Live Archives - Girls To Grow

3 Keys to Loving Life and Living Well

September 14, 2022 by Tracey 3 Comments

How does that title grab you? I daresay we all want to enjoy our lives and experience many days of happiness!

As I continue my journey of reading through the New Testament, yesterday brought me to 1 Peter 3:10-11.

“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.“

I was excited to see that right here in the Scriptures, God gives us instructions on how to “love life and see good days.” Let’s take a look at what He says.

Check out these three keys to loving life and living well found in the Bible in 1 Peter 3.

1. Watch what you say.

First, we’re told to keep our mouths from speaking evil. Does that mean not using curse words or taking God’s name in vain? Yes, it does. But it goes even further. Think of gossip, insults, criticism, complaining, or blasting angry words.

Secondly, we’re to make sure we speak honestly and sincerely. No lying, slandering, flattering, or using our words to deceive others.

James calls our tongues “an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” [3:8], so using our mouths in the wrong way is a natural, fleshly response. Overcoming it is a lifelong struggle and not one we can win on our own. This can be a daily matter of prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help us watch what we say. It’s the first key to loving life and living happily.

2. Avoid evil and do good.

The second key is to turn away from wickedness. Here’s another daily challenge since evil tends to come at us from lots of angles. Whether it’s outward actions of disobedience to God’s commands or sinful heart attitudes, we need to keep away from evil.

Instead, we can choose to do good. The Bible instructs us in the right way to live. We read it and obey what we find there. We perform acts of kindness to others, not for the purpose of salvation, but to bring glory to God.

3. Live in peace with God and others.

We can live in peace as we learn to trust God. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” ~Isaiah 26:3.

Big or small problems come to each of us regularly, but the Bible tells us how to have peace in those situations, too. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7

We’re also to seek peace in our relationships. In the midst of a passage that talks about blessing those who curse you and feeding your enemy when he’s hungry, we read, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” [Romans 12:18]

So there we have it, friends. Want to enjoy your life and spend your days well? Be careful what you say, choose to do what’s right instead of wrong, and seek peace with God and others. May the Holy Spirit grant us the power to live this way!

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5 Fun Finds August 2022

September 2, 2022 by Tracey 2 Comments

Here we are in September already! It certainly doesn’t feel like fall here, but it’s still nice to start thinking about a new season.

Today I’m taking a quick look back at five of my favorite things from August.

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1. A Staying Prayer for Parents. This is episode 240 of Emily P. Freeman’s podcast The Next Right Thing. I have listened to this prayer several times as I’ve processed our girls leaving for college again. It’s beautiful and sad and uplifting and poignant all at the same time. No matter what stage of parenting you’re in, I highly recommend taking four minutes to listen.

2. Yobola Bluetooth Earbuds. Up until recently, I’d still been using wired earbuds for listening to music or podcasts when I was out walking. I didn’t want to spend the money for AirPods, not knowing if I would actually like the feel of them in my ears. I found this inexpensive pair on Amazon and like them a lot. I’ve been using them for six weeks now, and at the current price of $16.51 (random Amazon price when I posted this) they’ve definitely been worth it.

3. Baked Chicken Wings. My husband usually grills wings for us, but one weeknight I had part of a package of wings that I wanted to use up, so I tried this recipe. They were delicious! In fact, I think this might be part of our Labor Day menu on Monday.

4. Obbii Leopard iPhone 11 Protective Case. I wanted a new phone case for fall so I ordered this one from Amazon. It’s really cute and seems to offer good protection.

5. Mylas Grey Mysteries by Luana Ehrlich. I read the first book in this four-book series a while ago but just read the last three recently. The first and third books were my favorites.

Have a great holiday weekend!!

25 Helpful Things for Freshman Girls to Take to College

July 29, 2022 by Tracey 4 Comments

I saw on my Instagram this week that some students are already returning to college! The summer seems to get shorter and shorter as time goes by. Thankfully our daughters don’t go back until the last weekend in August.

Now that they’ve both spent some time at college, packing them up to move back into the dorms is fairly easy. But I remember feeling overwhelmed that summer before freshman year when I tried to make a list of all that they needed for this transition.

