Mandi Ehman's Blog, page 32

Coming up in 2015 on Life Your Way

2014 brought about a lot of changes for Life Your Way, and it looks like those changes will continue right into 2015!

I had reduced our contributor base fairly significantly in 2013, and by the start of 2014 I had also reduced our number of posts from two to three a day to just one, occasionally two. But we still had contributor posts a couple of times a week about technology or green living, tips for working at home or delicious recipes.

Late last year (that would be 2014…can you believe today is the start of 2015?!), I realized that while we had an amazing group of contributors, having other voices on the blog was making it hard for me to move forward in the way I wanted to.

That led to two big changes: a few weeks ago, I let all of our contributors go—freeing them up to pursue better options as well—and I made some changes to the categories here at Life Your Way.

Oh, I might still blog about green living (I really should update you on our flu-fighting strategies) and technology (I’d love to share my transition from PC to Mac with you, since I was so reluctant to do it for so many years), but my focus at this stage of my life is more on things like organizing and home management, homeschooling and parenting adolescents, personal development and self care, so those are the topics I’ll be writing about more.

I’ll be sharing more from my own life, which means even fewer lists of 23 ways to simplify your life and more stories about the things I’m discovering that work or don’t work for our busy family.

I’ve also pretty much given up on social media. I LOVE having conversations on my personal Facebook account (and you’re invited to join me there!), but I just don’t have the energy or want-to when it comes to posting regularly on the Life Your Way Facecbook page…or Twitter (other than the links I’m saving to Tumblr)…or promoting Life Your Way posts on Pinterest. There are bloggers who have built amazing communities in those places, and every couple of months I start to panic that I’m just not doing enough on social media, but the truth is that writing good content and creating printables and ebooks and courses is just a better use of my strengths, talents and time. So my goal for 2015 is just to let go of the “shoulds” and do what comes naturally without worrying about what I might be missing. (And we are launching an exclusive Facebook group just for Live course attendees that I think is going to be really, really good!).

I’m looking forward to being able to continue partnering with companies I really do love—like King Arthur Flour, Plant Therapy, World Vision and ePantry—while continuing to reduce our dependence on sponsored posts and ads in general.

And after we get through the launch of our brand new Live course (it’s not too late to join us, and it’s going to be amazing!), I have quite a few big plans for the future…a few of which I hope to make a reality in 2015!

I’m excited about this year, and I’m so thankful for each of you—those of you who have been readers from the beginning and have now become friends and those who I’m just getting to know. Thanks so much for reading and sharing Life Your Way!

Coming up in 2015 on Life Your Way

© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved

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Why I’m sticking with my one word for 2015

Last year I struggled to decide on my “one word” for the year before settling on the word live.

This year, however, the choice seemed obvious. I’ve learned so much through that one little 4-letter word—and I’ll be walking through the themes of creating a life you love in our brand new course—so I’ve decided to keep my word and continue the progress I made last year.

My life motto, as permanently etched on my skin this past year, is “Love to live. Live to love,” and my goal this year is to work more toward a life that reflects those things.

But what does it even mean to really live?

For me, it means making intentional choices every day—every hour sometimes—rather than just going through the motions.

It means:

Simplifying

Eliminating excess so I’m not wasting time on things that don’t really matter.
Making time for the things that truly reflect my priorities and values.
Intentionally evaluating how I spend time and money.

Loving

Elevating people over tasks.
Looking my kids and husband in the eye when they speak to me.
Setting aside what I think my kids should need to give them what they do need.

Connecting

Looking for opportunities to connect with people in a real way.
Being real in relationships even when it reveals my {many!} imperfections.
Making time for connection even when I am stressed and want to curl up in my pajamas with a good book.

Focusing

Admitting when something’s not going well and being willing to make changes.
Knowing when to quit or walk away from something.
Being willing to say no to good opportunities to leave space for the best.

Resting

Understanding the value of rest in a healthy life.
Making time for rest, not just physically but emotionally, mentally and creatively as well.
Choosing to rest before I reach the point of just zoning out mindlessly.

