After a year of preparing for foster parenting, we felt as ready as we could feel. We knew our first time placement would be exciting, difficult AND come with surprises. We got tips from our agency and more experienced foster parents, but nothing prepared us for the strange slew of feelings, questions, and problems that would come our way. Based on our first experience, here are some tips to keep in mind if you plan to become involved in foster care.
Swimming pools can pose a great threat to wildlife and other animals that spend time in your backyard. The main difference between a pool and a pond is the escapable edge – a toad may drop by for a soak but can’t find a ramp-like edge to get out. And there’s nothing like reaching your hand in the skimmer basket to empty leaves and find a furry or scaly surprise. I was at my wits end after finding way too many lizards, rats and bugs dead in my pool so I found a way to keep critters out for good!
Nearly a year has passed since we began the process of becoming foster parents. The last 10 months have been painful, exciting, revealing, healing, character building… It’s like what I imagine being pregnant and preparing to welcome a child into our home would be like. We have become mentally and physically prepared to meet a new wonderful person (or people:) that will change our lives and touch our hearts. We’ve had 2 chances to…
It’s another busy day – and you need to bring an easy snack to keep you going. Or maybe you have a child that can never eat enough in a day! Store-bought snacks are often too processed, full of preservatives and they can be pricey for a six pack! Wouldn’t it be nice to have a healthy, homemade, affordable AND quick snack mix to grab & go? Here are some great DIY…
A reflection on the words of Eleanor Roosevelt – we can’t let fear hold us back from living life to the fullest. No one’s life is perfect – change can be scary, innocent children experience abuse and trauma, relationships can bring pain and brokenness. We must always remind ourselves that grief and pain are temporary. In this blog I will categorize types of fears and how I try to handle them. As you read my thoughts, I hope you…
Using natural, sulfate free shampoo and conditioner has always been one of my best habits, but no matter my efforts, I could not prevent my hair from becoming oilier as each day passed! One shower a day used to be enough, but I didn’t realize that my frequent shampooing was exacerbating my problem. Based on some great eye opening tips from a podcast, I experimented with…
Mediterranean is one of the most heart healthy diets. It includes a lot of olive oil, garlic and even balsamic vinegar. Extra virgin olive oil can be used in place of butter, sauce & salad dressing when you eat bread, pasta, or alternatively use cauliflower in place of grains. This oil benefits your body with its anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties (and more!) – it’s a great addition to those who aspire to clean eating. Suggested daily consumption recommendations range from…
If you have ever visited old log cabins or reconstructed colonial time homes, you’ll notice that early settlers didn’t have cool shower technology like we have today. It would be difficult to heat such a large amount of water for one bath, bucket by…
Searches for safe DIY cleaners are popping up across the Internet and Pinterest. Fortunately, some DIY cleaners are truly safe, easy to make, and use inexpensive products found at your local grocery store. With some elbow grease, you too can make a DIY Citrus Vinegar Cleaner which saves you money over name-brand cleaners full of hazardous chemicals. The chemicals you find in many traditional cleaners can be unsafe, especially for children, pets, or those with…
Do you love mornings? I do not! My brain feels like it is in a fog for several hours and not much can pull me out of it, not even coffee or a shower. Exercise has had a positive effect if I am motivated to get up instead of snoozing for an extra half hour, but boy oh boy, do I love…
