The Lifegiving Home by Sally and Sarah Clarkson

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of these books in exchange for my honest review and did not receive any additional compensation. All opinions are my very own. 

Home. 

What comes to mind when you see or hear that word? 

It will be a myriad of things to each one of us. I have been pondering home a great deal lately, as we prepare to move once again. 

I've been recollecting all the places we have called "home" throughout our married lives (almost 24 years). I'm strolling back through the addresses, cities, counties, states, provinces and countries where we have chosen a dwelling place, moved in and called it home. There have been many, especially in the past four and a half years. I have taken pleasure in making a home over the years, wherever we are, whether a one bedroom apartment, a hotel room or two, a vacation rental, a large home on 3 acres with plenty of room to spread out or quite a few other varieties. I truly believe in the "bloom where you are planted" idea, but honestly, sometimes it's exhausting to think of all those moves.

And in the midst of thinking about packing boxes one more time, I'm wondering what semblance of home have I managed to salvage in so much transition?

When I was recently invited to be a part Sally and Sarah Clarkson's launch team for their newest book, The Lifegiving Home: Creating A Place of Belonging and Becoming, I knew it would be right up my alley. Sally has long been a favourite author of mine. I have read the majority of her books, and I have followed her blog for many years (back when it was "I Take Joy"). I have met her and had the honour of hearing her speak several years ago at a conference in Canada. What I didn't realize was how much The Lifegiving Home would speak to my heart and remind me of all the things I have treasured and hoped to create in the haven I call my home.

I love that Sally and Sarah, Sally's oldest child, collaborated on this project. They have done such a splendid job bringing their family culture to life on these pages. Even if you have never heard of Sally or read any of her previous books, you will know her beautiful heart through this book. And let me tell you how fun it is to hear from Sarah! She is an incredible author (don't miss her others books, too) and has such a poetic way with words. It is absolutely delightful to read words from both of them in one place.

Sally Clarkson is co-founder of Whole Heart Ministries (with her husband, Clay) and serves as its women’s ministry director. She’s the author of many popular books, including Own Your Life and Desperate (with Sarah Mae). As a mother of four, she has inspired thousands of mothers since 1998 through her Mom Heart Conferences and small groups.

Sarah Clarkson is author of two books on children’s literature, as well as a book of devotional stories and meditations for young women. She currently hails from Oxford, England, where she is studying theology.

As I've read through this inspirational book, chock-full of stories, experiences, preferences, ideas and ideals, I have been deeply strengthened as well as challenged, once again, to put my hands to the plow. I've realized how the difficulties of the past four, really almost five, years have affected me, and how much I needed a renewed vision for our Royce Family Culture. 

These next photos have been a helpful reminder of what our home has been and can be, in even greater proportions . . . a place of welcome . . . a place of beauty . . . a place of celebration . . . a place where God's Presence dwells . . . a place of coziness . . . a place of belonging, just to name a few.

This quote from Sally puts it succinctly and gives me a place to recommence. 

I also took time to ask my children what they think of when I say the word "home," especially as it relates to our specific family. This is the list they gave me:

Safety
Cookies
Yellow (We've lived in two yellow houses.)
Cleanliness
Candles
Home church/fellowship nights
Table spread with food
Music
Warmth
Celebration
Food 
Light

I have a few more words that I hope they will add in over the years, but for now, I think that was a pretty good foundation. I have new vision and even an excitement after spending time praying and dreaming about a new home. I know it will be a place of safety and refuge, of hope and healing, of love and laughter, as well as a place to rest and be renewed. 

I join my voice with Sarah's, as we both seek Father God for ways to bring joy, refreshment and life, as I have the honour of opening my current home and the future new home to family, friends and strangers alike. 

Blessings and love. xo

P.S. As you can see, I highly recommend this book for anyone who has the honour of making a home. Go now to buy The Lifegiving Home and The Lifegiving Home Experience today!

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. There is no additional charge to you to use these links, and I make a small commission. Thank you.

