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# Harmony Harkema

writer, editor & speaker

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://harmonyharkema.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://harmonyharkema.com/blog/)
- [Sweet Potato Chili](https://harmonyharkema.com/sweet-potato-chili-with-optional-turkey/) - Goodness, it feels nice to be posting a recipe. Even though this blog has taken a turn away from being solely about food, I don't think I'll ever get tired of sharing yummy, easy recipes that can help busy moms survive the crazy lives they lead. My sweeter-than-sweet friend Christy brought over a pot of
- [All-Time Favorite Potato Salad](https://harmonyharkema.com/my-all-time-favorite-potato-salad/) - People tend to feel very passionate about their favorite potato salad, and this one is mine. It took years of tweaking to get this recipe just so. It's modeled after the French Potato Salad at Pronto! in Royal Oak, Michigan, one of my all-time favorite restaurants. I'll admit that this is not E's favorite potato
- [Summer Vegetable Quesadillas](https://harmonyharkema.com/summer-vegetable-quesadillas/) - These veggie quesadillas came together on a whim, but I predict they'll show up again---maybe on a Meatless Monday? I had a zucchini, a red pepper, and a pack of whole wheat tortillas in the fridge that were just begging to be used. If you don't have zucchini, any summer squash will do. They're simple, quick, and
- [A Healthier, Gluten-free Blueberry Crisp](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-healthier-gluten-free-blueberry-crisp/) - It's blueberry season, and that means blueberry crisp, one of my favorite desserts of the entire year. I made blueberry crisp for E the first time he had dinner at my house, when we were newly dating. I make it repeatedly during blueberry season, because having freshly picked blueberries is a fleeting thing. This version
- [Go-To Summer Pasta Salad](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-simple-go-to-summer-pasta-salad/) - It's my firm belief that everyone needs a simple, easy go-to pasta salad recipe, one that's full of fresh ingredients. One that will complement almost any summer meal, from brats to grilled chicken to burgers. This is my recipe for said pasta salad. It works with almost any combination of summer vegetables, and the pantry
- [On Grief and Comfort Food (or, my favorite meatballs)](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-grief-and-comfort-food-or-my-favorite-meatballs/) - I'm blessed to have the kindest spiritual director and coach , and we had a good, long chat about grief last week. She reminded me to do the things that are life-giving to me during this season---long walks, good books, time in God's Word, cooking and knitting and writing a bit---and to eat well, too.
- [Buttermilk Mashed Redskins with Garlic, Parsley, and Parmesan](https://harmonyharkema.com/buttermilk-mashed-redskins-with-garlic-parsley-and-parmesan/) - I may as well come out and say it: this might be the best recipe I have ever come up with. I mean, these potatoes are unbelievable. They are so good, they don't need a main dish (but they go great with roast chicken, meatloaf, and anything else mashed potatoes are well-suited for). I've been
- [Amy's Old-Fashioned Pistachio Dessert](https://harmonyharkema.com/amys-old-fashioned-pistachio-dessert/) - I realize it's Good Friday, and I should probably be posting some kind of Easter-specific recipe here, but I'm not. Not that you can't serve this for Easter dinner - it may, in fact, go over very well. But I'm just posting it because - well, I feel like it. It's nearing summer, and last
- [Texas Breakfast Tacos](https://harmonyharkema.com/texas-breakfast-tacos/) - I spent Labor Day weekend in Austin, Texas at the home of friends of a friend. We were there to attend a party at Jen Hatmaker's house (yes, for real) in celebration of the launch of her new book, For the Love. Jen is one of my very favorite leaders in the church today, and it
- [Quick & Easy Homemade Chocolate Pudding](https://harmonyharkema.com/quick-easy-homemade-chocolate-pudding/) - We've been on a chocolate pudding kick around here. A few weeks ago, as I was reorganizing the pantry, I found a box of instant chocolate pudding at the back of a shelf, so I made it for dessert. L was basically in seventh heaven, and E and I both remarked on how we hadn't
- [Apples and Spice Baked Oatmeal](https://harmonyharkema.com/apples-and-spice-baked-oatmeal/) - This recipe is a variation on the baked oatmeal I make in the summer with fresh berries as its base layer, but it's so delicious that I just had to give it its own spot on here. I've been making it off and on since we went apple picking last fall. And at the end
- [Leftover Oatmeal Muffins](https://harmonyharkema.com/leftover-oatmeal-muffins/) - I've been eating a lot of this oatmeal the past few months. Some days I toast the oats first, and some days I don't. But I always use the slow-cook method now, steaming them in milk in a closed pot for ten minutes. Since the leftovers warm up nicely, I never have a problem using
- [Italian-Style Zucchini Stew](https://harmonyharkema.com/italian-style-zucchini-stew/) - When fall arrives, I inevitably think Zucchini Stew. This is a recipe from my childhood, tied to the harvest season as far back as my memory reaches. My mother made this every autumn, when the zucchini had reached mammoth proportions and were falling off the vine. The seasonings are classic Italian - basil, oregano, bay
- [Milk: Going Raw](https://harmonyharkema.com/milk-going-raw/) - I don't get my milk from the grocery store anymore. Instead, I lease a share of a small dairy herd on a local farm, and every week, I make a trip to the farm to pick up a gallon of unpasteurized, non-homogenized milk. It may sound a bit extreme, and rather hippy-ish, but there
- [Eating Local: Farmers' Market Bliss](https://harmonyharkema.com/eating-local-farmers-market-bliss/) - It's May: the beginning of farmers' market season. That may not mean much to you, but for a locavore, it signifies a change in one's weekend lifestyle. May through October, I get up early every Saturday morning - yes, voluntarily - and head for Grand Rapids' Fulton Street Farmers' Market. Usually, when I mention this
- [Roasted Vegetable Dip](https://harmonyharkema.com/girl-party-food-roasted-vegetable-dip/) - If you know anything about me, you probably know that I love roasted vegetables. Nothing brings out the best in a vegetable more than roasting it in a hot oven with a little olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. I love plain roasted vegetables, and I love them tossed with pasta.There's only one way I
- [The Best Cocoa Brownies](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-best-cocoa-brownies-ever/) - This week, I keep thinking of the first line from Little Women, in which Jo says "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," except that I keep substituting the word "tree" in place of "presents." I'm a little short on Christmas spirit so far this year. I think it's a combination of the move (Although
- [Favorite Banana Nut Muffins with Chocolate](https://harmonyharkema.com/favorite-banana-nut-muffins-chocolate/) - I love a good muffin for breakfast, and these are my favorite. (E's favorite muffins are these.) They're a riff on my favorite banana bread, but in muffin form. What I love most about them is that you get both the moist inner crumb and a bit of the banana bread crust in every bite. In order
- [Favorite Fajitas](https://harmonyharkema.com/favorite-fajitas/) - I've been making fajitas for years and years, and they've always been a favorite on my regular dinner menu (even when I was single - I could eat the leftovers for days without getting tired of them). They're pretty basic: seasoned chicken or steak tucked into a warm tortilla with sautéed onion and bell pepper
- [One-Bowl Sour Cream Banana Bread](https://harmonyharkema.com/not-just-another-banana-bread-recipe/) - There are a thousand and one banana bread recipes out there. Everyone has a favorite banana bread. From Molly Wizenberg's Banana Bread with Chocolate and Ginger to Dorie Greenspan's Cocoa Banana Bread, there are countless delicious options. I generally like my sister's banana bread recipe, which is just a plain-Jane perfectly yummy banana bread for
- [Busy Mom Survival: How to Build a Basic Lunch Salad](https://harmonyharkema.com/busy-mom-survival-how-to-build-basic/) - When I was single, I ate salad for dinner a lot. Like, five or six nights a week. Now, I eat it more often for lunch, but the salad itself hasn't changed a whole lot. I tend to stick to the same mix of ingredients, with just a couple of variations from time to time,
- [Banana Granola Muffins](https://harmonyharkema.com/companys-coming-banana-granola-muffins/) - This isn't technically a Thanksgiving recipe post, but it's inspired by the impending chaos surrounding Turkey Day. If you're like me, you have company coming, and your home is about to be packed full for several days. At such times, there is a real need for careful meal planning in order to keep yourself as
- [Peanut Butter Blossoms](https://harmonyharkema.com/my-moms-peanut-butter-blossoms/) - This is probably a familiar-looking cookie, and I realize there's a good chance you already have a recipe for it tucked away in your collection. For for those of you who have never had a peanut butter blossom, and for those of you who have but don't have a recipe, this post is for you. These
- [10 Simple Ways to Welcome Spring and Get Moving at the Same Time](https://harmonyharkema.com/ten-ways-to-welcome-spring-and-get/) - It's almost spring. I can smell it in the air (also, my allergies are beginning to surface, which is a sure sign winter is almost over). It was in the 60s here on Saturday, although the grey sky and the wind made that hard to believe. The "Real Feel" was something like 56 degrees. Still.
- [Everyone's Favorite Cheesy Potatoes](https://harmonyharkema.com/everyones-favorite-cheesy-potatoes-from/) - When it comes to things that are "everybody's favorite" like green bean casserole, tomato soup, buttermilk biscuits, birthday cake, and of course, cheesy potatoes (aka "funeral potatoes"), I am always on the hunt for a way to make them from scratch, without the use of canned soup or boxed mixes. There are four things behind
- [Dinner For Two](https://harmonyharkema.com/dinner-fortwo-really/) - Two months ago, my food life was boring. Well, my dinner life was boring, anyway. Breakfast is always pleasurably familiar, and lunch usually involves something simple like yogurt and fruit or a salad, but dinner is when I'm generally serious about cooking something that takes more skill than a pancake. However, around the beginning of
- [Bread Pudding](https://harmonyharkema.com/bread-pudding/) - I have no idea where bread pudding has been all my life, but thank goodness I've finally discovered it.During a recent visit to Chicago, I met my friend Katy for breakfast at m.henry, a French-inspired "New American" eatery in Andersonville that serves breakfast and lunch, focusing on local and organic ingredients (which scores extra points
- [Blueberry Boy Bait](https://harmonyharkema.com/blueberry-boy-bait-aptly-named/) - The day before I first made dinner for Eli, my friend Becky asked me what I was planning to cook. I rattled off the menu, which included dessert of blueberry crumble. The following week, Becky sent me a link to a Smitten Kitchen post on something called blueberry boy bait."Is this what you made for
- [Blueberry-Peach Pie](https://harmonyharkema.com/blueberry-peach-pie/) - I love pie. Apple pie made from Michigan apples hand-picked in an orchard on a crisp Saturday afternoon in fall. Pumpkin pie with extra cinnamon and nutmeg, crowned with a dollop of cream whipped by hand. Lemon meringue pie, Meyer lemons juiced for its filling. Blackberry pie at the height of summer, a scoop of
- [Steakhouse Soup](https://harmonyharkema.com/steakhouse-soup/) - Ironically, I used to be a vegetarian. Three times, in fact. The first time was during high school, when I was experimenting with trends like any teenager. It lasted until I got tired of not being able to eat what my mom put on the table at dinnertime. The second was during college, when I
- [Blondies](https://harmonyharkema.com/blondies/) - A few days ago, my friend Shannon expressed a longing via her Facebook status for that estranged cousin of the brownie: the blondie. In an answering comment on her page, I promised to unearth my blondie recipe just for her.That night, I rifled through my cookbook shelf and found it: a small, stapled booklet with
- [White Bean and Chicken Chili](https://harmonyharkema.com/white-bean-and-chicken-chili/) - When Eli and I were first dating, and I started having him over for dinner during the week (prior to meeting me, the poor guy subsisted mainly on vending machine food, Wendy's, Kraft Mac 'N' Cheese, and ramen noodles, and I couldn't stand it), I regularly asked if he had any preferences about dinner, and
- [Carla's Banana Bread](https://harmonyharkema.com/carlas-banana-bread/) - It's not all that often that I have overripe bananas on my kitchen counter (since I eat one every morning, they don't hang around too long) but in really warm weather, or if I buy a bunch when it's already fully ripe, I occasionally end up with three or four bananas past their prime. I
- [Chicago-style Italian Beef](https://harmonyharkema.com/chicago-style-italian-beef/) - The first time I ate Italian Beef was shortly after I moved to Chicago, at the home of my friends Jonathan and Melinda Carter. I remember walking into their house, and being greeted by a mouth-watering aroma coming from the kitchen. There were about 15 of us there for dinner that night, and Melinda had
- [The Absolute Best Buttermilk Pancakes](https://harmonyharkema.com/its-all-about-breakfast-absolute-best/) - As a child, pancakes were my favorite weekend breakfast. My mom made hers with Bisquick, a tablespoon of sugar thrown in for a touch of sweetness, and I gobbled them up, thinking that all pancakes came from a box. In my journeys as a would-be gourmand, I have discovered that there are many roads to
- [Pumpkin Curry Soup](https://harmonyharkema.com/pumpkin-and-curry-perfect-pair/) - I love curry. Indian curry, African curry, Thai curry, anything curry. All someone has to do is say the word "curry," and I will drop what I'm doing, instantly captivated. Show me the curry. Seriously.But curry isn't something I grew up with. I first tried it during The Great Solo European Backpacking Adventure of 2001
- [Apple Betty](https://harmonyharkema.com/oh-betty-sweet-betty/) - The only cookbook I remember my mother using while I was growing up was a stained, dog-eared copy of the Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook, circa 1972. You know, the one with the red-and-white gingham-checked cover. By the time I became interested in cooking, most of the tabs had either worn off or been
- [My Mom's Zucchini Bread](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-love-of-zucchini-bread/) - Late summer in Michigan means gardens overflowing with zucchini. My grandparents and my dad, who live next door to each other yet have separate vegetable gardens, spend August giving away what seems like an endless supply of zucchini - to their friends, neighbors, anyone who happens to stop by (you might think they'd have learned
- [Cucumber Salad](https://harmonyharkema.com/cucumber-salad/) - Summer means cucumber salad. My mom's cucumber salad. It can show up on the picnic table alongside anything from burgers to brats to barbecued chicken and perform as the perfect side dish. I've also been known to eat it as a one-dish meal. It's also, oddly enough, the dish that got me to like raw
- [Banana Bread with Dark Chocolate and Crystallized Ginger](https://harmonyharkema.com/ginger-chocolate-banana-bread/) - One of the best things about cooking is the sharing element - being able to take a recipe, make it, tweak it, and keep on tweaking until it becomes your own. That, after all, is where most cooking begins - with someone else's recipe. One of my favorite food memoirs (a combination of personal narrative
- [Katy's Texas Bean Salsa](https://harmonyharkema.com/katys-texas-bean-salsa/) - My lovely friend and former roommate Katy makes this fabulous "salsa," which isn't a salsa in the truest sense of the word, because it doesn't contain tomatoes. It's really more like a bean salad, and I have no problem eating it with a spoon right out of the bowl, but it's intended to be scooped
- [Spicy Sausage Gravy](https://harmonyharkema.com/spicy-sausage-gravy/) - Biscuits and gravy are, in my mind, synonymous with chilly fall weekend mornings, probably because I usually got the leftovers that resulted from my mom making it for my dad during hunting season. She would make a big skilletful of sausage gravy early on Saturday morning, ladle out enough for us to eat for breakfast,
- [Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits](https://harmonyharkema.com/perfect-buttermilk-biscuits/) - If you've read my post on Blueberry-Peach Pie, then you know my feelings about lard, and that I consider vegetable shortening the enemy. Before I even begin to expound on the importance of the right ingredients for buttermilk biscuits, I need to reiterate this: in pie crust and biscuits, use lard, and make sure it's
- [Easy Orzo Salad](https://harmonyharkema.com/easy-orzo-salad/) - My favorite living situation ever was the year I spent in a garden-level apartment in downtown Royal Oak, Michigan. The building was a New York-style brick three-level with two apartments on each level - very old school. My friend Sarah lived in the apartment across from mine, and we spent our free time visiting each
- [Zesty Corn Dip](https://harmonyharkema.com/zesty-corn-dip/) - A party is not complete without dip. Make that dips. Plural. I'm a fan of dip, but who isn't? Well, okay, Eli is NOT a fan of any dip that contains mayonnaise or sour cream (with the exception of French Onion Dip), so I guess there are some anti-creamy-dip people in the world. But I
- [New York Style Cheesecake](https://harmonyharkema.com/move-over-cheesecake-factory-new-york/) - When I was growing up, cheesecake meant the no-bake kind that came in a box. You know, the box with two white paper pouches inside, one containing graham cracker crumbs, and the other a mysterious, white, cheesecake-scented powder. You added sugar and melted butter to the graham cracker crumbs, and pressed them into the bottom
- [Ricotta, Basil, and Tiny Tomato Tart](https://harmonyharkema.com/girl-party-food-ricotta-basil-and-tiny/) - I'm always on the lookout for new Girl Party Food. You know, the kind of food you can pick up and eat with your fingers. The kind with delicate flavors and textures. The kind of food men usually prefer to eschew in favor of meatballs on toothpicks and pigs in blankets.Several weeks ago, I threw
- [Slow-Roasted Juliet Tomatoes](https://harmonyharkema.com/slow-roasted-juliet-tomatoes/) - If I'd gotten nothing more from Molly Wizenberg's A Homemade Life, her recipe for Slow-Roasted Tomatoes with Coriander would have been enough. As a sun-dried tomato lover, I never thought oven-roasted tomatoes could possibly come close, but Molly has proven me happily wrong.Molly's recipe calls for Roma tomatoes, but I forego these supermarket familiars and
- [Slow-cooked Southern-style Barbecue](https://harmonyharkema.com/slow-cooked-southern-style-barbecue/) - Nothing says summer like good barbecue, and my favorite is Southern-style, slow-cooked on a Sunday afternoon until the meat is falling off the bone. Piled on a plate or served on a hearty roll, it goes perfectly with all my summer favorites: corn on the cob, potato salad, cole slaw, and of course, a sweet,
- [Buttermilk Cake with Fresh Raspberries](https://harmonyharkema.com/buttermilk-cake-with-fresh-raspberries/) - Raspberries are one of the best things about summer. The week they finally show up at the farmers' market, I find myself handing over four dollars for a single pint, because let's face it, the fragile beauties are never cheap, whether they're grown locally or not. It's not hard to eat them up, either -
- [Peanut Butter Pie](https://harmonyharkema.com/peanut-butter-pie/) - I have always been one of those girls who is adored by her boyfriends' (and boy-friends') mothers. Sometimes it's been a good thing, and other times it's been detrimental (might even have caused a guy or two to turn tail and run - I have no idea why, ha ha). There have even been occasions
- [Dark Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting](https://harmonyharkema.com/you-can-have-your-birthday-cake-and-eat/) - Eli turned 30-something last Sunday. We had a day-long celebration, in spite of his expected I-am-laid-back-I-have-no-preferences assertion that he wanted to do "whatever" to mark being a year older. So I planned everything, and as always, the plans grew until every moment was filled. There were no famous people or crazy activities involved - just family
- [Butternut Squash Risotto](https://harmonyharkema.com/butternut-squash-risotto/) - Risotto and I didn't make friends right away. I think it was the first recipe I tried - it involved a lot of cheese and butter. So much, in fact, that it was overwhelmingly rich (and it takes a lot to overwhelm me). I'm going to blame my overly high expectations on my favorite television
- [Pumpkin Bread with Dark Chocolate](https://harmonyharkema.com/pumpkin-bread-with-dark-chocolate/) - I am a pumpkin junkie in every way but pie. Odd, isn't it? Most people who love pumpkin are big fans of pumpkin pie. Me, I'm a berry pie girl. But if something other than pie claims to be pumpkin flavored, I'll buy it. My favorite coffee drink is Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latté. My favorite
- [Chocolate Zucchini Snack Cake](https://harmonyharkema.com/my-moms-chocolate-zucchini-cake/) - Fall has almost abandoned us to winter here, but the end of the zucchini crop keeps lingering. I have a feeling that the heavy frost that covered my part of the world last night means the end has come, but there are still several quart-size freezer bags of grated summer squash in my freezer. This
- [The Oatmeal Crispie](https://harmonyharkema.com/oatmeal-crispie/) - Before I say anything else, I need to say this: these are not your ordinary soft, chewy oatmeal cookies.Nor are they intended to be. If you're looking for traditional, old-fashioned oatmeal cookies, go elsewhere (but I must warn you - you'll be sorry you didn't stay).Okay, let's move on.I absolutely adore Ree Drummond, better known
- [The Immortal Tarte Tatin](https://harmonyharkema.com/immortal-tarte-tatin/) - I've wanted to make Tarte Tatin ever since I read Molly Wizenberg's description of it as a "sexed-up apple pie - a housewife in stilettos." Wizenberg writes, "Tarte Tatin doesn't dally with small talk. It reaches for your leg under the table."Who wouldn't want to make a dessert like that? Besides, Tarte Tatin is classic.
