My husband and I moved our family to Oklahoma about six years ago. Being a registered tribal citizen with the Cherokee Nation, there are numerous benefits available for tribal citizens within the state. We have a 15-year-old teenage daughter, a 9-year-old boy, and a 4-year-old boy. Yes, life is crazy during this season and includes plenty of doctor visits with the kids. It is a blessing to not have to worry about copays, deductibles, or other medical-related expenses. Still, shortly after moving here, I decided to work within the public school system.

This educational opportunity allowed me to have the same schedule as the children. I also enjoyed working with children, as I had previously volunteered as a Sunday school teacher and youth worker in your typical church settings. Even now, I volunteer as a Sunday school teacher for kids 9–11 years old. Nevertheless, I continued to work in the school system for 5 years and held various titles and positions. My least favorite job was working in the kitchen. There is a world of difference between working in your own kitchen, serving your own kids, and working in a commercial kitchen, serving hundreds of kids! My favorite position was as a kindergarten and 1st grade teacher’s aide. There is never a dull moment in these classes! Nevertheless, working in the public school system exposed both me and my family to the awful realities of the public school environment. The final “nail in the coffin” is when my husband and I came to the knowledge that our children were being compromised and their spiritual lives were at stake. This is when we decided to pursue other educational opportunities.

I have a friend within our church who homeschools, so I reached out to her for some guidance and advice. She was extremely helpful and shared pointers on what did or did not work best for her children. She pointed me to the curriculum that she found to be the most beneficial. One of her recommendations was called “The Good and the Beautiful.” I will admit that this has been my favorite curriculum so far. I am so impressed with this curriculum and love how it tries to instill good, practical values and a love of God in your children without any sort of doctrinal teachings. She also forwarded me a link to a homeschool seminar that had recently happened within our church organization for me to listen to. In the end, I decided to go with her recommendation for my soon-to-be third grader, and we ended up with “The Good and the Beautiful” for him. And after listening to the homeschool seminar, I went to Sister Szumanski’s page, http://theferventfamily.wordpress.com, and used her curriculum recommendations for my soon-to- be ninth grader. Those recommendations have worked out for our soon-to-be 10th grader as well. She didn’t personally enjoy the algebra she had this past year, so we are more than likely going to be trying to find something else for her for math.

This past year has been challenging but interesting at the same time. I have learned that I enjoy teaching, especially when you see that aha moment or a light bulb turns on. And as important as education is, and I am 100% for education and higher education, I know the main goal is to see my children one day make it to heaven. The Lord gave us our children, and it’s our responsibility to lead and teach them in the right path. Do we want them to be successful here on earth? Yes, of course, absolutely, but more importantly, we want their soul saved. Mark 8:36 says, “For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”. I don’t want that to happen.

I want to help encourage mamas out there who are considering homeschooling but are on the fence about it. Or maybe you already homeschool your children and you’re really feeling the struggles.

We shall see what the next several years, God willing, may hold. Thank you for reading. God bless you.

About the Author

Erica Raynor is a dedicated homeschooling mom with a background in education and a passion for teaching. She transitioned from working in the public school system to homeschooling her three children. Erica volunteers as a Sunday school teacher and is committed to nurturing her children’s spiritual and academic growth. She enjoys sharing her experiences and insights to help other families navigate the homeschooling journey with faith and practical wisdom.

Latest Post!

• How to Make Easy Keto Peanut Butter Cookies
• Guarding Your Heart in a Noisy World
• When Your Words Reveal Your Heart: Growing in Christian Character (Podcast Season 2, Episode 6)
• Faithful in the Small Things: Finding God in Everyday Faithfulness (Podcast Season 2, Episode 5)
• Kingdom Minded: Choosing God’s Work When Obedience Gets Hard (Podcast Season 2, Episode 2)

The post Homemaking Harmony: Embracing Homeschooling – A Journey of Faith and Practical Tips for Families first appeared on .

As we dive into these helpful tips, let’s reflect on Proverbs 24:3-4: “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” This verse beautifully ties into the thoughtful process of selling your home, where every decision is a step towards blessing and new beginnings.