Exploring

Opening my eyes to the world and people around me rather than focusing on my phone or staying inside my head.
Trying to see and understand things from other people’s perspectives.
Exploring new cities, cultures, foods and clothing with my kids, in person and through books and movies.

Knowing yourself

Understanding how my personality affects the way I approach life.
Letting go of other people’s expectations and living life authentically rather than putting on a facade for other people.
Being willing to evaluate my natural tendencies and work toward better ones when those are affecting my relationships or life.

Disconnecting

Choosing not to escape into work or the internet just because I’m tired or bored.
Modeling healthy technology use for my kids.
Taking breaks from technology and the internet on a regular basis to just enjoy “real” life.

Learning

Embracing the things I don’t know and looking for opportunities to learn more.
Making room for wonder and awe in my life.
Learning alongside my children to inspire a love of learning in their lives as well.

Serving

Doing more than just “raising awareness” for the causes that are important to me.
Making choices with my time and money that reflect those values and passions.
Serving and giving locally as well as internationally.

Creating

Seeing opportunities for creativity in everyday—in the way I prepare a meal, fluff the pillows or doodle on my to-do list.
Making time to actually pursue new creative skills with lessons, books or practice.
Living my life as art even when I’m not actively creating.

Celebrating

Celebrating the big and small moments of life.
Choosing thankfulness and gratitude every day.
Creating strong family traditions that my kids will remember into adulthood.

Will you join me on this journey?

Why I’m sticking with my one word for 2015

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My top 10 reads of 2014 {and what’s on my list for 2015!}

I am just about to hit 80 books read for the year. That’s 20 books shy of my goal of 100 but not as low as I thought it’d be based on my progress a few months ago! I am going to set my goal to a more realistic 75 for next year (since that’s been my average for the past 3 years) and shoot for blowing it out of the water instead of feeling discouraged by what seems to be an unachievable goal at this stage of my life.

I also started 2014 very intentionally reading a variety of nonfiction as well as fiction, but as the year got busier, I found myself escaping into fiction more and more. As we kick off 2015, my goal—once again—is to find a better balance between fiction and nonfiction (and truthfully, my “want to read” list is heavily weighted in favor of nonfiction), as well as to read more classics.

My other goal is to get back to reading aloud regularly with the girls. I think our youngest daughter especially needs this, as she hasn’t yet developed a “love of story” that I firmly believe is the precursor to a love of reading, and I think part of the reason is because she hasn’t had as much time reading books together as the other girls did. But I also want to read with the big girls because I think there are a million benefits from spending that time together.

Before I dive into a list of the books on my list for this upcoming year, here are my top 10 reads of 2014:

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

The incredibly true story of Louis Zamperini, this book tells the story of his life as a rebellious kid turned record-breaking runner turned World War II pilot turned Japanese prisoner of war, and then his journey from a broken man following the war to one who finds love, peace and freedom from the demons of his past. Although I had already read a few WWII stories by the time I picked this one up, it sparked my passion for the genre in a new way, and I spent the week reading passages and reciting facts for Sean and the girls about the war and Zamperini’s life. Unbroken is not only an inspiring read but also an incredibly detailed account of his experience during WWII and as a prisoner of war that gave me a better understanding of those experiences than any other book I’ve read.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

My first introduction to Liane Moriarty’s writing, this book stayed with me in a way that very few books have. I thought about it daily for weeks after I finished it and I still think about it on a regular basis. What Alice Forgot is the story of a woman who wakes up after a fall thinking she’s a happily married newlywed only to discover she’s actually in her mid-30s with 3 kids, a social calendar that she doesn’t recognize, and a soon-to-be ex-husband who can’t stand the sight of her. But it’s also the story of a woman who has to rediscover who she truly is and where things went wrong in her fairytale life.

Lizzy & Jane by Katherine Reay

In all honesty, this is not the best written book on this list. It’s good, but not amazing from a literary perspective. However, as I shared on Instagram after I finished it, it has serious heart. So much so, in fact, that I sobbed my way through the second half of it—sitting by myself in the dark—because I just couldn’t put it down. The story of two sisters who are facing their individual battles on their own because of walls they’ve built between them, this is just a really lovely story about rebuilding relationships lost and discovering your true purpose. (Also worth noting: although it’s categorized as Christian fiction and explores the sisters’ search for a faith of their own to some degree, it’s not heavy handed or cheesy, making it a welcome alternative to many of today’s contemporary Christian novels.)

Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes by Shauna Niequist

I am actually only halfway through this one as I write this post, but I’m planning to finish it before the end of 2014, and I can already tell it’s going to be one of my favorites. Packed full of essays illustrating the power of a shared meal plus some of author Shauna Niequist’s favorite recipes, it’s an invitation to good food and authentic relationships that makes you want to invite people over for dinner and conversation right now.

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: A Novel by Gabrielle Zevin

I almost left this book off of this list because I can’t even explain what exactly drew me in. But I loved it so much that I couldn’t leave it off, even if that appeal is hard for me to define. It’s a book about books and the people who love books—and those who have yet to discover their love of books—about love and family and a life that doesn’t go exactly as planned.

Me Before You: A Novel by Jojo Moyes

Several years before I met either of them, Sean’s best friend’s dad was in an accident that left him wheelchair bound as a parapalegic. But when you meet him, his personality and zest for life—and not the inability of his legs—are the first things you notice. As I read this heartwrenching story about a quadrapalegic who has lost his will to live and the girl who makes it her personal mission to show him that there’s still life and love out there for him, I couldn’t help but think about Mr. Swisher’s accident, the life he’s lived in the years since it happened and the challenges he must have faced along the way. Even without that personal connection, though, this is an emotional and thought-provoking read.

A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live by Emily P. Freeman

This book is just beautiful. Written in a prose that makes me want to savor each paragraph, Emily Freeman invites readers to live their life as art. Not to become artists or try to be someone they’re not but to live their art for the glory of the Creator. Written for artists and creatives as well as those of us who are type-A and see things in black and white rather than color, it’s a book I think about often as I reflect on my own life and whether I’m really living or just going through the emotions.

Notes from a Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World by Tsh Oxenreider

I’m privileged to call Tsh Oxenreider a friend, but I can honestly say I would have enjoyed this book either way. A look at her family’s journey to living intentionally, Tsh shares their approach for food, work, education, travel and entertainment and invites readers to make intentional decisions of their own in each of those areas.

The Rosie Project: A Novel (Don Tillman Book 1) by Graeme Simsion

I have yet to talk to anyone who has read this story and not loved it. It’s quirky, offbeat and unexpected but oh so sweet, and I am looking forward to diving into #2, The Rosie Effect, just as soon as I finish the books I’ve already started. Don Tillman is a socially inept professor who sets out on a quest to find love using a detailed survey process that eliminates, well, just about everyone. However, a chance encounter with a woman who possesses all of the “undesirable” qualities on his list leads them on a quest together to discover her real father, and along the way they discover that love isn’t always logical.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I have devoured several books by Liane Moriarty in the past month, and while I didn’t love all of them, what I do love is the insight that Moriarty offers into all kinds of people and personalities. There is at least one character in each of her books that I identify with in a scary way, and she puts into words situations and personalities we’ve all encountered in a way that leaves me in awe every time. The story itself is part murder mystery, part contemporary fiction, exploring the little lies that we all put on in public and what might really be hiding under the surface.

On my bookshelf for 2o15

Coming up in 2015, I have two main goals: to get back to regularly reading nonfiction, aiming for 3-4 books per month, and to make my way through various classics, aiming for one a month. My fiction wishlist is always smaller than my nonfiction/classics list because I read them faster and the list doesn’t build up over time, so I’m just sharing the list of nonfiction/classics that I currently own (or have borrowed) and plan to read:

Nonfiction

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
Don’t Give Up, Don’t Give In: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life by Louis Zamperini
The Nazi Officer’s Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived The Holocaust by Edith Hahn Beer
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller
Preemptive Love: Pursuing Peace One Heart at a Time by Jeremy Courtney
The Sacred Year: Mapping the Soulscape of Spiritual Practice — How Contemplating Apples, Living in a Cave, and Befriending a Dying Woman Revived My Life by Michael Yankoski
Restless: Because You Were Made for More by Jennie Allen
How to Hug a Porcupine: Negotiating the Prickly Points of the Tween Years by Julie Ross
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown
Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way by Shauna Niequist
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal
Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity by Jen Hatmaker
Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life by Peter Gray

Classics

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
White Fang by Jack London
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Now it’s your turn! What were your favorites of 2014? What’s on your list for 2015? Feel free to comment or leave a link…I’m looking forward to adding your recommendations to my wishlist as well!

