LOVING LIFE AT HOME - Christian Marriage, Biblical Parenting, Creative Homemaking, Purposeful Living Jennifer Flanders: Bible-believing wife and homeschooling mother of 12

Sooner or later, we will all face change of some sort. Change is an inevitable part of life. The question is, how will we deal with change when it comes. Today, I'm sharing six strategies I use to keep my wits when my world is turning upside down.
Show Notes
VERSES CITED:
- Philippians 3:13-14 - "...forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead..."
- James 1:2-3 - "My brethren, consider it all joy when you encounter various trials...."
- Romans 12:2- "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed...."
- Psalms 103:2 - "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."
- Philippians 1:6 - "...He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
- 1 Corinthians 1:8 - "He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless....” 
- Romans 8:28 - "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good ...."
- Hebrews 10:23-25 - "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering..."
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor..."
- James 1:5 – “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God....”
- Isaiah 40:31- “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength....”
- Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory..."
- Psalm 121:1-2 - “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help....”
- Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”
- Galatians 6:2 – “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
-  2 Timothy 1:17 - “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and ....” 
-  2 Corinthians 10:5  - "...and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
- Psalm 23:4 - "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for..."
- Philippians 4:6-7 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication..."
- Psalm 126:5-6 - "Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting."
- Psalm 30:5 - "...weeping may last through the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning."
- Philippians 4:8 - "“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right..."
- Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly..."
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 - "Whether, then, you eat or drink ...do all to the glory of God.”
- Proverbs 30:8-9 - "Give me neither poverty nor riches..."
- 1 Peter 3:8 - “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another..."
- James 5:15-16 - "...the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and..."
- Ephesians 2:10 - "... to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
 
RELATED LINKS:
- Taking Every Thought Captive - free printable verses to help you discipline your mind
- What Men Intend for Evil - a poem a wrote during a particularly grievous trial several years ago
 
STAY CONNECTED:
- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!) 
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home  (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
 
 

Show Notes
VERSES CITED:
- John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
 - 1 John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."
RELATED LINKS:
The Boy Enlists by Edgar Albert Guest 
In Flanders Field by John McCrae
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address 
Miss Congeniality on the Alamo stage 
STAY CONNECTED:
- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!) 
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home  (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
 

Show Notes
VERSES CITED:
-  “Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) 
- “These things I have spoken unto you that in Me ye might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) and…
- “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
- "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." (1 Peter 2:2)
 
RELATED LINKS:
- Is eating bread crust really good for you? - this is the research article I told you about
- Suffering is Never for Nothing - a short but powerful read from Elisabeth Elliot
- I Married a Sinner (& So Did He) - here's that cherished letter Elisabeth Elliot wrote to me
 
STAY CONNECTED:
- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!) 
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home  (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
 
 

One of the first things people usually notice about our children is how well they get along. Sure, they have occasional squabbles, but that is the exception rather than the rule. For the most part, they really love and admire one another and enjoy being in each other's company.

They are friends.

And cultivating friendship between siblings is the topic of this week's episode of Loving Life at Home. I hope you'll listen in!

Show Notes

VERSES CITED:

- “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
- “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”  (Proverbs 17:17, NLT)
- “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  (Ephesians 4:32, NASB)
- “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”  (1 Peter 3:8, NIV)
- “Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony.” (Psalm 133:1) 

RELATED LINKS:

- Cultivating Friendship Between Siblings - the original post upon which this episode is based
- Pimsleur Speak & Read Essential Spanish - we invested in multiple levels of multiple language CD sets, although now all these lessons are offered through a subscription service instead
- Stopping Sibling Squabbles - help for parents whose kids are constantly fighting
- Help! My Children Won't Stop Fighting - my response to a frequently asked reader question
- 10 Nice Things I Can Do For My Sibling - a pretty blank printable to use with bickering kids
- 15 Unexpected Benefits of Big Family Living - even more reasons I love having lots of children
- Best Bible Memory Tips & Tricks- smart ways to hide the Word in your children's hearts
- Praying for Your Children from Head-to-Toe - pray over your child's eyes, ears, heart, brain, etc.
- Praying for Your Teens - our teens need prayer, too!
- Praying for Adult Children - they never outgrow their need for a mother's fervent prayers
- Praying for Your Unborn Baby - never too soon to start beseeching God on your child's behalf
- Praying for Your Grandchildren - don't forget to pray for your children's children, as well!
- 31-Day Prayer Challenge for Parents - pray a different verse over your children every day
- Benefits of Homeschooling - even more reasons to give homeschooling a try

FAMILY GAMES MENTIONED:

- Bananagrams - a great game to strengthen spelling and vocabulary skills
- Battle Sheep - a fun strategy game that can be played by 2-4 players
- So Clover - a game that stretches your ability to make associations
- Q-Bitz - a clever strategy game that can be played alone or in a group

If you’ve ever had a child who is given to whining, you know how grating it can get on the nerves of every member of the household. But thankfully, there is an effective way to help your little one break this bad habit. Listen to this week's episode of Loving Life at Home to learn six surefire strategies to wipe out whining.
Show Notes
RELATED VERSES: 
- Philippians 2:14-15 - "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."
- Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it."
STAY CONNECTED:
- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!) 
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home  (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)
 
 

Over the years, our family has found ways to make traveling with children more enjoyable, economical, educational, and easy. Listen in for tips you can use on your next family vacation. 
Show Notes
RELATED SCRIPTURE:
- Psalm 37:23 - "The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey."
- Proverbs 16:9 - "A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."
RELATED BOOKS & BLOG POSTS:
- Pack Up & Leave - This book details all the tips I shared in today's episode and more 
- Vacation Planning - nine noteworthy websites I use when planning road trips
- Kids Eat Free - a list of restaurants across the country where kids eat free
- Dining Out for Less - how to save money on restaurant meals using Restaurant.com
- Making the Most of Frequent Flyer Miles - how our whole family flew to Europe for free
- EP 23: A Hill Country Christmas - a few of our family's favorite free things to do in San Antonio
- How to Plan a Fun Staycation - tips for creating great vacation memories right here at home
OTHER LINKS MENTIONED: 
- Home School Legal Defense Association - my HSLDA card gets us homeschool discounts 
- Garden & Arboretum Directory - search by state for botanical gardens (many of which are free)
- Reciprocal List for Zoos - check this list for zoos across the country that offer free admission
- National Park Free Days - a list of dates you can visit national parks without paying an entry fee
- Every Kid Outdoors - fourth graders (and their families) get free park admission for a full year
- Junior Ranger Program - kids can earn badges by doing educational activities at each park
- Factory Tours USA - state-by-state list of manufacturers that offer free tours of their facilities
- AAdvantage Dining Program - earn frequent flyer miles by dining out
- Restaurant.com - buy $25 gift certificates for as little as $2 apiece
- Paint by Sticker - a fun and mess-free activity for kids to enjoy in the car
- BlueGreen Vacation Club - if you decide to give BlueGreen a try, please tell them Jennifer Flanders referred you 😊
STAY CONNECTED:
- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -(weekly themed link lists of free resources)
- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content
- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, lots of free printables!) 
- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home  (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)