My kids often ask why they have to go to sleep at all. 

Why isn’t an afternoon nap enough? Why do we have to sleep so much at night? And maybe most importantly to them, when are my parents going to bed and what am I going to be missing out on? 

These are deep questions to young kids, and of course there’s always the “because I told you so” approach to settle their queries. Honestly, there are plenty of afternoons and nights when that is the only response I feel up to giving.

You need to go to sleep because otherwise mama is going to go crazy. 

But there’s a deeper response that I sometimes give them, and it’s good for us all to reflect on too. 

Really I am thankful for all their innocent questions because when I take the time to answer them adequately, it becomes a learning opportunity for them and a good reminder for me. And even though we plan for more structured ways to teach them about God, these short conversations are often what take root most effectively. 

We were designed to need rest. Physiologically, emotionally, spiritually– we need time to reboot and reset. It’s true for my kids and it’s very true for me. 

This basic, but important, need is not without purpose. Sure we can overlook it and stick with the pithy reasons for why sleep is important. Ultimately, though, our need for rest points us to our limits and our dependence on the limitless One. This is what we tell our kids. 

It’s easy as mothers to start our day with a to-do list and plow through, regardless of the messages our bodies and minds are sending us. We are chronically busy as a culture. Whether you work out of the home or spend much of your time in the home, you almost certainly feel the same crunch and pressure to do it all. 

A daily rest time is typically one of the first things cut when our schedule are bursting at the seams. The dishes and the laundry and the errands and the demands of our planners and people in our lives take precedence over our needs. 

We do and do and do until we faint from exhaustion or snap at our kids because we are so stressed or get sick because our bodies are worn down. 

We need to know our limits and embrace our need for rest without feeling guilty that we are not doingallthethings. Because when you can’t do it all, you need to prioritize what really matters. 

Let’s give ourselves the freedom in our schedules and permission to not feel bad about recognizing our need to take care of ourselves, even while we are taking care of everyone else. You may feel like you are neglecting your lists, but what you are really doing is simply making a different choice and coming out more ready to be a better wife/mother/friend/worker/person. 

So, what does daily rest look like for you? 

Maybe it looks like a short reset with a coffee and a book while your children have independent play time.

Maybe you listen to an audiobook and take the long way home while you breathe deeply after a day of work. 

Maybe what you really need is to take a nap while your baby naps. 

Maybe all it takes is a good conversation with a friend that makes you laugh or think or remember you’re loved. 

For me, it most often looks like a period of quiet time during my kids’ afternoon rest times. Not all of my kids nap anymore, but they all have their own rest time in their rooms. And while the house is quiet, this introvert savors the silence and soaks in the break from using all my words and meeting everyone’s needs. 

Let me encourage you to figure out what is you need to give your mind and body the attention it deserves. Make rest a part of your day.You were created for such. 

The post Embracing The Need for Rest Without the Guilt appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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The same thing happens every year. The temperature start to dip. The wind changes from a refreshing breeze to a biting chill. Enter more gray skies. Less color. Less sunshine. More grump.

At first, it’s fun to break out the sweaters, the scarves, and the boots. We are ready for a change and welcome the seasonal shift without much complaining. But after the holidays, when January and February come, you are likely dealing with fatigue and stir-crazy kids in addition to cold weather.

I don’t know about you, but it has always been a struggle for me to embrace winter with a cheerful attitude. Or even an ungrudging attitude, with minimal complaints. It’s not my favorite season, and it shows in the things I say and in my Instagram captions.  

Living with a complaining heart isn’t pleasant, though. So in the past few years I have tried to be much more intentional about changing not only the way I talk about this season, but also the way that I think about it. Because, as you know, lasting change starts on the inside. 

While it’s true that warmer clothing, fires in the fireplace, and more comfort foods all help to make the season more enjoyable/endurable. This year, I’ve added another strategy to changing the way I approach winter. And even better, it’s one we can do together as a family, so we can all be on board.

Need A Better Attitude This Winter? Try This! 

In our last trip to the library, we checked out Laura Ingalls Wilder’s book, The Long Winter. Most nights since then, we gather together near the fireplace while mama reads a chapter about the Ingall family. 