Today I’m sharing 25 items that our girls have found helpful during their time at college so far. Most of the items on the list we’ve used personally or have purchased something very similar.

This isn’t a complete list of college essentials. I didn’t include some of the basics like towels and sheets and pillows. But for our daughters, the items on this list have helped make their dorm and college life more comfortable!

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Check out this list of 25 things that will make dorm and college life easier and more fun for your freshman!

1. SafeRest Mattress Protector Twin XL. We’ll start with this cover for that who-knows-how-old dorm mattress your teenager will be sleeping on. I have this same brand of mattress protector on all our beds at home.

2. 2-inch Mattress Topper. There’s a wide range of prices for mattress toppers, but this one is very reasonably priced. It makes those dorm bed mattresses at least a bit more comfortable and should last for several years.

3. GE 3 Outlet Extender Wall Tap. This is nice to use in an outlet near their bed so they can plug in a few different electronics at once.

4. Chunky Knit Throw. I didn’t know this was a thing until our younger daughter asked for one last Christmas. It’s become her favorite blanket. Hers is white, but there are a number of other colors available.

5. Sperry Women’s Saltwater Chevron Quilt Nylon Boots. This was another purchase our younger daughter made. They’re really cute boots and definitely came in handy on those rainy days when she had to walk across campus to class. She has them in ivory, but there are a few other colors available.

6. Iron Flask Retro Sports Water Bottle. I gave our girls three pieces of health advice before they went off to college. “Eat. Drink. Move.” This water bottle helps with the drinking part! This is the one our older daughter uses. She fills it up in the morning and carries it around in her backpack all day. We also like that it came with its own brush for cleaning.

7. Secura Instant Steam Handheld Garment and Fabric Steamer. I knew neither of my girls would iron, but they’ll use this steamer if a piece of clothing is too wrinkled to wear after it’s been jammed in the closet or drawer…or left to sit in the dryer for too long…

8. Small Travel Sewing Kit. Both girls have needed a simple sewing kit from time to time.

9. Photo Clip String Light. I helped our younger daughter hang this on her wall at the beginning of her first semester. It’s really cute!

10. SanDisk 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive. You just never know when this might come in handy.

11. Five Crowns Card Game. This is one of our favorite games, but it’s really just an example of the types of games they’ll want to have on hand to play with friends.

12. Gold Armour Camping Hammock. Not surprisingly, I didn’t know hammocking was a thing either until our older daughter went to college. They take their hammocks to a couple of different parks on nice days to study or just relax.

13. Under Armour Hustle Sport Backpack. My older daughter bought this backpack the summer before her freshman year of college. She’s now getting ready to start her senior year, and that same backpack is still going strong! I’m very impressed with the quality, especially since it gets almost daily use when she’s at college.

14. DASH Mini Waffle Maker. This cute little waffle iron kept my younger daughter from going hungry on several occasions last year! Are there two dining halls on campus full of food available to her? Yes, yes there are. But she’s a self-admitted picky eater AND those dining halls aren’t always open at 11pm when hunger strikes. She brought it home for the summer and we’ve used it a couple of times. I must admit, it does make some tasty waffles.

15. Clip Light for Bed. This is nice for studying late at night without disturbing roommates.

16. Classic 6-inch Clip Fan. My girls like it cold when they sleep, so this fan is nice just to keep the air moving around them.

17. Johnson and Johnson Compact Emergency First Aid Kit. Hopefully, they won’t need this often, but it’s great to have on hand.

18. Windproof Travel Umbrella. Keep it small and compact so it fits easily in a backpack.

19. Reusable 12-piece Dinner Set. Four bowls, plates, and cups that are microwave safe, for that late-night bowl of cereal or stack of mini waffles.

20. Heavy Duty Large Mesh Laundry Bag. Something like this is easy to leave on the floor of the closet until it’s full…or overflowing, actually.

21. Under Bed Shoe Storage Organizer. If I had seen this before our girls went to college, I would have added it to our shopping list. Instead, they just had an under-bed plastic storage bin that they tossed shoes into. This would have been a much more organized solution!

