HomeWise: Building Blocks for Discerning Women

Steve and Kara discuss the good work of the NACD and what their family has used them for and the results that they have seen through the assessments of their children and the advice given. The post National Assoc. of Childhood Development appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Steve and Kara discuss the good work of the NACD and what their family has used them for and the results that they have seen through the assessments of their children and the advice given. The post National Assoc. of Childhood Development appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Steve and Kara Murphy talk about the messes we find in our homes and perhaps a different way of looking at it all. The post In Defense of Messiness appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Steve and Kara Murphy talk about the messes we find in our homes and perhaps a different way of looking at it all. The post In Defense of Messiness appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How can you evaluate your own parenting without discouraging yourself? How do you keep from being blind to your own faults? How do you keep from constantly beating yourself up in unnecessary ways? Are you evaluating based on worldly parenting methods? The post Seeing Parenting Faults appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How can you evaluate your own parenting without discouraging yourself? How do you keep from being blind to your own faults? How do you keep from constantly beating yourself up in unnecessary ways? Are you evaluating based on worldly parenting methods? The post Seeing Parenting Faults appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

What part do grandparents play in the lives of grandchildren? How can grandparents help lighten the load that young couples carry? What are some of the pitfalls that trip up generational living. The post How Do Grandparents Fit into the Parenting Process? appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

What part do grandparents play in the lives of grandchildren? How can grandparents help lighten the load that young couples carry? What are some of the pitfalls that trip up generational living. The post How Do Grandparents Fit into the Parenting Process? appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

It is tough for boys to learn to be men in the current culture. How can you teach and train them to be hard working responsible men who will be able to provide for a family and take dominion in the world? The post Raising Boys to Be Men appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