My top 10 reads of 2014 {and what’s on my list for 2015!}

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Reviewing 2014 and setting goals for 2015

I began seeing posts around the blogosphere last week that were looking back at 2014 and ahead to 2015, but in all honesty, December had already been so chaotic for us that I couldn’t even wrap my head around being reflective, evaluating the past year or setting goals for the new year!

Once Christmas morning came and went, though, I found myself so excited to look ahead. Which means I started purging and reorganizing right then (yes, on Christmas Day…I know!) and thinking back on 2014.

As I thought about 2014, I took notes (using the Evernote app on my phone) about what went well—and what didn’t. I’m sharing them here for some accountability and transparency. My intention is never to appear perfect or like I have it all together, and I think my “failures” below demonstrate that fairly well.

I know some people will quibble with my choice of the word failures. That word is emotionally loaded for many people, but I’m fairly unemotional when it comes to evaluating things, so it’s not for me. A failure is simply an opportunity to do better, not a judgement on my worth as a person. It’s a label that works for me as this year’s failures become next year’s goals!

It also became obvious to me as I put together this list just how much personality plays a role in goal setting. I feel like almost every one of these bullet points—and even the paragraph above—needs a disclaimer about my personality and why the goal, success or failure makes sense for me! I’ll just put it here instead: I’m an INTJ, heavy on the intraversion, heavy on the thinking. Basically, every stereotype about how men process things? That’s me.

Parenting*

{successes}

Regular family movie dates.
Learned to be more empathetic with my girls, to read their cues and respond to their needs rather than what I think they should need.
Discovered the power of a hug for my adolescent.

{failures}

Still yell when I am trying to do too much at once and the girls are vying for my attention.
Dropped the ball on celebrating the minor holidays and little occasions as the year went on.
Did not continue family game nights regularly.
Christmas was hectic and harried, where it’s normally joyful and calm.

*I originally titled this category Marriage & Parenting, but the truth is that while we didn’t have any really big wins in our marriage this year, we’re at a really good place, and I just can’t really think of anything that I’d like to change. Well, I’d like to get back to going to bed together, but going to bed at 8 or 9 just doesn’t appeal to Sean, and I have to go to bed early in order to get up early (when I’m the most productive), so we’re making do for now. But other than that, I like us…I like the way we interact, I like the way we work together, I like the way we resolve conflict (most of the time). I probably should have goals for our marriage, but I’m being honest in this post rather than writing what I think I should write, and the truth is that I don’t!

Homeschooling

{successes}

Found an effective checklist system for keeping track of the girls’ work each day.
Finally have a good system for successfully introducing and reviewing memory work at home.
Settled on a realistic amount of work for the big girls and we were fairly consistent about doing school for most of the fall.

{failures}

Was not consistent with kindergarten for our littlest girl.
Was not consistent about reading out loud to the girls.
Did not make time for “extras” like AHG badge work, hands on projects, educational movies, field trips, etc.

Business

{successes}

Consolidated most of my businesses—with the exception of Jungle Deals & Steals—into Life Your Way.
Scaled back Life Your Way to a more focused, more intentional blog.
Let go of {some of} my entrepreneurial tendencies and took a position in author recruitment for Ultimate Bundles.

{failures}

Struggled to stick to office hours.
For much of the year, I struggled with motivation and focus.
Didn’t finish—or even intentionally quit—everything I started.

Food & Exercise

{successes}

Successfully completed a Whole 30 early in the year.
Made lunch our main meal—with nutritious, filling meals—3-4 times a week.
Made most of the girls’ snacks fruit & veggie based.

{failures}

Gained 15+ pounds in 6 months from stress and not being intentional about what I eat.
Stopped drinking enough water each day.
Did not exercise…at all…after our Color Run.

