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It's that time again, welcome to the 2024 Garden season. April is here and that means it's time to get started with this season garden plans. My hope is to "grow" from seeds to harvest to canning, freezing, and drying. I have set a pretty good goal of growing our largest selection of vegetables to date. The question is, what will grow? How much will I be able to harvest? And, what will I be able to store away for the rest of the year? But even more important, what am I planting?
Over the years, I've had some reasonable success with our gardens. But it's really been the last three years that I have seen the most success. Our 2021 and 2022 gardens might have been my most fruitful with plenty of cucumbers, pickles, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, celery, potatoes, green beans, and a few pumpkins. And let's not forget the herbs, sunflowers, potted plants, and flower beds. Between 2021 and 2022, I learned a lot.
But for all the success I had in 2021 and 2022, 2023 didn't go as well. I was really late in starting the seeds and getting the plants in the soil. Last summer saw a number of really hot days that I think left some of the young plant a little fried. While I still managed to produce a ton of tomatoes, I only saw a few peppers and a handful of butternut squash. As for cucumbers and pickles, something I have always had success with, I got nothing. Not a single cucumber or pickle plant took, leaving us with absolutely zero cucumbers or pickles.
For as disappointing as that was, I am looking forward to the 2024 growing season. I'm going to take everything I've learned in 2021 and 2022, and apply that to this years garden. No doubt, this is going to be one of my most epic gardens, so let's get started!
While this blog posts on Tuesday, April 2th, [2024], my first set of seeds were started on Monday, March 18th. I am using a growing zones chart to help with timing and scheduling. I want to learn how and when to start seeds and plant in the ground, all based on the growing zone where I live. I found the chart on UrbanFarmer.com. Along with growing zones charts the UrbanFarmer.com offers a ton of information, tips, and seeds. I haven't used their seeds yet, but their Learning resources are super helpful.
Take a few minutes and watch the vlog below.
In our first round of seeds we started roma, yellow boy, beefsteak, and cherry tomatoes, beets, and broccoli. The pictures above show Day 1 to the 2 week mark. I'll keep them in the greenhouse for a few more weeks before repotting them.
Next week I will begin the next round of seeds. I will also begin turning the soil and getting the garden beds ready. Here in my growing zone, our last day frost should happen sometime around April 26th. That is according to the Farmer's Almanac. get your garden started
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Palm Sunday. It's the day that Jesus rides into Jerusalem upon a colt, a young donkey. It's a celebratory event as people flood the streets of Jerusalem for Passover. As Jesus arrives, he's met with shouts of Hosanna, cheers, praises, waving palm branches, and the welcome of those longing for a king.
It had to have been an incredible scene, perhaps like that of a sports team parading through their city after bringing home a championship. Regardless of who you are, there's a sense of pride, excitement, and community. On that day, everyone's a fan. On that day, everyone celebrates! And so, here we are, among the crowd of fans, cheering on the king. At least, that's what everyone thinks. Jesus, the miracle worker. Jesus the healer. Jesus the great teacher. Jesus the king. He was finally here.
the story of easter
The Kid's Ministry at Saddleback Church, in California, offer a great resource. As part of the teaching materials, they include these great short-form videos that help tell Bible stories. We will share a few of their videos throughout Holy Week. Take a few minutes to watch the video below with your littles one.
something to think about
Take a few minutes to ask and discuss the following questions together.
Try This Activity
close with prayer
Close your time of family devotion in prayer. Take a minute and ask everyone what you can be praying about together as a family. Pray that your family might find ways to be excited about Jesus this week.
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This Sunday starts what many commonly refer to as Holy Week. Simply put, Holy Week is the final days of Jesus' earthly ministry which include his arrest, trial, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection on Easter Sunday. It all kicks off this Sunday with Palm Sunday.
As we get ready for the events of Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter weekend, we wanted to offer some resources that we hope might help you and your family prepare and celebrate this special season of the year. So stating this Sunday, Palm Sunday, and continuing through Easter Sunday, we will be posting a daily blog with a Holy Week Family Devotion. With each devotion we will share a short thought, a family friendly activity, a video or videos, and resources that you can use with your kids.
If you are from a traditional church that utilizes the Liturgy and the church calendar, you might be familiar with Holy Week. But if you are new to the faith, church, or you attend a more non-traditional church, you might be wondering what Holy Week is and why it's such an important week.
