Creative Ways to Implement History and the Bible

Recently, I blogged about our Titanic Tea Party.  Today I'm at So You Call Yourself a Homeschooler? sharing other ways to incorporate historical facts with Biblical truths.  Please check out my article and give Carlie congratulations on her site relaunch!

Blessings,
Mrs. Sarah Coller

Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

Linking with:

Craft-o-Maniac Monday  
Motivate Me Monday 
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill 
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 
Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 
A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 
Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 
Manic Monday @ Cupcake-n-Bake
Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Inspire Me Wednesday @ MamaBuzz
What's Working Wednesday @ NextGen Homeschool 
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Sheltering Linkup @ A Sheltering Tree
Shoe Lace Linkup @ Living In the Shoe
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Legacy Leaver Thursday @ Leaving a Legacy
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop 
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable  
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Family Fun Friday @ Moms and Munchkins 
Family Fun Friday @ Happy and Blessed Home
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Fit & Frugal Family Friday
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Sharing Creative Ideas @ Made By Joey
Sunday Showcase Party@Under the Table and Dreaming 
Sundae Scoop @ I heart nap time
The Creative Homemaker Hop 
Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life
One More Time 
Mommy Mondays 

Spring Cleaning with Starbucks and the Walmart Bakery #DeliciousPairings

"Spring cleaning" actually takes place about once every three months at our house.  With a family of 11, I'm sure you can imagine how fast the clutter piles up!  It's definitely not a job that can completed in one day---it actually requires a bit of planning.

Sometimes, when I'm faced with a not-so-fun task, I have to psych myself up for it by creating a welcoming atmosphere.  A hot drink in a pretty cup and a yummy treat on a vintage plate usually helps set a relaxing tone and gets me in the mood to make my home a little more homey.

Starbucks has a great line of coffees out, specially blended to compliment many of the flavors found in our favorite coffee-time treats.  I found the Starbucks Medium Breakfast Blend in my Walmart's bakery section.  Check out your local Walmart to choose a tasty blend.

The Starbucks Medium Breakfast Blend features notes that compliment the tastes of nuts, apples, blueberries and lemon.

Tonight, I paired this blend with the Apple Turnovers from the Walmart Bakery. I needed a sweet treat while perusing this Spring Cleaning Checklist that Melanie at Only a Breath designed.

Visiting a Starbucks shop is a real treat for my husband and I, and one that doesn't happen as often as we'd like.  That's why we're thrilled that we can find Starbucks brand coffees and hot chocolate mixes at Walmart.  We can enjoy a quality hot drink on a budget that works well for us.

We both tried the coffee and treat together and thought they complimented one another well.  Before sampling the apple turnover, we tried the coffee---a flavor we'd never had before.  We liked the smooth texture and thought it was not as bitter as lighter blends we've tried.

When enjoying them together, we found that the taste of the coffee was different as the complimentary notes were enhanced by the flavor of the apples.  It was a very nice pairing.

Planning for spring cleaning is sure to go much more smoothly with a yummy treat to enjoy!

For more information visit: 
Starbucks on Twitter and Facebook
Walmart on Twitter and Facebook

Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™.  All opinions are honest and are my own. #cbias #SocialFabric

Were You Featured? MBC #1 Featured Posts

Last week I kicked off the Make Bake Create party with four of my blogging friends and 64 participants!  Awesome!

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up.  If you missed out, don't fret because we'll be back Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 Pacific Time with a new party!  This week it's my turn to be the featured hostess and I'll be recreating one of the projects linked last week!

There were lots of great ideas and yummy food featured last week.  Here are a few of my favorites.  If you're featured, make sure to grab a "featured button" for your blog!




<a href="http://www.bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src=" https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRn09kU2RemU6LsKqKpqOxSc8lLCH9RDGzDVK164-4hJaY289rNS0LDGtgG6gOHfZ3qztHJIBAyR85U5zoDA-wpv7s0wvCPwTpE9Enlgg7f-zlcNbDGukTGMhU6Vz15YkqBkjpsBcl5Vl/s240/MBCFEATURED.png " border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

I absolutely LOVE this pattern window!  Artsy VaVa made this for a friend in exchange for a great collection of old windows she can use for crafting.  How awesome!

I'm a sucker for vintage linens and Penny's friend recently blessed her with a whole bunch of fabulous treasures!  Check out all the beautiful things she received---there's a gorgeous lace bed jacket that I'm really loving!  Penny blogs at Penny's Vintage Home.