I knew it would be good for me to read during this season, but I did not realize how helpful it would be to gain a little perspective on how good we have it in our home (and likely in yours too). 

The cheerful Ingalls family lives in a claim shanty with thin walls, no heat besides their fire, and a cold walk to get necessary water. Just tonight, we read about how after a three-day blizzard, the cattle outside actually had their heads frozen to the ground because the conditions were so bad. 

Now, I’ve written about how comparison can be the thief of joy and a major roadblock in relationships, but maybe comparison every once in a while isn’t such a bad thing. This winter try a little comparison to help you check your attitude and gain perspective. 

We did just that after reading one night this week. Together we spent a few minutes comparing what our winter looks like with what winter looked like for Laura and her sisters. And it really opened up my eyes. 

• We have warm clothes. And I don’t have to wear drafty dresses in below freezing temperatures. 
• Our plumbing is inside. Many, many thanks for this one. 
• We have refrigerators and freezers and stores full of food. We don’t HAVE TO hunt and forage for food just to survive. 

Of course, the comparisons could go on, but at this point I was thinking of other perks of winter. Like reading together by the fire. More family time as we stay home more often. And simply more occasions to point our children to the Creator and controller of the seasons.

So here’s my encouragement to everyone who, like me, has a history of needing an attitude check during the winter. Either together as a family, or by yourself while you’re enjoying your favorite hot beverage, make a list of what you can be thankful for this season. Write it down and remind each other. Then find a good book (maybe one about winters worse than yours!) and make time to enjoy it together. 

Maybe you’ll find that the cold isn’t so bad after all…

The post Need A Better Attitude This Winter? Try This! appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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I’m not the kind of mom who does elaborate crafts with her kids. Projects that require preparation a day or two in advance are rare for me.

(This has more to do with my personality type than the worth of elaborate crafts!) 

That’s not to say that I don’t love doing creative projects with my kids, though. We sew together, paint together, and just generally create together. But our art times are more spur-of-the-moment ideas.

So, I love a good project that uses supplies I have on hand and very little work to get started. 

This craft is just that kind of project! 

My kids made these “sticky Christmas trees” two years ago, and to look back at these pictures now is crazy! No more baby faces for either of my boys. 

Reminiscing aside, this is a great craft for preschoolers, and maybe even toddlers with ambitious mothers. It requires very little craft skills from the child. Simply decorate the tree with various colored materials and it’s done! 

How to Make “Sticky Christmas Trees”: 

Cut a piece of contact paper in the shape of a Christmas tree and glue it to a piece of construction paper. We used white paper, but I think they would look even better on a colored sheet. 

Set out various craft supplies that your child can place on his Christmas tree. Colorful buttons, pom-poms, strips of yarn, sequins and so on work well. Glitter for the brave, or devil-may-care type. Also, an egg carton works really well for making everything accessible and contained. 

Give your kid(s) time to create and have fun and see what they come up with. Remember, process not product! 

Don’t forget to display your child’s beautiful art! If you make these with your kids, I’d love to see them! Tag me (@lisaburns3) on Instagram or show me on Facebook! 

Christmas is a week away and I really hope you all have a wonderful, blessed Christmas!

What kinds of crafts do you make with your kids this time of year? 

The post Sticky Christmas Trees :: An Easy Preschool Holiday Craft appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Review by Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life, Contributing Writer 

On the 8th day of Christmas, day2day joys gave to me…

Insulated stainless steel water bottles from EcoVessel! 

EcoVessel is a Colorado company offering great products for designed for toddlers through adults. They are committed to offering water bottles and food storage options are all BPA free, made of high-quality materials, and work really well! All their product are leak resistant and will not leach harmful chemicals into your drink or foods. They have so many different choices, there’s a great pick for everyone! 

Features of EcoVessel Water Bottles & Food Storage: 

• keeps drinks COLD
• bottles are easy to carry around and fit in most cupholders 
• free of lead, phthalates, BPA & other harmful materials
• choices in glass and stainless steel
• easy to clean
• kid-friendly options
• free shipping on orders over $35 and a discount for new customers
• 

Now for my review:

I was given a Summit Triple Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Flip Straw Spout (17oz) and a larger BigFoot Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle (45oz). I have loved my Summit water bottle and enjoyed the convenience of having the larger BigFoot water bottle to keep with me as well. 