- [Laura's Incredible Deviled Eggs](https://harmonyharkema.com/lauras-incredible-deviled-eggs/) - Deviled eggs are...well, they're deviled eggs. What can you really say about them? They're nothing extraordinary, usually, but always a summer picnic mainstay. Boil some eggs, slice them in half, scoop out the yolks, mix with a little mayo and a little mustard, scoop back into the empty white halves, finish with a little paprika
- [Linda's Roasted Beets](https://harmonyharkema.com/lindas-roasted-beets/) - My friend Linda is one-in-a-million, the kind of friend to whom you can cry or complain, and who can have you in fits of laughter minutes later. She's one of those rare people who infuses everyone around her with energy and enthusiasm for life, because her effervescence is just that contagious.Linda and I worked together
- [Turkish Chicken Kebabs](https://harmonyharkema.com/turkish-chicken-kebabs/) - I discovered Turkish food a year or so ago, thanks to a little restaurant in Ada, Michigan called Zeytin. Not surprisingly, Turkish cuisine shares some of the characteristics of both Greek and Lebanese cuisine, two of my favorites. It incorporates many of the same flavors and textures: lots of garlic and parsley and olive oil;
- [Brownie Bowls](https://harmonyharkema.com/brownie-bowls/) - Brownie bowls are my new favorite thing. I made them twice this past weekend. They give wondrous new meaning to the phrase "brownie sundae." I blame Nigella Lawson. She introduced me to her version in Nigella Kitchen (by the way, if you don't have that cookbook, stop reading this, hop on over to the online bookstore of
- [My Mom's Goulash](https://harmonyharkema.com/my-moms-goulash/) - Traditional or "real" goulash is Hungarian, a cooked beef dish in a brown sauce served over noodles. There are many variations on traditional goulash found throughout Eastern Europe, and eventually, with immigration, goulash made its way to America, where it morphed into something altogether different from the meal of its roots, as is the case
- [Carla's Banana Pancakes](https://harmonyharkema.com/carlas-banana-pancakes/) - There are two things that automatically conjure up my sister Carla for me: chocolate chip ice cream and banana pancakes.Carla's mom (my stepmom) always made banana pancakes for breakfast on weekend mornings when we were growing up. Now, Carla makes them - in fact, I'm not sure she even makes plain pancakes anymore, ever! Banana
- [Triple Chip Cookies](https://harmonyharkema.com/triple-chip-cookies/) - Sometimes, the best recipes develop purely by chance. Such is the case with these cookies, which were born out of guilt and remorse and a spontaneous attempt to redeem myself. Nice motivation, huh?It started with an overzealous offer to bring goodies for my department's weekly Treat Time last Friday. It was my new hire's first
- [Pico de Gallo](https://harmonyharkema.com/pico-de-gallo/) - To follow up Thursday's post on how to make your own salsa, I figured a post on pico de gallo would be apropos. Pico is actually considered a relish rather than a salsa, and can be comprised of any number of combinations of Mexican vegetables and herbs, including tomatoes, onion, jicama, cilantro, garlic, jalapenos, cucumbers,
- [Girls' Night In Pasta](https://harmonyharkema.com/girls-night-in-pasta/) - Ann Arbor, Michigan's Cottage Inn Pizza is pretty famous throughout parts of the Midwest, but not many people know that the original Cottage Inn is actually a full-blown Italian restaurant. They have the same fantastic pizza, but they also have a full menu of pastas, salads, and desserts, all in the best traditional Italian style.Years
- [Guacamole Two Ways](https://harmonyharkema.com/guacamole-two-ways/) - I don't know exactly when I started to like guacamole, but I remember being grossed out by just the sight of it as a kid. My mom had a guacamole-colored glass chip and dip set, the kind where the dip bowl perches on the side of the chip bowl via a little wire contraption. She
- [Easy Homemade Salsa](https://harmonyharkema.com/easy-homemade-salsa/) - I know I've been terrible about blogging with any kind of consistency this past year, but please believe it isn't out of a lack of desire. I've kept cooking and photographing, and so I have a huge pile of recipes to post here, and I'm going to try to get to all of them over
- [Good-For-You Chocolate Banana Muffins](https://harmonyharkema.com/good-for-you-chocolate-banana-muffins/) - I love a good muffin. A moist, sweet, dense muffin with little pops of flavor (berries, chocolate chips, you name it) baked in. But muffins can be deceptive. They appear invitingly healthy, especially next to a doughnut or scone, when in fact they can be just as unhealthy. They can be absolutely loaded with sugar
- [Samosas](https://harmonyharkema.com/samosas/) - It's been a very "off" season of both cooking and eating for me. Not the way I wanted to end this busy year of being engaged, getting married, traveling overseas, and changing jobs. But as is so often the case, God had plans for me that I didn't expect. Shortly after we arrived home from
- [Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble](https://harmonyharkema.com/strawberry-rhubarb-crumble/) - I got the last of the rhubarb Saturday morning at the farmers' market, and then I went strawberry picking. And well, when you have rhubarb and strawberries on hand at the same time, you just have to find a way to use them together. And no, jam isn't enough - not for me, anyway.I had
- [Indian Tacos](https://harmonyharkema.com/indian-tacos/) - Friends, I'm taking a break from all the Paleo- and Whole30-friendly posts to bring you something naughty. If you're from the western half of the U.S., you probably already know about these babies. Until I met my sister-in-law, Stephanie, E's brother Josh's wife, who is from South Dakota, I was unaware of their existence. So
- [Pizza Margherita](https://harmonyharkema.com/pizza-margherita/) - I will be eternally grateful to Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen for insisting that you can have stellar homemade pizza with very little effort. We haven't found a local pizza place we really like here in Virginia, and I was so tired of greasy, mediocre carryout pizza that I wanted more than anything to believe
- [Baked Oatmeal with Berries](https://harmonyharkema.com/baked-oatmeal-with-berries/) - I love oatmeal, and I try to eat it for breakfast often these days because I'm nursing and it improves my milk production. Some medical authorities claim that this just isn't possible, but there's testimony upon testimony out there from nursing moms who say otherwise, and I agree with them. That said, oatmeal every day
- [Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins](https://harmonyharkema.com/blueberry-coffee-cake-muffins/) - As part of my efforts to maintain healthy eating habits and lose a not-publicly-defined amount of weight this year (see my annual goals, here), I made some bran muffins last week. I used Heidi Swanson's bran muffin recipe from Super Natural Every Day, and they were everything a really good bran muffin should be: moist,
- [Seven-Layer Dream Bars](https://harmonyharkema.com/seven-layer-dream-bars_2059/) - Tradition dictates that this afternoon, I should have been with the women on my mom's side of the family, exchanging dozens of holiday cookies at our annual cookie exchange. But I'm 650 miles from home instead, and anyway, there was no cookie exchange this year.Holiday cookie swaps seem to be making a comeback. I always
- [Creamy Tomato Soup](https://harmonyharkema.com/creamy-tomato-soup/) - Admittedly, there's a place in the world for Campbell's tomato soup. Maybe a few places, even. The college dorm room. The bachelor pad. The school cafeteria. But not your kitchen. And not mine.Why? Because delicious-beyond-words homemade tomato soup is just so easy, there's no excuse for Campbell's. It requires only a handful of simple ingredients,
- [Pumpkin Bars](https://harmonyharkema.com/pumpkin-bars/) - I love pumpkin, and I believe fall just isn't complete until you've had pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, and one of those iconic coffee drinks, the pumpkin spice latté. Last fall, my colleague Tom brought a platter of his wife's pumpkin bars to work, and I immediately fell in love. They were moist, more like cake
- [Zesty Summer Gazpacho](https://harmonyharkema.com/zesty-summer-gazpacho/) - The first time I tasted gazpacho was in a café at Detroit's Eastern Market during the summer of 1996. I was interning at Detroit Monthly, the city's lifestyle magazine at the time (it was taken out of print a couple of years later). My mentor, Peg McNichol, took me to a wide variety of amazing
- [Browned Butter Ice Cream](https://harmonyharkema.com/browned-butter-ice-cream/) - I made this ice cream to go with a fresh fig tart, which will be up here on the blog tomorrow, but I honestly think it would be fantastic with any fruit dessert. It has an unexpected saltiness, which complements the sweetness of baked fruit. After the fig tart was gone, we finished it off
- [Dutch Baby Pancake](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-dutch-baby-pancake/) - A Dutch baby pancake isn't really a pancake. It's in a category all its own. Also known as a German pancake or a puff pancake, it's an eggy, buttery thing baked in a cast iron skillet. During baking, it puffs up on the sides and in the middle, but remains thin, somewhat like a crépe.
- [Fresh Fig and Frangipane Rustic Tart](https://harmonyharkema.com/fresh-fig-and-frangipane-rustic-tart/) - About a week ago, I tasted my first fresh fig. It's a bit silly, but I felt like I was doing something mysterious and biblical. After all, the fig tree is an iconic symbol in the Bible (see chapter 21 of the book of Matthew), and Jesus seems to have eaten a lot of them.
