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Managing Holiday Stress: 10 Insights for Peace
We walk to the hill where the fir and spruce trees mingle in a dozen shades of emerald. Within minutes, the youngest falls into the thorny branches of a hawthorn crabapple, and the oldest is tangled in a knot of burdock. What was supposed to be fun has become an exercise in managing holiday stress. I take a deep breath and remind myself that this moment doesn’t have to be perfect. Later in the day, after the tree is wired to the wall in the corner of the living room, I take some time to sort through the ways I plan to manage stress through this Christmas season. Perhaps these…
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15 Bible Verses About Hospitality: Plus Creative Ideas
Most people think of hosting guests for meals or overnight visits when they hear the word hospitality. Yet hospitality is much more than opening our homes. We can offer hospitality anywhere by opening our hearts to others. Today, we’ll look at 15 Bible verses about hospitality. Then, we’ll explore eight creative and low-key ways to extend the gift of hospitality. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you carry God’s love wherever you go. Let’s start with seeing what God’s Word says about hospitality. 15 Bible Verses About Hospitality Here are 15 Bible verses about being hospitable. Bible Verses About…
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The Gift of Hospitality: 5 Skills to Cultivate the Gift
When we think of hospitality, most of us think of welcoming people into our homes and sharing meals. However, the gift of hospitality extends far beyond good cooking and decorating. True hospitality is the gift of creating safe spaces where others feel loved and cared for. This can happen in our homes, but it can also happen in our workplaces, communities, and beyond. Today, we’ll begin by discussing the gift of hospitality. Then, we’ll explore creative ways to offer the gift in unexpected places. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free resource to help you offer the gift of hospitality without perfection. The Gift…
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15 Tips for Camping With Kids: How to Make Amazing Memories!
Last summer, our family embarked on an 11-day camping road trip. As we prepare for this summer’s similar road trip, I’ve been reflecting on last year’s journey. Today, I’m sharing tips for camping with kids as well as a few reflections from last summer’s adventure. (If you’re eager to get to the camping tips, scroll to the bottom of this post!) Tips for Camping With Kids Twenty years ago, I wouldn’t have considered an 11-day road trip across the country an epic adventure. Throughout my twenties, it was no big deal to drive from my home in Pennsylvania to the Rockies. One summer, I even made the trek twice. In…
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A Glimpse Into Our Family Road Trip to the Rockies
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take a family road trip across the country? Maybe you’ve considered the idea, but it doesn’t seem practical. Last summer, alongside our three children (ages 12, 8, and 4), my husband and I traveled thousands of miles, climbed mountains, shivered in our sleeping bags, and cooked over campfires. We used our tailgate as a table, dealt with deflated air mattresses, and bathed in the middle of the woods. Our time on the road was exhausting, amazing, and everything in between. As I reflected on our trip, I also sensed that God was showing me that many of the same mindsets…
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15 Bible Verses for Mothers and Daughters
Are you a mother or daughter in search of wisdom and guidance in your mother-daughter relationship? Today, I invite you to join me as we open God’s Word in search of encouraging Bible verses for mothers and daughters of all ages. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook for mothers and daughters of all ages. Bible Verses for Mothers and Daughters Our first child was born on a dark Tuesday night. Throughout the pregnancy, I earnestly believed I was pregnant with a boy. We waited to discover the gender of the mysterious person growing within me at birth. Much to my surprise…
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5 Creative Ways to Offer Hospitality This Summer
Daylight comes early now. Hummingbirds suck down our sugary syrup before the slow drip of black coffee has even begun. Summer is the season of long, lush days that open wide with possibilities. It’s the season for picnics and bonfires – fireflies and s’mores. Summer is also the perfect season to offer hospitality. You might think of cookouts and sparklers when you think of summer hospitality. However, hospitality involves more than just opening our homes; it’s about opening our hearts. We can offer hospitality anywhere. We weren’t made to do life alone. Every time you open your heart and life to someone else, you extend hospitality. This can happen in a…
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6 Outdoor Hospitality Ideas for Autumn
There’s a single-file row of foxtail grass bending over the roadside like a line of school children dropping pennies off a bridge. Oddly enough, seeing them posed over the gravel gets me thinking about gathering with others and embracing autumn’s invitation for offering outdoor hospitality. It gets me thinking about standing with others to admire the season as it unfolds all around us. A few years ago, I wrote a series of posts on how to offer hospitality that changes lives (Check out the most popular post in this series here: 8 Surprising Ways to Extend Hospitality). The underlying message woven throughout these posts was this: Hospitality is the art…
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8 Free Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities
Are you looking for family-friendly outdoor activities? Our family has made getting our kids outdoors a high priority, and the results are powerful. I’m revisiting this post today now that our oldest is a teenager, and I’m grateful that she still loves spending time outdoors. 8 Free Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities If you’re looking for free outdoor activities for your family during this time, you’re in the right place. Here’s our family’s list of fun ways to enjoy the outdoors together. Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities: 1. Wildlife Scavenger Hunts For this activity, I create a list of items we are likely to see in the forest near our home: pinecones, different colored…
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Keeping Christ in Christmas: 8 Practical Ways
We recently pulled out the Christmas boxes. Surrounded by a hodgepodge of fake pine, glitter, and the faint aroma of cinnamon spice, I reminded myself of the importance of keeping Christ in Christmas. It’s easy to get so caught up in holiday festivities that we overlook the reason for celebrating. Keeping Christ in Christmas If the idea of focusing on Jesus at Christmas resonates with you—and if you want less stress and deeper peace this Christmas—here are eight suggestions to help you. 8 Tips for Keeping Christ in Christmas 1. Keep Christ in Christmas by slowing down. Whether you’re shopping for gifts or decorating your home, aim to complete these…