It is tough for boys to learn to be men in the current culture. How can you teach and train them to be hard working responsible men who will be able to provide for a family and take dominion in the world? The post Raising Boys to Be Men appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Is it a parent's responsibility to know the spiritual state of your kids? Is it possible to know their spiritual state? How do you adjust your parenting to include spiritual training as well as physical training? The post Diagnosing Your Child's Spirituality appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Is it a parent’s responsibility to know the spiritual state of your kids? Is it possible to know their spiritual state? How do you adjust your parenting to include spiritual training as well as physical training? The post Diagnosing Your Child’s Spirituality appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How can a Christian family deal with it when mom is chronically ill? How can you still be a helpmeet to your husband when you can't physically do the things you want to do? What are the benefits for the children in a household where mom is unwell? Join Steve & Kara for a candid discussion about their experience with extended illness. The post When Mom is Sick appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How can a Christian family deal with it when mom is chronically ill? How can you still be a helpmeet to your husband when you can’t physically do the things you want to do? What are the benefits for the children in a household where mom is unwell? Join Steve & Kara for a candid discussion about their experience with extended illness. The post When Mom is Sick appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How can you foster your kids' talents and give them opportunities to grow? How can you evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of having one or more children involved in lessons, choirs, arts, athletics, etc? What are some options to reduce the drawbacks on the rest of the family while still encouraging your child's talents? Steve and Kara Murphy welcome their son Matthew into the conversation on this one. The post Watering Your Child's Talents without Sinking the Family Ship appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How can you foster your kids’ talents and give them opportunities to grow? How can you evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of having one or more children involved in lessons, choirs, arts, athletics, etc? What are some options to reduce the drawbacks on the rest of the family while still encouraging your child’s talents? Steve and Kara Murphy welcome their son Matthew into the conversation on this one. The post Watering Your Child’s Talents without Sinking the Family Ship appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Are your expectations for your homeschool realistic? Do you find yourself stressed at the beginning of every school year? Do you live in constant fear that you aren't doing enough or are failing your kids? Are you setting yourself up to fail? Join Steve and Kara as they discuss the struggle to maintain reasonable school schedules and prioritizing family and educational goals. The post Keeping Homeschool Expectations in Check appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Are your expectations for your homeschool realistic? Do you find yourself stressed at the beginning of every school year? Do you live in constant fear that you aren’t doing enough or are failing your kids? Are you setting yourself up to fail? Join Steve and Kara as they discuss the struggle to maintain reasonable school schedules and prioritizing family and educational goals. The post Keeping Homeschool Expectations in Check appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Can your family find ways to serve together? Should we be individualistic in how we pursue ministry opportunities? What are the benefits of all the age groups in the family ministering together? How do the family and the church relate to each other in the context of ministry. The post Finding a Family Ministry appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Can your family find ways to serve together? Should we be individualistic in how we pursue ministry opportunities? What are the benefits of all the age groups in the family ministering together? How do the family and the church relate to each other in the context of ministry. The post Finding a Family Ministry appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Steve and Kara talk about what it's like to have four generations living on the same property. What are the benefits to having so many different family members nearby? The post Generations Living Together appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Steve and Kara talk about what it’s like to have four generations living on the same property. What are the benefits to having so many different family members nearby? The post Generations Living Together appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How should parents help their daughters find godly husbands? How can young men be discipled to grow out of boyhood and into manhood? The post Helping Your Daughter Find a Man appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How should parents help their daughters find godly husbands? How can young men be discipled to grow out of boyhood and into manhood? The post Helping Your Daughter Find a Man appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Are you correcting your kids constantly, but not seeing any change? Are you being a nag? When you tell your kids “STOP doing that” are you teaching them what to do instead? Are you encouraging and teaching them to have a good attitude? The post Correction vs. Training appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Are you correcting your kids constantly, but not seeing any change? Are you being a nag? When you tell your kids “STOP doing that” are you teaching them what to do instead? Are you encouraging and teaching them to have a good attitude? The post Correction vs. Training appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Should you expect your kids to obey you the first time you tell them something? Will you lose your child's heart when you deal quickly and firmly with unruly behavior?  How can you know when to make a quick correction and when you need to address deeper issues with your kids? The post First Time Obedience appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Should you expect your kids to obey you the first time you tell them something? Will you lose your child’s heart when you deal quickly and firmly with unruly behavior?  How can you know when to make a quick correction and when you need to address deeper issues with your kids? The post First Time Obedience appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Do you find yourself planning, but not actually following through with those plans? How can you plan efficiently and effectively? Are you trying to do too much? How do you keep from getting overwhelmed or getting stuck in a rut? What are some different ways to schedule out your year? The post Homeschool Planning appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Do you find yourself planning, but not actually following through with those plans? How can you plan efficiently and effectively? Are you trying to do too much? How do you keep from getting overwhelmed or getting stuck in a rut? What are some different ways to schedule out your year? The post Homeschool Planning appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How can you keep summer trips manageable? Summertime is a great time for hospitality when you can keep the activity outside! How can you encourage your kids' creativity? Steve and Kara share some simple, low-cost, memory-making, summer activities that their family enjoys. The post Summer Fun appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How can you keep summer trips manageable? Summertime is a great time for hospitality when you can keep the activity outside! How can you encourage your kids’ creativity? Steve and Kara share some simple, low-cost, memory-making, summer activities that their family enjoys. The post Summer Fun appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How do you balance the constant pulls for time from church activities with a healthy family life? How do you build routines that work for your family and don't neglect the fellowship and ministry of the church? Does being at home with your kids mean that you are not doing “ministry”? Remember that during different seasons in your family life your involvement in ministry activities may look very different. The post Balancing Home & Church appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How do you balance the constant pulls for time from church activities with a healthy family life? How do you build routines that work for your family and don’t neglect the fellowship and ministry of the church? Does being at home with your kids mean that you are not doing “ministry”? Remember that during different seasons in your family life your involvement in ministry activities may look very different. The post Balancing Home & Church appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

It's okay if you make mistakes, every homeschool mom makes mistakes. How can you plan for a smooth transition from public or private school to homeschool? How do you manage the duties of the home AND educational duties? How does academic work fit into the life of your family? How do you transition from seeing the home as primarily a place of rest and recharge to being a place of daily work? What are the difficulties involved with being your child's teacher and not just his parent? How can you let go of your expectations of what “school” should be. . . Read more » The post Transitioning: School to Homeschool appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

