following 6 picture books that celebrate spring. These are some of our family’s favorite children’s titles about gardening. Check them out! 6 Picture Books that Celebrate Spring For more information or to purchase, simply click on the affiliate-linked titles. Flower Garden by Eve Bunting…
I use Mondays to clean out my mailbox by responding to readers’ questions. This week’s inquiry is all about getting your child ready for college. Question: Any tips on preparing my child for college? Dear Jennifer, Do you have any tips about getting your child ready for college? I know you are knowledgable about the…