Friday Faves

Hello, Lovelies!

I have a head cold (boo!), but I'm using my favourite home remedies and essential oils and am feeling a bit better than yesterday. I'm sure I'll be back to my healthy self in a day or two. I'm happy that it's the weekend! You, too?

This time of year brings cravings for those familiar and favourite traditional foods and goodies we have enjoyed year after year. One thing I plan to make this weekend is The Original Chex Party Mix (This "original" recipe says to use the microwave, but my original recipe uses the oven.). Do you make Chex Mix in your family? My mom made this when I was growing up, so it's been a tradition for a long time. We usually start making it in November, a week or two before Thanksgiving, and make many batches over the holidays. Yum!

Another favourite we enjoy this time of year is this delicious Spiced Pumpkin Bread (or Muffins) recipe!

Here are some of my favourite deals going on today:

If you missed out on buying those Palazzo Pants you had your eye on in the summer, here's your chance to grab some! You'll save 51%! I love the colour choices.

These Wool Felt Ball Garlands are so festive and come in four colour choices.

Don't these Cardigans with Button Sleeves look like the perfect layering sweaters?!

Wow! These Everyday Fall Midi Dresses come in sizes S to XL and are 46% off!

You save 53% on this Plaid Tunic Dress! It comes in two colours.

BOGO Free Rustic Christmas Festives - you get two for only $5.95!


I came across these two articles this week. They both invite me to learn more about cultures that embrace winter and make the most of the darker, colder months. I learned some of this while living in Canada. When there are weeks and months of snow on the ground, one really cannot expect to hunker down for the entire time and hibernate. It wouldn't be healthy. While we lived there, we learned to make the most of the snow - unless it was 40 below, of course. Brrr!

Virginia has proven herself quite cold, as well, so it was good to read these articles before the cold weather hits once again. Join me in lighting some candles, getting the blankets laundered and stacked nearby, having a good supply of hot cocoa and tea on hand, and making our homes places that embrace and celebrate winter!

The Norwegian Secret To Enjoying A Long Winter

Hygge: A Heart-Warming Lesson From Denmark

In case you missed it, HERE is my post on our favourite Advent books!

Currently, I'm reading Identity Thief: Exposing Satan's Plan to Steal Your Purpose, Passion and Power by Robby Dawkins. So far, I don't want to put it down! I'll post my review next week.

And coming tomorrow, another favourite - this one is all about Christmas! Click HERE to get a sneak peek! {ETA: Out of respect and honour for the Parisians who are suffering after the heartbreaking occurrences there last night, I am holding off on posting the giveaway until Monday. Thanks for your understanding.}


Do you have any favourite things to share this week? I'd love to hear about them.

Blessings and love. xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. This means that when you choose to purchase through these links, there is no additional cost to you, and I make a small commission. Thank you!

Friday Faves {06 November 2015}

Hello, friend!

How are you on this fine Friday!? November has come in with so much beauty! I love Virginia and all her colours.  

Here are a couple of my favourite shots lately . . . 

Check out a few of my favourite deals going on today . . .

I think this would be so cute in a family Christmas photo!

Mantle or Shelf Banner - only $6.99!

http:// 

Wow! 64% off - Colorful Fashion Rainboots! 

Need a teacher gift idea? Teacher Lanyard + Pendant Charm!

Do your iPhone/iPad cords tear or wear out easily? They do around here, so I'm thinking a "strong" cable is next on our list!

76% off - Apple Certified Strong Cable (only ($9.99)!

‪

This is a fun one! Pick Your State Home Tees - 54% off!

And in case you missed my post earlier this week, don't miss these Thanksgiving Deals going on now!

This is not a favourite yet, but I am thinking of putting this on our Thanksgiving menu! It looks delicious. I mean . . . pumpkin, espresso, AND coffee rum glaze?! Yes, please!

Pumpkin Espresso Bundt Cake

I haven't tried this yet either, but it looks like something my whole crew would enjoy. And I like the ease of a crockpot meal.

Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup

And my favourite inspiration for this week is a Facebook post by Bethel Music. Please don't miss it, especially if you have any illness or pain in your own body or have someone in your life who is ill. Be encouraged! God is GOOD.

We Speak Life

Have a great weekend!

Blessings and love. xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. This simply means that when you choose to purchase through these links, there is NO additional cost to you, and I make a small commission. Thank you!

How I'm Using Spiral Notebooks in Our Homeschool

When I think back over the past 13 years of homeschooling, I have to laugh at all the planners and systems that I've tried. Are you the same way? Don't get me wrong, some of them have been great for a particular season in our lives. And then something else would work for awhile. There truly are so many great resources out there. I think you just have to find what works for you. 

This year, I decided to go with some simple. So simple, in fact, that you may think I'm a little nuts for not thinking of it before. I mentioned last week in my "Friday Faves" post that one of my favourite things right now is using spiral notebooks in our homeschool this year. I give huge thanks to Sarah McKenzie for her post earlier this year, How I'm Using Spiral Notebooks to Simplify Homeschooling. I think it was mainly the word 'simplify' that caught my eye. I do not need any more complications in my life, and especially when it comes to our homeschool. So, I thought I'd share some of my original planning from the end of the summer and how things have progressed these past two months.

I started out with my own personal spiral notebook which I used/use for making a master list for the school plans, a master list of meals for menu planning, a list of ideas for field trips, a list of ideas for read-aloud books, etc.

I also use it as I'm planning Ava's Beyond Five In A Row and Maya's Five In A Row lessons . . . 

Okay, so unlike Sarah, I do the actual writing out of the plans every morning. It's just personal preference for me. Planning school is not something I usually want to think about in the evenings, so mornings work well for me. It really is a simple process and only takes a few minutes. 

I include any and all chores I want them to accomplish that day, and then I list their school assignments, "brain breaks", and their extra-curricular classes and activities for that particular day. I know from their check marks what needs to be carried over to the next day. 

This system has worked SO well for us. The consistency level is high this year, and I am very pleased. I think the older I get the more ADD tendencies I display (ha!), so this simple spiral notebook plan has done the trick for me. The kids all seem to be settled and steady in their progress this year. They like the routine and look forward to checking off those boxes each day.

Blessings and love. xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you!

STRONG and KIND: And Other Important Character Traits Your Child Needs to Succeed {Review and Giveaway}

When A&E's Duck Dynasty first became a hit television show, our family did not have cable. So when we moved into this house almost two years ago, we were able to have cable and spent many evenings catching up on the first few seasons of the show. The move had been pretty stressful for us, so to be able to just sit and relax and get to know a little more about the Robertson family, their wild success, their deep faith in Jesus, and their fun lives was just what we needed. They are so down to earth and real. We adore this family. It amazes me how busy they are (just follow them on social media to see all of their ventures), yet they are consistently calm, classy and joyful. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review Korie's new book, STRONG and KIND: And Other Important Character Traits Your Child Needs to Succeed. 

About the book: 

Hardcover; 240 pages

Publisher: Harper Collins Christian Publishing (October 27, 2015) 

In her new book STRONG and KIND: And Other Important Character Traits Your Child Needs to Succeed, Korie Robertson - New York Times bestselling author, wife of Duck Commander® CEO Willie Robertson, star of A&E's Duck Dynasty, and mother of five - argues that developing good character in our children is the single most important thing we can do to help ensure they lead happy, healthy adult lives.  Robertson explores key traits and what they truly look like in action, asks readers to select the two traits that they hope to see most in their children, and shares hands-on ways for nurturing strength of character.  Written with her mother Chrys Howard and featuring stories and wisdom from husband Willie, STRONG and KIND cuts through the contemporary cacophony of parenting manuals to rediscover, unfold, and embrace the enduring wisdom that has guided the best parents for centuries. 

About Korie Robertson:

Korie Robertson, wife of Duck Commander® CEO Willie Robertson and star of A&E's beloved series Duck Dynasty, is a mother of five, a New York Times bestselling author of several books, including The Duck Commander Family: How Faith, Family, and Ducks built a Dynasty, written with Willie; Faith Commander: Living Five Values from the Parables with Jesus, written with her mother Chrys Howard; and The Women of Duck Commander: Surprising Insights from the Women Behind the Beards about What Makes this Family Work, written with all of the Robertson wives.  She is also an in-demand public speaker, Duck Commander® executive, entrepreneur and founder of boutique Duck and Dressing, and philanthropist, who remains active with a variety of organizations that focus on children, adoption, and foster care.  Korie lives with her family in West Monroe, Louisiana. 

My thoughts:
While watching Duck Dynasty or following Korie, her mother, or the other Robertson ladies on social media, I've often thought 'we could be fast friends'. I think if I had the chance to sit down at the table with them over coffee or a glass of iced tea, we would have a meaningful and fun time. Reading STRONG and KIND has reinforced that thought even more. I could relate to many of Korie's convictions and experiences as a mom. Sadly, I haven't found too many friends who value honesty as much as I do, so when I read that she and Willie require their kids to wait until age thirteen to get a Facebook account, per the rules, I was pleasantly surprised. I laughed out loud on more than one occasion, and appreciated her stories of Will and his strong and challenging younger years. I had to chuckle when she mentioned warning babysitters that 'he could sense weakness a mile away'. I had the same experience with one of mine and had to caution babysitters that they would be tested. 

I appreciate and value each of the character traits that Korie and Willie have worked to instill in their five children, as Bob and I have also done with our children. Early on in our parenting years, we were encouraged to look at the big picture and to work to train our children to be pleasant and able to adapt to many different situations and environments. And although we have been at this parenting thing about the same amount of time as they have, as I've read through STRONG and KIND, I found myself spending time thinking about where each of my children is in this season of his/her life, and if I have dropped the ball on encouraging any of these qualities. I think it's healthy to stop and analyze the situation once in awhile. Sometimes these traits come more naturally and sometimes we have to work at them. We can count on life to bring us plenty of opportunities to continue working them out.

I have to share a quote that made me love Korie even more than I already did:

Being a loving mother doesn't mean that I act like a Disney princess every day. Now, I love Disney princesses as much as the next person does, and I know some women who seem to have that personality naturally, but that's not me. It's not most people. For most of us, life is not all sunshine and roses. We get tired, frustrated, or in a funk and act in ways that aren't very princesslike. That's part of being real. Being loving doesn't mean that you have to always have a smile on your face and talk in a soft, high-pitched voice. What it does mean is that your home should feel like a loving place, a place where your children, spouse, friends, and family want to be. It means that when we come out of that funk and realize we haven't been the most pleasant person to be around, we apologize and move on. It means that your family should know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they are loved unconditionally by their heavenly Father, God, and by their parents without reservation and to the moon and back. (pages 130-131)

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, especially to younger parents, but even if you've been on this parenting journey awhile, I believe you will find refreshing words and inspiration in Korie's (and Willie's) beliefs, convictions, principles and the stories shared in STRONG and KIND.

Today is release day, so get your copy now! 

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Blessings and love. xo

Saving Money Series - Decorating Our Homes

Good morning to you! I am continuing with my Saving Money Series today. In case you missed the first installment, find it here. 

Today I want to talk about decorating, the inexpensive way. We are so bombarded with Pinterest perfection and incredible, professional magazine layouts that we may think we may never be able to attain that kind of beauty or decorating prowess in our own homes. I want to show you how I decorate, on a very small budget (which, at times, has even been non-existent). With a little creativity, there are ways I can make my home a lovely, welcoming haven, without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars. I realize that it can take a few years to collect some decorative items, but most of us can probably shop our cupboards or pantries or yards and come up with some neat displays or arrangements to make our homes more beautiful, inviting and peaceful. 

