Christian single-parents live in two worlds. As a part of the church world, they are in the minority. As a part of the world outside of church they are the majority. Parenting is challenging enough with two parents – it can be overwhelming with just one. It is important for church leaders and two-parent families to recognize the challenges single-parent brothers and sisters face. This … Continue reading Caring for Single Parent Families
Michelle Duggar has a great post up over at Parentables: There are a lot of reasons why serving the community is important to me, but one of them has to do with my father. His father died when he was 4 years old and my father’s mother had four babies all under the age of 5, all born pretty close together. And this was when … Continue reading My Father’s Story: How a Small Kindness Can Make a Lifelong Impact
The flour is almost gone, and I’m weary of pancakes.
Single-parent families are struggling in this economy just like our married friends. We will not tell you how bad it is, but this article is intended to give the Body a glimpse of what it is like in our homes. Please do not judge. We are up against odds that are often insurmountable. If we work inside or outside the home, there is never enough time, money, or energy to do what we need to do. Frequently our bills are late or do not get paid at all. We pray for our provisions and realize we are totally dependent upon God. Continue reading “The Flour is Almost Gone”
Really, there’s nothing quite like it… After vainly combing the catalogs and internet looking for a plus-size lambswool fair isle cardigan in shades of gray and red (just looking you understand; just wasting time wishing and window shopping, a’course.) After weeks of that, there’s nothing quite like having your daughter set out to the Goodwill and come home bringing you a plus-size lambswool fair isle … Continue reading Berries in winter
I read the following article this morning, and I thought I was in the former USSR:
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/News/PRDetail/4501
Really, what right does a court have to declare that a child must be removed from her homeschool and enrolled in a government school…all because she is deemed to be “too religious”?
Scary stuff, right?
Then, I read, as Paul Harvey said, “The Rest of the Story”:
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13793086
“But Amanda’s father, who has joint custody, said his ex-wife’s strict Christian teachings were socially isolating the child.”
Yikes.
Suddenly, this is no longer a simple case of the arbitrary violation of religious freedom, but a complicated, heart-breaking story of a broken family. Continue reading “New Hampshire Homeschooling Case: An Issue of…Submission?”
Announcing the Grand Opening of Stitches~N~Hems. It’s the simple things that make life easier for you and baby! Specializing in nursing cover-ups, burp cloths, bibs, and crib sets. You can click here to visit this shop specializing in handmade items. You can also read about the shop owner’s story by clicking here. LAF is making efforts to support the home-based business efforts of widows and single … Continue reading Stitches~N~Hems Grand Opening
I wrote an e-book entitled @Home: A Frugal Momma’s Guide to Saving Money. It is my story of how I saved money in the home and was able to remain a keeper of the home against all odds. The ideas in the book will help families trim their budgets and cut expenses, and it is full of money-saving ideas for tough times. For the next … Continue reading @Home: A Frugal Momma’s Guide to Saving Money
Editor’s note: All too often, stay-at-home motherhood is held up as a luxury for upper middle-class families, something that is a privilege rather than a God-given right. Single mothers are told to get a job, put the kids in day care, and forget about enjoying such a “luxury.” Sadly, this attitude is even commonplace in the church, which should know better. After all, helping widows and orphans in their distress is what Scripture calls “pure religion, undefiled” (James 1:27). Single mother Robin Smith has stepped up to the plate in a way that puts the rest of us to shame. May we be spurred on to help the abandoned and widowed among us with more than mere words.
It is difficult to make ends meet in today’s economy. Many two-parent families struggle to survive on one income. Others strive to make ends meet with dual earnings. Single parents necessitate employment to pay the bills as well. There are no easy answers in managing the financial responsibilities needed for a household of one or many. Continue reading “A Dream and a Prayer”
Our homeschool experience began in 1989 with a cute, wiggly five year old kindergartner. In the late eighties homeschooling was unusual. In 1992, I became a single mother and continued to homeschool. While homeschooling was uncommon at that time, doing it solo was unheard of. There were those who meant well by telling me to put my kids in public school and get a job. The full-time employment would not have covered daycare expenses for five children–much less food, shelter, and everyday expenditures. Some of the church leadership stalwartly believed that I should go on government welfare; however, from my interpretation of Scripture, that responsibility belongs to the church. I wanted to remain a keeper of the home, so I started my own business.
Homeschooling has been a journey of faith for my family. It was not easy to homeschool, run a business, be a momma, and strive to keep the laundry pile manageable. Looking back, it seems like an unfathomable feat. Continue reading “We Made It!”
There is a homeless man who lives in our town… well, at least I think he’s homeless. Most people say that he is. Although someone told me he has an attic room somewhere on the east side of town, and that may be true. Someone else who knows someone who works in the bank says he has a fortune in a savings account, but that seems unlikely. Early in the mornings, he walks methodically up and down the streets, combing through the garbage and under hedges looking for empty bottles. Continue reading “A Ministry of Muffins”
