Embrace Your Everyday podcast

Home is God's idea. Family is God's idea. No matter the size of your home or family, living in your space necessitates daily and weekly cleaning. When routines are established, the rhythm of life creates more time for enjoying living in your home.  For FREE downloads to help you with cleaning, check out this companion blog Cleaning Your Home with Weekly Contributions More ideas about keeping your...

Laundry seems to be a burden to so many. Several moms have asked how our large family does laundry. This conversation shares a few easy tips to save time and effort on this regular lifetime chore.  For more ideas on homemaking: Hum of the Home: Routines and Rhythyms of Homemaking - available on Amazon More inspiration for HOME and FAMILY @  www.nurturingmynest.com

Being part of a family means you are part of something wonderful. Several years ago, my extended family started an annual beach vacation together. Join us for this conversation for details on our housing, food and activities. Download helpful how-to pdf at https://nurturingmynest.com/2022/03/07/vance-vacation-building-family-community/ More on home and family @nurturingmynest.com

Insight from playing with mud as a grownup has been mind blowing. Who knew that taking up a new hobby would be a journey into spiritual and personal observation. Although we are just starting, we continue to be amazed at all that pottery is teaching us. Here are five things we have learned so far. More on this topic at www.nurturingmynest.com Watch a video from Tim @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Do you have these 20 social skills? Some people have work skills and academic knowledge, but not social skills to propel them to success. Some negative social behavior actually repels people. Some people lack self-awareness to identify what is repulsive to others. Some know, but don't care. Some fail to weigh the cost of not caring about their interaction with others.  Read more on this topic at n...

Sometimes I dream that I will have met my lifetime limit of cleaning responsibility. This, however, never turns out to be more than a dream. In an effort to survive, I eagerly keep up seasonal cleaning. The routine of seasonal cleaning and purging creates more space where you live. It can save you money as you are more aware of what you need which keeps you from unnecessary purchases. Regularly, t...

This past summer I started taking yoga classes that put me in contact with a corner which on most days that had homeless women. Consistently, I noticed two young women at this corner. I gave them food and water bottles nearly every time I passed. I remembered the blessing bags that I used to make with my children. It seemed the right response to make some blessing bags for these women.

Just a few days ago, Tim and I were talking to our Uber driver who began to tell us how she was not really into religion. That was just the invitation that Tim needed to tell her that we are not really into religion either. Religiosity is not really our thing. However, we are enthusiastic Christ followers! Thank you to our blog readers and podcast listeners who have asked, "What is a Christ follow...

Food costs are expected to continue to rise in the year ahead. As inflation surges to levels not seen in decades, and supply chain disruptions continue, food costs will keep going up. As a mother of five children, I have spent $1000's on food. These five easy ideas to cut food costs work. If you need a new grocery list, a FREE download can be located on www.nurturingmynest.com

Do you want a strong vibrant marriage? Do you have hedges established protecting your marriage? Do you anticipate compromising situations and temptations with a plan to avoid dangerous footholds? It is important for us to win at our own marriages. We must fear out own potential and plant a hedge around our marriage. Plant hedges deep and wide and tall. More on this topic @nurturingmynest.com

This thought of kindness has been rolling around in my mind for some time. Way before the craziness of the last two years, I have been struck by the chaos of life around me. Sometimes the very best response to someone who has been unkind, who is angry, who disagrees with me in all areas, who has cheated me or is just rude is simpley kindness. The best resonse may be a kind word or action. For more...

One of the most helpful ways to explore what is best for our children is to grasp the secrets of what is age appropriate. If we understand that learning capabilities of our children at each age, we can customize how we can best teach them about God, the Bible and an intimate relationship with Him. What will you do today to grow your child spiritually? A child is making decisions that are forming h...

An earlier blog and podcast "Seven Easy Ways to Grow Your Children Spiritually" unpacked the basics of spiritual training in the home. One of the most helpful ways to explore what is helpful for our children is to grasp the secrets of what is age appropriate. If we understand the learning capabilities of our children at each age, we can customize how we can best teach them about God, the Bible and...

