10 Classic Toys That Have Withstood the Hodgepodge

Classic Toys That Have Withstood the Hodgepodge

I hope my children look back on today, And see a mom who had time to play, There will be years for cleaning and cooking, For children grow up while we’re not looking. ~ author unknown Those toys that have been around since our teenagers were toddlers. Loved and passed down to be enjoyed again… [...]

The Christian Parenting Handbook

ChristianParentingHandbooklaunchweek

So we’ve shared a You Can Be An Artist series for the past 10 days. And today we are sharing another passion. It’s a Hodgepodge, right? We are switching gears because I needed you to know about a fabulous parenting resource. Be sure to read through everything below because there is not only a mega [...]

The Bowl

Cherishing Generations

She brought it on a Sunday filled with homemade mashed potatoes. I admired the yellow bowl. So she gave it to me. Nana gave me my grandmother’s bowl. A yellow Pyrex bowl she’d found in the old shed on the farm. My grandfather had likely taken it out there to hold something. Probably something he [...]

Five Apps for Heavenly Habits

5 Heavenly Apps at Habits for a Happy Home

Technology can definitely be used to build heavenly habits. Today, at Habits for a Happy Home, I’m sharing five of my favorite heavenly apps. Won’t you join me? Five Apps for Heavenly Habits…

Guide to Getting Started with Egg and Nut Allergies

Simple Start Guide to Egg and Nut Allergies at Hodgepodge

Maybe it’s because I am in allergy-friendly circles but more and more I’m getting questions. Questions like: “My child was just diagnosed with both egg and nut allergies. We have to avoid eggs plus peanuts and all kinds of nuts. What do I do?” So today I am sharing a simple guide I emailed to [...]

The Kia Rio Experience

Kia Rio Review

A little red car. With a sun roof. And great gas mileage. A weekend away with some amazing friends. All that makes for a wonderful package. If you’ve read my Kia Optima hybrid review, you know that my husband has already said, “Maybe there just might be a Kia in our future…” Maybe. This time [...]

How to Savor Parenting: Three Steps

The You Are Special Plate

Following is something I shared when I spoke with fellow moms at a local homeschool group last week. Today, I share it at Passionate Purposeful Parenting… Being a parent is hard. We face the task of raising little ones, pre-teens or young adults – or all three in my case! We search for answers to [...]

Kia Optima Hybrid to BEECH Retreat

Kia Optima Hybrid Review

“Maybe there just might be a Kia in our future…” Those are the words I heard from my husband as I drove him around to show him all the features of this economical vehicle. What impressed him? The headlights. The seat warmers. The fuel economy screen. This Kia Optima Hybrid holds great memories for me. [...]

Trust Him – Passionate Purposeful Parenting

Daddy Destinations

I grew up in Southern California. One of our favorite summer Saturday outings as a family was to visit one of the many large regional parks in Orange County. One Saturday morning while I was in middle school, my dad called all of us children together and asked a question: “Would you like to go [...]

Small Victories and Nana’s Art Tutorials

Focusing on Small Victories at Hodgepodge

This week has been a bit of a colorful blur. We’ve had a few sick children around here. One level of the house for the sick, one for the well. We do have well ones! And everyone else is slowly feeling better. So I focused on small victories. Like this one I shared on Facebook… [...]

Simple Comforts for Sickness

Simple Comforts for Sickness at Hodgepodge

It’s just about a given that when you have five children in the house and participate in multiple events that you will have some sickness. Well, we’ve been socked pretty hard the last couple of weeks. Sickness spaced out just right, several doctor visits and gallons of Gatorade. So I thought I’d gather a few, [...]

Homemade Gifts

Homemade Gift Ideas

(my brother’s homemade gift tags – small, free hand pieces of art we look forward to each year) Part of the fun of giving gifts each year is making them! We set aside some afternoons – spread apart in December – to spread out supplies and make gifts. Permission to paint and create! Sometimes we [...]