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Hello Reader,

We had a great time in Florida last week, but are happy to be back at home where we belong.

Don't you think "home" is one of the nicest words in the English language? And if you're anything like me, you want that word to conjure up fond memories and warm thoughts in the hearts and minds of your loved ones.

Well, that's why I've made HOME the topic of this week's link list. And, as I say every week at the end of my podcast, I pray the Lord will bless your efforts to build a loving home life centered on Him.

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Free resources for you this week:

• ​Housekeeping Matters - 5 habits that help make home a place your family wants to be
• ​House Blessing - a pretty printable prayer for God to protect & use your home for His glory
• ​Home Sweet Home Coloring Page - a simple, hand drawn design for you to color
• ​Clutter-Free Housekeeping - 7 tips for getting -- and keeping -- your home clean and tidy
• ​A Wise Woman Builds Her House - this coloring page features the words of Proverbs 14:1

What we're reading this week:

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​Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher A young orphan girl is as timid and nervous as the three spinster aunts who are bringing her up. But when one aunt falls sick, Betsy is sent to live with relatives whose ways are completely foreign to her, and a marvelous transformation occurs. Fans of the Little House books or Anne of Green Gables series will likely love this heartwarming story as much as we did.

What we're watching this week:

Doug took me on a date over the weekend to see The Boys in the Boat, which a friend highly recommended to us. Set in the depression era, the film tells the true story of how Washington State University pulled together a rowing team to rival universities that had much better funding.

Many of the young men they recruited were poor, lived alone on the streets, and couldn’t afford a higher education. Once the news got out -- that those who made the cut would have their tuition, room, and board paid for -- applicants showed up in droves.. For the eight young men selected, making it onto the rowing team was a life changer.
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What we're eating this week:

It was chilly when we got back to East Texas, so I made another huge pot of minestrone soup to warm our bellies once we got home.

But on the road? We mainly ate at Mom & Pop restaurants I found through the AAdvantage Dining program. Not only have we sampled lots of amazing cuisine at places we might not have found on our own, but we've also earned 5 frequent flyer miles on every dollar we spent!

On the podcast this week:

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Loving Life at Home: Episode 26 ​SUCCEEDING AT THINGS THAT MATTER​ Of course, determining which things in life truly matter and which things we should let slide can be a tricky business. That’s because God’s economy often turns the world’s economy on its head. ​ Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

I only did two of the five things on my to-do list last week: I ✅ spent 7 9 hours outside and ✅ posted a few vacation photos on Instagram. So I guess that's, what, a 40% success rate? Everything else is getting carried over again to this week's list.

Personal goals for this week:

• put away Christmas decor
• send semester grades to all my algebra students' parents
• queue lessons plans for home
• meet a close friend for a 6AM breakfast date
• post activity calendar on family bulletin board
• host a group of Abby's friends for a craft day this Friday
• register son + grandson for spring semester dual credit classes