Several years ago, the kids and I started eating our breakfast on the front steps of our house. I had just finished reading The Art of Neighboring, in which the authors encouraged Christians to look for simple ways to be “seen” in their neighborhoods.

One of the easiest ideas they shared was moving some activity from the backyard to the front yard. At first, I set up a blanket on the grass and read stories in the afternoon, but eventually, we settled into being morning “front steps people,” and it’s been a daily routine—regardless of the weather or season—for almost two years.

I love being a front steps person for primarily two reasons—it is sweet outside time and it establishes our presence in our neighborhood.

Obviously, there are other ways to be outside and to be visible in the neighborhood, so what do I love about this practice in particular?

So glad you asked. Let me tell you all about it.

Note: This practice definitely isn’t for everybody. But it is a sweet one for us. I hope hearing about what we do has inspired you to establish your own fun, special and unique daily routines. ❤️

Fall is a popular time to start thinking about thankfulness. Thankful, Grateful, Blessed is on every mug, pillow, and sweater. What’s not to love about gratefulness? Talk to a random person on the street and ask them if they think gratefulness matters and they will almost certainly say yes.

But what is thankfulness? How is Christian thankfulness distinct from secular thankfulness? Why is the object of our gratitude far more important than the expression of our gratitude?

With our own children, how do we help them think about gratitude in the context of being creatures made by a good and powerful creator? What are some ideas for helping kids to grow in gratitude practically?

Join for a conversation about gratitude with blogger, songwriter, author, and homeschool mama Allison Brost. Allison writes at her blog This Side of Perfect and recently published Grateful: 30 Days of Growing in Thankfulness with the Good Book Company.

Is passion in marriage something we ought to desire? Where do we see a basis for pursuing romantic love in Scripture?

How important is friendship to a marriage? If I am sacrificing myself for the needs of my spouse and putting him first, does it matter if he feels like my “best friend”? Why or why not?

In a two part conversation our guests Jason and Casey Cashell are going to help us think through how to cultivate and stimulate deep love and connection in a sustainable and lifegiving way regardless of our season of parenting.

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Jason and Casey Cashell are homeschooling parents of four and the owners of Mayhurst Estate – a stunning historic home in Orange, Virginia that functions as a bed and breakfast. They are passionate about encouraging and strengthening families in so many ways but in particular they run a number of online courses on marriage, parenting, and hospitality from a Christian perspective.

https://thecashells.com/