Sunshine in My Nest

In order to raise kids that don't go along with whoever sounds smartest we have to teach them to think critically. Culturally we throw around the phrase "Being a Critical Thinker" a lot, but what does that mean? Today Julie Bogart breaks down some critical thinking myths and then gives us tools for how to help our own kids think critically.  You can find Julie Bogart HERE or you can buy her b...

Did you know yelling begins with lies we believe about our lives and our kids? Tyler talks us through how to identify the lies we are believing and then tells us how God's word changes our hearts to address those! In the first half I give her a scenario that has been happening at our house. We talk through what lies may lead to stress, how to check my body for telltale signs that yelling is coming...

Do you ever feel like there are all these things you "should be doing" for your kids? Maybe it's the way they are learning, maybe experiences you wish they could have. Today Leah and I talk about peace in motherhood, and what it looks like to let go and trust that your child will learn. She has spent years teaching her kid's in a "Charlotte Mason" approach, and now coaching parents. But maybe you...

Have you wondered how to talk to your kids about the kid at the park who uses a walker? Or what to say to the new mom you met whose child has a disability. Today Laura talked to me about: How to teach your kids about disabilities before you meet kids who have them in real life.  What it looks like to get a diagnosis for your child and how it changes everyday life.  How we can support a f...

Does the Christmas season feel like it's lost its magic as an adult? Asheritah and I talk about how to use the names of Jesus to recapture the meaning of the Advent season. We also talk about the importance of building the faith of our kids by telling them our stories of God's faithfulness. You can find Asheritah on I nstagram and Unwrapping the Names of Jesus for adults and for kids You can find...

We all want to have a meaningful Christmas, but sometimes it's hard to know where to start! Join Holly and I today as we talk about what we keep on our lists, what we skip, and how we decide what goes on each list.  We also talk a little bit about what Advent is, why people celebrate it, and how it makes Christmas even more special!  You can find her activity book Connected Christmas her...

Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff and activities in life? Today Jodi Mockabee and I talk about simplifying life for young children. We discuss why she chooses mostly natural products and to live with less for her family! Jodi has teenagers now and it’s beautiful to hear from a mom a step ahead talk about the life lessons she took away from the stage I’m in now!! You can find Jodi on I...

Today Kristen Wetherell and I talk about what it means when Christ humbled himself. Often we think of humility as something in relation to sin and shame, when it is something else entirely!  " Humble Moms " is a walk through the book of John. In John, we see the humility of Jesus and how it reflects into the life of a believer as we reflect Christ more in our lives.  GET THE FREE - "One...

Kids often struggle to include everyone in group settings. They may avoid another kid because of a disability, skin color, or because they aren't wearing "cool" clothes. Today Trillia and I talk about how to help our kids understand James 2 in a way that helps them overcome favoritism in social situations. She shares a little secret for what she hopes parents get from her books too!  You can...

Is teaching your kids an uphill battle? Tonight Jess and I sit down and talk about what it looks like to create a love for learning in your kids. Jess is a former teacher turned homeschool mom. She talks about what education is, what it is not, and how to make learning fun with your children!  GET THE FREE - "One Minute in the Word" resource!  You can find Jess on her website or her I ns...

How do we find peace when everything seems to be falling apart? Today Ann Swindell and I talk about the hardest seasons we've had in our lives (coincidentally they were the EXACT same months).  We talk about how we learned to trust God in a different way during those months as we were taught peace when everything was falling apart.  GET THE FREE - "One Minute in the Word" resource! ...

Is there something in life so consistently irritating that you think you can never get used to it? Today Jamie Erickson and I talk about what it looks like to be settled in the life we have even if the circumstances right now feel like an itchy sweater.  A favorite quote from this episode was "I can have joy in the snow, or be discontent, but either way there will be snow."  You can find...

Do you struggle with anxiety? Long nights we spend staring at the ceiling wishing for sleep to come. Sharon and I talk about what trying to control our environment costs us. She explains why we all crave control and how the control we seek is different from the real power God promises us!  We also take a sidebar into what it means to influence people into the full potential God has for them,...