Personal

{successes}

Started piano lessons and made time for regular practice.
Picked up doodling as a hobby/art.
Discovered a love for teaching grammar and writing.
Read 80+ books.

{failures}

Not getting consistent sleep, in part because of the baby and in part because of poor habits.
Did not make Bible study and prayer a consistent part of my daily schedule.
Did not read as much nonfiction as I’d set out to at the beginning of the year.

Community

{successes}

Served regularly at church as the 4th grade helper (except in December, when illness has been the name of the game around here!).
Participated in American Heritage Girls, as a family and as the Pathfinder’s leader.
Participated in our Classical Conversations campus, as a family and as a tutor.
Served and raised money for the community and families around the world in December.

{failures}

Did not get together with friends for coffee or dinner on a monthly basis.
Did not make as many play dates happen for the girls as I’d hoped.

Overall, it was a good year. I learned a lot about myself, and made some really good changes, and I’m excited to continue that forward progress this next year!

P.S. Want some accountability for living intentionally in 2015? Join us!

Reviewing 2014 and setting goals for 2015

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This healthy living library is available again…but only for 48 hours!

I was so excited to share this bundle last year, and so many people asked about getting a copy after the sale ended that the Ultimate Bundles team worked with all of the authors and sponsors to bring it back for just 48 hours!

If, like me, you’re taking steps to improve your health (aren’t we all?!), this bundle’s for you!

The Ultimate Healthy Living Library includes:

hundreds of delicious, healthy recipe
tutorials for natural remedies, homemade toiletries and nontoxic cleaning supplies
resources for meal planning as well as stocking your pantry and freezer
inspiration to help you make easy but meaningful steps toward a greener life

Plus, purchasers will receive more than $145 worth of bonuses, including Strawesome straws (my favorite!), a sourdough or yogurt starter, health supplements and more.

Here’s what you need to know:

When? 12 a.m. ET Monday, December 29 until 11:59 p.m. ET Tuesday, December 30

What? 74 eBooks and 6 eCourses PLUS over $145 worth of bonus products you’ll really use!

Where? Click here to get your bundle.

How much? The entire package is worth $1140, and it’s selling for just $29.97 (PDF) or $39.97 (eReader). That’s kind of a no-brainer.

More about the bonuses:

As if this great collection of eBooks and eCourses wasn’t enough, the Ultimate Bundles team has also partnered with 7 fantastic companies who’ve each agreed to give a special bonus to every buyer. The bonuses have a total value of over $145 – more than 4 times the price of the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle itself!

The bonuses include free goodies aplenty, like a starter culture from Cultures For Health. You’ll also get gift sets from Made On Skin Care Products and Homegrown Collective.

There are virtual goodies, too – a 4-month membership to StayAtHomeYoga.com and a 3-month premium membership to meal planning service Tradishen. And as if all that weren’t enough, there are also $15 gift certificates for Strawesome.com and Trilight Health. There is a nominal shipping charge for several of the bonuses, based on each company’s standard shipping rates, and is usually $3-5.

Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. For more information, read the fine print and get the answers to frequently asked questions from Ultimate Bundles.

This healthy living library is available again…but only for 48 hours!

© 2010-2015 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved

     

Weekend reading: December 27, 2014

From Instagram: New pajamas {for the girls’ dolls too!}.

Christmas Day has come and gone, and I am anxiously looking toward the New Year. The second half of 2014 was busier and more frantic than I wanted, and the start of 2015 signals the end of some of that busyness — with the launch of the Live course, the end of the 101 Days of Christmas series, etc. — as well as the fresh start that turning the calendar page always brings.

On Monday, Jackson is scheduled for lip tie surgery. (We had to delay it twice because of the nasty cold he had.) Although it’s expected to last under 10 minutes with laughing gas rather than a general anesthesia, I’m still a bit nervous. I’m anxious for him to be able to drink from a cup and some of the other things that he’s not able to do because of the severity of his lip tie, but I’m planning a lazy day on Monday so we can cuddle and rest as much as needed depending how feels after his surgery.