You might also be wondering why I used terms like traditional and non-traditional church. Well, a traditional church might be a church associated with a denominational connection. These would be churched that refer to themselves as Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, of Catholic. A non-traditional church might consider themselves as non-denominational or independent. Traditional churches generally, maintain or follow a Liturgical or church calendar that marks specific seasons, celebrations, and/or sacred days throughout the year. Some non-traditional churches choose to step away from those "traditions." Whether traditional or non-traditional, what's most important is that the church stay faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ while maintaining Biblical teaching.
But what is Holy Week, and how do I share this with my kids?
That's a great question. As we've said, Holy Week marks the week between Palm Sunday, when Jesus enters Jerusalem to cheers and palms while riding the colt of a donkey, and Easter Sunday when he is raised from the tomb to life. Consider these two videos. The first, the video just above, is from the question and answer website of GotQuestions.com, an online resources that answers questions relating to the Bible, church, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and faith. They do a great job explaining Holy Week, also known as Passion Week.
The second, the video below, is from Phil Vischer's, What's In the Bible, video series. Phil is the creator of VeggieTales and What's In the Bible, a video series that teaches kids the Bible. In the video below, Phil and his friends talk about Easter and the importance of what Jesus did for us on the cross. The video is crazy helpful and great to watch with your kids.
Hopefully you now have a better understanding of what Holy Week is, and why we take time to reflect and celebrate the events of this week. If you still have questions I would suggest you reach out to your pastor, youth pastor, or kids pastor and ask them to help you better understand Holy Week.
If you are not connected with a church, feel email us here at Life in the Higham House. We would be happy to help you in any way we can. You can also leave a question in the comments below! Be sure to join us starting this Sunday, as we begin Family Devotions for Holy Week! Then check in with us every day through Holy Week for the daily devotion. Each day's post will go live at 9 AM EST. It's going to be a great week. Happy Easter! - jay & amy
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With Easter weekend quickly approaching, it's time to share a few more of our favorite Easter activities. So today we are sharing another episode of our Kids Talk series. Breya and Jay got together to make Easter shaped pancakes. Watch episode 27, Easter Pancakes!
Don't miss our Easter posts. Click the links below to see our Peeps Show vlog episodes
and our recommended Easter books for kids!
We are so excited for Easter weekend. Some of the family will be coming home. There will be the dying of eggs, egg hunts, Easter baskets, Easter dinner, and of course, Easter Sunday worship! Resurrection Sunday, as some call it, is when we celebrate the risen Savior, Jesus Christ. After His death on the cross, and three days in a tomb, Jesus is raised from the dead on Sunday morning.
Happy Easter!
- jay
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One of our favorite Easter treats are the original Peeps, from the Just Born candy company, in Bethlehem, PA. Growing up, Peeps, was one of Jay's most favorite items in his Easter basket. The yellow, pink, and blue chicks and bunnies were stables. It didn't take long to share the love of Peeps with the kids.
In 2017, we started a web series called, Kids Talk. The first episode was, The Peeps Show. In the episode, we taste-tested the new Peeps flavors. That year, we tried Party Cake, Sour Twist, Fruit Punch, and Sour Watermelon. We had a blast trying each flavor. Watch the episode below.
We returned in 2019, with part two of the Peeps Show. Along with new flavors, the Peeps company introduced a handful of new products along with their new flavors. So you know we had to give them a try! Let's watch part two of The Peep Show!
Five new flavors hit store shelves in 2020, which meant we had to come back with another episode of the The Peeps Show. This time 'round we had a chance to try Cotton Candy, Hot Tamales, Root Beer Float, Blue Raspberry, and Chocolate Pudding. Check out episode 22 of Kids Talk, and The Peep Show!
Have you tried any of the flavors mentioned in the above episodes? What did you think? Do you have a favorite? Or do you prefer the original Peeps yellow, pink, and blue? Leave a comment below.
And with three new flavors for 2024, watch for a new episode coming soon. - jay & amy
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Like Christmas, the story of Easter is one to be told. Easter is the story of our hope in the death and resurrection of Jesus. From the cross to the grave, Jesus stands in our place, bears our sin, endures our punishment, and steps into life. And, he does all of this because he loves us.
When our kids were little, we looked for books that helped us share the story of Easter in a way they could understand. Each year we would take these books off the bookshelf and read them throughout the Easter season. Three of our favorites include; The Legend of the Easter Egg, Amon's Adventure (part of the Jotham's Journey series that we love), and The Parable of the Lily.
Reading to kids is an important part of their development. Being able to share with them the story of Easter allows us to share our faith and talk about Jesus, God, and the amazing gift of hope that they give. Below we have collected a few of our favorite Easter storybooks for kids. We have provide a cover image, a summary of each book, and links for purchase.
