Lisa Jacobson's Blog, page 12
October 11, 2016
How to Create A Happy Place Right In Your Very Own Home {Real Life with Lisa}
Like many good ideas, this one was born out of a feeling of desperation.
I’m not saying that I was truly desperate.
But it sure did feel that way.
A small sense of sinking. More than slightly overwhelmed. Like it was too much for me and I hardly knew where to turn.
I just needed something – or a somewhere – that I could clear my head and restore my sanity.
Maybe you know the feeling.
And that’s where the inspiration of creating a happy place right in my very own home began….
It turned out to be so easy and yet somehow so effective that I’m surprised that I didn’t come up with it long before.
But never mind. I know it now.
And, in case you might be looking for such a solution yourself, I’m sharing how it came about and, even better yet, how you create one too!
Resources mentioned in this video:
Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet: Tasting the Goodness of God In All Things by Sara Hagerty
Hope Heals: A True Story of Overwhelming Loss and An Overcoming Love by Katherine and Jay Wolf
We Still Do pillow (pictured above) and other home decor from Every Thine Home
And if you have a question you’d like me to address, you can ask it here: Connect with Lisa
Thank you for joining me and sharing Real Life together!
Continue reading How to Create A Happy Place Right In Your Very Own Home {Real Life with Lisa} at Club31Women.com
October 10, 2016
Why It’s Pivotal to Make Room for Reading
I LOVE books and I love to read but this has not always been the case. As a matter of fact, I hated reading until after I graduated from college and, at that time, I vowed that I would never read another book again. Well, God does work in mysterious ways because reading has now become one of my favorite things to do. There isn’t much that’s more relaxing than sitting in a cozy spot, sipping your favorite drink and reading a good book.
It is fun to get lost in a fiction book that takes you to places you have never been, and tag along on adventures without ever leaving your house (an introvert’s dream).
But more than fiction books, I want to read good Christian books. I love to learn new things about God and my salvation or be reminded of Truth that I already know but have forgotten or neglected. The amazing thing about studying God’s word and reading theologically rich books is that it makes me long for more. The more I study God, the more I want to know him. So the more I read, the more I want to read.
Continue reading Why It’s Pivotal to Make Room for Reading at Club31Women.com
October 9, 2016
The Powerful Way Prayer Changes Us
Some days the problems stack up faster than the dishes do. A bill comes in by surprise, clearly that child is behind in spelling, busy seems to be taking over our schedule and the hints of disrespect between the little people compound.
What a mess.
Like grinding gears I work through the day, but how do I even begin to attack when it feels like everywhere I look there are issues? Not boat sinking issues, not today anyhow, but struggles that demand my attention, things that need to be brought into alignment. Life.
Do you feel that too?
But He said His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). I’ll take one order of easy and light right about now. But how?
The Power of Prayer
Recently I’ve been studying the book of 1 Samuel with my kids and right away we were greeted with the familiar story of Hannah. Hannah who longed to carry a child; who was provoked by her rival. Hannah who wore her grief, her burden, heavy.
Hannah took her bitter and broken heart to the temple and laid it before God.
Continue reading The Powerful Way Prayer Changes Us at Club31Women.com
October 6, 2016
How Smart Couples Avoid Money Stress
Fifty-five days after we got married, my husband was in a welding accident that shattered his leg and tallied up $64,000 in medical bills.
The first bill arrived in the mailbox before he even got home from the hospital.
We were part of a Christian healthcare expense sharing group. But we got a crash course in asking for cash pay discounts. And we were so very thankful that we’d built our tiny home without going into debt so that we still had an emergency fund on hand.
My husband regained full use of his leg. But along with all the scars and metal rods, we were left with the lessons we’d learned to tell everyone: make sure you start your marriage with coverage for medical expenses and as little debt as possible, in case the unexpected comes.
My husband and I both grew up in families that eschewed debt and prized frugality. We listened in on the radio programs our parents tuned into with Larry Burkett and Howard Dayton. But then we were married and got to put it all into practice in real life, with another person–and under a lot of financial pressure.
Continue reading How Smart Couples Avoid Money Stress at Club31Women.com
Money Choices That Have a Powerful Impact On Your Relationships and Life
Fifty-five days after we got married, my husband was in a welding accident that shattered his leg and tallied up $64,000 in medical bills. The first bill arrived in the mailbox before he even got home from the hospital.
We were part of a Christian healthcare expense sharing group. But we got a crash course in asking for cash pay discounts. And we were so very thankful that we’d built our tiny home without going into debt so that we still had an emergency fund on hand. Helicopter rides aren’t cheap and the company didn’t want to wait for us to get our money from anywhere else before we paid them.
My husband regained full use of his leg. But along with all the scars and metal rods, we were left with the lessons we’d learned to tell everyone: make sure you start your marriage with coverage for medical expenses and as little debt as possible, in case the unexpected comes.
