Certain vegetables and herbs have been shown to help combat cancer. These have gone through legitimate studies. Herbs and teas have incredible cancer-fighting properties, but I will save those for another day and focus on foods today. Around two years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I’ve always been healthy. This floored me. You…
One way to create a garden you will love is to incorporate the five senses into your garden design. One of my very favorite places on earth is the Tennessee/Kentucky area. I do have many great memories there, but strangely enough, it’s the smell of the place that I find the most intoxicating! Here in…
There are three key things to remember if you are going to navigate parent-teacher conferences calmly as a single parent. I should know. I failed at all of them when my children attended public school. But if I could go back in time and tell my younger, troubled self this, I would. At the time,…
Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about the power of declaring God’s truth over your life. At first, it seemed a little “hocus pocus”. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made! I became a little more willing to try this new idea! Over the last few months, I have been…
There are a few vital things to remember when you have chickens. The last few nights, my boys have shut up the chickens; they have run into a rather unpleasant, smelly critter! This skunk has been hanging around, eating eggs. Last night, they managed to trap them (I didn’t check which) in a shed. And…
There are pros and cons of living with family as a single parent. It may be an excellent idea, but one should consider it with caution. Each family will have different dynamics, but some situations will occur simply because there is more than one family in a home. Please consider the various challenges of living…
As a single parent, you may be wondering how you can encourage healthy habits and behaviors in your children. You are not alone. I think it may be because of a recent breast cancer diagnosis, but now I am hyper-sensitive to health issues with my kids. I know that as a single mom, I have…
Sometimes, we all need a miracle, and this post is about what to do when you need a miracle! It’s not an easy fix. I don’t believe that there are easy fixes for some things. But I do believe that we start from a place where God is good! It’s a small step, but one…
The most practical ways to help the single mom in your life include time, prayers, financial support, and belief in her. This is the kind of help that gives her hope! Years ago, when I first became a single mom, my parents gave me the gift I needed most. Time. They watched my kids while…
Going back to school as a single Mom may be exactly what you need! It may be challenging, but it might be what brings your single mom journey to a better place. My best friend is a college advisor. She recently told me that many women go back to school after their children are older…
Being overwhelmed and panicking, happens to us all. We must learn what to do with panic and how to handle it in a productive way.
This week, I have been coping with shame. Something happened. I tried my best to handle the situation the best I could, but I failed. The “I should’ve done this instead” list began to surface. And I found myself embarrassed and ashamed, sending a frantic apologetic text to a friend. All was right, and she…
Creating a garden area the whole family will love starts with observing everyone’s preferences and interests. Maybe it’s just me and my obsessive need to garden, but I want my children to be involved and have fond memories of gardening. Since the kids were tiny, I have had them involved in gardening, mainly because I…
Here are some common chicken health issues I have encountered while raising chickens and how they can be addressed. Chickens can be tricky, and every once in a while, their health problems leave me scratching my head. If you are new to raising chickens or interested in starting your own flock, this is a good…
Lately, I’ve had to research advice on protecting your child online. Twice within one month, my teenage boys commented on how easy it was to find porn online. From my understanding, they weren’t even looking for it. They came to me separately and told me what they had seen. I thought I had done a…
Creating bedrooms that make your family feel special isn’t rocket science—at least, I hope it’s not. I also don’t think that this should break the bank. I’m hoping it doesn’t require an interior designer, but let’s face it, having one around would be awesome! However, creating bedrooms that make your family feel special takes planning…
There are practical life lessons to teach homeschooled high school students. These are the ones I wish someone had taught me and that I often see lacking in older teenagers. It’s somewhat surprising that I am now teaching a high school student or two and have been focusing on their skills to succeed. Until now,…
Fighting breast cancer last year was the greatest battle of my life. I’ve learned a few things. These lessons brought me hope and I’m hoping to pass them on to you! My Story Last year, right before Christmas, I was diagnosed with Stage 3a ER/Pr H2-Breast Cancer. Bam. My whole world stopped. You can read…
I found a renewed interest in the names of God while actively fighting cancer. A friend contacted me when she heard what I was going through and gave me a list of the names of God. Using different names for someone promotes intimacy. The words like “dad, sweetheart, son, daughter, friend” bring about a certain…
It’s not easy to find your faith after trauma. After battling breast cancer for the last eight months, I’ve been having trouble trusting God and the path he has for me. (For more on Fighting Breast Cancer as a Single Mom-you may find this post helpful!} https://www.singlemomoutwest.com/health/how-to-fight-cancer/ I admit that this battle made me doubt…
There are many ways to be a safe place as a single mom. I, however, need to review them. One of my kids told me not long ago, “I would tell you something that’s bothering me, but you would be so mad.” Great. I thought I had done a pretty good job of being a…
Forgiveness as a Christian is tricky. It’s flippantly handed out as an afterthought. But there’s much more to it than that. As a single mom, I’ve had my share of opportunities to practice forgiveness. However, I admit that it hasn’t always been my first choice. There are reasons for this. They can range from not…
Seeking ways to refocus your mind? I have some ideas that may help you! Some days are just too much! Too much thinking! And too many requirements. We’re exhausted before we begin. There may be times in our lives that are incredibly stressful, and we must make a conscious effort to recenter our minds on…
We all have one: that mountain you must cross for things to get better. And it’s not just any mountain. It’s the big one. You know, that chance to be strong and courageous. Mountains come in different sizes. Some days, it’s a walk in the park. Others, it makes you feel like you are hanging…
I’m not really bright; never would I have thought that I would have an alcohol and drug addiction in my home. I had married well! I had my family’s blessing, for Pete’s sake, and he had checked all the boxes. That couldn’t be why my new husband stayed out all night. At the time, his…
As a single mom, I was just trying to keep my head above water. I never dreamed that I would also have to learn how to fight cancer, but here I am. Recently, I was diagnosed with Stage 3a breast cancer. You can read about that here. Breast Cancer Stories Health Single Mom Out West…
Life, since my cancer diagnosis, has been a bit of a blur, and I have been learning about how to homeschool during cancer treatments. You can learn more about my diagnosis and how I’m handling it here. Breast Cancer Stories Health Single Mom Out West – A cancer diagnosis usually comes as a shock. I’ve…
There are ways to stay healthy. Lifestyle choices matter. Thinking patterns matter. And how I wish that I had put more thought into this. I was recently diagnosed with Stage 3a breast cancer. This is from a person who rarely gets sick. I maintain a mostly healthy weight, stay active, and refrain from drinking or…
Breast cancer stories. Yeah. I have my own. Ah, breast cancer. Because my life wasn’t hard enough. An abnormal mammogram. A biopsy. One lumpectomy. Followed by a mastectomy. Yeah. How exciting. You have got to be kidding. And just like that, life as I knew it was flushed down the proverbial drain. My one thought?…
Fencing for animal enclosures should be one of the first considerations when planning your small homestead. It wasn’t for me. And, oh, the lessons I have learned. Fences. You need them. They provide safety and organization. When I first started this adventure, my plan was to be free-range. And some places work great for that….