- [Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Meat](https://harmonyharkema.com/easy-homemade-spaghetti-sauce-with-meat/) - Every time I travel, it takes me days and days to get back into a routine at home. L and I went to Michigan two weeks ago, so that I could spend a week in my company's Grand Rapids office and then attend my 20th (yikes!) high school reunion in Detroit. L, who's now 15
- [Stuffed Shells](https://harmonyharkema.com/quick-easy-stuffed-shells/) - If you asked me which was more work, lasagna or stuffed shells, up until a year ago I would have said stuffed shells. But I've since changed my mind about that. The truth is, stuffed shells were something I hadn't bothered with because I thought they would be more time-consuming and take more effort. I
- [BBQ Chicken, Roasted Corn and Pineapple Quesadillas](https://harmonyharkema.com/bbq-chicken-roasted-corn-and-pineapple/) - I wasn't a quesadilla maven until I suddenly had a toddler who didn't want to be fed but to feed herself, yet couldn't yet use silverware successfully. She loves pizza with a passion, that toddler, but you can't feed a little one pizza every night, not even homemade pizza (well, maybe you could, but chances
- [Easiest Christmas Fudge](https://harmonyharkema.com/easiest-christmas-fudge/) - I'm so excited to share some of my favorite Christmas baking and entertaining recipes with you over the next few weeks. And it begins today, with the easiest Christmas fudge I know how to make.My mom and I have been making this simple fudge since I was a little girl. I won't lie - it's
- [Maple Corn Bread](https://harmonyharkema.com/thanksgiving-recipe-maple-corn-bread/) - If you're like me, you grew up with dinner rolls on your Thanksgiving table. The store-bought kind, the ones that squish when you bite into them. Hawaiian rolls, they're called (I have no idea why).I pretty much agree with Sam Sifton that rolls are just filler you don't need on Thanksgiving, but we're having them
- [Acorn Squash with Maple Corn Bread Stuffing](https://harmonyharkema.com/thanksgiving-recipe-acorn-squash-with/) - Yesterday, I posted about maple corn bread. Today, we're going to make stuffing out of that corn bread. Then, we're going to go a step further and stuff some acorn squash with it. You can, of course, eat the stuffing on its own as a side - it's fantastic solo. But if you want something
- [Sweet Potato Heaven](https://harmonyharkema.com/thanksgiving-recipe-sweet-potato-heaven/) - I'm pulling this recipe out of the archives because I just have to give it to you again. Because Thanksgiving at my house can't happen without these sweet potatoes. If you're a sweet potato hater, please just give me a chance, here. I used to be a hater, too, you see. This recipe changed me
- [Marion Cunningham's Overnight Raised Waffles](https://harmonyharkema.com/marion-cunninghams-overnight-raised/) - A couple of weeks ago, I included these waffles in my weekly menu. They are, truly, the best waffles I have ever eaten. No restaurant fancied-up pumpkin-pecan-praline-with-caramel waffle towering with whipped cream can beat these (sorry, Real Food Café).In The Breakfast Book, Marion Cunningham of Fannie Farmer fame says, "It's so drab to just buy
- [Homemade Sloppy Joes](https://harmonyharkema.com/homemade-sloppy-joes/) - I'm hauling this recipe out of the archives and re-posting it because it's just a perfect dinner for busy moms to have in their back pockets. Even fussy toddlers who don't eat meat as a rule will inhale these sloppy joes. I've also given it an update: I shot new photos and added the printable
- [Toasted Oatmeal (or The Best Oatmeal You'll Ever Eat)](https://harmonyharkema.com/toasted-oatmeal-or-best-oatmeal-youll/) - It's Sunday night, and I'm writing about - of all things - oatmeal. Yes, oatmeal. But hey - I warned you last week that this was coming.Now, I've always been a fan of oatmeal, and I make it for myself for breakfast fairly often year round. But then, I tried Megan Gordon's toasted oatmeal method,
- [Not Your Mama's Shepherd's Pie](https://harmonyharkema.com/not-your-mamas-shepherds-pie/) - I've never been a big fan of Shepherd's Pie. Any version of it I've ever tasted has been bland and sort of nondescript. Unimpressive. Until now. I made this last night, and E's only comment was, "You can make this as often as you want." Of course, I had to share it with you right
- [Mexican Layer Dip](https://harmonyharkema.com/mexican-layer-dip/) - So yeah . . . Mexican Layer Dip. I know, it's about as eighties as you can get. Or maybe it's actually become timeless? I think I'll go with the latter.My mom started making Mexican Layer Dip when I was in middle school, and it quickly became a family favorite - and a cultural favorite,
- [Aunt Lenore's Sandwich Cookies](https://harmonyharkema.com/aunt-lenores-sandwich-cookies/) - These aren't really cookies by any true definition of the word, but my Aunt Lenore always made them for our annual family cookie exchange, and we have always been at a loss for what else you might call them. "Chocolate-covered-peanut-butter-and-cracker-sandwiches?" Yeah, not so much. I mean, it's what they are, but that's kind of a
- [Oatmeal Cocoa No-bake Cookies](https://harmonyharkema.com/oatmeal-cocoa-no-bake-cookies/) - This is another Christmas treat my mom and I made all through my growing-up years. In fact, this is one of the first cookie recipes I was allowed to make on my own, because they're nearly impossible to mess up. You've probably eaten a version of these somewhere, sometime. They're moist and chewy and cocoa-ey,
- [Orechette with Pancetta, Peas and Three Cheeses](https://harmonyharkema.com/orechette-with-pancetta-peas-and-three/) - Okay, so I know this post has a fancy name, but it's really just glorified macaroni and cheese. My little gang loves mac 'n' cheese, and the Kraft blue box is one of E's go-to lunches for himself and L. I admit it's tasty, but I also can't help cringing a little at the fact
- [Classic Potato Latkes](https://harmonyharkema.com/classic-potato-latkes/) - Every so often, I get a hankering for latkes, the savory fried potato patties that originated in Eastern Europe and are popular during Hanukkah. When that happens, I make a batch of them for dinner, and I manage to get away with a completely meatless meal.I fell in love with latkes not too long ago,
- [Fresh Müesli (Swiss Oatmeal)](https://harmonyharkema.com/fitness-monday-recipe-for-fresh-muesli/) - I love oatmeal in any form, and for Fitness Monday, I'm giving you a recipe for one of the ways I love it best: fresh müesli. Real müesli doesn't come in a box, and it doesn't involve cereal flakes, although you can find it that way in the grocery store - and even in shops
- [Favorite Chicken Pot Pie](https://harmonyharkema.com/favorite-chicken-pot-pie/) - When I was a little girl, my mom used to buy those little frozen one-serving pot pies that came in a foil pie pan. You bake them on a cookie sheet in the oven, and when you cut into them with a fork, green peas and perfect little cubes of chicken, potato, and carrot spill
- [Panko-Crusted Tilapia with Lime and Tomato Salsa](https://harmonyharkema.com/panko-crusted-tilapia-with-lime-and/) - Every so often, I think to myself, "We ought to eat more fish." We all like fish - L included - from salmon to tilapia. I honestly don't know why I don't make it more often. When I stumbled across a recipe for Panko-Crusted Tilapia with Tomatillo-Avocado Sauce in Aida Mollenkamp's Keys to the Kitchen,
- [Smoky Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs](https://harmonyharkema.com/smoky-sweet-potato-hash-with-eggs/) - I think I mentioned a few posts ago that cooking from Aida Mollenkamp's Keys to the Kitchen has reminded me that eggs don't just have to be for breakfast. This recipe is one of the ways she reminded me of that. It's also been one of my favorites from the book. But first, I want
- [Lemon Meringue Pie with Sweet Shortbread Crust](https://harmonyharkema.com/lemon-meringue-pie/) - Nothing says Easter or spring to me quite like lemon meringue pie, with its crown of toasted marshmallow-like meringue. It's my mama's favorite pie, and she always made sure there was one on the dessert table at Easter dinner. One spring many years ago now, I told her I would make the lemon meringue pie.
- [Episode 0: Meet the Relatable Homeschoolers](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-0-meet-the-relatable-homeschoolers/) - Meet Harmony, Annie, Heather, and Lindsay, four moms with very different homeschools. Episode Zero of The Relatable Homeschoolers Podcast
- [Episode 1: How to Think Like a Homeschooler](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-1-how-to-think-like-a-homeschooler/) - What does it mean to think like a homeschooler? It means thinking beyond curriculum, standardized test scores, and sitting at a desk for six hours a day.
- [Episode 3: Knowing Your Why and Finding Your Way](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-3-knowing-your-why-and-finding-your-way/) - As a homeschooler, you need to know two things: your why and your way. Why choose homeschooling? Let us show you.
- [Episode 4: Unplanned or Emergency Homeschooling](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-4-unplanned-or-emergency-homeschooling/) - If you find yourself unexpectedly thrust into emergency homeschooling, you are not alone. Check out Episode 4 of The Relatable Homeschoolers.
- [Episode 5: Homeschooling as a Working Parent](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-5-homeschooling-as-a-working-parent/) - Do you find yourself homeschooling as a working parent? Listen to Episode 5 of The Relatable Homeschoolers to see how they balance work and homeschool.
- [Episode 2: Your Quickstart Guide to Homeschooling](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-2-your-quickstart-guide-to-homeschooling/) - The Relatable Homeschoolers Podcast team answers 14 common questions to give you a quickstart guide to homeschooling.
- [Episode 6: Homeschooling Philosophies 101](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-6-homeschooling-philosophies-101/) - There are so many homeschooling philosophies to choose from, it's almost like homeschooling has its own specialized vocabulary.
- [Episode 7: A Look Inside Heather Gerwing's Homeschool](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-7-a-look-inside-heather-gerwings-homeschool/) - Join The Relatable Homeschoolers for a deep dive into Heather Gerwing's homeschool, one of our four cohosts.
- [Episode 8: Getting Your Kids to Listen](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-8-getting-your-kids-to-listen/) - In this episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers, we are talking about how we can get our kids to listen as both moms and teachers.
- [Episode 9: A Look Inside Harmony Harkema's Homeschool](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-9-a-look-inside-harmony-harkemas-homeschool/) - Harmony Harkema is a full-time work-from-home mom who homeschools her two daughters in the Charlotte Mason style.
- [Episode 10: Building Confidence as a Homeschool Mom](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-10-building-confidence-as-a-homeschool-mom/) - Do you struggle with confidence as a homeschool mom? We have all struggled with fear and worry at some point in our homeschool journeys.
- [Episode 11: Welcome to Season 2 of The Relatable Homeschoolers](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-11-welcome-to-season-2-of-the-relatable-homeschoolers/) - Welcome to Season 2 of The Relatable Homeschoolers! We are excited to be back and are talking all things homeschooling!
- [Episode 12: A Look Inside Annie Carlson's Homeschool](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-12-a-look-inside-annie-carlsons-homeschool/) - Join us for a deep dive into the homeschool of Annie Carlson, farmer, lay pastor, baker and caterer, and author and speaker.
- [Episode 13: Feeding Our People](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-13-feeding-our-people/) - With over 48,000 combined meals we have fed our families we know a little bit about feeding our people. Check out our top tools and tricks!
- [Episode 14: A Look Inside Lindsay Hufford's Homeschool](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-14-a-look-inside-lindsay-huffords-homeschool/) - It’s time for another snapshot episode featuring one of our cohosts. This week, we hear from Lindsay Hufford.
- [Episode 15: The Relatable Homeschoolers Talk Homeschool Math](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-15-homeschool-math/) - We are talking about everyone's favorite subject, homeschool math! We talk about different math curriculums, games and more.
- [Episode 16: The Relatable Homeschoolers Talk Homeschool Science](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-16-the-relatable-homeschoolers-talk-homeschool-science/) - Join the Relatable Homeschoolers as we talk homeschool science: what works, when you should change curriculum, and high school science.
- [Episode 17: The Relatable Homeschoolers Talk Homeschool History](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-17-the-relatable-homeschoolers-talk-homeschool-history/) - Today on the podcast, we're talking homeschool history. Once again, you'll see how different this subject looks in each of our homeschools.
- [Episode 18: The Relatable Homeschoolers Talk Homeschool Language Arts](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-18-the-relatable-homeschoolers-talk-homeschool-language-arts/) - In this episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers we are discussing Homeschool Language Arts and what that looks like in our homeschools.
- [Episode 19: The Non-Core Subjects](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-19-the-non-core-subjects/) - In today's episode we are talking about the non-core subjects. These are the extra fun subjects like music, art and crafts, and more!
- [Episode 20: Self-Care for the Homeschool Mom](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-20-self-care-for-the-homeschool-mom/) - We're wrapping up Season 2 of The Relatable Homeschoolers by talking about the all-important subject of self-care for the homeschool mom.
- [Episode 21: Catching Up with The Relatable Homeschoolers](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-21-catching-up-with-the-relatable-homeschoolers/) - It's been a while since we were last with you, so we thought it would be a good idea for us to spend some time catching up.
- [Episode 22: Homeschooling Schedules and Rhythms](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-22-homeschooling-schedules-and-rhythms/) - In today's episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers, we are talking all about homeschooling schedules and rhythms. Check it out!
- [Episode 23: Marriage and Homeschooling](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-23-marriage-and-homeschooling/) - In this episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers we are talking about marriage and homeschooling. We would love for you to check it out!
- [Episode 24: Using Games in Your Homeschool](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-24-using-games-in-your-homeschool/) - In today's episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers, we are talking about using games in your homeschool and some of our favorite games.
- [Episode 25: Buying Curriculum](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-25-buying-curriculum/) - In this episode, The Relatable Homeschoolers are talking all things buying curriculum: what, where, when, and how.
- [Episode 27: Homeschooling on the Go](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-27-homeschooling-on-the-go/) - In today's episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers we are discussing what homeschooling on the go looks like to us.
- [Episode 28: Our Favorite Homeschool Things](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-28-our-favorite-homeschool-things/) - All homeschooling parents have at least a few favorite homeschool things they wouldn't be willing to go without, and we're no different.
- [Episode 26: Homeschooling over the Summer](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-26-homeschooling-over-the-summer/) - In today's episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers, we're talking about homeschooling over the summer. We'll hope you'll listen in.
- [Episode 29: Our Favorite Homeschooling Books](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-29-our-favorite-homeschooling-books/) - In this episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers we are discussing our favorite homeschooling books! We hope you enjoy!
- [Episode 30: Your Homeschool Questions Answered](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-30-your-homeschool-questions-answered/) - In this episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers we listened and have all your homeschool questions answered. Enjoy!
- [Episode 31: Welcome Back and Season 4 Preview](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-31-welcome-back-and-season-4-preview/) - Welcome Back to The Relatable Homeschoolers podcast. We are so thrilled to be back for Season 4, we hope you'll join us.
- [Episode 32: Creating a Homeschool Space You Love](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-32-creating-a-homeschool-space-you-love/) - In today's episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers we are talking all about creating a homeschool space you love!
- [Episode 33: To Co-op or Not to Co-op?](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-33-to-co-op-or-not-to-co-op/) - In today's episode we are discussing the all important homeschool question - to co-op or not to co-op. Listen in!
- [Episode 34: Homeschooling and Home Management](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-34-homeschooling-and-home-management/) - Welcome to Episode 34 of The Relatable Homeschoolers! In this episode, we are discussing homeschooling and home management!
- [Episode 35: Homeschooling Is Not Your Identity](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-35-homeschooling-is-not-your-identity/) - In this episode we tackle the notion that homeschooling is not your identity. We dig into what it means as a calling.
- [Episode 36: Lazy Genius Your Homeschool Part 1](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-36-lazy-genius-your-homeschool-part-1/) - In this episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers we are talking about how to lazy genius your homeschool. Part 1!
- [Episode 37: Lazy Genius Your Homeschool Part 2](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-37-lazy-genius-your-homeschool-part-2/) - This week on The Relatable Homeschoolers we are concluding our two part series on how to lazy genius your homeschool.
- [Episode 39: Holiday Gifts for the Homeschool Mom](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-39-holiday-gifts-for-the-homeschool-mom/) - In today's episode of The Relatable Homeschoolers we discuss holiday gifts for the homeschool mom. Listen as we share our wish lists.
- [Episode 38: Transitioning to Public School with Lindsay Hufford](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-38-transitioning-to-public-school-with-lindsay-hufford/) - Harmony talks to Lindsay, our former cohost, about what it's been like to transition her kids from homeschooling to public school.
- [Episode 40: Homeschooling through the Holidays](https://harmonyharkema.com/episode-40-homeschooling-through-the-holidays/) - In this episode, Annie, Harmony, and Heather share what homeschooling looks like in their homes over the holidays.
- [When Is Church Too Much?](https://harmonyharkema.com/when-is-church-too-much/) - Join me over at The Glorious Table today for a little chat on when and how church can become too much--and how it's okay to feel that it is too much. The church is a wonderful thing. Messy sometimes, yes. Comprised of broken people, yes. Politically confounding, yes. Globally fragmented, certainly. But the older I
- [Tangible Acts of Love](https://harmonyharkema.com/tangible-acts-of-love/) - Saying to others, "I'm praying for you!" is a wonderful encouragement, and yet without tangible acts of love, our offered prayers can seem empty.
- [Taking Up His Yoke and Laying Down the Rest](https://harmonyharkema.com/taking-up-his-yoke-and-laying-down-the-rest/) - All God wants from us is surrender, for us to lean on him and accept the offering of his love and care. We do this when we take up his yoke.
- [Words for Every Year](https://harmonyharkema.com/words-for-every-year/) - Through regular engagement with the Word of God, we can access a whole glossary of words to sustain us every day, every year.
- [How Deeply He Loves Us](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-deeply-he-loves-us/) - We can know how deeply God loves us because he cares about the smallest things in our lives, even things like a child's lost blanket.
- [When Grace Surprises Us](https://harmonyharkema.com/when-grace-surprises-us/) - When grace surprises us, sometimes all we can do is breathe deep our thanks for the God who sees us, who hears our hearts.
- [How to Respond to Faith Deconstruction](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-to-respond-to-faith-deconstruction/) - As a Christian, it's almost certain you will encounter someone who's experiencing faith deconstruction. How can you respond well?
- [It's OK to Rest](https://harmonyharkema.com/its-ok-to-rest/) - We live in a culture where rest isn't a way of life. We think we need to push hard, set goals, work tirelessly, but it's OK to rest.
- [An Island in the World](https://harmonyharkema.com/an-island-in-the-world/) - I want to be this kind of island in the world: a safe place for those who come through my door, whether other weary Christians or unbelievers.
- [When the Wait Is Long](https://harmonyharkema.com/when-the-wait-is-long/) - When the wait is long, life can feel like a standstill. But in the waiting is where God prepares us for the thing we are waiting for.