If you find yourself interested in one or more of the titles below, you can order them directly for this page. Simply click on the cover image or button link with the description. These affiliate links connect you with Amazon for safe and secure ordering. As Amazon Associates, we receive a small percentage of your purchase. And don't worry, the price you pay is the price Amazon shares. There are no additional costs of hidden fees. So take a few minutes to read about a few of our favorite Easter books for kids.
With Easter only a month away, don't wait, take the time to share the story of Easter and Jesus' gift with your kiddos. Our kids might be all grown up, but we'll be sharing Easter with our grandkids. Yes, a new generation will hear about Jesus and his gift of hope!
Are you familiar with any of the books we have recommended? What are your favorite titles? Take a minute and share in the comments about your favorite Easter book(s) for kids! Happy Easter! - jay & amy
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Easter is just around the corner, and like Christmas, it's a pretty special time for the Higham family. So we're getting ready by gathering together some of our favorite family resources, activities, snacks, vlogs, and fun.
And we're kicking things off with three Easter activities that are fun for the whole family. Take a few minutes to discover Resurrections Eggs, Holy Week and Easter Ideas from Focus on the Family, and the "You've been Egged" neighborhood activity. Then be sure to check in for more Easter ideas, resources, and fun for you and your family! It's going to be a great Easter! Resurrection Eggs
Celebrate Holy Week
You've Been Egged
We have more Easter fun coming in the next couple of blog posts, so be sure to check back for some fresh content and material!
Happy Easter! - jay & amy
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Do your kids have a smartphone?
In March of 2013, the Pew Internet & American Life Project, said that "78 percent of young people, ages 12 to 17, now have cellphones. Nearly half of those are smartphones, a share that's increasing steadily..." as reported by the Huff Post, Tech page, in the March 12 post titled, "Teenagers Increasingly Use Smartphones To Access The Web: Report" That was then. According to PEW Research article posted on January 5th, 2024, "nearly all U.S. teens say they use the internet every day (96%). And the share of teens who report being online “almost constantly” has roughly doubled since 2014-2015 (24% vs. 46%)." (Teens and Internet, Device Access Fact Sheet, Pew Research Center.)
The capabilities of the smartphone are almost endless as manufacturers continue to discover new advancements in technology. With every release of a new phone, another huge step forward is taken. Like wise, mobile apps exist for just about everything. And if it doesn't exist now, it will tomorrow.
The smartphone is a great tool, when used wisely. But left to the natural devices of the teenage mind, the smartphone can be just a dangerous as an unmonitored computer. With powerful browsing capabilities and the internet access at their figure tips, you can search and view just about anything and everything on the web.
As parents, we should know what is on our child's phone. From the contacts in their address book, to the apps they've downloaded, to the sites they visit, we should be aware of everything and everywhere the phone goes. And just as we would check the browsing history on a desktop, we should be checking the browsing history on our kids smartphone.
As we work with students, parents, and families, we are often asked about cell phones and digital usage. Out of a concerned for how their kids use cell phones and devices, they're looking for suggestions. I shared with her these 4 thoughts.
5. Check Their History Regularly. With your settings and perimeters in place, make a point to check your kids phone regularly. Using the settings within the phone you can view recent browsing history and searches, as well as searches on social media platforms. You should also scroll through their social media feeds to see the content that the algorithms are gathering and showing. And don't forget their email, including Junk Mail and the Trash.
Also be aware of the photos in their photo albums. New phones/devices now include deleted and hidden folders that require password or fingerprint/facial recognition. It sounds intrusive, but it is easier than ever before to access content that is not safe for kids.
We would love to say that these practices were enough to keep our kids safe. For as easy as it is to find questionable content, it's just as easy for others to send it to your kids. We've learned that perimeters, guidelines, and restrictions only go so far. To help your kids navigate the digital world, you must work on having open communication and persistence. Talk openly and honestly with your kids. Stay current with software updates and privacy settings. Talk and learn from other parents.
It's okay to be a proactive parent. Knowing what your kids are doing when they are on their mobile devices is important. Policing where they've been and where the go, is good. There's nothing wrong with checking up and knowing what their doing online. Because, whether you realize it or not, someone else probably is. But that is a topic for another time. We recommend these resources
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What do you think? We'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Share what you do and how you handle the issue of smartphones and internet usage with your kids. Got a couple of good ideas, share them in the comments for others to read and use. And as always, thanks for reading!
- jay & amy
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If your teens are anything like our teens, or the millions across the nation, they're probably attached to their cell phones and/or whatever electronic device they have. In many ways cell phones and iPods and tablets are super helpful and can be great tools if used properly. But when not used properly, your child's device can potentially open the door to all sorts or questionable and dangerous possibilities.
Now we don't want to jump on the bandwagon of trashing technology and and condemning app developers for what they're creating. Instead, we want to offer parents a little help and insight that could help you be a little more aware of what your kids are able to do with their devices.
First, full disclosure. We decided to give our kids their cell phones between the ages of 12 and 13. We chose this time because this was when our kids participated in school and club sports or activities. They would either stay after school, or we would drop them off somewhere for practice. The phone was a way of communicating with us about pick up times or schedule changes. Each kid started with a used or refurbished device. Once they were working, and could afford paying for they own device, they were able to upgrade to a newer phone.
As parents, it is super important that we are aware of what your kids are looking at, what they're doing, and to whom and how they are communicating on their devices.
Let me offer a few suggestions that we have implemented in our home.
1. Only You should have access to your app purchasing accounts. If you are familiar with any app purchasing, you know you need an account that is linked to a credit card in order to purchase and download any app. In our house, there was one account for our app store and our kindle store, and Jay controlled it. Our kids did not have the password and could not purchase apps without parent approval. This simple step can eliminate many of the downloadable dangers run off the bat. In order for you child to download a desired app, they must come and ask you to do it. This leaves you in control of what's being downloaded.
3. Be Okay Saying, "NO".
Not all apps are good for your kids. In fact, many apps have age requirements or restrictions. These app settings are there to help protect kids. However, it's not hard to get around or bypass some of these settings. Be okay saying, NO, to apps that have suggested age restrictions, or apps that you are not comfortable with. We did not allow our kids to use certain social media apps because of age restrictions and of content concerns. We've also found it helpful to explain why we might say, NO, to a particular app. Remember, as parents, one of our jobs is to help our kids learn how to make wise and healthy decisions. Just saying, NO, doesn't teach our kids. It's just, No. But when we teach and disciple our kids by explaining our reasons for saying, NO, we plant seeds of discernment, trust, integrity, and accountability. Over time, and with consistent use, these seeds will grow our kids into fruitful young men and women.
With a little education and some diligent awareness, you can walk along side your child knowing you are doing your best to keep them safe.
With all of this, you must also be able to talk with your kids about technology, the internet, social media, apps, streaming services, and the good and bad of all of it. Being able to have open communication with your kids, especially your pre-teens and teens, is super important. If you missed our post on cultivating communication with your kids, you can click the link below. It might be a helpful read.
Thanks for reading
- jay & amy
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So here's the dilemma, you want to have a classic family game night, but like us the age range between your kids is makes game night a bit tricky. At one point our kiddos ranged between age 6 to age 17. We love family game night, but what game (or games) work for all ages?
Monoply? Love the game, but for a lot time our youngest had to be on someone's "team" in order to play. Candyland? Another great game, but the older guys aren't into it anymore. Scrabble? Yes, another classic game, but our younger ones still have a hard time spelling competitive words. Life? One of our favorites, but again, a bit too old for the youngest. So what does a family play?
We love family game night. There's nothing like gathering the whole crew around a table for an hour of game-time fun. The laughter and memories that are shared are precious. Even now, we look forward to playing games with our kids/young adults.
It's not always easy coming up with a game that the entire family can play. Age ranges, interests, attention, there are a number of things to consider when thinking and suggesting a game. We get it. But over the years, we've been able gather a collection of games that work for every age of your family.
This list includes games for the entire family, and games by age and genre. Card games, board games, outdoor games, classic games; a collection of some of our favorite games. And it's growing.
If you're looking for games for your next family game night, please be sure to visit our new Family Game Night storefront. Thanks to our partnership with Amazon, we are able to gather and share our favorite games with our readers. Our hope is to continue to grow this collection, adding more and more games that are family friendly and really fun to play. As we add games, we'll share a little review for each game, along with any tips or suggestions regarding the game.
Click on the link below to visit our Family Game Night storefront, where you can shop with Amazon. And remember, if you make a purchase using a link from our site, we receive a small percentage of the sale, at no additional cost to you. This helps us keep LifeintheHighamHouse.com up and running, so thank you for trusting us. |
Welcome to the Life in the Higham House , we are glad you are visiting. As a family of 7, we have had our fair share of adventures. We share our stories with the hope of passing along what we have learned, what we love, and what God is doing in our lives to encourage you and your family. But we love to hear from our readers, so please share your thought in the comment section of each post.
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