What I’m reading: Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequest and anxiously awaiting the release of The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

What I’m cooking: baked chicken parmesan, chicken quesadillas, sloppy joes, stromboli

What I’m thinking about:

{Follow my personal Facebook feed for the things I’m thinking about and talking about all week!}

Goal setting for the New Year How To Change Your Life With Mini Habits | Pick the Brain Asking why | Seth Godin Overwhelmed by All the Changes You Want to Make | zen habits Blogging and writing Blogging for an Audience of One | The Art of Non-Conformity Is your niche too small? | Seth Godin Choosing joy {from the archives} On choosing joy {even when it’s not easy} On  joyful motherhood Happiness versus joy {and why we choose happy too!}

Have a great weekend!

P.S. Do you know what it really means to simplify? Join us in January to find out!

Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy, and together they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. Mandi loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Meet the 101 Days of Christmas sponsors:

King Arthur Flour's Baker's Hotline: free professional help with any holiday baking challenge
World Vision Gift Catalog: share a full life with children in need by giving unique, life-changing gifts
Plant Therapy Essential Oils: 100% pure, undiluted oils you can trust at a price you can afford
Life Your Way Christmas Shop: get your 2014 Christmas planner today


Weekend reading: December 27, 2014

© 2010-2014 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved

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Ornament journal {101 Days of Christmas}

Although we have a simple ornament journal as part of our Christmas planner, I really wanted to create an ornament journal for my kids to record memories and notes about their individual collections of ornaments. Our girls

Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy, and together they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. Mandi loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Meet the 101 Days of Christmas sponsors:

King Arthur Flour's Baker's Hotline: free professional help with any holiday baking challenge
World Vision Gift Catalog: share a full life with children in need by giving unique, life-changing gifts
Plant Therapy Essential Oils: 100% pure, undiluted oils you can trust at a price you can afford
Life Your Way Christmas Shop: get your 2014 Christmas planner today




© 2010-2014 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved

   

Ways to encourage your kids to give all year {101 Days of Christmas}

Now that Christmas Day has come and gone, one of my goals for our girls is that they would continue to think about and look for ways to give all year long. Our experience buying farm animals from the World Vision Gift Catalog was so good that I want to keep the momentum going and not just set it aside until the next holiday season. While Sean and I give regularly, I’m not always good at involving the girls, and I want to do better at that in 2015.

Here are three simple ways to keep the focus on giving throughout the year with World Vision:

1. Sponsor a child

We’ve sponsored children around the world for years and years, but now that our big girls are older, this has become special for them as well. They know we sponsor these children, and they’re each paired with a child so that they can write letters back and forth (or, more accurately, our girls write emails, since we’re no good at keeping stamps or getting things to the post office!). Hearing the stories firsthand from the girls we sponsor about how that money makes a difference in their lives has been really eye-opening for them, and I think it’s been a great way to see the personal side of giving even though they’re not giving their own money each month.

2. Give monthly to a special project

World Vision doesn’t just do child sponsorships, though. Through the gift catalog, you can also choose one time gifts or monthly giving opportunities for things like the clean water fund, child education fund and monthly micro loans. For a family who doesn’t want to correspond with a child directly (which I understand completely because I was no good at it before my girls took ownership!), these funds are a great way to still have an impact monthly. And with more than a dozen funds to choose from, you can pick one that resonates most with your family’s values and passions.

3. Set aside a portion of their earnings

Another one of our goals for 2015 is to get the girls’ savings accounts set up and do a better job of  regularly keeping track of the money they earn so that they’ll have their own money to spend, give and save. We still very much like this time card system we implemented last year, but we haven’t done a great job of writing down their work each day, which means they’re not really getting as much money as they should be (which is probably a lesson in itself but not really the one I want to focus on at their ages!). The goal is that out of every dollar they earn, the girls will keep $0.50, give $0.10 and save $0.40, and they’re actually just as excited about what they’ll be able to give as what they’ll be able to buy!

Raising kids who are cheerful givers and who think more about others than themselves is definitely one of our highest priorities as parents, and these are just a few ways that World Vision can help us encourage those traits in our girls!