For a month now, the Summit water bottle has been my go-to water bottle of choice, despite having several other options at home. I love how well it keeps my drinks cold, how it never spills, and how it easily fits into a cupholder in my van or tucks into my bag for carrying along. The Summit has also become a favorite water bottle of my kids, too, since we often share the one bottle for convenience while we are out. I like that my toddler can easily use it without spilling. 

While the Summit has been a great size for everyday use, the BigFoot has been really helpful for longer trips. Often when I know we will be out for a while, I will fill up the BigFoot water bottle as well to use as a refill for our smaller bottles. Because it is insulated and stainless too, I know that the water will stay cold until we need it. (Now that the weather is getting cooler, I’m also looking forward to filling it up with hot chocolate and taking it for picnics at the park!)

I really love these water bottles. They are so easy to clean. They don’t sweat all over me or my bag. And they are sleek and good looking too.  

What I Liked:

1. My drinks stayed COLD
2. The bottles stay clean
3. We can all share the bottle
4. Two sizes helped to ensure we had enough
5. The bottles are completely mess-free!

What I didn’t Like:

1. Nothing!

You can Buy It!

Go to EcoVessel and see all they have to offer! With so many different water bottle options and food storage choices, I’m sure you can find something for you and/or someone on your shopping list! 

You can Win it!

Use rafflecopter below! If you win, you will get a Summit Bottle, you choice of the 17oz ($26.95 value) or the 24 oz ($28.95 value). 

Click link here if widget isn’t showing up—> a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out all the 12 Days of Christmas here!

Disclaimer: I, Lisa Burns, was given the product(s), to review with my fair and honest opinions. If you would like more info or to have a product reviewed, please contact Lisa.

The post 12 Days of Christmas {Day 8: Eco Vessel} appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Review by Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life, Contributing Writer

On the 2nd day of Christmas, day2day joys gave to me…

Easy and delicious gluten-free baking mixes from Better Batter. A blend of convenience and health! 

Better Batter provides a variety of flours and baking mixes which are all gluten-free, allergen free, GMO free, and more. The mixes can be used to make all kinds of kitchen staples and baked goods. The flour can be substituted cup for cup in recipes. 

They offer brownie mixes, pancake mixes, yellow and chocolate cake mixes, seasoned flour, and other great GF products. 

Better Batter is committed to giving back, and actively contributes to causes that help the world. What’s more, they even offer financial assistance to families who find it difficult to afford health food that would positively affect their lives. That’s incredible! 

Features of Better Batter Flour and Mixes: 

• 7 varieties of flour and mixes offered
• bulk sizes are available 
• flour can be substituted cup for cup
• GMO free
• company that gives back 
• free shipping on Cyber Monday! 

Now for my Review: 

I received a box of 6 different flours and mixes from Better Batter. My family and friends enjoyed trying all the treats and baked goods!

I started off by making brownies and muffins to share at our church’s evening fellowship. The brownies were so delicious and the muffins didn’t disappoint either. Nobody at church could guess that either were gluten-free or that they were made with allergen-free ingredients. 

The next morning, I made my family a breakfast buffet of waffles, biscuits and leftover muffins. With some fried eggs and bacon thrown in, it was quite a feast. Everything was really easy to make. The waffles turned out great. However, I wasn’t thrilled with the biscuits because I felt like they didn’t rise very well. Even so, they still made yummy bacon, egg and cheese biscuits! 

What I liked: 

• the mixes were so easy to use 
• few additional ingredients were needed
• the baked goods are delicious! 

What I didn’t like: 

• I liked everything, except I felt that the biscuits were a little flat. 

You can buy it! 

Visit Better Batter’s site to browse their various mixes and flours. They are offering FREE shipping on orders over $10 with code:12DAYSBB

You can win it! 

Enter this giveaway! If you win, you will get the sample pack of 6 gluten-free flour mixes. Use Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out all of the 21 Days of Christmas here! 