- [Tuscan White Bean Soup](https://harmonyharkema.com/tuscan-white-bean-soup/) - I've never been into New Year's Resolutions per se, but with all the upheaval of the past year, I've spent the past few months feeling somewhat disoriented, like I've lost my footing. I'm sure it's justified - I've gotten married, had a baby, moved halfway across the country, and transitioned from working in a busy
- [Finding a New Rhythm in Motherhood](https://harmonyharkema.com/finding-new-rhythm-in-motherhood-part-2/) - Last time I told you I have this nice, longish list of goals I want to accomplish by (roughly) December 31, 2013. And most of those goals require a daily investment of my time. My full-time-work-at-home, new-mom time. Did you laugh at me? Snort in derision, maybe? It's okay if you did. I forgive you.I
- [Simple Cassoulet with Sausage and Summer Vegetables](https://harmonyharkema.com/simple-cassoulet-with-sausage-and/) - I'd wanted to try making cassoulet, a traditional Southern French slow-cooked dish of meat, white beans, and vegetables, for a long time. There are many possible variations, some made with duck confit, some with rabbit, and almost all containing pork sausage. The white beans are the main constant. When I discovered a vegetable-laden version cooked
- [Busy Mom Survival: Getting Dinner on the Table](https://harmonyharkema.com/busy-mom-survival-getting-dinner-on/) - Because I have this blog and an acknowledged overabundance of cookbooks, it's probably pretty clear that I like to cook new things. But I also work full time, have a husband in graduate school, and a busy toddler running around, so people frequently ask me how I manage a homecooked meal every night, not
- [Savoring the Days and Spiced Pumpkin Seeds](https://harmonyharkema.com/savoring-days-and-spiced-pumpkin-seeds/) - October in Virginia feels like September in Michigan, so I had a small moment of shock yesterday at the realization that it's suddenly so late in the year. It's nearing the end of October already, yet fall is just now arriving. The trees are changing color, the nights are truly chilly, and the air has
- [Busy Mom Survival: 5 Tips to Make Dinnertime Easier](https://harmonyharkema.com/busy-mom-survival-5-tips-to-make/) - If you're not prepared, making dinner can be a dreaded chore. The first steps to getting dinner on the table in a stress-free way have to do with planning ahead, but even if you've organized yourself and done the shopping and are ready to go, if you get into the kitchen and find yourself in
- [The 5 Kitchen Tools You Need to Make Dinner (Most of the Time)](https://harmonyharkema.com/busy-mom-survival-5-kitchen-tools-you/) - I have a ridiculously well-equipped kitchen, yet hanging on my refrigerator is a list of the kitchen tools and gadgets I still want. A real French charlotte mold. A tart pan with a removable bottom. A high-quality mandoline. A set of Wüsthof knives. But the truth is that there are really only five things I
- [Living Gratefully, Living Joyfully and a Giveaway](https://harmonyharkema.com/living-gratefully-living-joyfully-and/) - Three years ago, a colleague of mine walked over to my office and handed me an advance copy of a book, smiling and saying she knew I had been waiting for it. It was written by a blogger who had a sizable following, but was not yet so prominent that you might recognize her from
- [Busy Mom Survival: 5 Favorite Crock-Pot Dinners](https://harmonyharkema.com/busy-mom-survival-5-favorite-crock-pot/) - Many of the comments I've gotten since I've been posting my weekly dinner menu have revolved around the ability to use your Crock-Pot. I totally understand why - fall is busy. There's back-to-school and extracurricular activities, and even if you're a stay-at-home mom, there's just so much to do. And the kind of cozy, comforting
- [Nesting: The Call to Love on Your Home](https://harmonyharkema.com/nesting-call-to-love-on-your-home/) - My home is far from perfect. We live in a two-bedroom apartment. We have a lot of hand-me-down furniture and pieces left over from our college days. We have a toddler who is like a tiny hurricane, regularly leaving disaster in her wake. All of these facts together used to discourage and overwhelm me. How
- [Busy Mom Survival: 10 Tips for Hosting a Successful Thanksgiving](https://harmonyharkema.com/busy-mom-survival-10-tips-for-hosting/) - You've done it. You've decided to host Thanksgiving. At first, it sounds good. You get to decide who's invited. You get to plan the menu. You get to decorate the Thanksgiving table. You get to decide whether or not the stuffing will be cooked inside the turkey.Then, reality hits you. Panic sets in. What were you thinking? This is
- [The Heart of Hospitality: How to Have Guests and Enjoy Them](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-heart-of-hospitality-how-to-have_23/) - With Thanksgiving just around the corner and Christmas close behind, I've been thinking about the pressures we put on ourselves in this "do more, have more, be more" culture of ours, and how that affects our ability to provide and enjoy hospitality during the holiday season as well as the rest of the year.To some
- [Christmas: To Travel or Not to Travel?](https://harmonyharkema.com/christmas-to-travel-or-not-to-travel/) - This is our second Christmas since moving from Michigan to Virginia, and we're heading back to Michigan for Christmas a second time. I'll be honest: while I'm looking forward to visiting with family and friends, to Christmas Eve Curry Dinner, to my annual trip to Frankenmuth with my mom, to watching L snuggle with aunts,
- [Busy Mom Survival: Five Simple Ways to Make Guests Feel at Home](https://harmonyharkema.com/busy-mom-survival-five-simple-ways-to/) - Okay, so you've done it. You've invited company over - maybe for Thanksgiving dinner, but maybe for something simpler, like dinner on an ordinary night or just a visit on a Sunday afternoon. Maybe for a Christmas cookie swap. Whatever the reason, you now need to prepare, and you're wondering what possessed you in that
- [Strategy is Everything (or How I Lost 100 Pounds)](https://harmonyharkema.com/resolution-2014-strategy-is-everything/) - I mentioned yesterday that back in 2001 and 2002, I lost over 100 pounds, and I then kept it off for a solid eight years. The proof is in the photos above. These days, I'm somewhere in between those photos, and I want to get back to the photo on the right.Whenever I tell someone
- [Back to Basics](https://harmonyharkema.com/resolution-2014-back-to-basics/) - This is me when I was fit, running a 5K, something I did 3 or 4 times a year until fairly recently. But I wasn't always a runner. A decade ago, I was about as far from being a runner as you can get.Back in 2001, a visit to my doctor for an annual checkup
- [Why I Don't Mind Not Having a Playroom](https://harmonyharkema.com/why-i-dont-mind-not-having-playroom/) - I'm always seeing pictures of other families' playrooms on Instagram and Pinterest. Pretty playrooms, everything arranged just so, in order to keep the inevitable toy mess separate from the rest of the house. I always said my kids would have to have a playroom or would be required to keep their toys contained in their
- [For When You've Lost Your Actual Life and Have to Make a New One](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-when-youve-lost-your-actual-life/) - Jen Hatmaker wrote yesterday about missing her actual life, meaning her life at home with her people, the ones she knows intimately, lives with, sees face to face in the everyday, rather than her life as a traveling speaker and an online presence who connects with people via the Internet.Her words resonated with me, with
- [Making Holidays Work for You, Not the Other Way Around](https://harmonyharkema.com/making-holidays-work-for-you-not-other/) - This past weekend, L and I made Valentine's Day cookies. Yes, Valentine's Day was technically over, but we made cookies anyway. Valentine's Day was on a Friday, you know, and well - it's just too hard for me to engineer those kinds of projects during the week. But I still wanted to bake with L.
- [10 Questions to Help You Avoid Burnout](https://harmonyharkema.com/10-questions-to-help-you-avoid-mommy/) - Last week I wrote a post on taking time for yourself, and how it's not a selfish practice, but a healthy one that enables us to be better versions of ourselves. In the few days since then, I feel like I've heard an outcry. It seems that for many women, especially working moms, the problem
- [Some Profound Thoughts on Being a Writer from Molly Wizenberg, and Why I Go to Book Signings](https://harmonyharkema.com/some-profound-thoughts-on-being-writer/) - One of the best things about moving to DC is that, unlike Grand Rapids, authors come here to do readings and book signings. Saturday night, I met Molly Wizenberg, the author of A Homemade Life and the blog Orangette. She's just released her second book, Delancey, a memoir about the year she and her husband spent
- [For the Mom Alone in the Waiting Room](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-mom-alone-in-waiting-room/) - *Note: I'm re-posting this piece from a couple of months ago because it fits my theme for Write 31 Days: 31 Days of Being Broken Open (by God, for others). A couple of weeks ago, L had an MRI. It might not sound like a big deal, but it was. And I wasn't prepared for
- [A Love Letter to All the Moms (and Dads) Who Go It Alone](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-love-letter-to-all-moms-and-dads-who/) - E has been gone for three weeks now for job training (which is part of the reason you haven't heard from me). He has eight weeks to go, and then we move to Tennessee. His new employer is covering both packing and moving services, which is a mercy. He also gets a week off so
- [When the Theme of the Season is Trust](https://harmonyharkema.com/when-theme-of-season-is-trust/) - L and I arrived home from Michigan a little over a week ago, and although it's remained silent here on the blog, I promise you, you have not been far from the front of my mind. It's just - there's so much I want to tell you, I've felt sort of paralyzed. Where to begin?
- [For When Your Hospitality Just Isn't Radical](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-when-your-hospitality-just-isnt-radical/) - Yesterday, I talked a bit about stepping into the role of the stranger, the one in need of hospitality, and how God is the ultimate giver of hospitality. Today, I want to talk a little bit about what it looks like for us - you and me - to be God's emissary in the hospitality department.
- [Why Rest Matters](https://harmonyharkema.com/why-rest-matters/) - We live in a culture of busyness. In fact, Americans are just about the busiest people in the world. And we are worn out from all our busyness. I won't give you all the statistics to back up how busy we are--you can easily Google them. I just want to ask you one thing: wouldn't you
- [7 Steps to Intentional Rest](https://harmonyharkema.com/7-steps-to-intentional-rest/) - Build more rest into your busy life by following these 7 simple steps.
- [On why you can't (and shouldn't) do everything](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-why-you-cant-and-shouldnt-do-everything/) - I've resumed getting up at 5 o'clock every morning, which is both awful and wonderful. Awful because it is just stinkin' early. Wonderful because the house is so peaceful and quiet, with everyone else still asleep, and I can just be for a little while. What do I do at 5 a.m.? I journal (see
- [On Giving Yourself Permission to Rest](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-giving-yourself-permission-to-rest/) - When I went to bed last night, the kitchen sink was piled with dishes. I stood looking at those dishes and at the dishwasher, which was in the middle of its drying cycle. Clearly, I wasn't going to be able to empty the dishwasher, re-load it, and start a new wash cycle right then. So
- [You Don't Need to Be Everything All the Time](https://harmonyharkema.com/you-dont-need-to-be-everything-all-the-time/) - I like business trips, in theory. What I mean by that is that I like the idea of them. I like them until they're actually happening. And then, when I'm in the car or on the train or boarding the plane, I want nothing more than to be back at home. I actually tend to
- [Self-Care: Taking Back Fridays](https://harmonyharkema.com/self-care-taking-back-fridays/) - It seems like the word "self-care" is on everyone's lips right now. The last two books I read, Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson and The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner (you should probably stop reading this post right now and go read both of them), emphasize the importance of self-care, of intentionally building in
- [On Balance, Burnout, and Boundaries](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-balance-burnout-and-boundaries/) - How is your balance? Your burnout level? How are your boundaries with work and social media and other technology time sucks?
- [On Raising Adults, or Roots and Wings](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-raising-adults-or-roots-and-wings/) - My aunt Jill likes to tell the following story. When her oldest son was beginning his freshman year at one of the largest universities in the Midwest, they packed up the family minivan and sent him off alone on the morning of move-in day. She and her husband followed a short time later. By the time
- [Building a Life Around Everyday Traditions](https://harmonyharkema.com/building-a-life-around-everyday-traditions/) - Like most families, we have traditions. Holiday rituals. Seasonal activities. Anniversaries we celebrate. Annual birthday meals (April, for example, finds us drooling over my husband's perennial choice of birthday cake--dark chocolate with peanut butter frosting). These sporadic events are special in our home, and we cherish them. But as my oldest has grown from infant
- [About Limes, Turquoise Tables, and Tomato Plants](https://harmonyharkema.com/about-limes-turquoise-tables-and-tomato-plants/) - Some days, I just want to write a note to you. This is one of those days, apparently. Let's Talk About Limes I feel a strange need to tell you about why I use limes instead of antiperspirant. Yes, you read that correctly--I use limes. As in the citrus fruit. Why, you ask? How, you ask?
- [Five Ways to Enjoy Motherhood More](https://harmonyharkema.com/five-ways-to-enjoy-motherhood-more/) - I'm linking up with my friend Kelly Smith at Mrs. Disciple today as part of her weekly #FridayFive. Join me over there for more great posts on motherhood. This is the first time I've written for a link-up, and as I pondered the prompt this week--Five for Mom--I wrestled with feeling like I probably don't
- [My Birthday List: 10 Things I Learned this Year](https://harmonyharkema.com/my-birthday-list-10-things-i-learned-this-year/) - I turned 41 this past weekend, and it was timely in that I've been reflecting a lot lately on everything that has transpired since I turned 40 and what I've learned from it all. The main thing, of course, is that I had another baby, so I've been living in that parent-with-two-children discovery zone wherein
- [The True Holiday Spirit](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-true-holiday-spirit-for-the-glorious-table/) - Dear friends, One of the privileges of being the editorial director at The Glorious Table is that I get to write the first post of every month. As I pondered what to say to you this week, I confess I struggled to come up with something inspiring and uplifting. If you read my post last
- [The One You Can Rely On](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-one-you-can-rely-on-for-the-glorious-table/) - The holidays can be lonely. If family is far away–and sometimes even if they’re nearby–the whole season can loom like a spectre, inducing feelings of overwhelm. If you’re experiencing any kind of loss, separation, financial strain, or personal stress, all the preparing and shopping and cooking and traditions can easily lose their shimmer, lose their joy.
- [Celebrating Sinterklaas](https://harmonyharkema.com/celebrating-sinterklaas-st-nicholas-day/) - My husband's father came to the U.S. from the Netherlands when he was four. His parents settled in West Michigan, long known for its heavy population of Dutch immigrants and their descendants. When I moved to Grand Rapids, I noticed every name seemed to begin with "Van Der" or end with "-ema." When E and
- [Called to Sing](https://harmonyharkema.com/called-to-sing/) - My friend Denise asked me to share about my One Word for 2017, so I'm over at her blog today talking about where I believe God is leading me this year. I shared a bit about my recent cancer scare a few weeks ago at The Glorious Table, but I deliberately glossed over the spiritual
- [Ways to Add Beauty to Your Everyday](https://harmonyharkema.com/ways-to-add-beauty-to-your-everyday/) - Last week I gave a live talk on Facebook to the community group that has grown out of The Glorious Table. The topic was beauty--not the makeup and fashion kind, but the aesthetic kind--its importance, what true beauty looks like and why we crave it, and simple ways you can add beauty to your days.
- [On Being the Stranger](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-being-the-stranger/) - I've been reading and thinking a lot about hospitality lately. It just seems to keep coming at me from every direction. My daily Bible study, at She Reads Truth, is currently on hospitality. The theme of the recent Allume conference, which I didn't attend but have been listening to on audio, was hospitality. The book I've
- [For When Your Hospitality Just Isn't Radical, Part 2](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-when-your-hospitality-just-isnt-that-radical-part-2/) - I imagine that the greatest obstacle to radical hospitality, aside from our overarching self-focus, is fear. Fear is what keeps us from meeting the eyes of others in public. Fear keeps us from opening up and sharing the most vulnerable parts of ourselves. Fear is even an industry - a profitable one, one that masquerades
- [How Not to Live in Recovery Mode](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-not-to-live-in-recovery-mode/) - A few weeks ago, I mentioned to my friend and mentor, Mary, that I felt like I was in "Recovery Mode" once again - that I felt like I'd been in Recovery Mode off and on for months, and couldn't seem to get out for any length of time. "What is Recovery Mode, exactly?" she
- [Sometimes You Only Need One Resolution](https://harmonyharkema.com/sometimes-you-only-need-one-resolution/) - Hello, friends. It's been a while. I wanted to drop in and say Happy New Year, and to offer you something different in the midst of all the usual noise about goal-setting and losing 10 pounds and choosing a "word for the year" and new-but-not-really-new ways to get yourself organized and/or on the road to success.