Where Do I Start to Sell My House?

You’ve probably spent years making improvements, creating the home you love living in, but you’re ready to move for whatever reason, got married, larger home, new job, new city, it’s time to get moving. The first step is to change your mindset. 

Remember what it was like when you were looking and found your home? The aspects of it that drew you to this house? Location? Size? Layout? These are all the same criteria buyers are looking for today. We’re going to make a to-do list of ideas to spotlight the best of your home!

Declutter

By removing non-essential items and some family photos (not all you do still live there) used in your decor, buyers won’t be distracted; we want to create a spacious and inviting homey feel for buyers to envision their family there. If you have sentimental items attached to the house, such as light fixtures or window coverings, that you will be taking with you, you need to remove or replace them before photos are taken.

Thorough Cleaning

This can be done simultaneously with the decluttering; buyers will be looking through your home, including cabinets and closets, to make sure storage space is sufficient. It can seem like an overwhelming task; however, you may consider hiring it out for a one-time deep clean.

Painting

If your home is painted with personal colors to your taste and decor, especially children’s rooms, you may want to consider having it repainted to promote a more neutral and cleaner canvas for buyers to visualize the space.

Repairs

Look around your house at any repairs that you might be used to but would look like lack of maintenance to buyers: sticky or squeaky door, running toilet, leaky faucet, drywall repair, nonworking lightbulbs. Make sure appliances are in good condition and possibly have HVAC serviced.

Outside

First impressions. Your potential buyer may drive by or be pulling up for a showing. An updated mailbox with fresh new numbers, pressure washing, keeping grass cut and shrub beds trimmed, freshly painted front door, and a new welcome mat will go a long way to getting buyers attention.

A local Realtor will be able to guide you through your current local market and navigate the listing process including legal documents, listing price, offer negotiations through closing.

We hope Buffy’s insights inspire you and make the process of listing your home exciting and approachable. For those of you in our local area, Buffy is just a click away at 731 Village Realtors, ready to offer her expert advice and support. And for our friends further away, her guidance is equally invaluable.

Listing your home is about moving forward—creating spaces for new memories and possibilities. Let’s embrace this journey with wisdom, understanding, and a joyful heart!

About the Author

Meet Buffy Creekmore, a beacon of knowledge and friendliness in the real estate world. Since starting her journey as a realtor in 2005, Buffy has dedicated herself to helping individuals and families find their dream homes, navigating the complexities of real estate with ease and enthusiasm. If you’re considering listing your home, or just curious about your options, check out her website at 731 Village Realtors. Having known Buffy personally for years, I can wholeheartedly vouch for her integrity and expertise.

The post Homemaking Harmony: Getting Your Home Ready To Market Doesn’t Have To Be Overwhelming! first appeared on .

Hello everyone! I am Rebecca Williams. Susan and I have been friends for about 32 years! It is sometimes rare to find friends in whom you can trust and confide, but she is one of those friends. As an added bonus, we both share a love of all things beautiful, such as flowers and plants, decorating, and fashion. It is helpful to have a trusted friend to bounce ideas off of through all of the projects. Looking back, I realize we have not only supported each other through various trials but also various décor transitions over time. 

I’ve noticed over the years that when I experience a major trial or transition, the change usually inspires me to update or redecorate something. Unless it’s a seasonal decorating project with items I already have, this process can become expensive unless I get creative! I prefer to stay frugal to eliminate even more stress, so I usually start with one room or space.

First, I determine a theme or color scheme and begin to incorporate it gradually throughout my home to create flow, balance, and harmony. Sometimes it takes just a can of spray paint and some foraged natural items to create the beginning of a new look. I might even take a clothing item I no longer wear to make new throw pillow covers. Whatever the change, removing an old look and updating always gives me a renewed feeling of hope. I don’t think I have ever attempted a big change without asking God for inspiration. He has all the brilliant, resourceful ideas!

Has your heart been renewed and transformed?