We’re winding down our 101 Days of Christmas series today and tomorrow! What was your favorite project this year?

Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy, and together they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. Mandi loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Meet the 101 Days of Christmas sponsors:

King Arthur Flour's Baker's Hotline: free professional help with any holiday baking challenge
World Vision Gift Catalog: share a full life with children in need by giving unique, life-changing gifts
Plant Therapy Essential Oils: 100% pure, undiluted oils you can trust at a price you can afford
Life Your Way Christmas Shop: get your 2014 Christmas planner today


Ways to encourage your kids to give all year {101 Days of Christmas}

© 2010-2014 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved

     

Read the Christmas story {101 Days of Christmas}

And suddenly there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:13-14

I love all of the sparkly parts of Christmas—the magic and the tinsel, the joy and the giving, all of it! But in the midst of family get-togethers and Christmas crafts and baking marathons, we do our best to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas: the gift that God sent from heaven in the form of a baby boy.

And each year I share this post on Christmas Eve, not because it’s earth shattering or Pinterest worthy but because I think we can all use the reminder to step back and slow down.

Sometime tomorrow—whether it’s first thing in the morning or later in the evening, gathered around the tree or cuddling on the couch, while eating breakfast or getting ready for bed—I encourage you to take some time to read the Christmas story together as a family.

Found in Luke 2 in the Bible, it’s the story of a Savior’s birth…and it wasn’t at all what God’s people expected. The Savior and King all Creation had been waiting for arrived not on horseback as a mighty warrior, but was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. His birth wasn’t announced with royal declarations, but with the singing of heavenly hosts inviting lowly shepherds to come see.

In that moment, with the birth of a tiny baby, the course of humankind was changed. That baby would grow up and choose to make the ultimate sacrifice—death on a cross—for you and for me.

Pretty awe-inspiring stuff!

And with that, we come to the end of our 101 Days of Christmas projects, but watch for a fun ornament journal and ideas for keeping the Christmas spirit alive all year after Christmas!

Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy, and together they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. Mandi loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Meet the 101 Days of Christmas sponsors:

King Arthur Flour's Baker's Hotline: free professional help with any holiday baking challenge
World Vision Gift Catalog: share a full life with children in need by giving unique, life-changing gifts
Plant Therapy Essential Oils: 100% pure, undiluted oils you can trust at a price you can afford
Life Your Way Christmas Shop: get your 2014 Christmas planner today


Read the Christmas story {101 Days of Christmas}

© 2010-2014 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved

     

Hot crab dip {101 Days of Christmas}

Sean and I are Marylanders, and both of our dads are avid boaters and fisherman, which means we have a deep and abiding love for seafood…and especially for blue crabs and Old Bay seasoning.

While my sister requests a cheese ball for every holiday or family get together, my husband requests crab dip. We’ve never served it on Christmas before (and our Christmas Day meal seems to be continuously evolving as we try to figure out casual, easy options that everyone still enjoys!), but this year I’m adding it to the lunch/dinner table.

This crab dip is incredibly easy to throw together, and it’s delicious. I even like the leftovers cold, although Sean prefers it warmed up in the oven!

Ingredients:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened 5 tablespoons mayonnaise 16 ounces crabmeat, drained and flaked 1⁄8 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon lemon juice (or ½ teaspoon vinegar) 2 teaspoons Old Bay bread or crackers

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Spread mixture into a 1 quart baking dish (or pie plate!).

Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Serve hot with thinly sliced baguettes or crackers.

Click here to add this recipe to your Plan to Eat account.

Join us as we celebrate 101 Days of Christmas with new DIY projects, gift ideas, traditions and more every day from now through Christmas!

Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy, and together they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. Mandi loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Meet the 101 Days of Christmas sponsors:

King Arthur Flour's Baker's Hotline: free professional help with any holiday baking challenge
World Vision Gift Catalog: share a full life with children in need by giving unique, life-changing gifts
Plant Therapy Essential Oils: 100% pure, undiluted oils you can trust at a price you can afford
Life Your Way Christmas Shop: get your 2014 Christmas planner today


Hot crab dip {101 Days of Christmas}

© 2010-2014 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved