How many foods in your pantry are contaminated with NUTS? Helping Kids with Food Allergies

Our Family will be walking in the annual FAAN (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) Walk, to help raise funds as FAAN works to increase safety for people with food allergies. Our youngest child has food allergies to both eggs and peanuts. It has completely changed the way that we shop for and prepare the food in our home. It is our hope that through diligent research, advocacy, and education, FAAN will help create a safer environment for the 12 million Americans, including 3 million children, who currently live with life threatening food allergies.

Want to contribute to increasing safety for children with food allergies?  You can sponsor a team for the FAAN Walk HERE

Our Family Story:

Throughout our marriage, my husband and I have always had to consider food allergies when choosing groceries and restaurants due to his seafood allergy. And now with our son, we must also consider peanuts and eggs when choosing our foods as well. If you have ever read the labels to the food in your pantry and fridge, you know how many foods are contaminated with eggs and nuts! Anaphylactic reactions are no small thing and we live in a great big world of potentially contaminated foods! As labels become more accurate, as restaurants become more informed and more cautious, and as factories become more diligent in preparing our foods ... the more people with food allergies (and their parents!) can relax and safely enjoy food! Awareness truly makes all the difference!

Thank you for wanting to help.

The puppies have come and gone, Summer Reflections

Our sweet Chocolate Lab, Kinsey Montana, had her puppies on June 12th this summer.  The litter looked like a soft-serve twist, with black and yellow labs snuggled all together.  Whelping puppies, raising them for 8 weeks and then watching them go home to their families is just one of the coolest things. The children were able to watch the puppies being born and then loved on them every day until they went home!  What a blessing…

Added Bonus: We kept one. 

Our new little love is known officially by the AKC as “Kinsey’s Lady Lakeside East Pond Pria,” but is less formally known in our home as “Miss Pria.”

“Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot about puppies.” –Author Unknown

Puppies VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Special Day, Summer Reflections

What a FANTASTIC Summer it was!  We made a very intentional effort to prioritize family time in every day and way possible.  What a joy it is to just be together!

One Special Day was when one of our daughters turned 5!  It was a big day!  AN5, who has an artistic flare, used her markers and paper to design exactly what she wanted her birthday cake to look like.  We then went shopping together to get the supplies necessary to make her dream cake.  When we came home, we made the cake together, just the two of us. It was such a joy to see her excitement!

Homeschool Prayers Straight from the Scripture

Saw this list of scriptural prayers over at Mama Hall and loved it, thanks for the encouragement Mama Hall!

10 scriptures to pray specifically for your
homeschool days, lesson plans, and children:


1. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

2. Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

3. 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

4. Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

5. James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
 6. Isaiah 41:10 do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

7. Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

8. Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
 9. Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

10. 2 Timothy 2:16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

And our personal favorite verse at the Family Forest Academy:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord..." Colossians 3:23