In 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, our bodies are referred to as earthly houses. If our homes can be renovated, cleaned, and redecorated, how much more can our hearts, minds, and souls? If we experience a trial and handle it incorrectly, we can go to God and look inward to see what needs to be changed. Maybe our mindset is wrong. Maybe we are clinging to an old season that has passed. If we ask God sincerely, He will help us to renovate our thinking and be transformed into what He created us to be. 

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2, King James Version

This verse suggests that renewing the mind is a continual thing. And not only can our thinking be adjusted, but we can then be able to discern what is the perfect direction for our lives! Just like my home, I want my heart, mind, and soul to be the best it can be. Trials can make us pause and look inward for change, but what if we renewed our minds regularly? It only costs us our old, carnal ways of thinking.

About the Author

Rebecca Williams is a devoted homemaker who finds joy in creating beauty and harmony in her home. With over three decades of friendship with her confidante Susan, Rebecca has navigated life’s transitions and trials with creativity and grace. She loves incorporating natural elements and repurposing items to achieve stylish and budget-friendly home décor.

Rebecca’s faith plays a significant role in her approach to both homemaking and personal growth. Drawing inspiration from Scripture, she emphasizes the importance of renewing and transforming not only our living spaces but also our hearts and minds.

Rebecca is also the author of “Thorns in My Garden: From Deliverance to Spiritual Renewal,” a book that delves into her journey of faith and healing. You can find it on Amazon.

Latest Post!

• How to Make Easy Keto Peanut Butter Cookies
• Guarding Your Heart in a Noisy World
• When Your Words Reveal Your Heart: Growing in Christian Character (Podcast Season 2, Episode 6)
• Faithful in the Small Things: Finding God in Everyday Faithfulness (Podcast Season 2, Episode 5)
• Kingdom Minded: Choosing God’s Work When Obedience Gets Hard (Podcast Season 2, Episode 2)

The post Homemaking Harmony: Renewed and Transformed first appeared on .

I know it has taken me some time to get it all together, and I really was unsure if I was the person to even be putting it out here. I have often referred others to different websites to begin their journey, but in the end, they still called me wanting advice.

I am no expert. I began my sourdough journey with a purpose. I wanted to feed my family better food. For several years, I have been on keto and stayed away from bread; however, that didn’t mean my children couldn’t have any. I read that sourdough is great for the gut and easy for the body to absorb. If you have blood sugar issues, then sourdough may be a better option.

What is sourdough starter?

A sourdough starter is a mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast and bacteria from the environment. This mixture ferments over time, creating a bubbly and tangy base that can be used to make bread and other baked goods. The natural yeast and bacteria help to leaven the bread, giving it a unique flavor and texture that is different from breads made with commercial yeast.

What are the benefits of sourdough?

Sourdough has several health benefits. The fermentation process breaks down gluten, making it easier to digest. It also increases the availability of nutrients such as B vitamins, iron, and zinc. Sourdough bread has a lower glycemic index than regular bread, meaning it won’t spike your blood sugar levels as much. Additionally, the lactic acid bacteria in sourdough can promote a healthy gut microbiome.

Do Your Research!

Remember, I am not an expert. I am not a medical doctor. I do not proclaim to know everything. I am still in a learning process myself with making all the sourdough goodies there are. However, I love to share each and every one of them with you. So be sure to do the research for yourself. This way you can arm yourself with the knowledge you need to begin your sourdough journey with confidence.

I was so intimidated!

When I began creating my sourdough starter for the first time, I was very intimidated. However, once I got the hang of it, it was no problem at all. One of the things I stress to anyone that has asked me about starting or feeding their sourdough is that you have to remember what works for me does not always work for you. I would love to say that it is an exact measurement in giving water to your sourdough, but it has never worked that way with me. I have read several articles where the author states a 1:1 ratio or so many grams of flour to so many grams of water. I have personally never had success with that method. Maybe I am doing it wrong, regardless, what I am presenting to you today is my own personal method. I would be what some would call a “rebel” at sourdough.

Your sourdough will adapt to YOUR environment.

