Ultimate Atlanta Summer Staycation Guide: Free and Frugal Family Fun

Super Summer Staycation - Atlanta

Some of our very best summer memories are made with family right close to home. Today I offer up ideas for a super staycation in Atlanta! Plus, you can win tickets for a trip to the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, and tickets to see the Atlanta Braves. Don’t miss this ultimate giveaway at [...]

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… [...]

Imperfect Homeschool: Drama and Trauma

Imperfect Homeschool- Drama and Trauma All The Time

“Your homeschool looks so peaceful.” “Wow, I wish I was as organized as you.” “Well, you have experience with teaching an age-range of children, I could never accomplish as much as you do.” Every now and then when I share our weekly homeschool wrap ups or an art tutorial, I will get a comment like [...]

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 [...]

What is Dew Learning?

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“With Jesus Christ at the center, our aim is to shape both minds and hearts in his image.” ~This is a sponsored post. See full disclosure policy for more details~ The iPad is a homeschooling tool in our home in many ways. We use apps to supplement and enrich various subjects. Not long ago, my [...]

Free HSLDA Membership for Parents of Preschoolers

Free HSLDA Membership for Families with Preschoolers

Today we have a very special visitor! Vicki Bentley of HSLDA The Early Years and Everyday Homemaking is here to share about the absolutely free HSLDA membership available for parents of preschoolers. Plus, she is also giving away one regular membership to a homeschool family, five copies of her cookbook and five copies of the [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

How Are You Qualified to Be a Homeschool Teacher?

How Are You Qualifed to be a Homeschool Teacher? at Hodgepodge

This highly educated man looked me straight in the face and asked his pointed question. His rimmed glasses balanced just slightly down on his nose. “How are you qualified to be a homeschool teacher?” he asked. Immediately my defensiveness swelled. The protective mother and ‘how dare you’ side of me. He must have seen this [...]

The Joy of My Salvation

The Joy of My Salvation

“I’m sad my baptism is over,” she says as she comes in from the backyard. “Oh sweet girl,” I answer. “It was a day you will always remember. But guess what? You have so much to look forward to. This is only the beginning. You will always be growing as a Christian and learning more [...]