Welcome to season two! The life of faith is a journey. As we contemplate new beginnings, it is encouraging to consider starting from where you are today with purpose. God is a god of new beginnings. He embraces do-overs. Only I can make changes in me. I have to clean up the chaos in my own life if I am going to be an inspiration to others. As we practice pausing and really being present, we see mo...

As I step into a new season, I wanted to review some of the things I have already learned. This past year has been so full of learning. Perhaps you feel the same way. As I re-organize my schedule for the new season, I am pausing to consider some of the things I have already learned. In all transparency, I recently compiled a list of simple, but important things I don't want to forget. Someone requ...

Join us as we recall some of our favorite memories of Christmas. If you like a good story, this podcast is full of them. Christmas is a time for reminiscing. It is a time for keeping the best of traditions and adding some new ones. As a gift to you this Christmas season, Tim reads Luke 2 at 18:17 in this podcast. Please enjoy this gift. Share it with your family and friends. 

The year was 1818 the day before Christmas. On this Christmas over 200 years ago, possibly the most perfect Christmas song was birthed. A village schoolmaster and a church organist hurriedly mixed inspired words with a melody from a guitar. It was said that the words sang themselves. From this simple village in the Alps, an unlikely song celebrated a genesis. Settle into a comfy chair with your fa...

Being "centered" means that you have a reference point or a place to come back to when life's challenges or emotions push you off balance. My husband and I just completed an eight week pottery class learning how to work the pottery wheel. One of the early skills any potter must master is centering the clay on the pottery wheel. In reflection about this Christmas, it seems that the secret to succes...

As the Christmas season descends with additional checklists, some of us panic. Others fall into depression. Still others hide hoping that the season will pass quickly. Even those who enter this month prepared find the pace daunting. Instead of unreachable goals or probable disappointments, I propose a new thought. Why not approach this entire season with high hopes, but low expectations? Expectati...

When I purpose to give thanks, my heart is lighter. Here are five ideas for adding THANKS to your Thanksgiving. When I think about past holiday seasons, I remember the people. I remember the kindnesses. I remember the laughter. I want to remember to thank them. Gratefulness invites us to find JOY in life. Who is getting your THANKS? More on this topic in blog by same name @ nurturingmynest.com Boo...

So, you are thinking about homeschooling? With the number of homeschoolers almost tripling in the last year, many are considering the homeschool lifestyle. Start by thinking through your reasons and goals. Recruit the support of your spouse. Collect information about the costs. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses along with those of your student. Weight it out. Is this lifestyle right for your...

It is much easier to be hospitable if you are anticipating guests. Check out these 10 easy ideas to prepare for overnight guests. Planning for family or friends to spend the night makes it easy to be successful. Hospitality is not about what our homes look like, but how people "feel" when they stay in our home. Radical christianity is about practical everyday kindnesses. More inspiration @ nurturi...

When I was given a child to raise, I knew that it was my responsibility to grow him or her up physically, academically, socially, relationally as well as spiritually. If you are eager to grow your child spiritually, we have seven easy ideas. Like most things that matter, it is the everyday habits that make your life. Evaluate your current situation and resolve to do one thing different tomorrow. ...

Recently, a young listener wrote a few questions about growing into an adult. She asked about planners, goals, new semesters, deciding on a career path and spiritual patterns. Whether handling change or unexpected things, growing into an adult is just full of decisions. Owning your responsibilities will mean that others will trust you with mature opportunities. Our young listeners are some of our...

If you have heard of "friends with benefits", you might be glad to know that being married to your friend has even MORE benefits. Can you guess five or more benefits to being married? Did you know that we live longer if we are in a happy, healthy marriage? The potential advantages of shared interest, financial perks and the joy of companionship prove beneficial in unique ways.  More inspiration @...