The Sparrow's Home: Life is hard. God is good. We need each other.

Meet DSST, the CLEP test’s lesser known cousin

October 15, 2018 by Susan

Earning college credits with DSST tests is an amazing way to save money on college. With a few resources to help you study, you can be earning credits in no time!

I was compensated for my time in writing this review. Opinions are always my own.

$30,000. That’s my estimate of how much we’ve saved on our boys’ college through earning credits by exam. Thirty-thousand-dollars!

Credits by exam is exactly what it sounds like. A person takes a test and if they pass, they are awarded college credits. If you’ve heard of this amazing money-saver, you’ve likely heard of CLEP. CLEP tests are the most commonly known college credit granting tests.

We love CLEP tests! But there’s another way to earn these credits by exam that many people miss… DSST tests. (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests).

I think it’s time more people were introduced to this overlooked resource.

Where to draw the boundaries on media content? That’s up to you. How to do it? We’re here to help.

October 1, 2018 by Susan

Resources to help parents control what kids watch, play, and do online. Every family has different boundaries on media content and screen time for kids. Regardless of where you set your boundaries, we’ve got resources to help you do it.

As parents, it’s hard to draw the lines regarding what tv shows, movies, video games, or apps we allow. I’m not here to tell you where to draw those lines today. (Let’s have that discussion another time, I’d love to know how you make those decisions).

For today, let’s agree that being intentional in setting boundaries matters. Because honestly, if you’re not…well, you’re choosing open your child up to anything. And that’s not cool. Or responsible. Or loving.

This boundary setting is an ongoing process. Clearly as our kids get older the boundaries change. And by the time they are older teenagers, our job is more in apprenticing them in how they can set God-pleasing boundaries for themselves as adults.

At every stage, however, we need tools that can help us to know which media is a yes, let’s watch, which is when you’re older, and which is our worldview prohibits this.

Pancakes from scratch that’ll make you swoon a little.

September 24, 2018 by Susan

These simple pancakes, made from scratch, are the tastiest pancakes I’ve ever made. This is the last pancake recipe you’ll need.

I used to think of pancakes as just a vehicle for syrup. Until I tried this recipe. No kidding, every time I make them, my husband pauses while he’s eating and says, “These pancakes are really good.”

It makes me giggle now, because he says it every-single-time.

And they are! Unlike a lot of pancake recipes I’ve made, these are actually tasty all on their own. (Not that I skip the syrup, mind you. I haven’t lost my mind.)

Food for Thought #40

September 17, 2018 by Susan

Advice isn’t always well received, is it? All of the articles I’m sharing this week give solid advice or insights that I’ve needed at one time in my life….or now. I hope some of it is a blessing to you.

Here’s what I’ve been reading:

Let your geek flag fly. Dragon Con for families.

September 10, 2018 by Susan

How many places can you see Thanos, the Dread Pirate Roberts, Tinker Bell and zombies all at once? Not many, I’ll tell you that.

Something called Dragon Con is not something that would garner my attention normally. Even though I live with three guys who are into games with lots of orcs, wizards and superheroes, and we watch movies with…well, lots of orcs, wizards and superheroes….I can handle only so much of the nerd-dom.

I’ve known about Dragon Con for a long time. Some of the organizers are friends of ours and Greg went a couple of times when we lived in Atlanta. Still, not something I ever thought I’d be interested in attending myself. I mean, a sci-fi convention is a bit much for me. Little did I know…

Creamy Salsa Guacamole

August 27, 2018 by Susan

A perfect avocado is a thing of beauty. I get a little thrill every time I cut in and discover I’ve got one. But I’ll be honest, avocados haven’t always been my favorite.

I really wanted to like them…I just didn’t.

They’ve grown on me in the past several years, though. And now, you’ll find me dishing up spoonfuls of some simple avocado barely mashed with some lime and salt on fajitas, or even just with some tortilla chips. Delish.

And this easy recipe is one of our favorite quick lunches. (And by ‘our’, clearly I mean my husband and I… not my weirdly picky kids).