Friday links

I had a whole bunch of articles to share today, but realized most of them revolved around the Duggars. That whole thing has made me so exhausted and so now I refuse to think about it any more or share anything about it with you. I do feel really disillusioned by Christianity at large and I think it's really time for Jesus to come back. There is too much mess and brokenness and my soul can't take it any more.

Without further ado, the links:

The only article remotely related to the topic that I'm going to share is this one. And that is because I think it highlights where many, many Christians go wrong (myself included).

And once again, Jess convicts and encourages with this post on what we should be teaching our kids.

And two posts on how only God can really change our kids: here and here.

Friday links

Phew! What a few weeks it has been around here! Lots of things going on, some planned and some not. But this week we were finally able to get back to a normal routine and it has felt so good. Now I'm looking forward to the end of school (Yay! There is light at the end of the tunnel!) and the beginning of summer. I never used to love summer, but after this long winter and being a homeschooling mom now, summer has taken on a deeper meaning for me. I look so forward to doing nothing and not having to cajole my kids to do anything and just resting. I see lots of evenings like this one in our future:

Links for this week:

If you have a few minutes, I highly recommend watching this video. I bawled my eyes out and thought about it for days afterwards. I love stories about the amazing grace of God.

Do you feel like you have to be 'the perfect mom'? This blog post reminds us why we need to show grace to ourselves.

This topic has been close to my heart for a very long time. There's this whole thing in Christianity about 'doing God's will', which becomes 'marrying in God's will'. That idea messed with me and the first few years of my marriage, let me tell you. Maybe I'll one day write about it but for now, this article says very well what I've always wanted to say. 

Jess once again hits the nail on the head with this article about trying to control the outcomes of our kids' lives.

And something just light-hearted and fun to lift your spirits and make you smile. 

Happy Friday and happiest of weekends!

Friday links

It's Friday Link time! 

This week I only have three articles and one video to share. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Two links from Lysa TerKeurst this week: One about fighting for your marriage when your husband has given up and another about when Mother's Day is hard. Although I am not in a hard marriage and not struggling with infertility, I thought she offered great encouragement to those who are. For that reason, I thought I'd share. Also, in the one about Mother's Day, I think the principle of waiting on God for His best can apply to any area of life.

Jess offers some great thoughts on why gender differences are so important. If you have the time, scroll down to the comments section and see her response to a question someone had about male/female traits. Her comment is almost a blog post in itself and she always has a such a great, well-thought out view on things!

I thought this video was a powerful reminder of God's love for even terrorists. It isn't easy, humanly speaking, to forgive a group who makes it their mission to kill Christians. But that is exactly what God calls us to do.

Friday links

It's hard to believe that another week has gone by! I know in our house we are itching to be done with the school year and I think I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel! Our winter cabin fever melted away this week along with the snow... spring is finally here and we've been enjoying it to the fullest!

Here are the links I came across this week. Hope you enjoy or find inspiration like I did!

If you public school, this is probably not the article for you, but if you are thinking of homeschooling then you may find it helpful.

I thought this poem was beautiful, and a sweet, raw interpretation of exactly how marriage is.

This article cut me to the core. He totally hit the nail on the head in my opinion. I think I might need to write a post on this topic: how my parents' faith made me want to follow God.

Jess gives good advice on how to 'talk to yourself'. You can change the voice in your head from lies and negativity to truth.

This was an encouraging blog post to remind us we're not alone and we're going to be okay.

Happy weekend!

Friday links

Happy Friday!! 

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter, remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus! Because He lives we can face tomorrow... and honestly, I would not be able to get out of bed in the morning if I didn't have this hope living inside of me! So thankful for Him. 

Here are some links that I hope you'll enjoy or find inspiring!

Although I don't necessarily want my children roaming the neighbourhood, I thought this article was spot-on! I love how she calls out today's parenting.