22. Plastic Shower Caddy. Depending on the shower set up, they can use the caddy to carry their products to and from the bathroom or just store it in or near the shower. It is important that it’s either mesh or has holes in the bottom for drainage.

23. Small Plastic Trash Can. This can be used in a corner of the dorm room, under a desk, or somewhere in the bathroom.

24. Chip Clips and Collapsible Food Storage Containers. Keep those opened bags of snacks fresh and the leftovers organized in the mini-fridge.

25. Succulents in Pots, Set of 3. Okay, so these aren’t essential, but they do make the room feel a little more homelike! My girls have a mix of real and artificial plants in their dorm rooms.

I hope you’ll find these suggestions helpful as you send your freshman girl off to college!

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Why This Summer Is Unique – and 7 Ways to Make It Memorable

June 15, 2022 by Tracey 4 Comments

While we’re not technically in the summer season yet, the weather and the academic calendar tell me we’re there!

Summer can look different for each of us depending on what life stage we’re in at the moment. You could be dealing with young children, sending a teen off to a weeklong camp for the first time, or fully in the empty nest years.

What's unique about this summer for you? Check out 3 things unique about our summer along with 7 ways we can make this summer memorable.

I’m in one of those in-between stages, but here are three things that are unique about this summer for our family.

We’re planning a wedding.

It’s the last summer that our older daughter will live at home.

It’s our first summer in our new house.

Each of those is informing what’s important to us this summer. From scheduling wedding-related appointments to purposefully making memories to checking out the pool in our new neighborhood, things look a little different from any summer before or any that will follow.

What’s unique about your summer? Is there something that sets it apart from other ones? Maybe the dynamics between siblings are changing. The older children may be able to do more independently and take on more responsibility. Perhaps you’re in a different position with your health or employment.

Regardless of what makes this summer unique to our families, we all want to look back in September and say that we made some good memories. Here are seven ways we can do just that.

1. Elevate the simple things.

We have a cluster mailbox now and it’s a 9-minute walk from our house. Often in the evenings after supper, I’ll walk up there to check the mail. If our 19-year-old is home, she’ll walk with me. We get a little exercise and talk about random things, but it’s a nice check-in time near the end of the day.

Are there any basic things you do that could become a time to connect with one of your children? It could be a chore they help you with or an errand where they tag along. Look for simple tasks or repetitive parts of your day when you could include them in what you’re doing.

2. Schedule around the important things.

You get to decide what’s important to you.

Our girls usually leave for work at 1:30 pm five days a week. Depending on their schedule, they may not get home till 10 or 11 pm. That means my schedule this summer has me home most days between 10 am and 1:30 pm so that I can be in the house when they are. (They won’t know if I’m gone early in the morning because they’re still asleep in bed!)

That’s what’s important to me this summer. Maybe for you, it’s driving them to Vacation Bible School or weekly trips to the library or scheduled playdates at the park or the pool. Put those in your calendar first and schedule other things around them.

3. Start a new tradition.

I don’t have a plan for this yet, but I sure would work on it if our kids were younger! Whether it’s homemade milkshake nights or a campout in the backyard or hide-and-seek after dark, regular traditions give everyone something to look forward to.

4. Allow your child to step into a new freedom.

Make this a big deal so your child can look back and say, “I remember when I was old enough to…”

At our girls’ age, maybe it’s a short road trip with good friends. This could be the summer your child gets a later bedtime or tries a new skill or takes on a bigger responsibility.

5. Stop comparing your summer to someone else’s summer.

If you’re not doing this, good for you! But we’ve talked before about how sneaky comparison can be and how it makes us feel. Let’s find contentment in our own lives and plans and not worry about what everyone else is doing.

6. Stay positive when things don’t go as planned.

I read an article about Yellowstone National Park being closed for several days due to flooding. Suppose you’d been vacationing there this week and planning to tour the park? What kind of pivoting would you have to do? I’m guessing my first reaction would have been frustration!

The summer – like every season! – will bring things that are out of our control. Just last week we talked about the importance of our attitude. I can pretty much guarantee that something won’t go as planned this summer, so let’s do our best to stay positive.

7. Seize opportunities for growth.

This applies to growth in our children’s lives, but for ourselves as well!

It could be that our child gets their first summer job, anything from babysitting to cutting a neighbor’s grass. There might be a new camp to attend or, what could be really rewarding, a chance to serve others or an opportunity for spiritual growth.

Look around and see where you can grow over these few months. Just like your child, try something new. You never know what might become a permanent part of your summer or your life!

I hope that we can all embrace what makes this summer unique and create lifelong memories in the process!

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3 Tips for a Better Attitude Today

June 9, 2022 by Tracey 4 Comments

Let’s start out with a question for you today. How’s your attitude?

Maybe things are going great and you’re feeling happy and motivated. You could be on the other end of the spectrum – grumpy and discouraged – or somewhere in between.

If you need an attitude adjustment like I did, check out these three Bible-based tips for having a better attitude today.

I will confess that earlier this week, my attitude was not the greatest. It all centered on a minor inconvenience that hardly affected me, but I still felt annoyed by it.

Props to my husband…he handled it with no complaining or grumbling…so then I felt even worse about my disgruntled frame of mind!

Before I sat down to read my Bible on Monday morning, I talked to God about how I was feeling. I sensed an undercurrent of dissatisfaction that I knew needed to be corrected.

Isn’t God good to give us just what we need by encouraging us through His Word? [Side note: this is not the point of this post, but I was reminded of the importance of reading my Bible on a regular basis because that’s where God most often speaks to me.]

Do you know what I needed that day? A changed perspective. And I found it in Romans 12:12.

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;“

I realized that there were three things I could do right then that would improve my attitude for the rest of the day.

1. Choose joy.

I could focus on the situation that wasn’t what I wanted it to be. Or I could look at all my blessings and thank God for them.

Of all people, we as Christians have hope. We have hope for today because God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. We have hope for tomorrow because He is faithful and always keeps His promises. We have hope for eternity because our final home is in Heaven.

You and I don’t get to choose all that happens to us today, but we do get to choose how to respond in every situation. Let’s be intentional in choosing joy.

Want a practical way to increase your joy right away? Listen to some music that encourages your soul – and sing along!

2. Practice patience.

Remember all those Bible admonitions to wait on the Lord? We all have seasons of waiting, of trusting that God will meet the need, will show us the next step.

The verse above tells us to be patient in tribulation. Isn’t that when it’s the most difficult? We want out of our trouble or suffering as quickly as possible!

Yet our God is sovereign. He will bring an end to our trial in HIS timing, not ours.

I like this quote from Peter Marshall. “Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work.“

3. Pray about everything.

God knows all about my situation. But I believe that He still wants me to talk to Him about it. It’s okay to tell Him if I’m frustrated or unhappy.

Then I can turn to Him in faith. I can bring my need to Him, and ask Him to meet it, ultimately praying for His will to be done.

Our verse above admonishes us to be steadfast in prayer. Stand firm. Don’t give up. Believe that God hears and will answer.

As my dad often said, attitude is everything. I know I’ll need to revisit these three tips often, especially if I want to keep a right perspective when things aren’t going smoothly!

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5 Fun Finds from May 2022

June 3, 2022 by Tracey 4 Comments

Welcome to the blog on this first Friday in June! How’s your week been? Ours has been full, but we’re getting some necessary appointments and meetings out of the way, so that’s good.

Before May is too far in the rearview mirror, I thought I’d take a quick look back at five fun finds from the month. I hope you find something on the list that you’ll enjoy, too!

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1. Waterproof Outdoor Decorative Throw Pillow Covers Pack of Four Garden/Leaf Pattern. Two of these are currently on the bench on our front porch. I also got these pillow inserts if you need them and so far I’ve been pleased with both purchases.

2. Overcomer. I realize that this movie came out several years ago, but my husband and I had never watched it. We were searching for something to watch one Friday night, so I rented it on Amazon Prime Video. It’s a little bit long, but I thought it was very good and worth the watch.

3. Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz and A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden. Thought I’d include these two books as one “find” since I enjoyed reading both of them in May. They’re historical fiction, which I don’t tend to read a lot of on a regular basis. Tidewater Bride is set in coastal Virginia during colonial days and A Dangerous Legacy is set in New York City in the early 1900s. I got caught up in both stories and plan to read more by those authors.

4. The Moment This Dad Realized Youth Sports Were Ending, Forever. I went through these emotions a year ago when our youngest daughter cheered at her last basketball game, acted in her last school play, and performed in her last fine arts concert. Just reading this post brought back all those feelings!

5. Change Your Life Chicken. Kendra Adachi, aka The Lazy Genius, recently released a book The Lazy Genius Kitchen. (Side note: I don’t have the book yet, but I plan to buy it for my daughter who’s getting married in January.) She also produced a set of related videos which I found very entertaining. So, to get to the point – in one of the videos, she mentioned this Change-Your-Life Chicken recipe. I made it one night and it was a winner! I pretty much followed her recipe exactly and plan to make it again.

If you’ve recently come across a fun find, let me know what it is in the comments! I hope you have a great weekend!

8 Things That Will Matter When You’re 80

May 11, 2022 by Tracey 4 Comments

Hello and welcome to the blog today!

Has it been unseasonably cool where you are? While we’ve had beautiful sunshine this week, it’s been breezy and definitely not our typical warm May temperatures. But I know that the heat and humidity of summer are on the way, so I’m not complaining!

I know those of you reading are of various ages and in many different stages of life. For some, turning 80 years old is a very distant possibility. For others, it’s just around the corner.

Each of us also has responsibilities each day, whether it’s working a job, mothering full-time, being a caregiver, or a host of other things. I was thinking the other day that of all the things we do, the duties we perform, which ones will matter when I get older? Assuming that the Lord allows me a normal lifespan, what will I be glad that I did?

I hope I can be like those who are referenced in Psalm 92:13-14

“Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;” ~Psalm 92:13-14

No matter what your age today, if God gives us 80 or more years to live on this earth, here are eight things that I think will matter to us.

A list of eight things to be doing now that you'll be glad you did when you're 80 years old

It will matter…

...that you spent time reading God’s Word and praying.

I hope we all desire to be 80-year-old Christian women who are strong in their faith. That means we need to have a spiritual focus today. Time spent in Bible study and prayer is never wasted. Building our lives around these things produces eternal results.

…that you served God and shared your faith.

There will come a point where we’re not able to do all that we did when we were younger. But what a blessing to be able to look back and thank God for ways in which we were able to serve Him and for souls we saw saved.

It doesn’t have to be what many would consider “big” things. It could be working in the church nursery, taking a meal to a sick friend, or praying with a co-worker. What will matter is that we were able to impact people for eternity.

…that you used your time wisely.

“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away…So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” ~Psalm 90:10, 12

I can certainly see where I fall short here. There are certainly times we need to rest and relax. But I know that it’s easy for me to waste time, to let it pass by frivolously. That’s where having a schedule or at least a routine of some sort helps me to better manage my time.

...that you loved your family well.

These are the people you’re often with 24/7. They know all about you. As we get older and are separated by distance or even just our busy lives, we always want them to know that they are loved.

…that you saved money.

Here’s a practical one for you! I’ve heard money teacher Dave Ramsey say that money is just a tool that gives you choices. If you’ve not saved much, your choices are more limited. If you’ve got more financial reserves, you have more choices for your lifestyle. It may mean sacrificing a few things now to have more security later.

…that you went for your dreams.

Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.“

This one’s not easy for me as I’m rather risk-averse. But I hope that I’ll follow God’s leading and be willing to step out into new adventures.

…that you cultivated relationships.

What a blessing to have long-lasting friendships! So invite someone over to your house, ask a friend to meet for coffee, text that person from church and let them know you’re praying for them.

…that you made time for doing things you enjoy.

Is it reading a book, playing golf, doing crossword puzzles, hiking, or cross-stitching? Find hobbies you enjoy and make time for them.

Do you know what we can be sure of? That just as God is present and active in our lives today, He’ll be the same when we’re 80, 90, or 100 years old!

“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” ~Isaiah 46:4

Which of these will you work on today? And if you’ve already hit that 80-year milestone, please tell us if these things matter to you!

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5 Fun Finds for April 2022

April 22, 2022 by Tracey 4 Comments

Happy Friday, friends! We’ve continued to have some beautiful weather here this week. A friend and I took a long walk in her neighborhood yesterday, and it was nice to catch up while getting some exercise.

It’s been a while since I shared my fun finds here on the blog. Today I’ve got my usual five, plus a bonus!

1. Reusable 4 Pack Colorful Mesh Beach/Tote/Shopping Bags. I like to use different “containers” for our daughters’ Easter baskets each year and I was excited to find these at such a reasonable price. They’re better quality than I was expecting, and would make a great beach or pool bag, which is probably how our girls will use them!

2. Custom Map Art Print. I ordered this (in the South Carolina version, of course) for one of the walls in our powder room. The walls in there are a dark blue, and it looked really nice with a white mat and frame.

3. Coolife Luggage Spinner 20 inches. Our younger daughter needed a carry-on suitcase and this one seems very sturdy. We got it in the green. She just used it when she flew home for Easter, and she was happy with how much she was able to fit in it.

4. Late July Organic Mild Green Mojo Multigrain Tortilla Chips. I was picking up a few snacks in World Market and decided to give these a try. They’re very flavorful and I like them a lot! It looks like Publix also carries them. I found them on Amazon, but they were much more expensive there.

5. Maz-Tek Plug-in Night Light. These are an inexpensive but clever solution for any area where you want a little night light. What I love is that they come on automatically when the light gets low and then go out when the room brightens up.

Bonus: Karen Scott Eanna Sandals. These just came in the mail this week and I’m excited to wear them soon! I ordered them in white. I’ve worn them around the house and they’re very comfortable…so comfortable that I’m considering getting another color.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today. Have a great weekend!

10 Terrific Ideas for What to Put in Your Child’s Easter Basket

March 4, 2022 by Tracey 4 Comments

Welcome to Girls to Grow on this almost-spring Friday in March! I hope your week’s been a good one.

Today is a bit of a throwback post to when our daughters were younger. Putting together Easter baskets for them each year is a long-standing family tradition. At 21 and 19, our girls still get Easter baskets, but they look a little different now – except that they each still get a chocolate Easter bunny!

When they were younger, I definitely tried to limit the amount of candy we gave them. That meant coming up with other fun items to fill up the Easter baskets. Below I’m sharing ten categories of items that I pulled from over the years. I’ve included links to some items, but you will likely find most of them in your dollar store or other superstores.

I hope these ideas give you some inspiration as you choose things to fill your child’s Easter basket!

Here are ten categories of mostly non-candy items that you can use to fill up your child's Easter basket.

Books. Everyone in our family is a reader, so you know I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to add to our bookshelves! If I remember to shop ahead, I can find inexpensive used books at a used book store or from our library’s sale shelves. I especially enjoy adding to some of our favorite series, like The Happy Hollisters or The Puppy Place or The Cul-de-Sac Kids.
Summer toys. I have used sand buckets as Easter baskets and added shovels, rakes and sand toys – or you can buy a set of beach toys. Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, jump ropes or water guns along with sunglasses, pool floats, or other pool toys are fun additions.
Pajamas, nightgowns or a bathing suit. These are clothing items that I would purchase anyway, so sometimes I make them part of our girls’ Easter baskets. I love Carter’s nightgowns and pajamas – they have cute designs and are good quality.
Accessories. Hair bows, barrettes, jewelry, fancy socks or small purses can be used as part of their Easter outfit for church.
An Easter dress for their doll. So I kind of miss the days when our girls and their 18-inch dolls wore matching dressses! That didn’t happen every season, but it was so cute when it did. But even if they didn’t match, it was fun for their doll to have a new Easter dress, too.
Art supplies. Coloring books, crayons, markers, pens, paints, sticker pads or modeling clay all provide entertainment for our girls. One year I gave them journals, which is something they’d still enjoy receiving today.
Seed packets. Spring is a perfect time to gift them packets of flower seeds along with with a cute planter for growing their own flowers.
Chocolate bunny rabbit. This was my one candy concession, although I may add a pack of gum or mints, too.
Bath items. Shower gels, bath poufs and bath bombs are “girly” items that will be used often.
Kitchen utensils. It was fun for our daughters, especially as they got older, to have their own tools if they helped me in the kitchen. Measuring spoons, whisks, cookie scoops, and cookie cutters (these Easter ones are really cute!) can all be used when they cook with me while also beginning a collection for their own home one day.

As I mentioned, our daughters’ Easter baskets look somewhat different these days. They’ll still include that chocolate bunny and a book, maybe a Starbucks gift card, some bath and body products, perhaps earrings. And our daughter who’s getting married next year may still get a couple of kitchen utensils to round out her collection!

I hope you have lots of fun building your child’s Easter basket in 2022!

5 Ways to Have a Christ-Centered Home

March 2, 2022 by Tracey 4 Comments

Welcome to the first blog post of March 2022! The weather here is warming up and I’m already noticing a few weeds poking through the grass in the yard here at our new house. I’m not someone who enjoys yard work, so it’s a good thing my husband likes getting out there! It will be fun to see what he does with the landscaping as we get into spring and summer.

No matter what stage of life you’re in – single, newlywed, parenting young children, or the empty nest – as Christians, our goal can always be to have a Godly home. We influence the people who live there as well as those who visit. So how do we start thinking about cultivating a Christ-centered home?

You’re likely familiar with Joshua 24:15. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

It’s a choice. In this passage, Joshua lays out the options for the children of Israel and tells them to make a decision. And then he makes it clear to them what his choice will be. In the same way, we can commit to doing the best job that we can to have a Godly focus in our homes.

So once we make that decision, what’s next? How might we put that into practice? Here are five things we can do to have a Christ-centered home.

Check out this list of five important things you can do to have a Christ-centered home.

1. Make God’s Word a priority.

This starts with us individually spending time in our Bible. Then it can extend to having a family Bible time. It doesn’t have to be long and drawn out, but find a few minutes in the day – maybe before or after a meal, or at bedtime – when everyone can gather to read and talk about a Scripture verse and pray.

As you’re working around the house, you can play Christian podcasts or listen to sermons online. If your child is memorizing Bible verses for a kids’ program at church, work on that together. Talk through what the verse means and how it might apply to their lives.

2. Use prayer as a first resort.

If your child comes home from school talking about an issue with a teacher or a friend, what’s your first response? Mine was usually to find out the details and decide if I needed to intervene in any way.

You know what would have been the best first step? To pray about it. Just right then and there. Pray for whoever else was involved, pray for your child, pray for wisdom on how to deal with the situation.

That’s just one example, but in so many issues that arise in our homes, prayer is the best first response. There may be other actions we need to take, but taking it to God first can give us peace and direction.

3. Choose good music and play it often.

We have an Amazon Echo in our living area, so it’s easy to ask Alexa to play a playlist for us – and it’s still not something I do regularly enough! You could also make singing part of your family Bible time. Sing a hymn or a chorus – and if someone plays an instrument and can accompany the family, even better!

4. Focus on attitudes as much as actions.

It’s usually a lot easier to correct or discipline our kids for actions instead of attitudes. It can take more time to drill down into a bad attitude and figure out what’s really going on in your child’s heart.

We want to encourage our children to be grateful, considerate of other family members, full of joy, and so much more. As my dad always said, “Attitude is everything.” Get that right, and the actions will tend to correct themselves.

5. Have open discussions about everything.

Whether it’s around the supper table, sitting on their bed at night, or riding in the car, be approachable. Don’t shut down when they bring up certain topics. You may need to tailor your answers based on what’s age-appropriate. But help your kids feel comfortable talking about anything from spiritual questions to friend breakups to something strange that they heard about from kids at school.

As these conversations come up, use principles you know from God’s Word to guide the discussion. Help your children see that no matter what they’re up against, they can find help, encouragement, and guidance from Bible principles.

I’ll confess that I’m convicted about doing better in all of these areas! May each of us ask God to show us how we can have homes that bring honor and glory to Him.

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