Growing up, it was my heart’s greatest desire to become a wife and a mom. I chose a career path in Education because I believed it would allow me to spend the most time serving my family while making a decent living. I say all of that because I’ve always felt called home. Once Demario was drafted in the NFL, it felt best for me to stay home, full time with our family. As we began planning for a family, I was impressed to begin homeschooling, which was foreign to both my husband and me. The more I attempted to dismiss the idea, the more I felt it tugging on my heart, so we went for it! This journey has been difficult at times, but God has shown up endlessly to remind me he’s called me to this, for this season of life!
In Called Home: Finding Joy in Letting God Lead Your Homeschool, Karen DeBeus does an exceptional job espousing her personal experiences and challenges, reminding readers of the importance of staying connected to God throughout their homeschool journey. He is the one who has called us home to serve our families, and He wants the ultimate glory from it. While reading this book, I felt the need to minimize all distractions and press into the One who called me to homeschool!
Frequently, I’d be exhausted, frustrated, and running on fumes. I can vividly recall the week I found this book. Life was chaotic! We’d recently relocated, and football season was rolling. I was attempting to do all the mom, wife and teacher duties solo. One kid was acting bat crap crazy, another one we believed was experiencing hearing loss, while the other child was suffering from anxiety. Did I mention I was also hosting various guests for a month? When everything is threatening my sanity, God shows up and exposes me to gems like this read.
Ultimately, my children’s relationship with the Lord is most essential; therefore, it’s vital I display and teach Jesus’ truths! Curriculums are amazing and needed in increments but submitting and surrendering all that we do to the Lord is vital in order to run this race! I paused our homeschool for a few weeks, and we had fun, studied God’s truths, and reset! Reading DeBeus’s book “Called Home” and spending time with God gave me the bravery to refocus our homeschool structure to make our time God-centric.
I would recommend this book for any parent who finds themselves questioning their decision to homeschool. Veteran and beginner homeschool teachers alike will find all the information in this little book necessary. The book is a quick read, with relevant truths. DeBeus shares encouragement and reminds readers to shift their focus back on God and keep Him at the center of their homeschooling journey.
I absolutely thrive with an organized fridge. Seeing those containers all lined up or stacked neatly is so appealing. I can see exactly what and where things are stored. When it comes to time to figure out our meals, I can create a plan with a quick look into our fridge. I prewash all of my fruits, veggies, and fresh meat as soon after a grocery trip as possible, which cuts down on clutter and keeps the fridge in order.
In the beginning, it may seem overwhelming to get your fridge in order. But remember, just like most things, it’ll be a breeze to maintain after the first overhaul. Here are 5 tips for getting your fridge in order:
1. Out with the Old (and Expired!)
Before tackling Project Fridge, take inventory of what’s already in there. How old is that mustard? Are both those containers of shredded cheese still good? Throw away anything that’s expired or rotten. This is also a good opportunity to see what items are bought, but never completely used. This will help streamline your grocery list to items that your family uses.
2. Meal Plan to Perfection
For some items, I store them based on what recipes I’m planning to make. Meal planning works to offer purpose to what’s in the fridge and to make sure we’re actually using what we buy. No one wants to throw away money, but that’s what happens when grocery items are wasted. Try to set aside a day every week to map out your meals, then create your grocery list.
3. Break Out the Organizers!
As I mentioned in past posts, I use Lazy Susan’s fridge bins and meal prep containers to group items together. Everything’s shipshape in labeled containers. There are affordable, effective fridge organizers for all types of items. If you keep bottled waters or juices on the shelf, consider a bottle or a can dispenser. Feel free to get creative and shop around for what works best for your fridge.
4. Fast Food, the Healthy Way
I store fruit, raw veggies, and cheeses low so the kids can reach them if allowed to grab a snack independently. Those prewashed and cut eats will be appealing to the eyes and ready to go when the kids or anyone needs a quick healthy treat. Be sure to use easy to open containers to make it that much quicker for smaller hands to get what they need.
5. (Re)Organize Frequently
I’m all about the “organized look” for my sanity so my systems change frequently—and my family may or may not love that! There should be a general order to your refrigerator, which will help you know what’s missing as you create your grocery list, but don’t feel like everything is set in stone. Certain things may work better on a lower (or higher) shelf.
These are just a few tips to guide you to a Pinterest-worthy fridge your family (and your grocery list!) will appreciate!
The relationship between Jesus and his disciples is one that many can understand and desire in their own personal relationships, especially in a family. The level of love and respect that comes from both sides of that relationship and the care concealed in the lessons He taught the disciples are all things that many parents try to develop with their own kids. We were gifted the perfect example in Jesus, and while we ourselves are far from perfect, there is still so much we can learn and apply.