I love what this lady has to say about how our emotions get so tied up with our parenting - and how that's a huge hindrance.

I thought this post gave some great tips on the prevention of sexual abuse. It's sad this conversation needs to be had, but there it is.

Let's "Mom-Up"!! Great encouragement from Kelly.

Helpful tips for choosing next year's curriculum. I agreed 100% with her list.

Made this quick and easy meal for my family this week and it was a major hit! Will definitely keep it in my arsenal of tried and true recipes.

Love this idea! It's a great way to support other moms in need. I especially love their Earring of the Month Club... I might have to put my birthday money towards this.

Happiest of weekends!

Friday links

Another weekend is upon us and I couldn't be happier! Weekends are my favourite! 

Here is some stuff I came across this week:

Okay, I admit it. Sometimes I feel angry with God. I know it sounds like the height of irreverence, but there it is. And this is me, bearing my flaws for the world to see. But now you'll know why this article fed my soul so much. It's the road I'm walking and I couldn't have said it better.

Jess writes a great blog on how being 'good-enough' is just fine when you're navigating life as a mom. None of us are perfect. Why not just admit it and take short cuts to make our lives easier?

Every mom's worst fear is something happening to one of her kids. The fear that follows closely behind is the fear of her kids having to live without her. One brave mom had to face this fear: Kara Tippetts passed away this week. She leaves behind a young family but also a legacy of kindness and love. She is a true testimony to God's love and her courage will never be forgotten.

I found this article to be very thought-provoking and relevant. I only hope that her voice, and others in her situation, is heard.

And last but not least, a new recipe I tried the other night. It was easy and scrumptious!

Oh yes, one more thing. I saw these at Winners last night and am contemplating adding them to my summer wardrobe. Every girl needs tinfoil shorty shorts in her life, don't you think?

Friday links

Today on my calendar it says: First Day of Spring. I want to believe this with all my heart but when I look out my window, it tells a different story.

This is how my driveway looked as I left it this morning.

See those two wooden blocks to the right? Those?
Those are the newel posts of my front steps.

Well, here's hoping that things start to melt soon. Although at this point I cannot imagine where all that snow is going to go. It's pretty safe to say that I am utterly beyond sick of the white stuff.

Here are some links:

I love following the Pioneer Woman's blog. She also has a show on the Food Network, but being that I don't have TV, I can't watch it. Or so I thought. A couple of days ago, I realized that foodnetwork.ca has her episodes listed to watch online! If this is your kind of thing, I highly recommend. 

Speaking of the Pioneer Woman, she had someone guest post on her blog this week. The blogger shared some interesting thoughts on homeschooling. I've long thought that having a strong conviction or passion to homeschool should not translate into making others feel it's the only way.

A challenge from Nancy Leigh DeMoss on writing, blogging, ministry, and getting into God's word.

One day recently I had such a craving for a chocolate peanut butter treat. I went to my trusty Google and came up with these and YUM. Go make now. You won't regret it.

Happy weekend everyone!

Friday links

We've been fighting sickness this week at our house and the internet hasn't been overly inspiring lately. But I have a couple of recipes to share and a 'what I'm reading'. Also, it reached ten degrees Celsius this week at our place and it smelled gloriously of spring outside! Things are starting to thaw. (I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that we're supposed to get a major snowstorm over the weekend.) 

Made the yummiest chocolate chip cookies the other day! There's a secret ingredient in them that makes them so chewy and yum...

And along those same lines, I found this recipe which I plan to try this summer. I had my first frozen hot chocolate at Second Cup last year and it was delish. So here's to hoping that I can make my own version at home!

I am reading this book by Stephen King. I have never read anything by him since I am not a fan of the horror genre, but clearly he's done something right with all the bestsellers he's written over the years. I figure he's got something to say about writing and I've had this book recommended to me from various people. When I'm done reading it I will review it here!

Happy weekend!

Friday links.

