Joyfully Thriving

Grace-Filled Frugal Living

Setting Goals for 2021 & Looking Back at 2020

Published January 12, 2021 Leave a Comment

I don't know about you but I love the fresh start of a new year. I love setting goals and usually tend to dream too big. I have tried to narrow down my goals in the past couple of years but still don't always reach them. I'm not usually disappointed because I know I can just roll them over if I want. I can't believe we're on the second week of January already. Our Christmas was wonderful, as we were able to see all of Andy's siblings, plus my parents drove up from Texas after Christmas. It was SO good to be with family around Christmas. I grew up many miles away from most of my extended … Read More...

Christmas Bucket List for Kids

Published December 02, 2020 Leave a Comment

Are you ready for easy Christmas fun with your kids? Print this free Christmas bucket list and let your kids make their own Christmas to do list! My 6 year old son, Nathan, began working on his Christmas list early this year. No, not the list of the presents he wanted, but rather the list of all the things he wanted to do this Christmas. That is a list that I love! On his list this year? Look at the Christmas lights, bake gingerbread cookies, watch Rudolph and listen to Christmas music. Nathan can write his own list now that he is in 1st grade. The early childhood teacher in me loves his … Read More...

Best Mother Goose Rhymes Books for Children

Published October 19, 2020 Leave a Comment

Want to build a Mother Goose book collection for your child? If you are looking for the best Mother Goose rhymes books for children, these are some of the best collections around. You and your child will love reading and learning the nursery rhymes together! As a former early childhood educator and a mom of 4 little ones, I have a strong appreciation for Mother Goose. I remember being surprised as a new teacher when one of the units in my first Kindergarten reading curriculum was based around nursery rhymes. I was only surprised until I realized how much early literacy is taught through … Read More...

3 Easy Meal Planning Tips

Published September 12, 2020 Updated October 04, 2020 Leave a Comment

Meal planning doesn't have to be complicated. If meal planning is a struggle, here are 3 simple tips to make meal planning easier!  Let me start by saying that I love to cook. Really, I do! Okay, I love baking more than cooking but I really don't mind cooking dinner either. However, there are times when all the meal planning and prep work gets overwhelming. Figuring out what to cook - day in and day out - for my family of 6? That part gets tedious at times. I recently implemented some new meal planning strategies that are helping me enjoy the process again. Meal planning is necessary … Read More...

A Ready to Go ABC Theme Preschool Curriculum

Published August 24, 2020 Updated August 24, 2020 Leave a Comment

Looking for help in teaching your preschooler at home? This ready to go ABC preschool curriculum provides all the resources and help you need - in an easy to use format! I am so excited to share this new resource with you! You see, I am a trained teacher. My first teaching Call was to teach Kindergarten in the mornings and Pre-Kindergarten in the afternoons. I taught this combination for 5 years, until I got married and moved, and loved every minute of it! After spending three years teaching 3rd and 4th grade, I moved back down to Preschool at a different Lutheran school. I taught another 2 … Read More...

Church Quiet Bag Ideas

Published July 13, 2020 Updated July 21, 2020 Leave a Comment

Church is important. Church with little ones is definitely challenging at times, but it is important. I grew up in the church (with a Pastor dad and organist mom). I was a church worker teacher (before I began staying at home) who is married to a church worker teacher. We firmly believe that we need to be in church, training our children, from the time they are small. Yes, there are many Sundays that I miss large parts of the sermon but we are there, by God's grace. (Here is some encouragement for when going to church with kids feels pointless.) I believe in modeling and … Read More...

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