The recommendation is to keep your sourdough starter in a warm area to get the best rise. I agree! Yet, I have seen my starter do perfectly fine with our home being cold in the evening. However, when winter arrives, I have a harder time getting my starter to rise. The weather affects it as well. Here is the thing: you will learn your starter the more you feed it. If you pay close attention, you can tell when it is happy and when it is not. Make note of those times and adjust your feeding to that.

Why unbleached all-purpose flour?

When it comes to starting your sourdough journey, the type of flour you choose can make a big difference. I prefer unbleached all-purpose flour for several reasons. First, it’s less processed than bleached flour, meaning it retains more of the natural nutrients and flavors of the wheat. This gives your sourdough starter a better chance to develop strong, healthy yeast and bacteria. Additionally, unbleached flour has a slightly higher protein content, which helps create a more robust and active starter. While there are many flours you can experiment with, I have found unbleached all-purpose flour to be the most reliable and consistent in producing a thriving sourdough starter.

Different flours work in different ways.

I began a kamut starter when I discovered the benefits of kamut flour. Kamut, an ancient grain, is lower on the glycemic index, making it a better option for managing blood sugar levels, which is important for me with PCOS and Endometriosis. You can read more about kamut in my recipe post “Quick Pizza Dough.” My kamut starter was thriving until I swapped over to grinding my own kamut wheat berries. The starter didn’t adjust well to the change to whole wheat flour. Currently, I’m still working on my whole wheat starter, and I cover that in my video instructional that will be coming out this Friday at 3 p.m. on YouTube. I’m happy to say that it is thriving, but I am still working on the level of sourness from the starter.

If you are interested in grinding your own wheat berries, check out my YouTube video reviewing my purchase of the NutriMill Grain Mill. I think it is one of the best investments I have every made.

Purified water is best!

When I first began my starter, I did not have any spring water or filtered water on hand, so I used tap water. I didn’t seem to have any issues initially. However, I later read that the chlorine in tap water can kill the healthy bacteria in your sourdough starter. Using filtered water is beneficial because it removes chlorine and other impurities, allowing your starter to thrive more effectively and potentially rise better. That said, if tap water is all you have on hand, it will definitely work; just be aware that it may possibly affect the rise of the sourdough.

What you will need

• A large jar with a wide mouth. I personally use a half-gallon jar, but I make a lot of starter at once and do not want it to overflow.
• A tea towel
• A rubber band to hold the tea towel in place and keep random possible flies or gnats from getting in.
• A wooden spoon to stir. Yes, I use a plastic one. Don’t kill me! It just seems so much easier to clean.
• Filtered water
• Flour – Unbleached All Purpose Flour is what I personally use and am most familiar with. However, feel free to experiment with other flours!

Let’s begin the process!

Day 1:

Mix 1 cup of flour and enough water to form a somewhat thick pancake batter consistency. Stir until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides of the jar to fully incorporate. Place the tea towel over the top of the jar and secure it with the rubber band. Set aside in a warm area and allow it to sit for 24 hours.

Day 2:

Discard half of the mixture and repeat the process of day one. Add one cup of flour and enough water to form a somewhat thick pancake batter consistency, stir, and cover. Set aside for another 24 hours.

Why throw away half the mixture?

At this point, your starter isn’t alive. If we just kept adding flour and water to the starter without discarding, we would have to add more flour and water to adjust to the amount of starter you have. In the end, you would have way too much starter and the possibility of having to wait longer than 7 days to have an active starter.

Days 3-5:

Repeat day two’s instruction for days three, four, and five.

Day 6-7:

You should be noticing a sour smell forming in your starter. Bubbles as well. For days six through seven, you will continue the discard and feeding instructions from day two; however, this time you will discard and feed every 12 hours.

By day seven, your starter should double in size and have lots of bubbles! This is proof that your starter is ready to go. A good way to know would be to do one of two things: place a permanent mark on the jar where you feed, giving you a line to know how much the starter has risen, or you could place a rubber band around the jar where you have fed.