And just a quick side note, I discovered the world of freecycle.org a couple of years ago, which can be a great resource for adding things to your home or decorating collection. People often give away perfectly wonderful possessions that they are tired of, don't have room for, or have simply replaced with something bigger and better. I am often amazed at the offerings in my local freecycle groups. Another great resource, is of course, the yard sale - both the old school kind in your own neighbourhood, as well as the new Facebook yard sale options for your town or city (check out the coffee table I once got free of charge!). (Use both of these online resources at your own discretion and with care and caution. Follow all rules of safety as specified in each group.)

As a homeschool mom, one of the things I've had to come to terms with is that since we are mostly at home, my house is not going to look like a two-page spread out of Better Homes and Gardens or Kinfolk. I have, though, been able to carve out a few spaces that can be the exceptions to the rule and lovely displays of beauty amidst the messes.

We use our dining room not only for family meals, but also for school, of course. Puzzles are also worked there, painting is done there, and much more, so it is a heavy traffic area. I try to have the kids put away their school books after use and keep it picked up as much as possible. The sideboard functions as a cupboard for much of our school paraphernalia, which is such a lifesaver. I like the top of the sideboard to be an appealing focal point in the room and not covered in clutter. 

During Christmas it looked like this, simple yet festive:

The poinsettias were very inexpensive (from Aldi). I pulled the candy jar out of the pantry and filled it with Brach's Christmas Nougats, Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses and candy canes. The little red and white dish came from Target, on sale. The wooden sleigh was a gift, as were the Santa and the cloth manger set. So the main expense on this display was the candy.

I enjoyed moving the pieces around, and eventually, the rest of the surface was covered with the Christmas cards we received in the mail. 

For January and the rest of winter, I wanted to do something fresh and simple, but I didn't want to spend any money on it at all. I shopped around the house to see what I could come up with, and this was the result . . .

Lately, every time I have walked out my back door, I have thought how pretty the dead hydrangea blooms looked, so I cut some and put them in a vase I already had on my shelf. The old globe belongs to Ava and was free from a homeschool mom who was having to quickly sell her house and move. The small blue vases came from a lady who made colloidal silver, and I've had them for ages. The photo was a gift from my very talented photographer uncle. The vase with the greenery in it was a wedding gift. The greenery itself is from my back yard.

I've rearranged everything a couple of times and like this arrangement the best so far . . . 

Another tip for creating a beautiful space in our homes is to purchase a simple  and inexpensive bouquet of flowers (or pick them from your garden, if you have them). I adore flowers and believe they can brighten up any area, no matter what the season. I bought this bunch of Alstroemeria (also known as Peruvian lily) for $5. I love this variety of flower because it lasts and lasts, so my $5 goes a long way. They are still sitting on the coffee table in my living room, almost three weeks later!

How do you like to decorate your home inexpensively? I'd love to hear your ideas and experiences, especially the money-saving ones!

Don't forget, the Ultimate DIY Bundle is on sale now for a limited time. Click the banner for details.

Blessings and love. xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

Weekly Menu Plan {29 December}

Hello! How was your Christmas? 

Ours was so nice and peaceful. We enjoyed our traditions and gifts and then Bob, Emma and Ava went out of town for the weekend. They were able to see some of my extended family in North Carolina. I had three friends over during the weekend, which was a special treat, plus I tackled a huge project that had been on my list for awhile (re-organizing my pantry!). It felt so great to get that accomplished and crossed off my list. Ahhhh! We are continuing our break from school and just enjoying some down time.

Here is our menu plan for this week:

Monday - Chicken and Dumplings

Tuesday - Guinness Beef Stew

Wednesday - Fettuccine Alfredo, Caesar salad 

Thursday - Leftovers (We'll be busy cheering on our Baylor Bears in the Cotton Bowl! Sic Em, Bears!!!)

Friday - Fire-Pot Soup

Saturday - Pizza

Sunday - Snack-y Supper

I'm linking up with Menu Plan Monday. 

Blessings and love. xo