It’s okay if you make mistakes, every homeschool mom makes mistakes. How can you plan for a smooth transition from public or private school to homeschool? How do you manage the duties of the home AND educational duties? How does academic work fit into the life of your family? How do you transition from seeing the home as primarily a place of rest and recharge to being a place of daily work? What are the difficulties involved with being your child’s teacher and not just his parent? How can you let go of your expectations of what “school” should be. . . Read more » The post Transitioning: School to Homeschool appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Is it a good thing that some things are NOT in your control as a parent? Trying to control outcomes of every situation can create overbearing, micro-managing, uptight, stressed out attitudes in your family. Understanding the limits of our control helps us trust God who controls all things. The post Out of Control Parents appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Is it a good thing that some things are NOT in your control as a parent? Trying to control outcomes of every situation can create overbearing, micro-managing, uptight, stressed out attitudes in your family. Understanding the limits of our control helps us trust God who controls all things. The post Out of Control Parents appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How consistent do you need to be in your homeschooling? Should teaching your children be like a job with schedules and vacation days? Can you be consistent in training in godliness even when the school schedule gets upended? How do you keep your goals straight so you are being consistent in the things that matter the most? The post Battling Inconsistency in Your Homeschooling appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How consistent do you need to be in your homeschooling? Should teaching your children be like a job with schedules and vacation days? Can you be consistent in training in godliness even when the school schedule gets upended? How do you keep your goals straight so you are being consistent in the things that matter the most? The post Battling Inconsistency in Your Homeschooling appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

What do you do when you are home all day with young children? What does it mean to BE WITH your children? How do you get things done? What are some practical things you can do with naptimes, mealtimes, bedtimes, playtimes, to keep a happier home? How can you consistently build biblical foundations in your littles? The post Home (Not) Alone appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

What do you do when you are home all day with young children? What does it mean to BE WITH your children? How do you get things done? What are some practical things you can do with naptimes, mealtimes, bedtimes, playtimes, to keep a happier home? How can you consistently build biblical foundations in your littles? The post Home (Not) Alone appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Steve & Kara talk about their child (still in the womb) being diagnosed with spina bifida. How have they seen God's providence and care during an uncertain time? How are they making decisions and thinking about the future knowing their child is likely to have physical challenges his whole life? See how you can help the Murphy family during this time HERE. The post Pregnancy: Carrying a Baby with Spina Bifida appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

Steve & Kara talk about their child (still in the womb) being diagnosed with spina bifida. How have they seen God’s providence and care during an uncertain time? How are they making decisions and thinking about the future knowing their child is likely to have physical challenges his whole life? See how you can help the Murphy family during this time HERE. The post Pregnancy: Carrying a Baby with Spina Bifida appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

What is the role of parents in the process of courtship? What kind of physical contact is appropriate for engaged couples? How do you get families on the same page with their expectations? With more people involved in the relationship there is more opportunity for sin, how can you deal with this rightly? How do you keep a humble attitude when two families don't agree about how courtship should go or what the wedding should be like? The post Navigating Courtship appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

What is the role of parents in the process of courtship? What kind of physical contact is appropriate for engaged couples? How do you get families on the same page with their expectations? With more people involved in the relationship there is more opportunity for sin, how can you deal with this rightly? How do you keep a humble attitude when two families don’t agree about how courtship should go or what the wedding should be like? The post Navigating Courtship appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How can we regain some sanity on this difficult issue? Is there a formula? Does courtship always have to work the same way for every couple? Can courtship ever be a sinful thing? Is fear a driving force in your family's understanding of these issues? Steve and Kara discuss some of their experience as their children have started to marry. The post The Case for Courtship appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How can we regain some sanity on this difficult issue? Is there a formula? Does courtship always have to work the same way for every couple? Can courtship ever be a sinful thing? Is fear a driving force in your family’s understanding of these issues? Steve and Kara discuss some of their experience as their children have started to marry. The post The Case for Courtship appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

What are some of the things that “kids” need to be able to do before they are ready to take on the responsibility of marriage? Do they need to be ready to parent? What does it take to be financially ready? What level of maturity is needed? What are appropriate expectations? How can you gauge their emotional readiness? The post Marriage: Knowing When Your Kids are Ready appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

What are some of the things that “kids” need to be able to do before they are ready to take on the responsibility of marriage? Do they need to be ready to parent? What does it take to be financially ready? What level of maturity is needed? What are appropriate expectations? How can you gauge their emotional readiness? The post Marriage: Knowing When Your Kids are Ready appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.

How do you start preparing your children for marriage? How can you cultivate a good attitude toward marriage from an early age? How does the preparation differ for sons and daughters? What kinds of practical skills do they need? The post Preparing Teens for Marriage appeared first on Highlands Ministries Online.