My husband and I both grew up in families that eschewed debt and prized frugality. We listened in on the radio programs our parents tuned into with Larry Burkett and Howard Dayton.
Continue reading Money Choices That Have a Powerful Impact On Your Relationships and Life at Club31Women.com
Learn How Money Impacts Your Relationships and Life
Fifty-five days after we got married, my husband was in a welding accident that shattered his leg and tallied up $64,000 in medical bills. The first bill arrived in the mailbox before he even got home from the hospital.
We were part of a Christian healthcare expense sharing group. But we got a crash course in asking for cash pay discounts. And we were so very thankful that we’d built our tiny home without going into debt so that we still had an emergency fund on hand. Helicopter rides aren’t cheap and the company didn’t want to wait for us to get our money from anywhere else before we paid them.
My husband regained full use of his leg. But along with all the scars and metal rods, we were left with the lessons we’d learned to tell everyone: make sure you start your marriage with coverage for medical expenses and as little debt as possible, in case the unexpected comes.
My husband and I both grew up in families that eschewed debt and prized frugality. We listened in on the radio programs our parents tuned into with Larry Burkett and Howard Dayton.
Continue reading Learn How Money Impacts Your Relationships and Life at Club31Women.com
October 5, 2016
Cinnamon Apple French Toast
My three-year-old son, Christian is an early riser (not a gene he inherited from me), and loves waking up with the sun or more accurately, before his daddy leaves for work at about six. I honestly believe that his goal every morning is to wake up in enough time to see Josh off to work.
Sometimes he wakes up early enough and sometimes he doesn’t. His love for his daddy is so precious. He looks up to him, tries to imitate him, wants to help him with everything and go everywhere with him.
Once the little man’s earthly father has left for work, I try to work some time with his Heavenly Father into our morning routine. It’s he and I hanging out while his girls (that’s what he calls his two older sisters) sleep. I’ve moved our little date mornings downstairs to the sitting room where I can get in my quiet time, drink some coffee, read a bit of Scripture, and write in my prayer journal.
Christian has gotten quite used to my routine. He sits next to me on the couch and plays (mostly quietly) while I read and journal, eagerly awaiting his Bible time.
Continue reading Cinnamon Apple French Toast at Club31Women.com
October 4, 2016
Those 7 Things I Do Each Morning That Make My Day Go A Whole Lot Better {Real Life with Lisa}
Funny, how such small things can have an impact on your entire day.
I wouldn’t have thought that such little steps would make as big of a difference as they do.
But after years of trying…and failing…and trying again, I realized that it really did matter. That my morning routine had a significant impact – not only on my day, but on my entire family. It was then that I determined to be more purposeful on how I began each day….
So today I’m answering these questions about my morning start from a Club31Women reader:
I know in a recent blog post you shared about scheduling, and especially what that looked like when your kids were smaller. If I remember correctly you had mentioned a 7am wake time. I’m only assuming this was referring to the kiddos.
What time do you rise in the mornings? I only have 2 children, but if I don’t rise before the chickens, there’s no way I can properly spend time with The Lord, catch up on emails/pay bills etc, and review our lesson plans (we home educate).
Continue reading Those 7 Things I Do Each Morning That Make My Day Go A Whole Lot Better {Real Life with Lisa} at Club31Women.com
October 3, 2016
How You Can Connect With Your Children Daily
Perfection has a way of sucking the life right out your mothering spirit. But moms don’t need to be perfect to make connections with their children.
Manmade perfection and holy perfection are two very different things. While one is done through the power of the cross, the other is done through the power of self. This is a very important distinction to understand as a Christian and as a mom.
No Perfection in Motherhood
One thing many moms do well is aim for perfection. But, when we fall short we beat ourselves up. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with aiming high. In fact, I highly recommend it! That is the best way for us to grow.
If we are in a place where we are being wise as mothers and continuously learning to nurture our children, we can let grace catch us when we fall.
We’re bound to mess up and make mistakes. Even when we learn from our mistakes, we’ll make new mistakes. Yet, we can remain connected with our children by owning up to those mistakes and continue to move forward.
Continue reading How You Can Connect With Your Children Daily at Club31Women.com
How to Connect With Your Children Daily
Perfection has a way of sucking the life right out your mothering spirit. But moms don’t need to be perfect to make connections with their children.
Manmade perfection and holy perfection are two very different things. While one is done through the power of the cross, the other is done through the power of self. This is a very important distinction to understand as a Christian and as a mom.
No Perfection in Motherhood
One thing many moms do well is aim for perfection. But, when we fall short we beat ourselves up. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with aiming high. In fact, I highly recommend it! That is the best way for us to grow.
If we are in a place where we are being wise as mothers and continuously learning to nurture our children, we can let grace catch us when we fall.
We’re bound to mess up and make mistakes. Even when we learn from our mistakes, we’ll make new mistakes. Yet, we can remain connected with our children by owning up to those mistakes and continue to move forward.
Continue reading How to Connect With Your Children Daily at Club31Women.com