Disclaimer: I, Lisa, was given the product(s), to review with my fair and honest opinions. If you would like more info or to have a product reviewed, please contact Rachel.

If you won, which gluten-free flour mix would you make first?

The post 12 Days of Christmas {Day 3: Better Batter; Gluten-Free Flour} appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Heading into the holiday season, keeping meals simple is a must. Days are busy with class parties, extra crafting projects, special outings, and much more.

I love planning delicious holiday meals, but for the everyday, ordinary meals I like to keep the menu plan quick and easy. 

One thing I try to do when preparing for a busy week or season is to make more than what I need so that I can then repurpose it into another meal or two. I double the rice I need so that fried rice can be made quickly later on. Extra chicken can be turned into many different meals. 

And making extra mashed potatoes means I can make one of my favorite repurposed leftover dishes– crispy potato cakes. 

My mom made them for us when I was a child and they were a favorite back then too. Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, when topped with a little pat of butter, they are so yummy.

Occasionally, I will make crispy potato cakes for a side with dinner, but more often, I like to enjoy potato cakes at breakfast. They pair very well with a fried egg, bacon or ham, and maybe some cheese or greens. 

This holiday season, if you have leftover mashed potatoes on hand, try making these crispy potato cakes! They are simple to make and sure to please!

Crispy Potato Cakes:

What you need:

• 2-3 C mashed potatoes
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 Tbsp butter

What to do:

1. 1. Mix together potatoes, egg, garlic powder, and salt in a bowl until well-combined. 
2. 2. Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Melt 1/2 Tbsp butter in the pan. Form half the potato mixture into small patties and place in hot pan. Cook for 5 minutes on each side until crispy, gently turning the potato cake halfway through cooking. 
3. 
4. 3. Repeat step 2 with the remaining potato mixture. 
5. 4. Serve warm with extra butter, if desired. 
6. 

Do you have any easy meal ideas to use up left over potatoes?

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Every fall we do the traditional things like go pick pumpkins, ooh and ahh over the leaves, read books about Johnny Appleseed, and (one of my personal favorites) make homemade apple cider. 

Sure, it’s easy enough to simply purchase the glass jugs of cider from the grocery store. And we do that too. 

But making cider at home is both easy and fun. 

Last week one of my closest friends and her four children joined us for a day, no plans in particular other than catching up and enjoying each other’s company. 

We all spent the day playing LEGOS, picnicking in the backyard, introducing friends to our mud kitchen, and gathering around the kitchen island to make apple cider. Oh, and talking all day the way you can only do with a kindred spirit. 

The kids, ages 8 to 3, all pitched in to make the cider. They washed the apples, cut them into small chunks, and put them in the Vitamix. I added a small amount of water and then blended the apples on high for a minute. After straining the blended mixture to separate the juice from the pulp, the cider was done. 

We put it to the kids whether they wanted to enjoy the apple cider chilled or warmed. They unanimously agreed– warm with whipped cream. 

Traditions are one of my favorite things about the changing of the seasons. With each new season, there are new memories to be made and old memories to recall together. Even better when the traditions taste great and can be shared with friends!

Homemade Apple Cider in 5 Easy Steps

1. Wash the apples. Cut into 1-inch chunks and add to high-powered blender. Add about 1/2 cup of water to help blend. 
2. Blend the apples on high for about 1 minute, or until all the apples are smooth. 
3. Set a metal strainer over a large bowl. Drape a tea towel over the strainer and pour in the blended apples. Squeeze and twist the tea towel to separate the juice from the pulp. Save the pulp for “applesauce” to use in muffins or oatmeal. 
4. Enjoy the apple cider warm with spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc) and fresh whipped cream. Or drink it chilled.
5. Keep extra cider in the refrigerator up to a week. 

This month, I am writing all about kids in the kitchen on my blog. Helping to inspire and equip you to create habits of health and hospitality in your kids. You can find all the series posts here. 

What food traditions do you have in your family? 

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In high school, it was boys’ t-shirts, size large, which I shopped for at local thrift stores. Colorful shirts from summer camps and elementary school field days, paired with jeans with the hem let out, and flip flops in every color made up my teenage uniform.