It's Friday again!! The weeks are just flying by for me! Which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. The quicker spring comes the better. I'm starting to go a little stir-crazy from all the snow. I just want to sit on my deck and breathe in the smell of spring!

Some links I came across this week:

Watch this video and weep. A few years ago an Iranian-American pastor got arrested in Iran for being a Christian. This video is his wife giving a little speech at a conference. So inspiring!!

Jess gives some thoughts on why writing a blog is not insignificant. I found this helpful as I'm constantly second-guessing my own blogging. I hope that I can grow my own blog into something that will one day encourage women. She gave me the boost to keep going!

Found this recipe and tried it out at a potluck last Sunday. It was a major hit!! It's super easy to make and everyone loved it! Will definitely make it again and the recipe needs to be shared.

Happy weekend!

Friday links.

This week's link-up is a little different since I didn't really have any new articles to share so I thought I'd show you what I've been up to lately instead! 

What I'm reading:

I got The Quiet Place by Nancy Leigh DeMoss for Christmas. It's a daily devotional and I'm loving it! Nancy is someone who grew up in a Christian home and has so much to offer in the way of insight. While I love to read stories and testimonies of people who have found God in the deepest and darkest of broken places, it is also lovely to hear about someone who has found God even in a more sheltered life. I realize that Nancy, as a human being, is as 'broken' as the next person, but her upbringing being what it was, she has a unique perspective. In a lot of ways, she reminds me of a younger Elisabeth Elliot.

What I've found online:

On a completely different note, I recently found a new-to-me blog by the Hollywood Housewife. I love, love, love it. She is real, relate-able, and funny. She has depth and honesty going for her but mostly it's a light-hearted, fun blog. She's also an avid reader and I love reading her book reviews! She's married to a Hollywood director, who directs movies that I'd never see because of the raunch-factor, but her blog is about her, and her little family and I love how it feels like I'm having a little peek into a life that is so far removed from what I know.

What I'm doing:

Surviving winter is pretty much it. Getting through the school day. Planning next year's curriculum. Trying my best to be a good mom and trying to let go of the guilt. Planning fun things to do so that I don't go nuts from all the snow and cold. Knitting. Reading. Cooking and baking.

What I'm listening to:

Found this gem recently. I like a lot of different music and my taste varies depending on my mood. But I must admit that there is nothing in this world quite like a hymn. An old hymn feeds my soul in a way most modern hymns and songs can't. Now, I realize that this is not an old hymn, but it gives me the same soul-satisfying, calming feeling that I get when I hear or sing hymns. So I love it and listen to it over and over.

Friday links.

Onto another Friday!

I don't have a ton to share this week, but here goes:

This article articulated something that I've been thinking about for a long time but could never quite put into words.

I came across this this week and although I haven't tried anything from her list yet, I plan to.

Emily shares some words of wisdom on marriage and a wife's role. I always love this girl's perspective.

I'm reading this book and am fascinated. I will be sharing a review soon.

Happy weekend!

Friday links.

Here is my first Friday links post!!

I hope you find something encouraging to read in this list.

I only pick the best of what's inspired me.

Enjoy :)

If you need to be reminded about how precious and fragile life is...

INSPIRATION

If you are feeling discouraged in your homeschool life...

HOMESCHOOLING

I love cake. I especially love pound cake. But without lemon flavouring as most seem to have. I found *the* perfect pound cake recipe. It is beyond delish...

CAKE

Excellent post on becoming a writer. It's definitely inspired me to learn how to write better and more...

WRITING

I've been looking more into what makes a good blogger and I found this post by the Hollywood Housewife to be informative...

BLOGGING

What is social media doing to our writing? I shared this in Monday's blog post, but here it is again. Very worth the read if this is your thing...

Social Media

I had a difficult week. But mostly because sometimes I can't face my life. This article totally hit home and reminded me to find the joy in the life I've chosen...

MOTHERHOOD

Happy reading! Happy weekend!