Can learning about history lead to raising empathetic kids who advocate for others? Today Jasmine Holmes and I talk about her book "Carved in Ebony". Learning about the work of Black missionaries and activists gives us a deeper understanding of who God is and a broader understanding of the work of the church through history!  Follow Jasmine on Instagram or access her resources via her WEBSITE...

How do you teach your child grace? Today Melissa Kruger and I talk about her children’s book “His Grace is Enough”. The refrain is “God’s grace is enough. It’s so BIG and so FREE His grace is enough both for YOU and for ME. We talked about how to teach our children that we sin too and how no matter where they go in life God is waiting to offer grace! If you want to find Melissa's other books and w...

Today Korrie Johnson and I are talking about how to find books that align with your family's values. For each of us, the books we choose to introduce to our kids are very personal. The ones we choose look really different. Korrie talks us through how she and her husband frame their conversations. It's an episode you won't want to miss.  If you want to find Korrie's list of books you can find...

I just made 25 freezer meals in 3 hours. I was going to write out all the directions, but I was too tired, so this is the phone call "how to" version. I'm sure in the future there will be more of these because talking things out is easier than trying to write and edit a blog post. Also, let's be honest no one wants to hear another person's life story before they get to a recipe!  Here's the l...

What do you do when you feel discouraged? Do you try harder, read another book, or buy a course on how to be better. Today Lindsey Carlson invites us to see how Jesus meets us in our pain and offers us hope in the dark places. "A Better Encouragement" reminds us that suffering is part of our walk, and we can trade self-help for true hope!  GET THE FREE - "One Minute in the Word" resource!&nbs...

Do you feel like you parent out of peace or anxiety? Today veteran homeschool mom Jennifer Pepito and I talk about how to add less anxiety and more peace to the parenting experience. She shares how she overcame anxiety in her parenting through reading and enjoying good books with her kids. She became so passionate about reading to her kids she created the Charlotte Mason-friendly curriculum Peacef...

Today Hunter Beless and I talk about why Scripture memory is important for ourselves and our children! It is more than just for the sake of brain growth it is one of the best ways to meditate on Scripture! Hunter’s picture book “Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it” helps make principles of Scripture memory clear and practical, but reminds us that the most important job of the Bible is to point to Jes...

Have you wondered how to add more than European cultural education to your homeschool? While curating our favorite book lists I realized how little variety there was in what we were loving. Since then I've been making it my mission to change that for our family! N icole Cottrell has been such an amazing person to turn to for book lists that include varied cultural experiences in our children's fea...

Has life turned out like you thought it would? For some of us our paths look wildly different than we thought they would. Elizabeth Woodson talks us through her book “Embrace your Life” . Sometimes life takes a turn we didn’t anticipate and we can spend time wishing we were in a previous stage or the next years of life instead of enjoying and truly living where we are at! How can we celebrate our...

How do you get the house clean when little people are "undoing it" faster than you can get things done? Today I laughed until I cried with Heidi as we talked about tasks around the house. We have 7 boys and a girl between the two of us and keeping things "done" isn't easy. A few months ago she said, “Do one thing that can not easily be undone.” and it’s changed the way I clean my house but al...

Do you ever feel like there’s something you’re missing in life? Today Amy DiMarcangelo and I talk about what it means to fill the longings of your heart with God’s truth! Her book “A Hunger for More” from The Gospel Coalition is for the Christian who feels like they have led a “good life” free from scandal and sin, but somehow something is still missing and leaves them longing for more! You can fi...

How do you know if homeschooling is a good fit for your family? Katie Klein is a homeschool coach. She walks moms know what homeschool method will best fit their personality, and how to set up homeschool.  Today Katie and I talk about the benefits we’ve seen in our families from homeschooling, why we choose to homeschool, when to start, and the methods we love best. Katie and I talk about how...