Category: The Home
Comparing Blog Life with Real Life {Imperfect Moms Day 3}
Okay Homeschooling Mommas…we need to chat. Last week a woman was reading some of my blog posts on Layered Soul and felt like I was one of those amazing homeschooling moms that has it all together. I immediately felt sad because have it all together…I do not. This is a …
Comparing Blog Life with Real Life {Imperfect Moms Day 3}Read More
He Is My Children’s Heavenly Father {Imperfect Moms Day 2}
When my kids were little, I always kept them close by me whenever we’d go out anywhere. We’d make a trip to Walmart and if they were not contained in the cart, I constantly had a hand on them. I’d hold their hands when we walked down the street. I …
He Is My Children’s Heavenly Father {Imperfect Moms Day 2}Read More
Show Me a Perfect Mom… {Imperfect Moms Day 1}
Show me a perfect mom, and you’ll show me someone who’s hiding. Mistakes, pain, shame, guilt, vulnerability, depression, rage, a past…She’s hiding something, I promise you. Not one of us is perfect, even if that’s what we portray. We’ve all been there at one time or another. Feeling way less …
Momma, Stop! {Imperfect Moms Day 0}
A quick note from Jenn: James is in a blog author Facebook group with me, and when I posted the invitation to join the Imperfect Mom Confessional, he approached me with an offer to blog for me. Since he’s not a mom, I obviously couldn’t have him officially post in …
Guest Post :: Be Careful Little Eyes What You See
I’m sure you all know that song from childhood, Oh, be careful little eyes what you see, Oh, be careful little eyes what you see, For the Father up above is looking down in love, So be careful little eyes what you see. I’m pleased to be able to have …
Passport2Purity: An Unfinished Review
Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing my review copy. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation, though I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. An awkward subject Opening a discussion about purity with my …
Invitation to Join the Imperfect Mom Confessional Series
Exciting update! The series is here! It’s here! 😀 Come check it out! If you’re interested in adding your own post, leave a comment. There’s always room. 🙂 I am hosting a series in August, September and October called the Imperfect Mom Confessional. The strain of perfectionism is so strong, …
Invitation to Join the Imperfect Mom Confessional SeriesRead More
The Pirate’s Code {Movie Review}
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this product for me to review, as well as the prize for the giveaway. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and …
Grace for When You Blow It
Every day, I make mistakes with my kids. It could be a pretty good day with one little mistake, but often, I yell too loudly and too much, lose my patience too often, and just act like a complete fool. On those days, I can completely blow it. I don’t …
RX for Kindness from a Special Needs Mom
Dear Walgreens Employee/Manager(?), I understand my children were behaving unruly in your store yesterday. I understand that they may have not put all the toys back where they belonged in the toy aisle, I understand that they were being noisy and disruptive. I am truly sorry if we made anyone’s …
5 Tips to Enjoy the Summer (for Special Families)
Summer Is Special! As a special needs homeschooling family, the kids are always at home with us. However, there’s something different, more special, more exciting, about summer. Whether it’s the other kids in the neighborhood outside, vacations or trips planned, or more time with family members, there are more exciting …
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?
One day at work, I (Jerry) passed a co-worker and she asked absently, “How’s it going?” It was clear that she was in a bit of a hurry to get wherever it was she was going and wasn’t really looking for a detailed answer. She was just trying to be …
Join Odyssey Adventure Club for a Summer Challenge! (& Movie Ticket Giveaway!)
Summer . . . a time that kids pine for during the school year and often parents anticipate with anxiety. Fearing refrains of “I’m bored” or hours spent on the couch playing video games can make moms and dads nervous about the long, hot months stretching before their family. …
Join Odyssey Adventure Club for a Summer Challenge! (& Movie Ticket Giveaway!)Read More
Every Child is Unique :: Parenting Tip Number Twenty-one
Anyone who has more than one child realizes that God created every child to be a unique individual. It has always amazed me that children raised in the same family, by the same parents, in the same environment, can all be so different from each other. While family unity is …
Every Child is Unique :: Parenting Tip Number Twenty-oneRead More
Dealing with Mommy Guilt :: Parenting Tip Number Twenty
Mommy Guilt. Is there a mother on the planet who doesn’t have it?? Here is a very partial list of my Mommy Guilt: Starting a strict schedule with my particular baby who needed to be held and cuddled the most. Making a child finish his dinner when his tonsils were …
Dealing with Mommy Guilt :: Parenting Tip Number TwentyRead More
Let Them Leave and Cleave :: Parenting Tip Number Nineteen
As of May 15 of this year, I have been raising children for twenty-three years, so while I feel somewhat qualified to share parenting advice, I am fairly new at this mother-in-law thing. 🙂 My oldest son, Joshua, and his wife Alissa, have only been married for two years. I …
Let Them Leave and Cleave :: Parenting Tip Number NineteenRead More
Why My Kids Don’t Run Our Home :: Parenting Tip Number Eighteen
You will notice that some of these posts overlap. This one is very similar to #5, but I’m coming from a different angle. Our children are a blessing, and we are thankful to have them. It is a really good thing to do special things for them, and allow them …
Why My Kids Don’t Run Our Home :: Parenting Tip Number EighteenRead More
Relationships Trump Rules :: Parenting Tip Number Seventeen
If we are going to have any kind of influence over our children, having a relationship with them is vital. This is true at any age. We need to invest in them. We need to spend time with them. We need to listen to them. We need have them work …
Relationships Trump Rules :: Parenting Tip Number SeventeenRead More
How to Prepare Children for the Real World
We need to prepare our children to stay strong in an ungodly world, and to possibly even face persecution. It saddens me to even have to put this among the list of parenting advice/suggestions. Five years ago, I never would have thought that there would be a need to write …
Why Should I Read to My Child? Parenting Tip Number Fifteen
Some (perhaps most) of these posts stem from various regrets, things I would tweak (or totally change) if I were just starting out as a parent, and things I wish I had learned earlier. However, this is one thing that I would do exactly the same way if I were …
Why Should I Read to My Child? Parenting Tip Number FifteenRead More
Why I Put My Marriage First :: Parenting Tip Number Fourteen
I have hesitated to post this one because I have several dear friends who are single moms, and one single dad that I know of, and not by their own choice. God has given them extra strength and grace to raise their children as a single parent, and they are …
Why I Put My Marriage First :: Parenting Tip Number FourteenRead More
Avoiding Self-righteous Attitudes
I have found this particular tip, by far, to be the hardest one to try to put into words, but I’ll do my best. I also know that this one may be rather controversial. As with everything I am posting, please make your parenting decisions in light of Scripture. What’s …
When Should I Break Bad Habits? Parenting Tip Number Twelve
This one is short (surprise!!) and simple. A lot of things can be really cute at age three, or even up to about age eight or ten, but they are downright annoying and disrespectful at age twelve, twenty, or forty. Just to be clear, I am NOT talking about normal …
When Should I Break Bad Habits? Parenting Tip Number TwelveRead More
A Note to My Future Daughter-in-Love
I am so blessed to be a part of this “Girl Group” – women who love their children so fiercely. No, I don’t have a daughter, but that didn’t stop my friend Kaylene from inviting me to join this exclusive group, and I’m so thankful that she did! Here’s a …