nextdoorhope

Recipe for Sofrito

Recipe for Sofrito •2 Bell Peppers 🫑 •2 Onions 🧅 •One Bunch Cilantro 🌿 coarsely chopped •One Whole Garlic Bulb 🧄 chopped •1/2 cup Olive Oil 🫒 •1 tsp. Salt 🧂 Process in blender until all ingredients are combined. Store in covered jar in refrigerator up to one week, or freeze in ice cube tray,Continue reading “Recipe for Sofrito”

Embracing the Less Than Perfect

Shout out to all the Mama’s embracing the less than perfect. To the ones whose backyards are far from Instagram worthy (hello, fellow city dwellers!), but get daily use, making mud pies and staining knees, patchy grass and all. To the ones who don’t have the dreamiest toys, but whose kids’ imaginations have the freedomContinue reading “Embracing the Less Than Perfect”

One Thing Well

You can’t do it all, Mama. But you can do one thing well today. Sometimes in the rush to get everything done, attend to all the needs, put out all the fires, check off all the boxes, we come to the end of the day and can’t even for sure say what we did. TheContinue reading “One Thing Well”

Little Birdwatchers: A Nature Basket for Kids

Caught evidence of a little birdwatcher while tidying up yesterday afternoon. For years we’ve kept a “nature basket” (a “nature capsule”) easily accessible to any child (or adult!) who wants to observe, learn or sketch about nature. It holds a small assortment of field guides purchased used (birds, mammals, trees and rocks & minerals); someContinue reading “Little Birdwatchers: A Nature Basket for Kids”

“I’m Bored…”

It’s ok to let them be bored, Mama. The most wonderful play sometimes happens through boredom. In our home, saying “I’m bored” leads to a few suggestions of things to engage in; “Perhaps you want to make an art project? You haven’t built with blocks in awhile. What could you create with Legos?”…or an invitationContinue reading ““I’m Bored…””

Some Thoughts on Capsules

There’s a lot of talk these days about “capsules”. I found a definition online that really resonated with me: a capsule is a concise, curated collection. And I realized that I use capsules in a lot of places, not just in my clothing choices, but in much of life. In our family, we have aContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Capsules”

Easter NextDoor to a Cemetery

Our home overlooks a cemetery. If you look closely, you can see the tombstones out through our kitchen window. We know a lot of folks buried there. My best friend is buried there. If you want to know people who are aware of their own mortality…it’s us. And YET… There is a transformation that occursContinue reading “Easter NextDoor to a Cemetery”

Behind the Scenes of a Pastor’s Family

It’s the Saturday before Easter, Mama. How is your family spending today? As we do many Saturdays, our entire family is working together to make sure everything is ready for Sunday worship tomorrow. Mr. 14 and Mr. 11 left this morning to help their dad film parts of the worship service to stream online tomorrow.Continue reading “Behind the Scenes of a Pastor’s Family”

Good Friday with Kids

It’s Good Friday. An important day. A solemn day. A day that forever changed our relationship with God. Our family will spend part of today reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. We’ll gather together, take out some paints, crayons, or pencils, and make art together while we listen to the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.Continue reading “Good Friday with Kids”

A Simple Family Easter Tradition

Hey Mama, it’s almost Easter weekend. How are you going to share the Good News with your children this weekend? In our family, we set a simple table for Easter morning breakfast that always points to Him and His story. Sometimes there’s candy. Sometimes not. There’s almost always a sign something like the one picturedContinue reading “A Simple Family Easter Tradition”