A Happy Home Podcast: Christian Homemaking Homeschooling Homesteading | Family Home School & Biblical Discipleship | Keri Mae

If you haven't taken the time to go see the movie Courageous, I hope you will rectify that soon. This movie is one that meets *real life*, and has the potential to call out and equip men to be the fathers that God has called them to be, regardless of past failures or fatherlessness. My husband took me to see this movie twice, and afterwards we had a chat about what we thought. This particular podcast was unscripted, so forgive us any rambling and we hope it will be useful to you.

I was pleased to agree to review the book Seasons, by Elizabeth Byler Younts, mainly because this was a young (and married) mother who somehow managed to run her household (moving 5 times in 7 years), birth another baby, and write an entire book! All of those reasons for reading fizzled though because the true story of her Amish grandmother's childhood through the Great Depression was enough to keep me totally engrossed. I am really pleased to offer you this interview with Elizabeth about her lovely book.

Do you have room for YOU in your family? If you are serving and nurturing everybody in your family except yourself, this one's for you.

In this podcast my husband and I share about how we raised and butchered our own meat hens. We didn't grow up farming, we're not experts, but with help from the internet and a "just do it" attitude, we did it and are so happy with the results. Believe me, if we can do this, you can too.

Meet my friend Cindy who is in the process of finding who she really is as she battles (and triumphs over!) obesity. She is an inspiration and I know you will be very blessed to hear her words. I'm so thankful to the Lord that I know this woman.

Are you waiting upon the Lord for provision or relief of some kind or another? Join me as we look back at some of the ways God has met my own family's needs, and let me encourage you to remember the times past He has met yours as well. Also, did you know that He IS always providing for you, always working things out for your good? Ponder some different ways of thinking about the time you may be in, and let us keep our eyes on Jesus.

It is very possible to heal dental cavities through the use of nutrition. In fact, decay is caused by a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet. In this podcast, we'll challenge what *really* causes cavities, and question the current practices of treating them. Get ready to be armed to fight for the health of your family in a whole new way. Long podcast, but lots to ponder!

Parents, regardless of how equipped, ready or trained they feel, are responsible to God for the discipling of their children. And if the means by which children are being discipled are leading to bad fruit (take a good look around), then it is definitely wise and wholly appropriate to humbly go back and reconsider what, if anything, the Word of God has to say about the issue. Listen to a bit of our story of why we began to, and continue to, keep our children with us in church.

Have you ever had meal preparation time delayed? Or last minute unexpected visitors to feed? Listen in as we delve into the challenges, discover some new ideas of how to prepare for this inevitable hurdle in the kitchen, and what sorts of snacks and meals can be easily put together with just a few raw ingredients. You don't have to send people away from your home hungry!

“When enough families have voluntarily returned to the government system, it will be a relatively straightforward matter to recapture the rest by imposing mandatory homeschooling oversight regulations.” Are you a homeschooler involved with a public school program? Are you getting perks such as free curriculum, lessons, or even a check to deposit in the bank? Some are warning about the "shackles" of such programs. Are they right? Listen in as I interview DiAnna Brannan of Christian Homeschool Network, and consider her words.

I loved Sally Fallon's word for those who claim to *know it all* about proper politically correct foods: diet dictocrats. These are the same folks that say red meat is BAD, saturated fats are BAD, eggs are BAD, bread is BAD. So it was no surprise that my assumption about fish was: wild fish=good. Farmed fish=BAD. Then I met a solid Christian gentleman who, of all things, farmed fish. And he asked me point blank, "So....what do you think of farmed fish?" Listen in on our conversation and be ready to challenge your own assumptions in the process.

Confidence in reacting to the boo-boos of life is stoked by being prepared for them. I keep two first aid kits: one at home and one in the van. As usual, my focus is on natural remedies and a drugless approach to treating the everyday scrapes, bumps and tummy aches.

Well, if you have the space....why not? In this podcast I'll share about the benefits of whole, raw milk, share an interview I did with my cow-owning friend, and tell you about my own dairy goats. As usual, my husband pipes in at the end. If you can grow lettuce, you can milk an animal.

Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Are the reasons to send a small child off to school valid? How important is it to utilize preschool and kindergarten programs? If you're wavering between sending your child off, or keeping him or her home, this is an important listen for you.

What's in the pantry matters! You do have control over the food you provide and prepare for your family. Learn to create a health-promoting, wholesome kitchen, learn to cook from scratch, and learn to take control of your families bodily AND financial health. It really matters!

Even in doing all the preventative measures talked about in Part One, moms still need to have a plan in treating illness when it occurs. It is our responsibility to watch over and encourage vibrant health in our families. Here are some thoughts in treating illness when it happens.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keeping our families as healthy as we can is ourresponsibility. The Lord has blessed us with amazing provisions to use in supporting our body's attempts to stay healthy. (We have access to clean water in this country, for starters...) Here are some thoughts regarding how to keep your family well, using the methods I've used for at least a dozen years.

"Where do you get the time?" In this podcast, I share how I organize my time so that I have the time to knit, sew, quilt, write, and do a host of other things that I enjoy doing. If you want to find the time, laying a foundation in ordering your day is key.

Toys don't need to be so hard to deal with. Here is how our family works out how to choose them and store them so that they are not only fun for the children, but lovely additions to our decor as well. My husband, Tom, pipes in on this episode to give his view on this issue as well.

There are lots of ways to diaper a tush. Here is one way a mother of six works it out!

Psalms 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Asking for help is key to conquering discouragement.

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Sometimes it is really hard to take every thought captive (listen to Part One) or to get working on what is needed or required (listen to Part Two). Sometimes, our discouragement grows because we just are not as healthy as we could be...so we feel like we're physically and/or mentally dragging. Let's investigate various aspects of how taking better care of ourselves might bolster our courage.

Mothering and homemaking are hard work, so....work hard! The loudest voices either tell us that our work at home is not of value or that if we succeed at any of it, we’re just Type A perfectionists. Put away feminist thought AND work hard to serve your family. Learning something new and accomplishing your goals are smart weapons in battling discouragement.

Let's talk about discouragement, because it's been in far too plenty of a supply these days. Grab some tea, listen in on A Happy Home's first podcast*, and ponder changing the eyewear.