In college, I shopped for server black and whites that could be worn again and again during long restaurant shifts, and a starter wardrobe fit for a young student teacher.

These days, my style has changed, but my primary source for supplying my wardrobe has not. Thrift stores have been saving me and my family money for over a decade. And during those ten years I have learned a thing or two about how to build a stylish wardrobe for much less money.

Last week one of my favorite stores sent me a coupon for $10 off any purchase. The coupon was just enough incentive to draw me into the store to check their sales and clearance racks. I am in an awkward in between stage right now with my weight– my maternity clothes are too big and yet I haven’t lost enough weight to fit into my “normal” Fall wardrobe.

I found two or three items from the store that I really liked, but I wasn’t ready to spend the amount on the price tag. Not just yet, anyway. First I wanted to check in my favorite thrift shop for what I needed. Because more often than not, I can find the clothing I need for a fraction of the cost.

As I perused the racks, I gave a lot of thought to this post. What works and what does not. Here’s what I know…

How to Build A Thrifted Wardrobe

1. Go alone if possible.

I have done more than my fair share of shopping with my kids in tow. In fact, most of my Goodwill trips are made all together. But, I know that my kids’ patience runs thin if we are not moving along quickly enough. It is also altogether difficult to try on clothing while wearing your baby or while trying to discourage your toddlers from crawling all over the floor.

If you must go with children, bring along the stroller (see above sentence), and a non-messy snack or two. If I need a little extra patience from my children, I will first go by the section with the children’s books or toys to give them something to look at while we shop. Sometimes we leave with a new toy or book. Sometimes we don’t.

2. Be thorough. Very thorough.

There really isn’t anyway around this one. In order to find quality clothes in the right style and size, you need to look through all the racks, piece by piece.

In a row of two hundred shirts, I may find 3 to 5 to try on. In order to find the ones I want, I have to look through many which I do not.

3. Learn to speed shop.

I have learned how to look search through the hundreds of hangers efficiently over the years. If you take a second to look at every article of clothing, the time really adds up and the process can be rather frustrating.

Instead of pausing to inspect each item, learn to scan the rack with your eyes and with your fingers. In a section of clothing, you can almost immediately eliminate over half of the pieces simply from the pattern or material. Thus, you are only checking the brand and size of a handful of pieces in each row of clothes.

4. Pay attention to brands.

I joke with my husband that I wear nicer clothing since I shop at thrift stores than if I purchased everything new. Every single time I visit a thrift store to look for clothes, I find multiple pieces of clothing from higher end stores like Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Eddie Bauer, J. Crew, Gap, and so on. Generally speaking, these clothes are often in good condition because they are made from materials that hold up well over time.

Not everything from these stores is in my style or size, but I do give these tags preference. Be familiar with the stores whose quality you appreciate and keep an eye out for those tags.

5. Don’t pay too much attention to brands.

That being said, do not completely exclude the brands with which you are not familiar. More than a few of my favorite pieces of clothing are from brands completely unfamiliar to me.

Just recently, I found a pair of coral colored pants at Goodwill. At first I was not going to try them on because the fit looked a little funny and I did not know the brand. I gave them a chance, though, and they ended being a great fit and good quality too.

The scarf was made in just ten minutes from a jersey knit. Find the quick and easy tutorial here! 

6. Only buy what you need. Only buy what you love.

In the past, I have filled my closet with more clothes than I need, excusing the excess because the clothes were purchased frugally. But excess is excess, and owning more clothes than you need does not add any more value to your life or your closet. It simply adds more strain on your space and time.

Using the same excuse of not investing much money, it is also easy to buy clothes which you “mostly like” or which don’t quite fit right but close enough. However, if you don’t love it when you buy it, you are not going to love it simply because you have brought it home.

The same principle applies whether you are buying new or thrifted clothing– buy what fits well, what you feel good in, and what serves a purpose.

7. Inspect each item.

I hate buying a piece of clothing from a thrift store only to discover a hole or stain when I get home. Before you head to the cash register, look over each article of clothing. On shirts and sweaters, give careful attention to the neckline and underarms. On pants, pay attention to the pockets, hem, and waist area.

Occasionally, I will buy something even with a stain or hole because I know it’s just going to be worn around the house, but I want to know about it beforehand just the same.

