Sometimes, you need hope for the days you are in need. Financial, spiritual, emotional, or otherwise. This is for those days. The last few weeks have been a heaving sea of financial needs. One wave after another. The relentless pounding of these waves has left me exhausted. In theory and on paper, the math works….
Helping a child in emotional pain is one of a parent’s greatest responsibilities. You can take steps to help them process pain in a healthy way. A lot has changed in my life lately. Not bad changes, but still changes. We have left our place in the country for a small flat in the city….
There are specific assistant programs for lower-income families. And taking the time to find them will help you tackle this time in your life! These are a few assistant programs to get you started, but keep in mind that if you look for places locally, there will be more options! Sleep in Heavenly Peace Amazing…
Focusing on the love of God changes us. It changes our very beings. And it brings hope to impossible situations. Today, as I was going to work in the rain, I felt God’s hug. It’s strange. Here I was driving to a simple cleaning job, and God reached over and held me close. No doubt…
A lack of safe housing for single moms often keeps women and children in unsafe or difficult living situations for too long. But there are options. You have to know where to look! Single moms are some of the most hardworking and resourceful people I have ever met. We have to be! We are usually…
When I awoke this morning, I knew, above all the chaos and noise, that God is faithful. Maybe it was the morning light shining in the window, but I knew. Then I went to the kitchen to make coffee, and the wretched dog had gone through the trash. But I still knew that God is…
My mom was the first person to teach me that we all need heroes and great examples. My mom consistently sought out good examples for us kids. She took us to meet people she respected, and she had us constantly listening or reading about people who were successful and did the right thing, even when…
I think that “how to improve your life” has been “Googled” millions of times. And why not? Sometimes, we all feel stuck! Not long ago, I was traveling across Nebraska. Now, if you have ever driven across Nebraska, you know you’ve got time! Time to think. I don’t drive a fancy vehicle, so I have…
I’ve been on a journey to see what decisions I can make as a Christian that will bring about lasting change. My life isn’t “awful,” but I need some significant change! Changes that last. I feel like I’ve been wandering in the desert for forty years, seeing the same landmarks. (This happened to the Israelite…
I quit. It’s not that I haven’t tried. I have. I have given it the old college try. (And let me be frank. College did not prepare me for parenting. Not in one single way. ) I want to explain, just in case you want to judge and think that I’m taking the easy way…
Studies have shown that some teas and spices help fight cancer. These are not a cure-all, but they are great additions to your menu and your eating habits! There is a prior post on specific vegetables and fruits that fight cancer. You can find that here. https://www.singlemomoutwest.com/vegetables-and-herbs-that-have-been-shown-to-help-fight-cancer/ For those not tracking my journey, almost two…
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…
Remember these three key things 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, I was going through so much…
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…
A few vital things to remember when you have chickens. Over the last few nights, my boys have shut up the chickens; they ran 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 the situation…
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 do. 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 an essential 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. Words like “dad, sweetheart, son, daughter, friend” bring about a certain intimacy….
