Meaningful Mama

School is coming to a close, bringing more sunshine and more time to get outdoors with kids. I am hoping that the activities I share today provide some inspiration for meaningful engagement and fun. Outdoor Activities with Kids Tape Nature Bracelet Spring Outdoor Activities The Best Outdoor Games for Families Spring Outdoor Activities Colorful Sidewalk Chalk Paint Recipe Outdoor Tactile Sensory Finger Painting 15 Science Activities To Do Outside Shadow Names STEM in the Wild Free Printable...

Today's newsletter is going to be a little different because I thought the blogging life might be interesting to some. For those who want a peek behind the Meaningful Mama curtain, keep reading. If you are just wanting good resources, skip ahead to the bottom where I will link to some of my favorite recipes and activities of all time. A Peek Behind the Curtain A quick synopsis of how it all began is this: Right before the beginning of 2012, I found myself struggling. I wasn't the mom I...

Creepy Crawly that is. Anyone's house welcoming little creepy crawly things? We just sprayed our home defense to try and keep the spiders at bay. While they might be creepy when found unexpected, they are awfully cute when crafted. Beyond that, insects are very interesting and so important to the life cycle in our world. I hope you enjoy this episode of my newsletter where I provide resources that won't bug you. Insects and Butterflies Ladybug Pretzels Free Butterfly Lapbook Lifecycle of a...

May the 4th Be with You celebartions are coming. Whether you are a big Star Wars fan or not, if you are like me, you just love a good theme and any opportunity to be creative with your kids. Today I'm going to provide some fun ideas that are out of this galaxy. Star Wars Ideas Lightsaber Cupcakes These cupcakes are a fairly simple idea for a Star Wars celebration. Maybe you want to make them for your child's class or an upcoming party. Whatever the case, I hope you enjoy the idea. Here's a...

It's that time of year again where we see the miracle of life burst forth from the ground and the seemingly dead trees. It's a reminder that something that is dormant can quickly transform into something that is steaming with life. Where are you at right now? Have you felt like you are in a season of dormancy? I'm hoping new life springs within you as you embrace a full, beautiful, and purposeful life God has given you. Resources for Exploring Nature and Growth with Your Kids Easy Fingerprint...

There is this great green and blue spinning globe that we occupy a speck of, and we get to cultivate and care for it. Within it are millions of little miracles, our own little fairy tale land we get to explore. What a blessings. Today, I focus on the earth, providing resources to explore and protect this marvelous gift. Earth Focused Crafts and Resources Earth Craft More Ideas from Around the Web: Earth Month Printable Coloring Book Clean Water STEM Experiment Interesting Facts About Earth...

Who wants to deal with a dirty, muddy kid? Tell ya what - kids love a hose. Just hose them down and hand them a towel before they tromp inside. It's amazing to get kids out in the garden, exploring and understanding how nature works. There's plenty of garden exploration that can be done indoors as well, so I'm here to provide some resources for exploring our world - seeds, gardening, and growth. Kids can learn about gardening and planting seeds, even in the middle of a big city. I hope you...

In the fall, I planted daffodils. They came up ridiculously early this year, but I was happy to see their smiling, yellow faces. Sure, they have had to weather the weather. They have been pounded by rain this season in the Pacific Northwest, but they even saw the snow. Yet, there they remain. Strong and steady...reaching...for whatever sun they can find. I hope the weather is bright for you. I wish you joy and contentment in all that life is bringing you. However, if you are weathering your...

My husband captured the rainbow above on a trip to Hawaii. It sits on the walls of his office. The rainbow symbolizes God's promise. He made a covenant with His people. He made several covenants with His people throughout time, but the newest covenant came with Jesus, and it is the one that brings me hope. It is a grace-based covenant between God and humanity. It gives everyone access to God based on our faith rather than our works. "If you believe in your heart Jesus is Lord, you will be...