- [Why Forgiveness Doesn't Always Mean Reconciliation](https://harmonyharkema.com/why-forgiveness-doesnt-always-mean-reconciliation/) - A little over a year ago, my eighteen-year-old brother was killed in a car accident. It was the kind of tragedy that causes you to wonder what God could possibly be doing. But I'm not here to talk about death or grief today. What I want to talk about is something altogether different. A few
- [On Coming Back to Poetry](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-coming-back-to-poetry/) - For Seth, my blogger poet friend, with great thanks. I hadn't thought about blogging poetry. I don't know why. I've written poetry all my life; why not here? Writing this today was like drinking a really good glass of wine on a hillside with all of summer in bloom around me. I'd forgotten the
- [How to Live Out Mercy as a Leader](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-to-live-out-mercy-as-a-leader/) - Last month, I was confronted by a colleague. It wasn't pleasant. She'd been carrying around some unanswered questions about me as a leader, about how I was making decisions and how our team was functioning. Those questions turned into assumptions, which festered until they turned into accusations. I saw it coming in the form of
- [For When You Want a Do-Over](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-when-you-want-a-do-over/) - If I could have a do-over for one season of my life, it would be college. Fear ruled my choices during those years, and as a result, I chucked a number of long-cherished dreams into the wastebasket. Perhaps this is why, when some young person in my life poo-poohs the value of the whole college experience
- [Are You Sitting Still?](https://harmonyharkema.com/are-you-sitting-still/) - Even if you didn't grow up in church, you probably know the story of Jonah. He was the guy who ran away from God and got swallowed by a big fish. Sounds familiar, right? Let's dive a little deeper into the situation. Why did Jonah run from God? Well, God asked Jonah to do something,
- [Are You Following a Boring God?](https://harmonyharkema.com/are-you-following-a-boring-god/) - In his acclaimed Walden, Henry David Thoreau writes, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation." Quiet desperation. I've certainly had my moments of it, mostly when the trajectory of my life seemed to be--well, a non-trajectory. But if there's one thing I've learned about God in
- [A God of Second Chances](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-god-of-second-chances/) - Last weekend, one of my writers at The Glorious Table came to me, confessing that she thought another writer on the team had committed plagiarism on her personal blog. Unsure what to do about it, she looked to me for counsel. Plagiarism is a serious offense, and I had to think carefully about how to advise
- [How to Build More Margin into Your Life](https://harmonyharkema.com/build-more-margin/) - In this post, I share five ways busy women can build more margin into their packed days for self care and the things they love.
- [What Does It Mean to Be "One Church"?](https://harmonyharkema.com/one-church/) - If we are one church, as the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds reflect, what does that say about our history and our denominationalism?
- [On Professionalism: An Open Note to Writers](https://harmonyharkema.com/professionalism-open-note-to-writers/) - A few words on professionalism in writing and writing-related relationships, especially in regard to commitments. Every word we commit to matters, and people don't forget the way we conduct ourselves.
- [Why I Choose to Homeschool](https://harmonyharkema.com/why-i-choose-homeschool/) - Today I'm sharing a bit about why I choose to homeschool.These, in our minds, are the benefits that make homeschooling worth the work.
- [A Considered Booklist for Fall](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-considered-booklist-for-fall/) - Fall is one of the best seasons for reading, and with that in mind, I've put together a considered booklist of my favorite fall reads, just for you.
- [Your Personality Is Not Your Excuse](https://harmonyharkema.com/personality-not-excuse/) - Personality type inventories are popular, but what happens when we use our personality weaknesses as an excuse for behavior?
- [Vacation Essentials for a Homey Rental Stay](https://harmonyharkema.com/vacation-essentials-homey-rental-stay/) - During our last vacation, to an ill-equipped cabin, I began compiling a list of essentials to bring on future trips.Hopefully I'll feel more at home.
- [Who's Discipling Your Children?](https://harmonyharkema.com/whos-discipling-your-children-devotional/) - As parents, we are called to disciple our children in the ways of Christ. If all we do is drop them off at Sunday school once a week, is that enough?
- [The Slow Path to True Silence](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-slow-path-to-true-silence/) - Regular retreats have been a slow path to true silence, and I've not arrived. I'm slowly beginning to be able to shut down the noise in my everyday life.
- [His Extravagant Gifts](https://harmonyharkema.com/his-extravagant-gifts-devotional/) - God gives us extravagant gifts, often through other people. How can we pay his gifts forward to the people around us, in our everyday lives?
- [In Defense of Quiet Time](https://harmonyharkema.com/in-defense-of-quiet-time-devotional/) - Do you set aside quiet time for God? Do you put the most important "big rock" in your jar first every day? If not, here's what you might want to consider.
- [Forgive Those Who Trespass Against (Not) Us](https://harmonyharkema.com/forgive-those-who-trespass-devotional/) - We all get angry. The question is, what do we do about it? Jesus didn't set parameters around what we are to forgive others for. He just said we are to forgive.
- [Are You Doing Self-Care Well Enough?](https://harmonyharkema.com/are-you-doing-self-care-well-enough/) - rested. He feasted. He created. He worshipped. He spent a lot of time outdoors. What are you doing to care for yourself like Christ right now?
- [Working from Home with Kids](https://harmonyharkema.com/working-from-home-with-kids/) - Working from home with kids might not be your usual gig, but if the recent virus outbreak has forced you into it, there are some strategies that can help.
- [The Mission Field of Motherhood](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-mission-field-of-motherhood/) - As a mom, I am always looking for role models--not for my children, but for myself. The best role modelsare those who point me back to Christ.
- [Countering Your Inner Critic](https://harmonyharkema.com/countering-your-inner-critic-womens-devotional/) - We can counter our inner critic by receiving and believing the truths of Scripture–by embracing who God says we are rather than who our critic says we are.
- [Are You a Hider?](https://harmonyharkema.com/are-you-a-hider/) - I'm trying to stop being a hider. Because there has to be an in-between place where we can stand up for ourselves in a healthy way.
- [At Home Outside Evangelicalism](https://harmonyharkema.com/at-home-outside-evangelicalism/) - If you go by the definition, "in agreement with the Christian gospel" then sure, of course, definitely I'm an evangelical.
- [Let's Cherish Our Children](https://harmonyharkema.com/lets-cherish-our-children/) - We need to cherish our children, and they need us to do it. They need our love, they need our acceptance, they need our focused attention.
- [Permission to Grieve Our Losses](https://harmonyharkema.com/womens-devotional-permission-to-grieve/) - Friends, if you're with me in this space, I want to say to you: we have permission to grieve. Our losses due to COVID-19 are valid.
- [A Planned Reading Life](https://harmonyharkema.com/planned-reading-life/) - Does your reading life feel haphazard? An intentional reading plan can result in a more abundant reading life.
- [An Invitation to Rest](https://harmonyharkema.com/an-invitation-to-rest/) - In our pandemic-controlled world, rest--not just physical but mental, emotional, and spiritual rest--matters more than ever.
- [Quiet Your Spirit in Times of Uncertainty](https://harmonyharkema.com/quiet-your-spirit-in-times-of-uncertainty/) - It is possible to quiet your spirit in a time of strain. We can enter a place of peace and blessing that will sustain us.
- [Little Ways to Lent](https://harmonyharkema.com/little-ways-to-lent/) - Lent can be a special season of reflection and renewal. What will you do to come alongside Christ this Lent?
- [Your Mission Field Isn't Too Small](https://harmonyharkema.com/devotional-moms-your-mission-field-isnt-too-small/) - If you feel, mama, that your mission field is too small, that raising the next generation to follow Jesus isn't enough, this is for you.
- [Entering Easter through Maundy Thursday](https://harmonyharkema.com/entering-easter-through-maundy-thursday/) - Maybe, this Maundy Thursday and Easter weekend, we would do well to think about our "normal" lives in the context of Christ's sacrifice.
- [Too Short a Season](https://harmonyharkema.com/too-short-a-season/) - I must remember that my children are my most precious gift, are an inheritance with which I have been entrusted, and I only have them for a season.
- [Hair Training 101: You Can Train Your Hair](https://harmonyharkema.com/hair-training-101-you-can-train-your-hair/) - No matter your hair type, you CAN train your hair not to need a daily shampoo. Join me for Hair Training 101. Get out of the shampoo cycle!
- [Small, Sacred Spaces of Rest](https://harmonyharkema.com/small-sacred-spaces-of-rest/) - We need regular rest. Daily rest. Spiritual rest as well as physical rest. We can accomplish this through small, sacred spaces of rest.
- [Embracing God's Creation in Winter](https://harmonyharkema.com/embracing-gods-creation-in-winter/) - We can and should embrace the beauty of God's creation in all seasons, even the cold and snow of winter. It can be magical.
- [Rejecting Legalism: Why It's Not Good for Us or for Our Relationships](https://harmonyharkema.com/rejecting-legalism-why-its-not-good-for-us-or-for-our-relationships/) - Legalism, or judging by black-and-white standards without looking at the heart of things, is a weakness in the church and in us.
- [People Will Leave (and It's OK)](https://harmonyharkema.com/people-will-leave-and-its-ok/) - Leaving can be hard. But sometimes, leaving is okay. It’s okay that we left. It’s okay that we’ve been left.
- [Living with Anxiety as a Christian](https://harmonyharkema.com/living-with-anxiety-as-a-christian/) - A friend called recently to tell me she's going through a difficult divorce. Everything she thought she had, she said, has crumbled around her. Her pastor husband confessed to twenty-plus years of infidelity, but only after being found out and confronted by the church. We talked at length about healing after divorce, about recovering one's
- [Remember Your Death and Live Well](https://harmonyharkema.com/remember-your-death-and-live-well/) - The cross of ash is a reminder that we are charged with using the time we do have to do as Jesus commanded to the best of our abilities.
- [Don't Say, "I'm Worried About You"](https://harmonyharkema.com/dont-say-im-worried-about-you/) - You are not responsible for anyone else’s expressions of worry, even if they claim to be or actually are worried about you.
- [A Considered Booklist for Spring](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-considered-booklist-for-spring/) - Spring is a time, I believe, for books that uplift and encourage, books that make me want to notice the beauty of God's creation.
- [His Extravagant Love](https://harmonyharkema.com/his-extravagant-love/) - Consider the kind of extravagant love the Father has lavished on us—he calls us children of God! It’s true; we are his beloved children.
- [On Turning 35](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-turning-35/) - In two weeks, I'm turning 35.35. I don't feel 35, but then, I guess I really have no idea what 35 ought to feel like. It feels a little crazy if I think about it too hard, a little bit dizzying, like three glasses of Prosecco on an empty stomach or too many rides on the
- [Joyce's Apple Snack Cake](https://harmonyharkema.com/joyces-apple-snack-cake/) - Apple Betty. Apple pie. Apple crisp. Apple butter. Apple pancakes. Apple muffins. And now, Apple Cake. But I'm getting ahead of myself.Yep, that's me apple-picking. It's what we do in Michigan in the fall. Fall hasn't really happened for me until I've brought home a half bushel bag of apples I've picked myself.I know I
- [Fall Vegetable Soup](https://harmonyharkema.com/fall-vegetable-soup/) - I think autumn in Michigan is really divided into two seasons: "early fall" and "deep fall." Early fall consists of sunny days with bright blue skies, crisp breezes, and the beginning of Michigan's stunning autumn scenery: reds, golds, bright oranges. The leaves hang onto the trees with all their color (as long as the wind
- [A Good Reason to Keep Your Fat Pants](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-good-reason-to-keep-your-fat-pants/) - I was a fat girl once. Not anymore, but I was. No, really, I was.That was about eight years, 100 pounds, and five sizes ago, not to mention about 25 points on my cholesterol score. In my closet, I have one remaining pair of size 20 jeans to prove it. I take them out from
- [The Gilded Girl](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-gilded-girl/) - Every December when the kindling winds blow, the twelve-year-olds spark. A select few are prepared to kindle, while the rest will snuff as they have to do. This is how it has always been. Until now… Twelve-year-old Emma Harris has everything she could ever want: a kind father, beautiful clothes, books, and toys, and best
- [Practicing Gratitude as a Remedy](https://harmonyharkema.com/practicing-gratitude-as-a-remedy/) - No matter what our circumstances are, we can find hope, we can find freedom, we can escape despair by simply practicing gratitude as a remedy.
- [Share Four Somethings April 2022](https://harmonyharkema.com/share-four-somethings-april-2022/) - Welcome back to another month of Share Four Somethings, hosted by my friend and fellow podcaster Heather Gerwing.
- [Share Four Somethings February 2022](https://harmonyharkema.com/share-four-somethings-february-2022/) - Share Four Somethings is a monthly link-up with Heather Gerwing at Living the Full Life. Something Loved, Gleaned, Braved, Achieved.
- [On the question of Lent](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-the-question-of-lent/) - The observance of Lent has been heavy on my mind and heart these last few weeks. What could it do for my relationship with Christ, for my understanding of His sacrifice? Can liturgy take us deeper, or is it just a series of empty rituals? Different people will tell you different things. I have a
- [Share Four Somethings October 2021](https://harmonyharkema.com/share-four-somethings-october-2021/) - In the whirl of moving back home, I took a month off from Share Four Somethings , but it feels good to be back, tapping away at the keyboard.
- [Share Four Somethings August 2021](https://harmonyharkema.com/share-four-somethings-august-2021/) - My (almost) monthly installment of Share Four Somethings: Something Loves, Something Read, Something Treasured, Something Ahead.
- [Share Four Somethings June 2021](https://harmonyharkema.com/share-four-somethings-june-2021/) - I'm bringing you June's Share Four Somethings from Michigan, where I'm enjoying a respite from the hot and humid Memphis summer.
- [Share Four Somethings May 2021](https://harmonyharkema.com/share-four-somethings-may-2021/) - Join me for Share Four Somethings May 2021: Something Loved, Something Read, Something Treasured, Something Ahead. It's joyous.
- [Share Four Somethings April 2021](https://harmonyharkema.com/share-four-somethings-april-2021/) - Welcome to Share Four Somethings April 2021, a monthly link-up with my friend Heather Gerwing at Living the Full Life.
- [Share Four Somethings March 2021](https://harmonyharkema.com/share-four-somethings-march-2021/) - It's the last week of March, which means it's time for another round of Share Four Somethings. Join me for this month's link-up.
- [Share Four Somethings February 2021](https://harmonyharkema.com/february-2021-share-four-somethings/) - A monthly link-up called Share Four Somethings--Something Loved, Something Read, Something Treasured, Something Ahead.
- [Share Four Somethings January 2021](https://harmonyharkema.com/january-2021-share-four-somethings/) - A monthly link-up called Share Four Somethings--Something Loved, Something Read, Something Treasured, Something Ahead.
- [For When We Need to Just Simply Love Someone](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-when-we-need-to-just-simply-love/) - She is, literally, one of my oldest friends. When she finds out I'll be in town for a week, she texts me, says rather urgently, "Can we have dinner? I need to see you." I get a chill when I read that, a sense of foreboding. And I know right then and there that
- [For the Sleep-Deprived Parent](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-sleep-deprived-parent/) - Confession: my almost-two-year-old still doesn't sleep through the night. And yes. Her nighttime wake-ups are the bane of my existence. If you have [had] one of these nocturnal creatures, too? Well then, welcome friend. Pull up a chair and allow me to pour you something with a lot of caffeine in it. If you are
- [Things I'm Loving Now: July 2018 Favorites](https://harmonyharkema.com/july-2018-favorites/) - I'm jumping on here today to share with you my favorite things from the past few months--a long overdue list! There are tea, bookish goodies, and more.
- [Can You Receive His Blessings?](https://harmonyharkema.com/receive-blessings/) - Can you receive God's blessings with joy? Or do guilt and feelings of unworthiness prevent you from embracing his good gifts?
- [What's Your Liturgy?](https://harmonyharkema.com/whats-your-liturgy/) - If you come from an unchurched or even an evangelical background, the notion of liturgy may be foreign to you. It was to me throughout most of my childhood and young adulthood. And for many years, I thought liturgy was a negative thing until I realized that God is all about liturgy when that liturgy is engaged with
- [Things I'm Loving Now, January 2017 Edition](https://harmonyharkema.com/things-im-loving-now-january-2017-edition/) - I've been looking forward to this post for weeks, in large part because I so enjoy sharing the little things with you every month. December was a bust, thanks to some medical stuff (more to come on that next week), so I haven't put together a list of Things I'm Loving Now for you since
- [Things I'm Loving Now: January 2018 Favorites](https://harmonyharkema.com/things-loving-now-january-2018/) - Favorite things from January 2018: Tazo Glazed Lemon Loaf tea, Simple Abundance, In the Company of Women, Back Pocket Pasta, a new rotating facial brush, and It Cosmetics CC+ Cream and Bye-Bye Undereye concealer.
- [4 Ways to Lent](https://harmonyharkema.com/5-ways-to-lent/) - How might we observe Lent authentically, with the goal being to make room for God in our minds and hearts over the next 40 days, to prepare for the death and resurrection of the Savior?
- [My Favorite Books of 2017](https://harmonyharkema.com/my-favorite-books-of-2017/) - Favorite books of 2017: fiction, nonfiction, spiritual growth, and children's lit that changed me this year.
- [How a Liturgical Life Can Connect Us to Something Bigger](https://harmonyharkema.com/liturgical-life-connect-something-bigger/) - Liturgy isn't just for Catholics, Anglicans, and the like. It's for all Christians, no matter what denomination you come from.
- [Why Guilt Shouldn't Be a Guest at Your Celebration](https://harmonyharkema.com/why-guilt-shouldnt-be-a-guest-at-your-celebration/) - Social media has done a number on us, sweeping over the foundational events of life--dating, marriage, pregnancy, parenting, holidays--and washing them in an unhealthy amount of comparison. No matter your situation, no matter your longings, no matter your suffering, someone else has what you lack, and social media makes sure it's in your face, loud
- [The Discouraged Church Seeker, Part One: When Membership Is a Gate that Keeps People Out](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-discouraged-church-seeker-part-one-when-membership-is-a-gate-that-keeps-people-out/) - One of my favorite passages in the whole Bible is Acts 2:42-47, which describes the early church: The Fellowship of the Believers 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
- [The Discouraged Church Seeker, Part Two: When There's No Room for Who You Are](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-discouraged-church-seeker-part-two-when-theres-no-room-for-your-gifts/) - Tuesday I began a three-part series on the struggle to find a home church. In Part 1, I discussed the conundrum of having to become members before you can get involved in community. Today, I want to unpack our disappointment with membership requirements that don't fit who we are, where we are, and how we
- [The Discouraged Church Seeker, Part Three: When Your Opinion Probably Doesn't Matter](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-discouraged-church-seeker-part-3-when-your-opinion-doesnt-matter/) - 1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 And so John
- [How to Have a Quieter Soul: A Freedom Manifesto](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-to-have-a-quieter-soul-a-freedom-manifesto-for-the-glorious-table/) - Earlier this week, I wrote this post for The Glorious Table, my community blog for women. Inspired by the collective response to this post, we have begun a #quietfrom5to9 movement, shutting off the Internet and social media in the evenings and focusing on our families instead. Read on to find out more, and if you
- [When God Asks You to Do Less, Not More](https://harmonyharkema.com/when-god-asks-you-to-do-less-not-more/) - Back in January, when everyone else was making lists of annual goals, God was whispering to me that I needed to spend this year simply abiding in him, abiding in my life the way it was. So I've trundled along this year, deliberately not tracking the books I'm reading, deliberately shying away from new commitments
- [How to Hold Your Life Loosely](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-to-hold-your-life-loosely-for-the-glorious-table/) - “You must learn to hold everything loosely…everything. Even your dear family. Why? Because the Father may wish to take one of them back to himself, and when he does, it will hurt you if he must pry your fingers loose.” ~Corrie ten Boom I used to hold on to things long after I needed to
- [How to Survive--and Even Thrive--with a Transient Life](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-to-survive-and-even-thrive-with-a-transient-life-guest-post-for-ginger-newingham-our-moments-defined/) - Today I'm over at my friend Ginger's blog. Ginger writes about how the difficult moments in our lives can become our defining--and even shining--moments, if we can only see God in them. Join me there? If you are in your twenties, thirties, or even forties, there’s a good chance you’ve survived a move or two,
- [How Jesus Gave Me Back My Dad](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-jesus-gave-me-back-my-dad/) - I'm linking up with my friend Kelly at Mrs. Disciple today. Join me over there for some great posts in honor of Father's Day. Like so many kids of my generation, I lost my dad to divorce at a young age. Oh, I saw him every other weekend for many years, but visitation can't replace
- [On Breaking Bread and Building Relationships](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-breaking-bread-and-building-relationships-for-the-glorious-table/) - I'm over at The Glorious Table this week, talking about how meal sharing and relationship building go hand in hand. Join me there? We’ve had some lovely posts on freedom and honoring both our forefathers and our military these past few days here at The Glorious Table, but as we wrap up the holiday weekend,
- [The Gift of Ordinary Time](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-gift-of-ordinary-time/) - “Make it your ambition to live a quiet and peaceful life.” ~1 Thessalonians 4:11 (paraphrased) When we first talked about doing a series on what the traditional church calendar identifies as Ordinary Time, I had no inkling of the longing that would accompany this season for me, of the way I would want to remove
- [6 Tangible Ways to Support the Hurting in Your World](https://harmonyharkema.com/6-tangible-ways-to-support-the-hurting-in-your-world/) - Today I'm over at my friend Stacey's blog, Chronically Whole. Stacey writes about surviving and thriving with chronic illness. As well, she gracefully tutors those of us who love other people with chronic illnesses in loving them better. I'm sharing a little bit on caring for others in practical ways. Join me? It's commonplace to
- [What Really Matters](https://harmonyharkema.com/what-really-matters/) - I'm at The Glorious Table today talking about what it really means to live like it might be the last day of your life. Join me? There's a song by Jason Gray that goes, I wanna live like there's no tomorrow Love like I'm on borrowed time It's good to be alive, yeah The first line
- ["Most Days"](https://harmonyharkema.com/most-days/) - I've learned to shy away from things that allow me to track my daily failures. You know what I mean, I'm sure. I'm talking about those handy apps that let you make lists of all the things you intend to accomplish in a day, like these. While such things are well-intentioned, I'm sure, and high-performing
- [Cultivating Life Takes Time and Care: Lessons from a Garden](https://harmonyharkema.com/cultivating-life-takes-time-and-care-lessons-from-a-garden/) - I'm sharing some thoughts at The Glorious Table today. Join me? I planted my first garden this year. It's just a tiny plot, a four-foot-by-four-foot raised bed. There's a tomato plant in the center, surrounded by peppers, summer squash, a watermelon (which I pray won't blossom until the vine gets long enough that it extends
- [Knitting Is Good for You](https://harmonyharkema.com/knitting-is-good-for-you/) - I taught myself to knit when I was nineteen. It may sound like an odd thing for a nineteen-year-old to do. Wasn't I busy with college, work, a social life? Well, yes. And while I was a nerd of the bookish kind, I wasn't one of the denim jumper crowd. No one in my family
- [Are You Insulated?](https://harmonyharkema.com/are-you-insulated/) - Hey there, friends! I wanted to share with you a post I wrote for The Glorious Table this week about having a balanced community as a Christian. It's something that's been rolling around in my mind a lot this summer. Join me? When you're a Christian, it's generally easy to surround yourself with other like-minded
- [Are You Still Living Out Your Word?](https://harmonyharkema.com/are-you-still-living-out-your-word/) - If you spend any time on social media at all, you will have witnessed the annual New Year trend to choose a "word for the year." You may have been inspired to jump on the bandwagon and choose a word of your own. You may have ordered a print with your word on it or
- [Losing [that] October](https://harmonyharkema.com/losing-that-october/) - Hey friends, I'm over at my sweet friend Anna's blog today, sharing a bit about my deep love for October. Join me there? I grew up in the heart of the Midwest, where October is the showiest month. To this day, when I close my eyes and think of October, I see an empty highway stretching
- [On "fresh" hairstyles and other aging-related trauma](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-fresh-hairstyles-and-other-aging-related-trauma/) - "So what are we doing today?" asked the stylist. Her name was Sarah (a positive thing for me - I've never met a Sarah or a Sara I didn't like). I'd found her on Yelp, where her five star reviews and close proximity to my house stood out among the masses. "Welllll," I said, cringing
- [Jesus, the Always Plan](https://harmonyharkema.com/jesus-the-always-plan/) - Friends, I'm over at The Glorious Table today, sharing a little bit about a lightbulb moment in my faith journey, and how that changed the way I view Advent and Christmas. Join me there? "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his
- [Things I'm Loving Now, November 2017 Edition](https://harmonyharkema.com/things-im-loving-now-november-2017-edition/) - Hey there, friends. I can't quite believe it's already November. It was eighty degrees here yesterday, which makes it difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that we're entering the holiday season. This is the sporadically monthly post wherein I tell you a handful of things that have been bringing joy to my life.
- [Are You in the Center of God's Will?](https://harmonyharkema.com/are-you-in-the-center-of-gods-will/) - Hey, friends! Join me over at The Glorious Table today, where I'm talking about honoring your calling even when it means your life doesn't look the way other people think it should. Have you ever felt like your life doesn't measure up to someone else's expectations? Maybe more than one someone? Maybe even your own?
- [Things I'm Loving Now, August 2017 Edition](https://harmonyharkema.com/things-im-loving-now-august-2017-edition/) - Ahhh, friends. Welcome to almost-fall. (I keep telling myself it's almost fall, anyway, because it helps me make it through the end of summer heat here in the South). I've spent all summer compiling a list of favorites to share with you, and when it came time to actually write this post, I found I
- [On Being Friendless in a New Town](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-being-friendless-in-a-new-town/) - Hands-down, the hardest thing about moving is being friendless. It just plain sucks. This week, I had an email from one of my sister's friends, who lives just south of Nashville, cancelling our tentative plans to meet halfway between us (about 1.5 hours each way) and connect. She said her husband told her she can't
- [Redefining Home, Part 3: Home Is More Than We Can See](https://harmonyharkema.com/redefining-home-part-3-home-is-more-than-we-can-see/) - As I continue to wrestle with the concept of home, coming to a place where I realize home isn't so much about place as it is about people, I keep coming back to the niggling feeling that there's an additional piece. That while home is absolutely where my people are, there's yet another layer to
- [31 Days of Being Broken Open](https://harmonyharkema.com/31-days-of-being-broken-open/) - Throughout this lovely month of October, my favorite of all months, I'm going to participate in The Nester's Write 31 Days challenge. For my topic, I'm choosing Being Broken Open. Being Broken Open is about how God works on us, like oysters who need to be cracked so that the good within can be reached,
- [Every Scar Matters](https://harmonyharkema.com/every-scar-matters/) - This post was originally published at The Glorious Table. I'm a little late getting this teaser up, but still wanted to share this message with you. Join me? I sat at a table with two women. One of them mentioned how much my youngest daughter has grown over the past few months, how much she must
- [Why I Instagram](https://harmonyharkema.com/why-i-instagram/) - I love my Instagram feed. I know that for many moms, Pinterest and Instagram and Facebook can take a toll. All those perfectly serene scenes of home life, those beautiful rooms, those smiling children, those wonderfully plated meals. Too much scrolling of this kind at the end of a day of spilled milk and fighting
- [Why We Keep Birthdays Simple](https://harmonyharkema.com/why-we-keep-birthdays-simple/) - L turns five this year. She's been counting down to that special day since--oh, the day after she turned four. We've had many, many one-sided conversations about her fifth birthday. She's monologued about zoo birthday parties (they have a birthday room, and we inevitably pass it every time we visit, which is fairly often), indoor
- [Things I'm Loving Now, April 2017 Edition](https://harmonyharkema.com/things-im-loving-now-april-2017-edition/) - Hello, friends! It's been too long, as always. But I've been to Kenya and back in the time since we last met here, so I suppose that's something. E and I had a wonderful week of safari at Amboseli National Park after his job in Nairobi was done. I can't even tell you how good it
- [Things I'm Loving Now, February 2017 Edition](https://harmonyharkema.com/things-im-loving-now-february-2017-edition/) - Spring has sprung here in the Mid-South. A hyacinth popped up in my backyard this week, the peony bush sent its shoots bursting through the earth of the front flower bed, and the bush-whose-name-we-don't-know next to our front porch has bloomed bright pink and airy with blossoms. I confess, this worries me. It could mean
- [Josh's Sweet and Spicy Chili](https://harmonyharkema.com/joshs-sweet-and-spicy-chili/) - This is Eli's brother, Josh. He's currently serving with the Army in Afghanistan. He was born just 16 months before Eli, and they have that perfect sort of love-hate brother relationship. They are both adversaries and best friends. Together, they hunt and fish and ride dirt bikes and take their four-wheel-drive trucks off-road and get
- [The Blessings of Marrying Later](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-blessings-of-marrying-later-for-the-glorious-table/) - I'm over at The Glorious Table today as part of their current series on marriage, sharing about why marrying later in life isn't a bad thing, but a package of special blessings. Join me there? Dear Singles, I see you. I know how much you long for a husband. Someone to hold your hand, kiss
- [For the Mom Who Longs to Be Gentle](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-the-mom-who-longs-to-be-gentle/) - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, perseverance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22-23 Several weeks ago, my friend Laura asked me to speak at the monthly moms' night out at our church. The schoolyear-long series was on fruits of the spirit, and
- [Things I'm Loving Now, November 2016 Edition](https://harmonyharkema.com/things-im-loving-now-november-2016-edition/) - Happy end-of-November. I almost didn't make it with this post, but I have too many things I am loving right now not to get it out there to you before the month is officially over! So here we go. . . This class on moving your body during the holidays. Healthy Moving coach Jen Hoffman
- [Things I'm Loving Now, October 2016 Edition](https://harmonyharkema.com/things-im-loving-now-october-2016-edition/) - Roots & Sky by Christie Purifoy. I am not sure I can adequately talk about this book. It's been like the deepest, sweetest-smelling breath to me this month. In fact, I'm still not quite done reading it because I am going sloooooowly, trying to savor every single page. I discovered Christie via an episode of
- [Things I'm Loving Now, September 2016 Edition](https://harmonyharkema.com/things-im-loving-now-september-2016-edition/) - Well, sheesh. I had planned to write about my adventures in Germany here by now (there's a story about a lost rental car key to share), but time got away from me. Instead, there have been what seem like endless days of jet lag recovery, whirlwind work trips, and the fall spider invasion to contend
- [Things I'm Loving Now, August 2016 Edition](https://harmonyharkema.com/things-im-loving-now-august/) - Dear Friends, I've decided that on the last Friday of every month, I'm going to write up a list of things that have been adding joy or simplicity to my life, in the hopes that sharing them might help pass on some of that goodness. Books, movies, shows, food, podcasts, technology, objets d'art--whatever. You get the
- [On Writing as an Offering](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-writing-as-an-offering/) - Dear Friends, I like beginning a post this way--"Dear Friends,"--as though I'm just writing a letter. You know, casual and genuine, a "Here's what's going on in my piece of the world" kind of thing. The way people used to do. I know I've been quiet for a while, and part of me has missed
- [How to Feel Like You're on Vacation All Summer Long](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-to-feel-like-youre-on-vacation-all-summer-long/) - Summer vacation. They're two of the most wonderful words in the English language, calling to mind the sound of waves crashing on the beach, visions of bright blue skies studded with fleecy clouds, the feeling of sun-warmed shoulders, the taste of ice cream and lemonade. Summer vacation. We all love it. We all long for it.
