Author Archives: Heidi St. John

About Heidi St. John

Heidi has been married to her husband Jay since 1989. Together they have seven children and three grandchildren! The St. Johns homeschooled their kids all the way through high school. Heidi is the the author of seven books, host of the popular podcast "Off the Bench," and the founder of MomStrong International, an online community of women learning God's Word and how to apply it to every day life. She and her husband Jay are also the founders of Firmly Planted Family and the Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center, located in Vancouver, Washington.

A Powerful Partnership

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“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.”
Psalm 127:4

This is one of my favorite verses from the book of Psalms. I’ve learned that whenever I see imagery used in Scripture, it’s time to pay close attention. God has something very important for me to take away from that image.

7 St. John arrows; six in the quiver and one in the bow

The Bible is replete with images and verses which tell us that we are engaged in a battle: a very real battle with very real consequences. We’re in a spiritual battle. In Ephesians we read,

“¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

The imagery here is a powerful reminder of a beautiful relationship. God gives children to us as “arrows” in the hands of a warrior. That makes you a warrior, busy mom! And you’re not just a run-of-the-mill warrior, either—you are an archer. You’re in the arrow-launching business!

I love the imagery of this sculpture. It was made for me by the son of dear friends, and it illustrates the way we should see ourselves as parents: we’re launching our arrows for the Kingdom, aren’t we? Notice the way this couple is engaged in battle: the husband, in front of his wife, protecting her and shielding her from enemy arrows.

His wife is not standing by passively, is she? No—because she is part of a team with her husband; a dynamic duo, if you will, for the Kingdom! This woman is launching her arrows out into the world under the protection and covering of her shield-weilding husband. What a powerful image!

So how do we launch our arrows?

It helps to remember three key things:

Our children have been given to us as gifts—as arrows in the hands of a warrior. It is our job to tenderly train and teach them to walk with the Lord. Ephesians 6 – “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
We are in is a spiritual battle. We can’t lose sight of this fact. When we do,we forget who the real enemy is. Our kids are not the enemy. Our husband is not the enemy. Satan is the enemy. And one of his prime targets is Christian families. Gird up! Be ready. Protect your marriage. Protect your family.
A good marriage is a partnership—a dynamic duo for the Kingdom! The goal of Christian parenting is best achieved inside this amazing partnership. This means that nurturing our marriages is of primary importance! It’s not secondary to raising children—it’s essential to it.

Seeing or marriages in light of eternity is a vision-sharpening experience, isn’t it?

Are your ready to launch your arrows?

Gird up,
Heidi

Moving On: Seasons of Motherhood

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Life is just.so.short.

I remember the season well, when my doctor informed me that “changes” in my body meant that I would likely not bear any more children. It brought many emotions, fears and uncertainties. I learned many of you had gone through the same thing, so I thought I’d share this again in case one of you is in this boat now.

Here I was thinking I would go quietly into menopause. You know, wait like most women do for those “signs” that tell us we’re transitioning from one season to the next.

So much for going quietly. I’m being drop-kicked into it. It wasn’t really that we had planned on having more children, either. It was the idea that it had been decided for me—that’s what hurt. That… that was a little harder to take.

This new season is requiring fresh faith. And surrender. Trust that God knows the future.

I’ve had a few months to process this news now but here’s the fact. Like millions of other women, I’m entering a new season of motherhood.

I’m moving on.

Tonight, I felt my unborn grandson moving and turning and hiccuping inside his mother—my daughter.

I have been doing a bit of soul-searching as I find myself in this new season of life—this season of in-between.

In-between parenting a toddler and mentoring a young mother-to-be.

As I was doing laundry, a blanket caught my eye. It boasts a “Daisy Kingdom” pattern from 1990. I love this blanket. I stitched it together in my kitchen while I waited for my first baby to arrive. It has graced seven cribs now—and it’s time to grace a new crib. Time is moving on.

I went downstairs and gave the blanket to my daughter. It’s hers, really. But my heart aches just a little for how quickly those past twenty-two years went by. They told me it would go by fast. But I didn’t believe it.

The days can go by so slowly.