8. Think outside the box.

If you sew, or know someone who does, many items at a thrift store can be easily repurposed or mended. Dresses can be altered, men’s sweaters or shirts can be repurposed into scarves, skirts or pants can often be taken in or hemmed.

Another occasion to think outside the box is shopping for maternity clothing. At least half of the clothes in my maternity wardrobe were non-maternity pieces which I found at thrift stores. Pants in a few sizes up can work well as your belly grows. Many shirts also accommodate baby bumps, whether they are maternity or not.

If you were wondering, my trip to the thrift store was successful this weekend!

Instead of paying a lot of money for a couple of shirts from the store (even after my coupon and their sales), I found a pair of Gap jeans, a plaid button-up shirt, and a pair of red cords from Ann Taylor. I needed the jeans (again, awkward body stage), the plaid shirt will be a part of my Fall uniform, and I have been looking for red pants for a long time so I was very excited to finally find some in my size!

Do you buy any of your clothes from thrift stores? What are some of your favorite items to shop for? 

The post How to Build A Thrifted Wardrobe appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Tomorrow is one month since I gave birth to my son.

Except it was not the joy-through-pain experience that I have had three times before. This time my baby was born stillborn at twenty-two weeks. Wholly unexpected and wholly devastating.

We have experienced a lot of emotions over the past month, of course. Our children are young, so they can switch from being sad their brother is gone to waging transformer battles in the living room rather easily. But the grief is still fresh for my husband and me.

Last week, our family was blessed to have the opportunity to spend a week in a cabin in the mountains.

There was no connecting with the outside world in the cabin, there was minimal housework to be done, and two days before our trip I had cooked or prepped all of our food for the entire week. Furthermore, our cabin was atop the steepest driveway I’ve had the pleasure struggle to walk up, so leaving the cabin by foot wasn’t something I wanted to do more than once a day.

All this time without responsibilities and distractions left us with a lot of time to read. My husband and I read MANY books out loud to our kids. We also read many books early in the morning before our kids woke, during the day while they played, and in the evening after bedtime routines and chatting with each other. (No television, no cell service, no wi-fi, remember?).

The week turned out to be as restorative as we had hoped it would be. So much quiet and so many good books were balm to our grieving hearts and minds.

Reading While You Grieve

These are the books and words in which I have personally found comfort, rest, and help. This list is no where near exhaustive, but hopefully it will give you an idea of what to turn to during hard days of grief. I would also recommend each of these as a thoughtful gift idea for a friend or family member you know is going through a difficult time. Please just remember to tell the recipient that there is no expectation for what she does with the book. Each person grieves according to her own timetable and some of these books are better at different times.

1. Hymns

During the early days, the first couple of weeks, after my son passed away I did not do much reading. The pain was too fresh and I was too weary from the shock and the tears. I honestly did not even feel like reading my Bible much. Truly, I didn’t touch many books, if any.

What was helpful, though, were hymns. Listening to music rich with truth and sweet comfort was a gift. I could easily turn on an album of hymns and feel like I was being pointed to God and washed over with His grace and mercy.

I have been known to just sit down with my mom’s old hymnal and just read hymns. You should try it.

If you don’t have a hymnal at home (or for the times I just don’t want to get it out), I use this online hymnal. It’s also a part of my favorite band‘s website, so you can listen to most of the hymns there too.

2. The Bible

Eventually, I did begin to open the Bible again early in the morning with a cup of strong black coffee and my journal and pen. While reading was hard initially, turning to God’s word is essential to finding true and lasting hope, comfort, and perspective.

The Psalms, of course, are a great place to start. I am also reading through the book of Job and planning to use commentary on Job following my initial reading.

3. Streams in the Desert

A dear friend of mine who also lost her baby too early gifted me with this book. Before she gave me the book, though, she sat with me for hours and sipped coffee while we shared tears, stories, and laughter. Both the time and the book were priceless gifts.

Streams in the Desert was written by a lady who cared for her dying husband for years. She knows grief. The devotional is full of daily passages, each offering a five minute reading of Biblical comfort.

4. The Hardest Peace

I would recommend this book to EVERYONE, whether you are currently grieving or not.

Kara Tippetts was a mother of four who battled cancer in many forms over and over and over again. She graciously shared her story on her blog and then in this book. It is a story of struggle, of hard things, and of MUCH GRACE. Her words drip with kindness and wisdom and there is so much that we can all glean.

It is a life-changing book. It was also one of the most helpful books I have read in my grief. A harmony of beauty and pain.

5. Anchored: Finding Hope in the Unexpected

I purchased this book just hours after we saw the heartbreaking ultrasound’s stillness. I had heard of the book and listened to the author (Kayla Aimee) share her story of how her daughter was born unexpectedly at twenty-five weeks on several podcasts.

I knew it was one I wanted to read and thought that her story would be helpful in the midst of mine. But Kayla’s story is one that ended in life, and at first this was too hard for me to read.

Last week in the mountains, though,  I did read her story. And I’m so glad I did.

Kayla went through months of grief and despair as she watched her tiny daughter suffer and fight for life. All the while Kayla was suffering and fighting for faith. Her battle to trust God in the hardest time of her life and her discovery that no matter what, God would remain faithful, was exactly what I needed to read.

I truly hope that one or more of these books is helpful to you. If you are in a season of grief, I wish I could cry together with you and listen to your story or simply to the quiet if words are hard to come by. Most of all, I hope that you are able to find true comfort and rest in the Father of all comfort and in Jesus, the One who knows the deepest grief and pain and who can walk alongside us in ours. 

Is there a book that you would recommend that has been helpful during a difficult time in your life?

The post Five Books to Read During Seasons of Grief appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Rather than spraying or lathering on chemicals that could be harmful to our bodies, especially after so much repeated use over the summer, here are twenty DIY remedies that can be easily made at home. Even if you are an essential oil newbie like myself, you can still find almost all the relief you need this summer from these simple remedies. 

If making your own remedies is new to you or still seems overwhelming, pick two to three remedies that you will use most often to start with and go from there. Even substituting just one chemical-free remedy will get you closer to a healthier summer.

Natural Home Remedies to Keep You Safe this Summer:

Sun Protection & Burn Relief

• DIY After Sun Spray ll Firefly Fields Living
• Homemade Sunscreen ll Keeper of the Home
• Whipped Coconut Cooling Lotion ll Hip 2 Save
• Magnesium Body Butter ll Wellness Mama
• DIY Sunscreen Sticks ll MadeOn

Bug & Tick Repellants

• Natural Bug Repellants with Essential Oils ll Herbal Academy of New England
• Homemade Rosemary Lemon Bug Repellant ll My Baking Addiction
• DIY Natural Tick Repellant ll Kornerstone Farms
• Homemade Basil Mosquito Repellant ll Mommypotamus
• Natural Tick Repellant ll Primally Inspired

Itch Relief

• Homemade Itch Relief Spray ll The Frugal Farm Wife
• Homemade Calamine Lotion ll Nourishing Joy
• Poison Ivy Paste ll Earth Remedy
• Homemade Bug Bite Relief Stick ll The Prairie Homestead
• Lavender for Relief ll DIY Natural

Aches & Pain Relief

• Homemade Natural Neosporin ll Mrs. Happy Homemaker
• DIY Warming Rub for Sore Muscles ll Pop Sugar
• Pain Relief Rub ll The Paleo Mama
• Magnesium Oil Lotion ll Creative Christian Mama
• Pain Relieving Bath Salts ll The Good Thieves

Don’t forget to pin this list for future reference and check out these other posts on outdoor summer fun! 

• The {Real} Magic Kingdom Series ll This Pilgrim Life
• Day Hiking with Kids ll Day 2 Day Joys
• 4 Outdoor Learning Activities with Kids ll Day 2 Day Joys
• The Risks and Benefits of Sun Exposure ll Keeper of the Home

The post 20 Home Remedies for Outdoor Fun appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Create Your Own Health Arsenal: Build A Strong Immune System & Treat Symptoms Naturally Keep the Bugs Away Naturally {Plus Natural Care for Bug Bites} Jazz Up Your Summer BBQ Menu With Real Food Recipes