Carolyn at This Woman Writes tells the story of a "kitchen failure" that ended up being a great lesson in thinking outside the pan.  This was my first visit to her blog and I really enjoyed her article, as well as her husband's art.

Tauna at Proverbial Homemaker put together an awesome Dandelion unit study that I plan on using this week in our homeschool.  I just spied the first dandelion of the season in our yard today so I better get to it before Jamie mows 'em down!

Becky's recipe for Deviled Eggs with NO MUSTARD at Read My Chicken Scratch really intrigues me.  How can one have deviled eggs without mustard?  Well, guess we're goona have to make them and find out!  It's her mom's recipe and most of us know that moms have some pretty surprising tricks up their sleeves!

Thanks so much to everyone who visited, linked, and commented.  You helped make our first week a great one!  Can't wait to see what you've got to share next week!

Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

Make Bake Create Party #1 with Chocolate Pudding Cake

  

Welcome to the very first Make Bake Create Party! Every Wednesday come and link up your favorite projects from the week. This could be any food, recipes, crafts or DIY! Since there are 5 hosts... your link will be seen on 5 blogs at once. SWEET! Meet your hosts:

                      If you haven't already, we would love for you to follow us on Pinterest:

Rachel @ Bubbly Nature Creations

Sarah Coller

Kristy Still (Mommy Hates Cooking)

Brandi @ The Creative Princess

Vanessa {The Rookie Seamstress}

Today Rachel is sharing this EASY and SO delicious Chocolate Pudding Cake! Doesn't it look divine?

The Make Bake Create Party is like none other. Make sure to follow our Make Bake Create Party Pin Board where we will be pinning the projects linked up here! ALSO Your DIY project or recipe may be made by one of us. So make sure to link up one of your favorite projects and we may put it to the test ! It will be shared by all of us (with links back to your recipe or craft of course).

We will also be hosting a Make Bake Create Google Hangout too (TBA)! So stay tuned!!!

Disclaimer and things to keep in mind~

* You may link up any DIY/ recipe/ food type post.

* You may link as many links as you want.

* Be sure to include The Make Bake Create button or text link to in your linked post; this is recommended in order to be featured!




<a href="http://www.hopeineveryseason.com/" target="_blank"><img src=" https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn1UUMpAzaGe_3JUer40CRLomsJ8W_qJq-_fEujrdlbIDZnn3aQ4sVuaSAkTSTFAOOvWicE_8TQIhUSwc5Lp_Wa43i8lNKKj2Kt6d9tnTTuRuBB7zUYJTERT9Ryz7Xtz3er0eFuAc035o/s220/makebakecreate.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

* By linking up, you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them, and that we may use those photos to feature your project on a blog post, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with a link back to your blog, of course. (; We may also occasionally MAKE YOUR PROJECT OURSELVES- with a link back to your recipe or tutorial. (This gets more exposure for you... and potentially lots of traffic!)

Now Ready... set... Link Up!!!

Linking with:
What Up?! Wednesday @ Frugal Fit Family

Personalized Gift Ideas from CafePress

Many of you know that I'm planning a trip to England this fall to visit Jane Austen's old hangouts and study costume design at some beautiful museums.  Wouldn't this Lady of Shallot tote bag be awesome to take along for my souvenirs?

I've been checking out the CafePress website where I found this and many other neat things.

CafePress offers super cute baby clothes...

As well as pajamas for kids and adults...

Check out these fun t-shirts!  They even have maternity shirts!

At CafePress, you can find personalized items like mugs, water bottles, business cards and gym bags. How awesome to have your blog name and logo printed on something for advertising with a personal touch!

CafePress Inc. is a worldwide company featuring all kinds of design options---including the ability to design your own products, and give them as gifts, enjoy them yourself, or sell them in your own shop.  About 135,000 new designs are added each week!  It's very likely that many of the things you see and use every day are CafePress products.

In the next couple of weeks, I'll be sharing a couple of my own CafePress products with you, as well as offering a sweet giveaway so you can win your own!

Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

*This article was written as an introduction review of CafePress.com.  No compensation was given prior to the publishing of this article.  All opinions are honest and are my own.

Fresh Strawberry Cream Torte and Homemaking Linkup

Welcome to this week's Homemaking Linkup! Today I'm sharing a super delicious recipe that I adapted from one I used to make at Pampered Chef parties.  