- [Why the Editor's Red Pen Means Love](https://harmonyharkema.com/why-the-editors-red-pen-means-love/) - Today I'm linking up with my friend Kelly at Mrs. Disciple to talk about the value of a good editor. For the writer's perspective, check out Kelly's post here. I have been wielding a "red pen" for about as long as I can remember. Starting in middle school, I edited my friends' English papers. In high
- [5 Refreshing Summer Reads for Homeschooling Moms (and Dads)](https://harmonyharkema.com/5-refreshing-summer-reads-for-homeschooling-moms-and-dads/) - Today I'm linking up with my dear friend Kelly over at Mrs. Disciple for her weekly #FridayFive series. Join me over there for more encouraging reading to start off your weekend on an upbeat note. Also, to my sister Carla: this post is for you. I'll just begin with this disclaimer: I am not a
- [Is It Really Possible to Have Authentic Community Online?](https://harmonyharkema.com/is-it-really-possible-to-have-authentic-community-online/) - Christians like to talk about what we call "authentic community." It's one of our buzzwords. We claim this kind of community is highly sought-after and highly valued; we claim we will go to great lengths to find it. We say it's elusive--more elusive than it should be, considering we are all supposed to be "grace-giving"
- [Confessions of a Girl Mom](https://harmonyharkema.com/confessions-of-a-girl-mom/) - I always wanted daughters. A pair of them, so that they could grow up together, vascillating between hating and loving, ultimately becoming soul mates and best friends. A Mary and Laura of my own. For years, I wasn't sure I'd ever get to be a mom at all, much less a mom to girls. I
- [On Why My Husband Doesn't "Let" Me Do Anything, or How to Have an Amicable Marriage](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-why-my-husband-doesnt-let-me-do-anything-or-how-to-have-an-amicable-marriage/) - A year or so ago, a group of my friends from all over the U.S. were discussing plans (or the lack thereof) to attend an event in Texas at the home of an author we all love. There ended up being a number of Facebook threads on the topic, with repeated comments that looked like
- [Redefining Home, Part 2: Home Is Where Your People Are](https://harmonyharkema.com/redefining-home-part-2-home-is-where-your-people-are/) - Several months ago, I wrote about being homesick for the Midwest, about how the transient life I'm leading has gotten under my skin now that I'm down South. Then, I read something my friend Seth wrote about the meaning of home, citing the lengthy list of places he and his wife Amber have lived since they
- [Redefining Home, Part 1: On Homesickness, Culture Shock, and Weather Patterns](https://harmonyharkema.com/redefining-home-part-1-on-homesickness-culture-shock-and-weather-patterns/) - It's October. October is my favorite month. I spent 34 years of my life in Michigan, which has gorgeous Octobers. Gorgeous autumns, that is. The same way Lorelai Gilmore can smell snow coming, I can smell autumn. You wake up one morning, and it's there---a change in the air. You can feel it on your skin.
- [A Cup of Cold Water, or God Is in the Small Stuff](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-cup-of-cold-water-or-god-is-in-the-small-stuff/) - "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward." ~Matthew 10:42 I love it when God shows up in the small stuff, right when I'm about to be overwhelmed and fall to
- [For the Warriors. And By That, I Mean All of Us](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-the-warriors-and-by-that-i-mean-all-of-us/) - Some years ago, I started following Glennon Melton, the creator of momastery.com. I fell in love with her rawness, her frankness, her here-is-my-dirty-laundry-and-feel-free-to-show-me-yours-too approach. When I found out she was doing a signing for her book, Carry On Warrior, at the Barnes & Noble near my home in the D.C. suburbs, I told E he
- [Books You [Maybe] Forgot to Read as a Child, and Should Read Now if You Did](https://harmonyharkema.com/book-you-maybe-forgot-to-read-as-a-child-and-should-read-now-if-you-did/) - A dear friend suggested I write this post. We share a deep and abiding affection for Anne of Green Gables, and it seems I am always saying to her about some childhood favorite of mine, "Have you read such-and-such? I can't believe you haven't read such-and-such! You simply have to!" "I could use [a list like
- [Summer Reading 2015](https://harmonyharkema.com/summer-reading-2015/) - I love the idea of summer reading. Back when I was a teacher, I spent the school year collecting books for my summer stack, and I could hardly wait for June to arrive so I could dive in. Now, even though I work full-time year round, when summer approaches I feel inspired to single out
- [On Being High Risk, Genetic Screening, and Standing Up for Yourself](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-being-high-risk-genetic-screening-and-standing-up-for-yourself/) - I'm just months away from turning 40. I'm also pregnant. Yesterday, we had an ultrasound, and we got to see our new little booger kicking and waving and being busy on the sonogram screen, clearly alive and vibrant and shaped like a mini human at only ten weeks' gestation - that's a real photo of
- [A Letter to the Single Women Who Wonder, "Will I ever get married?"](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-letter-to-the-single-women-who-wonder-will-i-ever-get-married/) - Dear lovelies, Being single at 25 can be hard. Being single at 30 can be a little harder. Being single at 35...yeah. I know. I'm not even going to touch 40 or 45, because I never got there. But you get the idea. And if you are single and over 35, I would love to
- [For new and new-ish moms: it's okay not to get dressed and do your hair, among other things](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-new-and-new-ish-moms-its-okay-not-to-get-dressed-and-do-your-hair-among-other-things/) - Last week, I hit a wall. I posted about it on Facebook. Here's a slightly abridged version: "So this is a confession," I wrote, "Since L was born and I began working from home, I have not been good about doing hair and makeup, getting dressed in something other than yoga pants and a t-shirt,
- [How Not to Fear the Valley](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-not-to-fear-valley/) - During my company's quarterly sales conference back in November, the fiction publisher said something that struck me hard, and which has stayed with me ever since. Her comment was in relation to a book she was presenting, and I can't remember its title now, but I won't soon forget her words: "We learn the most
- [Winter Therapy: 10 Comforting Soups to Chase Away Your Blues](https://harmonyharkema.com/winter-therapy-10-comforting-soups-to/) - We got at least a foot of snow here overnight, and it's still coming down hard. E and L both have colds, and I'm thankful we don't have to stir from the house for any reason. We can just hunker down until it's all over. The nester in me is thinking about baking bread and
- [Why Spontaneity is Good Medicine](https://harmonyharkema.com/why-spontaneity-is-good-medicine/) - We were driving home from church in the pouring rain, talking about what we were going to do on such a miserable day. E, who was riding shotgun, pointed at the sign for the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum's extension campus as we passed it. "Sometime, we ought to go there," he said. "Well, why
- [How I Need Easter Every Day](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-i-need-easter-every-day/) - If I stop to think about it, it seems funny to me that Easter is once a year. Not the Easter bunny and egg hunt part; the resurrection part. The part wherein we celebrate the fact that Jesus died for the sins of the entire world, but then rose from the grave again, proving that
- [Pesto, Tomato and Provolone Panini](https://harmonyharkema.com/pesto-tomato-and-provolone-panini/) - Hi friends. It's raining here. In fact, it's been raining for three days straight, which means I keep thinking about warm soup and toasty sandwiches. This has led to the recipe I'm going to share with you today. I looooove this variation on the plain ol' grilled cheese. It's probably my second favorite grilled cheese,
- [On Behalf of Silence](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-behalf-of-silence/) - Silence is a luxury. I didn't used to think so, back when I was single and had plenty of opportunity for it. Back then, silence was something I mostly wanted out of. It was something I sought to break, to fill up with sound. So much so that I did what most of us, here
- [The Great Unknown](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-great-unknown/) - Last Friday, E graduated with his Masters. L, who's been watching a lot of Frozen, spent the whole week calling it his "cornoration." I still can't quite believe it. It honestly feels like we just started out on this crazy journey toward a new career for him. Didn't we just move? Didn't he just go
- [Changes](https://harmonyharkema.com/changes/) - Last week, I wrote about The Great Unknown, that place of waiting we all have to walk through in some seasons, when we have no idea what's coming next. Ironically, we got an answer later that day - a temporary answer, anyway. E has been granted a full-time paid internship for the summer. The kind
- [To Compare Is to Devalue](https://harmonyharkema.com/to-compare-is-to-devalue/) - Today I'm over at the Noonan Syndrome Foundation's blog, talking about my precious nephew, Rhyse. Will you join me there? Tweet
- [The Beginning of the Letting Go](https://harmonyharkema.com/the-beginning-of-letting-go/) - I've had my heart ripped out of me this week. Ripped out, thrown on the floor, stomped on. Because L started preschool. My tiny girl, who hasn't been away from us for more than a few hours every few months since her birth, is now being shipped off daily. By me. Because E has a
- [On Why You Can Expect a Lot from God - and Let Go of Your Life](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-why-you-can-expect-lot-from-god-and/) - I was going to post a fantastic recipe for minestrone today (and I'll still post it for you later), but I felt a nudge to write instead about what God has been doing in our lives this week. So that's what I'm going to do. But first I just want to say, fasten your seat
- [Whatever Happened to Time Out?](https://harmonyharkema.com/whatever-happened-to-time-out/) - When I was interviewing preschools, one of my questions was, of course, "How do you handle discipline?" Folks, I must be waaaaay out of the loop on what's de rigeur in early childhood education these days, because with only one exception, every time I asked this question, the school administrator was quick to tell me
- [For When You Miss an Opportunity to be Jesus](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-when-you-miss-opportunity-to-be/) - Today, I'm feeling like I got offered the role of the good Samaritan in Jesus' famous parable, and instead I chose to play the priest or the Levite, both of whom left a man who had been robbed and beaten lying on the side of the road (Luke 10: 29-37). I know I'm not the
- [My Favorite Reads of 2014, Part 1](https://harmonyharkema.com/my-favorite-reads-of-2014-part-1/) - I originally set a goal to read 26 books this year, which is a book every two weeks and was about all I could manage last year, when L was still so little. I got off to a slow start, and by the time March rolled around, I'd only read one book. I kicked things
- [Favorite Summer Vacation Reads](https://harmonyharkema.com/favorite-summer-vacation-reads/) - It's almost August, which means that all the families who haven't taken vacation time yet this summer are anticipating some time off before fall hits, bringing with it the start of a new school year and the need for sweaters. We are among those families. In two weeks, we're heading to Michigan, where we'll make
- [We Do What We Have to Do, Even Solo Vacations](https://harmonyharkema.com/we-do-what-we-have-to-do-even-solo/) - Warning: This is a rant. I am indulging because it will make me feel better. Yes, I realize that this is selfish behavior. Feel free not to continue reading. Saturday morning, L and I are leaving for two weeks in Michigan. We're leaving E behind in Virginia. I am not excited about this, but there's
- [For Women: Five Things NOT to Post on Facebook](https://harmonyharkema.com/for-women-five-things-not-to-post-on/) - Last February at the IF: Gathering conference in Austin, Texas, Ann Voskamp talked about the ways women compare themselves to other women, and then she dramatically broke a wooden ruler in half to illustrate how we all need to break our internal measuring sticks, the ones that say we come up short. I've thought about
- [Are All Christians "Religious?"](https://harmonyharkema.com/are-all-christians-religious/) - Not long after E started training for his new job, one of his classmates approached him. She'd heard he'd been assigned to the Memphis office. "You're married, right?" she asked. She explained that she had a friend in the Memphis office who had recently relocated there and was hoping for a connection - with me,
- [To Disney or Not to Disney . . . This Is Not the Question](https://harmonyharkema.com/to-disney-or-not-to-disney-this-is-not/) - I have friends who have proclaimed a moratorium on Disney in their homes. Disney movies. Disney paraphernalia. Disney anything. All of it, verboten. They are convinced of the undesirable effects Disney will have on their kiddos.The dislike the common parentlessness of Disney characters, whether due to kidnapping, deceit, or death. They think this will have
- [My Real 2014 Vacation Reading List](https://harmonyharkema.com/my-real-2014-vacation-reading-list/) - Last week, I posted a list of my perennial favorite vacation reads, books I've read over and over on leisurely days when I want to revisit their familiar worlds. Chances are good that this weekend, when we actually leave for vacation, I'll toss one or two of them into my book bag, as comforts and
- [Preston Yancey's Tables in the Wilderness and the Uprooting of My Denominationalism](https://harmonyharkema.com/preston-yanceys-tables-in-wilderness/) - I'm blessed in that I often get the jump on new books before they hit stores, thanks to my job. I've just finished one that I really want to share with you - and there's a little something special available at the end, too. So read on, dear ones. Preston Yancey (no relation to the
- [In which I turn 39 and make some kind of attempt at a pre-milestone birthday life assessment...](https://harmonyharkema.com/in-which-i-turn-39-and-make-some-kind/) - I turned 39 last week. I spent a few days at the end of our vacation with my dad, and at some point, he asked me how I felt about being one year away from 40. I took a moment and thought about it, as honestly as I could on the fly like that, and
- [When We Hide from the Mirror](https://harmonyharkema.com/when-we-hide-from-mirror/) - Do you hide from the mirror?You moms out there - you know what I mean. You get undressed, into and out of the shower, without looking in the mirror. Because if you turn your head to just the right angle, you don't have to look. You don't have to see.I do it, too.We seem to
- [On Finding You've Become the One Thing You Always Wanted to Be](https://harmonyharkema.com/on-finding-youve-become-one-thing-you/) - It's strange, waking up one day and realizing you are just a step or two away from realizing the biggest goal of your life to date. Overwhelming. Surreal.That was me this morning.For eight months, I've been working on a novel. It will be finished in another month or so - approximately the amount of time
- [When the Role of Women in Church Becomes a Potential Deal-Breaker](https://harmonyharkema.com/when-role-of-women-in-church-becomes/) - You may remember me writing about how we've been church-homeless for going on four years, and how difficult it can be to find a church that feels like the right fit. Sometimes, God makes it really clear that you're supposed to be part of a certain church during a certain season. Other times, he can
- [When They Bloom Before Your Eyes](https://harmonyharkema.com/when-they-bloom-before-your-eyes/) - Yesterday at five, E left for class, and I rushed to make a quick dinner of chicken quesadillas so I could get L outside on this first day. You know the day I mean - it's the one when you first feel welcomed outside by everything from the sounds of the birds to the warmth
- [For When You Don't "Have It Down"](https://harmonyharkema.com/about-how-i-dont-have-it-down/) - This past weekend, a sweet friend commented admiringly on the way I "have it down," as she put it, meaning the way I apparently have time management figured out. She was talking specifically about how I find (make) time to write in the midst of everything else that's on my plate. I wanted to shake
- [How Sometimes, Grace Comes By Way of a Child](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-sometimes-grace-comes-by-way-of/) - It is early summer in Virginia, our first here, and L is about to turn a year old. She is already walking, which doesn't surprise us. For L, everything except cutting teeth has come earlier than expected. She picks up walking quickly; it's running that gives her problems. Her little feet are slightly pigeon-toed, and
- [Fitness Monday: How to Get Back into the Game After an Illness](https://harmonyharkema.com/fitness-monday-how-to-get-back-into/) - I've been sick for three weeks running, first a cold and then the flu. Translation: I haven't run in 16 days, getting in only two runs between the cold and when the flu hit me. And other than those two runs, I haven't done anything else aside from some very light yoga. I am, to
- [Guest Post: A Former Miss America Contestant Weighs In on Weight Loss, Body Image, and Whose Opinion Really Matters](https://harmonyharkema.com/guest-post-former-miss-america/) - For Fitness Monday this week, we have a guest post from my friend Kelli Talicska Turner, a former Miss Michigan and Miss America contestant, who is sharing with us a little bit about her journey with beauty pageants, weight loss, and body image.Here's Kelli: When Harmony asked me to write a guest blog post about
- [Introducing Fitness Monday](https://harmonyharkema.com/introducing-fitness-monday/) - Two months into Resolution 2014, I've decided it's time to change things up a bit. I'm moving my resolution check-in from weekly to monthly, and I'm starting a new series here on Beyond Toast: Fitness Monday, where we'll talk about overall fitness. Not just physical fitness, like exercise and eating well, but mental, emotional, and
- [Resolution 2014: Week 5 Check-in and Stay-at-Home Yoga](https://harmonyharkema.com/resolution-2014-week-5-check-in-and/) - I'm so glad it's Monday again, and Monday isn't usually a day I'm excited to greet. But I spent seven straight hours yesterday editing E's graduate thesis (over 100 pages on terrorist groups in the Sahel region of Africa), which was exhausting. Interesting, but exhausting.In retrospect, Week 5 was a bit rough. L had a
- [Resolution 2014: Week 4 Check-in and Why the Scale Isn't the Only Thing that Counts](https://harmonyharkema.com/resolution-2014-week-4-check-in-and-why/) - I'm four weeks into my Back to Basics plan for the year, and this week, I'm checking in with real results. I have to admit, they surprised me. But first, let's talk about the week that just finished.I worked out five days, which is better than the four days I exercised last week but not
- [Why Regular "Me Time" Isn't Selfish](https://harmonyharkema.com/why-regular-me-time-isnt-selfish/) - Maybe you have kiddos running around the house, and you long for just five minutes of quiet. Maybe you're married, and you occasionally long for an evening alone, the kind you used to enjoy on a regular basis, curled up on the couch with a favorite book or a few episodes of Downton Abbey.If you
- [Resolution 2014: Week 3 Check-in and How to Avoid Failure with Grace](https://harmonyharkema.com/resolution-2014-week-3-check-in-and-how/) - Week 3 was the toughest yet, time management-wise. I worked out four days of seven, which isn't where I wanted to land. However, there are a couple of pluses: I didn't take more than one day off between workouts, and I kept up my Couch to 5K training.Why did I lose two workouts this week?