Maintaining your starter

Once you have an active starter, you have a couple of ways to maintain it. You can continue the discard and feed method every 12 to 24 hours. With this method, you can use the discard in multiple discard recipes. I have some here on my blog as well. All of which are super yummy! If you try them out, be sure to leave a review!

• Sourdough Tortillas
• Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Berry Delicious Sourdough Cobbler
• Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

The second way you can maintain your starter is to place it in the refrigerator. With this method, you simply put a lid on your starter and place it in the fridge. I do not recommend going more than a week in your fridge. I know of people who have, but I personally have not had good luck going longer than one week. I take it out, set it on the counter to come to room temperature, stir it, feed it, and let it rise for what I need to use it for.

There is only one reason I do not let my starter come to room temperature, and that is for my sourdough biscuits. That recipe will be on the blog this weekend! You will definitely want to try this one out.

I hope that I have covered everything in this post. Feel free to comment below if you have any questions, and I will do my best to answer as soon as I can.

Remember, I am always praying for you, even if I don’t know who you are!

Want more Sourdough Recipes? Click Here!

Hey there! I’m Susan Raynor, the voice behind Makin’ Macon. As a pastor’s wife, mom of two, and homeschooling mama, my life is full of beautiful chaos—and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Here on the blog, I love sharing a little bit of everything: from faith-filled encouragement to frugal living tips, and of course, recipes that will make your family’s hearts (and bellies) happy. My goal is to bring a smile to your face and a bit of peace to your day, no matter what kind of craziness life throws your way. Let’s navigate this wild ride together, finding joy and laughter even in the messiest moments.

Susan Raynor

The post Homemaking Harmony: A Beginner’s Guide to Sourdough first appeared on .

With that being said, I have great news!!!

This month, I will have three different guest blog posts written for me. Each one has some wonderful insight to provide in regards to homemaking that I believe each of you will enjoy. As it has been said, “it takes a village,” and it is something that I truly believe. Without all of you who read these blog posts, comment on them, or share them with others, I wouldn’t feel inspired to keep doing what I am doing.

Homemaking needs to be harmonious!

Have you ever heard a group of people singing and then someone is suddenly off-key? My ears start hurting. Every part of me cringes. I want it to stop and help them get back on key.  Or at least tell them to just go back and sing a lead! That’s how it is with harmony in your home. When things are in chaos and out of whack, it causes you to cringe and want to get away as fast as you can. I think all of us would be honest in this moment and say that when your home is in chaos, the moment you walk in the door, you want to turn around and walk back out. It just seems easier to do that than to face all of the things that need to be done. This is why harmony in your homemaking is so important.

I can remember, as a child, being very opinionated about my room and décor. When my parents built their home, I was only five, and for some crazy reason, they gave both my sister and me the choice to choose our paint and carpet color. To this day, I still do not understand their reasoning, nor do I think I would ever go as far as they did. But apparently they loved us so much and wanted us to be happy that we chose. My favorite color is pink. Always has been and probably always will be. Maybe different shades of pink, but pink none the less. So you know what my choice was when I went to choose paint and carpet color…PINK!

I did not want to change the color of that room until I was in my early teens. I realized around the age of sixteen that I thoroughly enjoyed decorating my space, and my best friend was right there beside me, thinking of ways to beautify my room. Before the days of Pinterest, I had ideas and mood boards all in my head. When I married and we purchased our home, I made it as beautiful as I possibly could on a budget. 

Yet, as time has gone by, I realize that my stuff sometimes overwhelms my senses. I’m not here to preach minimalism. I’m just here to talk about the “stuff” we accumulate over time that we no longer really have any use for. The stuff we end up shoving into a bin, a closet, or anywhere that is free and big enough to hold the item. We think somewhere in the back of our minds that we might use it for a later purpose. However, later, when we open that closet door and all the stuff attacks us, we realize we have made a grievous error, and we end up with two options: we can shut the door and pretend it isn’t there, or we can pull it out and make the decision to let it go.

Having full closets doesn’t mean we have harmony.