Good Frazzled Friday

Last Friday morning, I was chatting on Facebook for a minute while the kids finished up their morning chores.  I saw all these posts about Good Friday---"Oh yeah," I remembered.  

I wanted to stop a minute and pray and thank God.  I put my hands over my face for a little quiet time and immediately someone said, "what's wrong mom?"  

I looked up to find five faces staring at me.  

Frustrated, I shot off some comment about not having even a quiet minute to pray.  Everyone scattered back to their busyness and I sat there feeling horrible.

Isn't this what Jesus came for, after all?  To show compassion.  To teach us how to stop in the middle of whatever we're doing and make sure our brother or sister, who appears to be hurting, is taken care of and lifted up.  To forgive jerk moms like me who should have spent time in prayer before her kids got up. Moms who should not have had to have been reminded about the significance of the day by Facebook.

There were really only two choices for me.  I could have let the guilt eat at me and let me feel like a failure the rest of the day, or I could have done what I chose to do instead.  I took a deep breath, shot up a little "mind prayer" of thankfulness, and apologized to my kids.

So thankful God gives grace to the humble...and the humiliated!  

This article was featured in The Christian Home magazine, Issue #107.


Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

Linking with:

What Up?! Wednesday @ Frugal Fit Family

Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Sheltering Linkup @ A Sheltering Tree
Shoe Lace Linkup @ Living In the Shoe

Romantic Skirt and Homemaking Linkup

Baby Brenna turned 3 months old this past week!

Happy Thursday!

Hope you're anticipating a fun-filled Easter weekend!  We are looking forward to having my Dad come down for the day on Sunday.  He will be going to church with us and then coming home for an egg hunt and Easter dinner.  What a wonderful thing to be able to celebrate the Gift from my Heavenly Father alongside my earthly father!

Saturday morning I put on this brown skirt to go do errands.

Once I was out, I realized it was a lot shorter than I'd like it to be (I like it to cover the tops of my boots---almost ankle-length) and that it was kinda drab, being just plain ol' brown.

So, I hit the fabric shop for some pretty embellishments!

I found this cute fabric and some crocheted lace.  First I added a good four inches to the hem.

Then I made a pocket.  I love pockets on my skirts---they come in very handy for the homeschooling homemaker!

What do you think?  I love it!


I hope you'll join me for this week's Homemaking Linkup.  I love to feature some of the neat posts that are linked up so please make sure and put my button or a text link on your blog so you'll be eligible to be featured!  There were posts both last week and this week that I really wanted to feature but didn't because there was no back link.




<a href="http://www.bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc418/lostinavalon1/Homemakinglinkup.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>
Here are some of my favorite posts from last week:

Callie from Callie's Crafts showed off this awesome headboard redo that she did.  I think she did a beautiful job and I really appreciate that she made her instructions so clear.  I want to do one---thanks, Callie!

The girls at My Sister's Pantry shared an excellent idea for setting up the means to care for seedlings when you have to be away from home.  Check out this great set up!

Thanks to everyone for the great posts!

Now for the linkup.  Please remember to return the favor by adding my button or a text link to your post.  Have a great weekend!




<a href="http://www.bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc418/lostinavalon1/Homemakinglinkup.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>
Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

Linking with:

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Pearls and Lace Thursday @ Faith, Grace and Crafts
Transformation Thursdays @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Legacy Leaver Thursday @ Leaving a Legacy
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop 
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable  
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Family Fun Friday @ Moms and Munchkins 
Beverly's Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound
Family Fun Friday @ Happy and Blessed Home
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Fit & Frugal Family Friday
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Show and Tell Saturday @ Sassy Little Lady 
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Sharing Creative Ideas @ Made By Joey
Sunday Showcase Party@Under the Table and Dreaming 
Craft Schooling Sunday @ Creative Jewish Mom 
Sundae Scoop @ I heart nap time
The Creative Homemaker Hop 
One More Time
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Craft-o-Maniac Monday  
Motivate Me Monday 
What's In the Gunny Sack? 
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill 
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 
Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 
A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 
Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 
Mondays with Countrified Hicks
Manic Monday @ Cupcake-n-Bake
A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life
Cottage Style Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage 
Teach Me Tuesday @ Growing Home
Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios
Courtship Connection
Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good 
Domestically Divine @ Far Above Rubies
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
Tending the Home Tuesday
The Bliss Project Linkup @ Grace-Full Intentions
What Up?! Wednesday @ Frugal Fit Family
Make Bake Create @ Hope In Every Season
Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Home @ Rose Chintz Cottage  
Inspire Me Wednesday @ MamaBuzz
Watcha Work-Up Wednesday 
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants 
Rednesday @ It's a Very Cherry World
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Sheltering Linkup @ A Sheltering Tree
Shoe Lace Linkup @ Living In the Shoe 

Stop the Glorification of Busy

I saw this quote on Facebook the other day---the cementing of all kinds of thoughts that had been swirling around my mind in regard to the subject.  