- [Resolution 2014: Week 2 Check-in](https://harmonyharkema.com/resolution-2014-week-2-check-in/) - Week 2 of getting back to basics is over, and I'm pretty pleased with the results. I ate well for the most part, logging most of my meals on the My Fitness Pal app. I completed three training runs toward my 5K goal, as well as two sessions of cross-training, and (bonus!) running is already
- [What I'm Reading Now: Notes from a Blue Bike by Tsh Oxenreider](https://harmonyharkema.com/what-im-reading-now-notes-from-blue/) - My intention is to start sharing more with you about what I'm reading, especially the books I find enjoyable, growth-inducing, or life-changing. This book is all three.I should probably begin with a disclaimer of some kind, because Notes from a Blue Bike is being published by my company's sister division, Thomas Nelson. But the truth is
- [Resolution 2014: Week 1](https://harmonyharkema.com/resolution-2014-week-1/) - They say it takes 30 days to make a habit, and that the first week of those 30 days, the actual work of getting off the ground, is always the hardest. If that's true, then I'm relieved to say I've made it through the hardest part of this whole year.I worked out six days, combining
- [Resolution 2014: How Interim Goals and a Reward System Can Make a Difference](https://harmonyharkema.com/resolution-2014-how-interim-goals-and/) - You might have noticed that while my overall resolution for 2014 is to lose 60 pounds, I broke that out into increments of five pounds a month. This is because that 60 pound number is a monster goal. Theoretically, it should be doable, but it's also a long way off. When you look at it
- [2013: A Year of Lili](https://harmonyharkema.com/2013-year-of-lili/) - 2013 has been a big adventure for us, our first full year with L. Last New Year's, she was just beginning to sit up on her own and was still very much an infant. Today, she is a strong-willed little girl with more personality than me and E combined.It was a big year for L.
- [Homemade Chocolate Peanut Clusters](https://harmonyharkema.com/homemade-chocolate-peanut-clusters/) - When I was a little girl, there was an old-fashioned candy kiosk at our local shopping mall that sold all of the traditional candy store chocolates: chocolate stars, turtles, real peanut butter cups, and chocolate peanut clusters. Peanut clusters were my mom's favorite, and she'd sometimes buy a small bag for us to share in
- [Weekend Project: Bathroom Makeover on the Cheap](https://harmonyharkema.com/weekend-project-bathroom-makeover-on/) - So. I know in said in a post earlier this week that you don't need to refurbish your house in order to have guests. And that's true. I stand by what I said. On the other hand, if you want to do a little sprucing, and you don't feel overwhelmed by the prospect, then that's
- [How to Set a Pretty Thanksgiving Table on a Budget](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-to-set-pretty-thanksgiving-table-on/) - If you're like me, in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, you've looked at countless table arrangements in stores, magazines, and catalogs, on websites and blogs. You've gasped at the price of this candle holder and that set of linen napkins, these place card holders and that table runner. You could easily spend hundreds just
- [A Trick-or-Treating Lesson, or How to Get More Candy](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-trick-or-treating-lesson-or-how-to/) - L is continually teaching me not to underestimate her at any stage. No matter what I think she is or is not capable of, she is apt to yank the rug out from under my expectations on any given day. We had another lesson in this on Halloween, when we went Trick-or-Treating with Jen and
- [How to Find the Church that's Right for You](https://harmonyharkema.com/how-to-find-church-thats-right-for-you/) - Trying to find the right church is like swimsuit shopping. There are too many options. You think one style will look good, but you're never 100 percent sure, so you feel like you should probably try on everything, which is exhausting and takes far longer than you were planning on. One looks good on top,
- [A Reminder: We Are All Precious In His Sight](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-reminder-we-are-all-precious-in-his/) - Two years ago this week, I got pregnant with L. When I found out five weeks later, it was this huge surprise we weren't prepared for. We'd gotten married in August, went on our honeymoon to Kenya in September, and were really just beginning to settle into a marriage routine. We were looking at a
- [Spiced Zucchini Muffins with Dark Chocolate](https://harmonyharkema.com/spiced-zucchini-muffins-with-dark/) - We're a muffin family, I'm realizing. E loves muffins, L loves muffins. I love them, too, although I doubt I would have identified that before. I would have said I was a scone person or something like that (and I am, but I'm also a muffin person). I should clarify, though: we are homemade muffin
- [What it feels like to be on the cusp of change . . . again](https://harmonyharkema.com/what-it-feels-like-to-be-on-cusp-of/) - The end of summer is always bittersweet, but the reasons are a bit different this year. In the past, summer ending meant mourning the loss of endless Lake Michigan beach days, the end of camping season, no more trips to Silver Lake to play on the sand dunes, no more Saturday mornings at the farmers'
- [When We Just Need a Chance to Redeem Ourselves and Be Supermom](https://harmonyharkema.com/when-we-just-need-chance-to-redeem/) - My 13-month-old suddenly has an affinity for babies. She's fascinated by them. She has a book of babies from around the world and suddenly, it's her favorite book. She excitedly points out babies everywhere we go (even some older than her, which leads me to wonder if she realizes she, too, is a "baby"). When
- [Six Months of Books in 2013](https://harmonyharkema.com/six-months-of-books-in-2013/) - At the beginning of the year, I set a goal to read 26 books in 2013. The year is a little more than halfway over, and amazingly, I've kept pace with that goal. As of June 30, I've read 14 books. I've started another four, but I won't get into my issues with reading multiple
- [For When You're [Still] Figuring It All Out](https://harmonyharkema.com/figuring-it-all-out/) - I feel like a runaway. I'm sitting in the cool, coffee-scented air of the Barnes & Noble down the street from my house, listening to some version of I Just Met a Girl Named Maria ('cause B&N is down with the show tunes) playing over the store's intercom system. I'm here to work on my neglected
- [A Different Father's Day Perspective](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-different-father-day-perspective/) - Today was my favorite Father's Day ever, because it was the first Father's Day I spent as a wife and mother, and it caused me to pause and look at my husband and 11-month-old daughter together and really cherish what I see between them.I always knew E would be a really good father. I saw
- [Finding a New Rhythm in Motherhood, Part 1](https://harmonyharkema.com/finding-new-rhythm-in-motherhood-part-1/) - There are two things I know to be fundamentally true of God and want to talk about today. One, he continually calls us to know him more deeply through his word (the Bible). Two, he wants us to be good stewards of all he has given us, including our bodies, our relationships, our talents and
- [A Love Letter to My Husband](https://harmonyharkema.com/a-love-letter-to-my-husband/) - Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm
- [Grace for the Work-from-Home Mom, Too](https://harmonyharkema.com/grace-for-work-from-home-mom-too/) - Lisa-Jo over at The Gypsy Mama wrote the other day about how working moms need grace - grace to handle the daily good-byes, grace for handing over their children to others, grace for the guilt they carry. In my journal where I count gifts from God, I write "the ability to work from home, not
- [What's True Worship?](https://harmonyharkema.com/what-true-worship/) - Someone I love (and who loves me) lamented to me the other day about how Christian music has changed over the years. She said to her, it's no longer "worship music," meaning, I guess, that she personally doesn't feel like worshipping God when she listens to it. She asked me what I thought. I could tell she was
- [Late Summer Peach Cobbler](https://harmonyharkema.com/late-summer-peach-cobbler/) - Tuesday evening, Eli brought home a half peck or so of perfectly ripe peaches - part of a half bushel his parents had purchased at a roadside market the day before. Because it was a busy week, and we had social engagements the next two evenings, and the refrigerator was already full, they sat in
- [The Best Carrot Cake. Ever.](https://harmonyharkema.com/best-carrot-cake-ever/) - This really is the best carrot cake ever. I promise. Make it for your favorite person. Make it to celebrate spring. Make it for Easter dinner. Make it for someone's birthday. Make it just because.I made it myself a couple of weeks ago for one of my favorite people, Ann Voskamp, author of the New
- [Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix](https://harmonyharkema.com/homemade-hot-cocoa-mix/) - One of my favorite things about my friend and colleague Michelle is her perpetual hot cocoa jar (I'm kidding, Michelle - I would love you just the same with or without the cocoa jar).In November, when the days are beginning to turn grey and dreary, Michelle brings a gallon-size glass jar of homemade cocoa mix to

## Pages

- [Home](https://harmonyharkema.com/) - writer, editor & speaker
- [Homeschool Composition](https://harmonyharkema.com/homeschool-composition/) - Composition the Charlotte Mason Way A Course for Forms 3-6 Premise Charlotte Mason believed that composition should not be “taught,” but that students should be exposed to many styles and forms of writing through wide reading, then find their way forward by imitating those styles and forms while also exhibiting their own personality and style.
- [The Stitch Studio](https://harmonyharkema.com/stitch-studio/) - The Stitch Studio is a licensed Kids Can Sew sewing studio with sewing classes for ages 8 and up in Grand Rapids, MI.
- [About](https://harmonyharkema.com/about/) - Hi. I'm Harmony. I'm a writer, a professional editor and book coach, a sewing teacher and library curator. I love all the decidedly mundane things you'd expect a writerly person to love: books, coffee and tea, poetry and classical music, art and history. I'm also a happy wife and homeschooling mom to two delightful girls.
- [2026-2027 Class Schedule](https://harmonyharkema.com/stitch-studio/schedule/) - Class schedule for sewing classes in Grand Rapids, MI. Both adult and child classes available.
- [Charlotte Mason Grand Rapids](https://harmonyharkema.com/charlotte-mason-grand-rapids/) - Charlotte Mason Grand Rapids is a community for families who seek to implement the Charlotte Mason method of education in their homeschools. For event dates, times, and locations, join our Facebook Group. Our anchor event is our monthly Parents' Tertulia Study Group, during which we discuss a reading from one of Charlotte Mason's original homeschool
- [Editorial Services](https://harmonyharkema.com/editing/) - A description of the various editing services I offer, including rates.
- [Coaching for Writers](https://harmonyharkema.com/writing-coach/) - Coaching for Writers Are you ready to write a book? Do you have a completed project that's ready to be edited? Are you struggling to put together a book proposal? Or do you want to get started as a writer and can't seem to figure it out? A personal writing coach can help! A Writing Coach
- [Speaking and Workshops](https://harmonyharkema.com/speaking/) - I love speaking to a variety of audiences, especially homeschool groups and writing groups. I speak at conferences, home events, church events, and anywhere else women meet together. Topics for Homeschool Moms: Balancing Homeschooling with the Rest of Your Life How to Thrive, Not Just Survive, as a Working Homeschool Mom Cultivating Gentle Mothering When
- [Library FAQ](https://harmonyharkema.com/dawn-treader-living-books-library/faq/) - Frequently Asked Questions Where are you located? We are located on the West Side of Grand Rapids, near Lake Michigan Drive and Wilson Avenue. What are your hours? We are currently open Wednesdays 9-11 a.m., Fridays 12-2 p.m., and on other days by appointment. How does the library work? Dawn Treader is a private lending library open
- [Dawn Treader Living Books Library](https://harmonyharkema.com/dawn-treader-living-books-library/) - We are a small, private lending library with a few thousand books in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- [Tertulia Study Group](https://harmonyharkema.com/tertulia-study-group/) - Charlotte Mason Grand Rapids' core event is our parents' Tertulia. What is a tertulia? It is a Spanish word that refers to a social gathering, often with literary or artistic overtones, where people come together to discuss various topics. It can be a formal or informal meeting, sometimes taking place in a café. CMGR's Tertulia
- [Frequently Asked Questions](https://harmonyharkema.com/relatable-homeschoolers-podcast/faqs/) - FAQ and answers about homeschooling from the four experts themselves.
- [Sewing Classes & Camps](https://harmonyharkema.com/stitch-studio/sewing-classes-camps/)
- [Podcast](https://harmonyharkema.com/relatable-homeschoolers-podcast/) - The Relatable Homeschoolers Podcast Whether you are a veteran homeschooler, a new homeschooler, or just homeschool-curious, we're here to encourage you on your homeschooling journey. Let's get started! More questions? Check out our FAQ. Season 1Season 2Season 3Season 4
- [Episodes](https://harmonyharkema.com/relatable-homeschoolers-podcast/episodes/) - Season 1 of The Relatable Homeschoolers will focus on practical aspects of the homeschool life: how to think like a homeschooler, transitioning to homeschooling, schedule/daily rhythm, choosing curriculum, and more.

## Products

- [2026-2027 Sewing for Kids](https://harmonyharkema.com/product/2026-2027-sewing-for-kids/) - This weekly sewing class for beginners teaches all the basics: reading patterns, using a sewing machine, basic stitches, and more.
- [2026-2027 Homeschool Sewing](https://harmonyharkema.com/product/homeschool-sewing/) - This weekly sewing class for beginners teaches all the basics: reading patterns, using a sewing machine, basic stitches, and more.
- [Girl Scout Troop Workshop](https://harmonyharkema.com/product/girl-scout-troop-workshop/) - One-day three-hour workshops designed for Girl Scout troops or small groups of girls who want to learn to sew, knit, or embroider.
- [Custom Booking Request](https://harmonyharkema.com/product/custom-booking-request/) - The Stitch Studio offers custom bookings for kids and adults: girls' nights, birthday parties, bridal showers, and more!

## Categories

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- [Friendship](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/friendship/)
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- [Parenting](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/parenting/)
- [Family](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/family/)
- [The Bookish Life](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/books-reading/)
- [How I Do It](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/how-do-it/)
- [Food & Recipes](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/recipes/)
- [The Writing Life](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/writing-publishing/)
- [Time Management](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/time-management/)
- [Marriage](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/marriage/)
- [House & Home](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/home/)
- [Homeschooling](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/homeschooling/)
- [Things I Love](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/things-i-love/)
- [Career & Calling](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/career-calling/)
- [Reflections](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/reflections/)
- [Inspiration](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/inspiration/)
- [Relationships](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/relationships/)
- [Library Book Reviews](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/library-book-reviews/)
- [The Relatable Homeschoolers Podcast](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/relatable-homeschoolers-podcast/)
- [Season 1](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/relatable-homeschoolers-podcast/season-1/)
- [Season 2](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/relatable-homeschoolers-podcast/season-2/)
- [Season 3](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/relatable-homeschoolers-podcast/season-3/)
- [Season 4](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/relatable-homeschoolers-podcast/season-4/)
- [Featured](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/featured/)
- [The Glorious Table](https://harmonyharkema.com/category/the-glorious-table/)

## Tags

- [Season 4](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/season-4/)
- [The Relatable homeschoolers](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/the-relatable-homeschoolers/)
- [homeschool room](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/homeschool-room/)
- [homeschool space](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/homeschool-space/)
- [homeschool co-op](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/homeschool-co-op/)
- [home management](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/home-management/)
- [homeschool life](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/homeschool-life/)
- [kendra adachi](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/kendra-adachi/)
- [the lazy genius way](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/the-lazy-genius-way/)
- [holiday gifts](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/holiday-gifts/)
- [Guest episode](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/guest-episode/)
- [Lindsay Hufford](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/lindsay-hufford/)
- [public school](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/public-school/)
- [transitioning to public school](https://harmonyharkema.com/tag/transitioning-to-public-school/)

## Product categories

- [One-day Workshops](https://harmonyharkema.com/product-category/one-day-workshops/)
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