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

Easy Sausage Egg Bake

November 19, 2018 by Susan

Whoever invented the concept of brunch deserves some kind of trophy.

This easy recipe is one of the stars of many-a brunch. It’s versatile enough that you could add any number of ingredients to customize it just the way you like. I usually keep it simple with just breakfast sausage and cheese.

But it would be delicious with bacon or ham, for sure. Any number of veggies sound yummy, too. Peppers and onions or spinach sound best to me.

Rich and savory and seasoned just perfectly, this casserole is altogether satisfying.

Food for Thought #41

November 12, 2018 by Susan

Social media disagreements, science, history, and random thoughts. Have I gone back to high school? Thankfully, no. And I have to say, what I’ve got to share with you this week is far more interesting than any high school class.

Here’s what I’ve been reading:

100 Bible verses to inspire you this Christmas and New Year

November 5, 2018 by Susan

Bible verses speak to us at Christmas and New Years in different ways. Often times at Christmas we are reflective, looking back and taking stock of what Christ’s coming has meant to us. And then we look ahead at the New Year with anticipation and hope.

Christmas is a little ways out yet. And although I don’t allow Christmas music before Thanksgiving, it’s never to early to share Scriptures that might prove useful or encouraging.

Whether you are looking for a Christmas Bible verse for a card or a family devotion you are in the right place. Hoping to find something in God’s word to inspire you in the New Year? Right place. Just need something to reflect on this season? Bingo.

God’s word is always timely. Maybe that’s why it’s described as living and active. I hope you find just what your heart is looking for here. More than 100 verses to ponder, inspire and encourage you.

Blessings –

Nurture your child’s head, hands and heart

October 29, 2018 by Susan

Young children learn best in gentle ways. Making crafts, telling stories, cooking together. Even more than the fun of the experience, they build memories with your child. How wonderful would it be if someone did all the legwork, laid it all out, and you could just choose what would work with your family?s

I am being compensated for my time in reviewing Rooted Childhood. As always, all opinions are my own.

Teenage boys don’t particularly like doing crafts. Nor do they like to read poetry or snuggle, for that matter. Thankfully, although my boys are getting older, I have some delightful littles in my life that I can do all this fun stuff with.

I thought of them immediately when I discovered Rooted Childhood. Well, first I thought how much fun it would be to have had this collection when my boys were young…then I thought of my little friends. I invited them over right away.

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.