I may just be talking to myself here. I may be the only person to have an issue with clinging to items that I believe I may use at another time in my life. Or it could be something that someone gave me, and they may end up coming over and wondering where that item is. If so, feel free to check in next week on something that may better suit what you are currently going through. Yet, for those of us who are this way, I want to help you find harmony in your homemaking.

I think at this point in my life, my biggest issue is with seasonal décor. My husband always likes to point out how many totes I have for my seasonal décor. I won’t bore you with the details, but it is a “few.”  I have learned over time to weed out what I don’t think I will use any more and replace it with newer items that I have found on clearance.

Listen to me! I am so cheap that I squeak.

By doing “weeding,” I find that I don’t have to buy a new tote for my stuff. I can simply replace the old and keep moving forward. This method keeps me from having more than I need. Currently, I use my décor to help decorate my mom’s home and our church during the seasons, so I do give myself a little grace on how many totes I actually have.

See, lots of clutter stresses me out. I wouldn’t be surprised if it does for you as well. That means if I am stressed, there cannot be harmony in my home. The moment I walk through the door and all the “stuff” smacks me in the face, I immediately become defensive and want to lash out at those I care about the most. And that, my dear friend, isn’t harmony.

Do yourself a favor and find out what is causing you stress in your home. Don’t think about how you don’t have time to do this or that. Don’t think about how you need to have the perfect organizing system that some influencer tells you you need! Start by just looking at what bothers you the most. I know there is one thing that pops into your mind when I say this that you know you need to tackle, but you make all of the excuses as to why you can’t. Start there! Get up, grab a couple of trash bags, give yourself thirty minutes, and see what you can accomplish. Throw garbage in one bag, things to donate in the other, and the items you plan to keep go right then and put them where they belong.

If you’re like me, set a timer!

I get lost when I start a project and don’t realize the time.  Setting a timer is the best way I can stay on track. After the timer goes off, dispose of the garbage and go put the thrift store bag in your car. Make sure to drop it off the next time you go by the local thrift store. I’m sure someone will appreciate your donation.

A clean and comfortable home looks different to each and every one of us. I think we get so wrapped up in what our homes are supposed to look like because we see all these beautiful photos on Pinterest.  However, I live in a world where I have children who play with their toys, leave crumbs on the floor and table, spill their drinks, and leave their shoes out for you to trip on. That is reality! And because I live in that reality, I do my best to remember this every time I walk past one of my kids rooms that looks like a tornado hit it. I make sure the main areas of the home look as presentable as possible and make my home work for me. I keep all of my baking supplies right above where I work. Is that feasible for you? Probably not. You may not bake a lot. You do what works for you and makes you feel at peace.

One last thing: remember that God is our ultimate peace. If we keep Him at the center of our lives, then He will help us maintain perfect harmony in our homes.

I would love to hear about the area you thought of that you knew you needed to attend to and if you got to it right away without making any more excuses.

Until next week, when my long-awaited sourdough starter instructional goes live!

Remember, I’m always praying for you, even if I don’t know who you are!

About Me:

Hey there! I’m Susan Raynor, the voice behind Makin’ Macon. As a pastor’s wife, mom of two, and homeschooling mama, my life is full of beautiful chaos—and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Here on the blog, I love sharing a little bit of everything: from faith-filled encouragement to frugal living tips, and of course, recipes that will make your family’s hearts (and bellies) happy. My goal is to bring a smile to your face and a bit of peace to your day, no matter what kind of craziness life throws your way. Let’s navigate this wild ride together, finding joy and laughter even in the messiest moments.

Susan Raynor

Latest Post!

• How to Make Easy Keto Peanut Butter Cookies
• Guarding Your Heart in a Noisy World
• When Your Words Reveal Your Heart: Growing in Christian Character (Podcast Season 2, Episode 6)
• Faithful in the Small Things: Finding God in Everyday Faithfulness (Podcast Season 2, Episode 5)
• Kingdom Minded: Choosing God’s Work When Obedience Gets Hard (Podcast Season 2, Episode 2)

The post Finding Harmony in Homemaking: Embracing Peace and Order In Your Home first appeared on .