Are you staying busy?  

Have you ever been greeted that way by someone in passing?  I have and, for me, it's kind of awkward.  What am I supposed to say?  If I say no, they'll think I'm lazy and boring.  If I say yes, I'll be exaggerating the truth.

I try really hard not to stay busy.  In fact, my new year resolution for the last two years has been to avoid any outside activity that makes me feel overwhelmed, stressed, or too busy.

When I say outside activity, I mean anything that doesn't fall within my obvious, God-given role as a wife and mother.  So, field trips, ministry teams, and play dates are subject to avoidance---laundry, conversations with husband, and meal prep are not.

We often feel obligated to be busy.  We feel guilty if we can't account for our time.  Schools give kids busy work because teachers will feel guilty if they just send the faster-working kid outside to play while the others finish up.  Oh yeah, and it's against The Rules.

You've heard the phrase, "stop and smell the roses."  Have you ever done it?  This morning I took five minutes and sat on my porch with my eyes closed, listening to the birds and the river, and praying.  I feel really refreshed. Now I've got four babies making noise in the background, and will have nine kids up wanting breakfast any minute now, (I hear footsteps on the stairs) but I am going to handle this day way better because I stopped to be filled first.  

(Before you start imagining I live in some idyllic meadow and begin lamenting your lack of birds, a river, and a quiet porch, understand that mine is smack in the middle of the busy downtown.  Loud, obnoxious people, stinky diesel trucks, and blowing garbage abound.  But, like mom says, you make your own happiness.)

What is being gained from your busyness?  Kids are up now so I gotta make this short.  Basically there's one test to be sure you're busy for the right reasons.  If it doesn't fall within your specific, God-given role and it's not going to bring eternal good, then it's eligible for the chopping block.  

This post was published in The Christian Home Magazine, Issue #106.

Thank you to Judith from WholeHearted Home for featuring this post!

Linking with:

Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Inspire Me Wednesday @ MamaBuzz
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Sheltering Linkup @ A Sheltering Tree
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Legacy Leaver Thursday @ Leaving a Legacy
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop 
Desire to Inspire @ A Royal Daughter
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Family Fun Friday @ Moms and Munchkins 
Family Fun Friday @ Happy and Blessed Home
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Fit & Frugal Family Friday
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Show and Tell Saturday @ Sassy Little Lady 
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Sharing Creative Ideas @ Made By Joey
Sunday Showcase Party@Under the Table and Dreaming 
Sundae Scoop @ I heart nap time
The Creative Homemaker Hop 
One More Time
Motivate Me Monday 
What's In the Gunny Sack? 
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill 
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 
Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 
A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 
Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 
Mondays with Countrified Hicks
Manic Monday @ Cupcake-n-Bake
A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life
Cottage Style Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage 
Teach Me Tuesday @ Growing Home
Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios
Courtship Connection
Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good 
Domestically Divine @ Far Above Rubies
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
Tending the Home Tuesday
The Bliss Project Linkup @ Grace-Full Intentions
What Up?! Wednesday @ Frugal Fit Family   

Scent of Lilacs Book Review

My first experience reading Ann H. Gabhart's books was when we had just moved to Washington and my husband had started a night job.  Lonely with no friends and no internet, I was lamenting leaving most of my books back in Oregon to be picked up on our second trip with the moving van---two weeks later.  The next night, my husband brought me one of her books set in the Quaker days, and I've enjoyed her novels ever since.

Gabhart's works show the reader that we have all dealt with similar issues---no matter what time period we are living in---and that God's timeless grace can get us through them all.  In Scent of Lilacs, Gabhart tells the story of Jocie Brooke and her family's struggles in the summer of 1964.  Jocie's family is holding a secret---even from Jocie.  When all is revealed, Jocie will never be the same---but that could be a good thing!

From the publisher:  "Combining unforgettable characters, true-to-life struggles, and the perfect dose of humor and nostalgia, this riveting story from bestselling author Ann Gabhart explores the very essence of new life and love."

Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions are honest and are my own.