Jesus was wise, humble, and obedient to His Father. He lived a faultless life and carried out the will of God for His life. As I pursue my relationship with Christ, I am challenged to adopt these principles individually and steward my children in a way that grants them wisdom to do the same. Jesus was the ultimate example to His disciples and to us, modeling lessons on how to live for His Father. If I desire for my own little disciples to know Christ, it’s imperative that I faithfully model the characteristics of Jesus for them, as their first teacher.
In order to keep the teachings of Jesus at the forefront of my life, I study God’s Word. There are so many life lessons in the Bible, and God is always illuminating important portions that I can apply in my personal situations. I would recommend the Bible for any parent needing a guide for how to raise their children. The Word is frequently transforming my life and as that happens, I am able to gain wisdom on how to love and teach my children. In 2011, I began seriously reading the Bible for myself, but had to purchase a tween Bible; it was the only translation I halfway understood at the time! Now, I love the NLT and Amplified Study bible versions. There are so many translations and versions available that will assist with interpretation.
Watching TV can be educational, too! Our family loves CBN’s SuperBook, an animated series of events from the Old and New Testament. The creators do an exceptional job presenting the context in an engaging way for both parents and children while maintaining the message. The Bible stories are told on a level that my kids understand and enjoy. After each episode, my husband and I have discussions with our children about what they just watched and see what light God is placing in their little hearts.
4 Ways to Build a Strong Foundation for Your Children
I’d like to leave you with four ways to build a strong foundation for your little disciplines to grow in Christ.
Be transparent about your own journey (adjust to be age-appropriate, if necessary).
If you aren’t exactly where you’d like to be, accept the call to walk faithfully with Jesus, and do not be lukewarm.
Share God’s truth with your children daily by enlightening them on how to apply it to their lives.
Grant them the same grace, forgiveness and unconditional love that Christ grants you daily!
Right now, many parents have found themselves in the role of teacher, as well as caretaker and entertainer with no warning. It’s daunting to take on a new responsibility when there’s been very little time for preparation. Naturally, I started looking for some guidance, and found a gem that I think will help you, too.
I started reading Homeschool Bravely: How to Squash Doubt, Trust God, and Teach Your Child with Confidence by Jamie Erickson. As a mom who has spent some time homeschooling young kids, this book changed how I approached teaching my children, and it really made a huge difference in our little classroom. Frequently I struggle with self-doubt, especially when it comes to homeschooling. As a parent, you desire what’s best for your children, and although I strongly believe that during this season of life having them home with me is best, I often question if I made the right choice.
Homeschool Bravely offers homeschooling parents the encouragement to boldly approach homeschooling as a calling from God, rather than a chore. Erickson offers tips on routines; she shares curriculum ideas and provides activities that will fit right into your lessons for the day. This book is grounded in faith and has scriptures woven throughout the pages. Having strong words of comfort with God’s own Word there to reinforce it did wonders for me. This book granted me encouragement and refreshed my confidence on this homeschooling journey.
I closed the book, reassured that I’m not ruining my children or preventing them from experiencing something greater than what I provide. My perspective shifted tremendously, and I realized the importance of speaking life into myself and our homeschool classroom.
Additionally, this book is different from the other homeschooling books I’ve read because it provided direct insight on issues I am currently juggling—having kids with different learning challenges, ages and interests. I also love that all the content is pointed back to trusting God’s plan throughout this journey despite all my fear, doubt, failures, and even victories!
Demario Davis… to know him is to love him. To hate him… I’d say you should self-reflect. Why? Because you’re only hating greatness, lol! Of course, I’m biased!
He’s an excellent combination of The Lion and The Lamb. On the field, he’s ferocious! But, off the field, he’s a gentle giant and so much more than an athlete.
Football is his platform; it’s what he does. But it’s not who he is. If you were to ask him who he is? His first response would be, “I’m a Child of God.” I love that he’s able to identify and make decisions in light of that.
Although he’s an elite athlete, he’s also an unbelievably selfless, humble man of faith! He’s brilliant and sacrificial—constantly searching for resources to grow individually, while also seeking to provide opportunities to encourage the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth of those around him.
Demario is in constant pursuit of his relationship with Christ. More than ever, he’s seeking opportunities to ensure the gospel goes forward on every level—locally, nationally and globally. Additionally, he’s the most disciplined person I’ve ever encountered, and his burning desire for greatness is contagious!
I’m constantly learning from him in every area of my life. Doing life with him is one of my greatest joys. He’s absolutely a tremendous asset!
The most valuable lesson he’s ever taught me is how to live fervently for the Lord! I’m in awe that on his best day he seeks the Lord just as much as he does on his worst day. Having him lead our family is one of the things I’m most grateful for in life.
Enjoy a space to connect, be empowered and educated to seek Jesus wholeheartedly, identify blind spots, seek growth, learn to love, forgive, laugh, cook amazing food, and understand that living the in the spotlight is not always roses & candy.