As I went about the house tonight, I thought of other things I wouldn’t need any more, things I had been holding on to “just in case.” A newborn carseat snuggie. A handful of hand-made burp cloths. A breast pump. Nursing covers. I gave them to my daughter.

A surrender of sorts.

I glanced up in my closet and saw bins of baby clothes, and noticed that little green coat that baby #7 outgrew too quickly. I asked her to wear it so long that the bin it should have been put away in was on the shelf months before I finally put the green coat next to it. It was time to move on.

“This is silly,” I thought to myself. Look at those bins, just taking up space in my closet.

And in my heart.

Moving on.

Newborn.

Up all night. The sound of little feet.

Math lessons. Tooth fairy.

Grasshoppers. Cricket catching.

Driving tests. Graduation.

College.

Married.

Moving on.

New life. And it starts again.

They grow so quickly, don’t they?

It’s impossible to grasp the brevity of the life we live. I wonder, if we knew how fast the time goes, if we would stop longer, linger more.

Tonight, as I brushed the toddler’s teeth and put her dirt-stained little feet into the sink for a quick rinse, I had to smile to myself.

The world may see motherhood as little more than a “stop over” on the highway of life but I want to see so much more.

I want to soak up the seasons of my life in such a way that it pains me to see them pass.

Today, I felt that pain a little more acutely.

But something tells me that if it hurts, we’re doing it right.

Be surrendered,

A Little Grace Can Go a Long Way

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A few years ago someone (who shall remain nameless) actually asked me why I am so “busy.” I felt my insides shudder as I tried to think of a way to graciously put one husband, seven children (and all that entails), homeschooling, laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, yard care, running a homeschool ministry, extended family & friendships, bookkeeping, phone calls, e-mails, writing, and traveling into one sentence. After a few minutes of trying, I gave up. More important than giving up trying to explain was simply giving up the feeling that I needed to explain my busy life.

As my friend Margaret told me, “It is what it is, Heidi! God didn’t create us all the same, and what makes you crazy makes another mom sane.”

She was right as usual, and I think her point was that we need to extend grace to each other. Just because I don’t parent like you do doesn’t mean I’m right, you’re wrong or vice versa. If it’s not a sin issue, I think there’s a lot of latitude we can give each other! It’s amazing what a little encouragement can do.

How often we’ve seen this in the homeschooling arena: The constant comparison and need to be defined by a certain curricula or homeschooling style makes us forget that God created us all uniquely. I may never be the Unit Study Queen and my children may not get to enjoy homemade bread every day but I make a darn good pizza and I’m working on having more fun. Does that count? Oh yeah, and my laundry is all caught up… or at least it was for five minutes. That should count for something!

I think God smiled when he put such distinct personalities in each person. What creativity! What genius! What an opportunity for growth in me!

Be yourself, busy mom! Pleasing God is as simple as trusting and obeying Him.

And at the end of the day, He is the audience that really matters. Everything else falls into place when our priority is on pleasing God and not men.

A little grace can go a long, long way.

Dear Christians, Who Are We Living For?

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Well, here’s something I’ve learned: the entertainment industry has Christians around the throat. It’s the new “sacred cow” that we dare not touch. When I was a kid, it was the church worship pastor and his horrible “rock music.” When I was growing up, sacred cows were things like organs and hymn books. Methinks we have been focusing on the wrong things!

Recently, I posted a warning to parents about the movie, “Deadpool.” You can see it here:

So, there I was, just casually listening to the radio while I put my makeup on this morning when I heard an ad for the…

Posted by The Busy Mom on Saturday, 13 February 2016

I was shocked and saddened by the responses I received over something that I assumed Christian (and non-Christian) parents would appreciate. Then next day, I posted a reply:

*WARNING* EXHORTATION AHEAD:On Saturday, I casually posted about the new comic-book-turned-movie “Deadpool.” I was…

Posted by The Busy Mom on Monday, 15 February 2016

Today, a Christian woman messaged me, upset at what she perceived to be my “judgmental” attitude toward other Believers with regard to areas of personal freedom. She went on to list several verses she hoped I would read about not judging others because then would understand that she is “free” in Christ to watch whatever the heck she wants to watch.

I am stunned at our disregard for Christ’s clear instructions on how we are supposed to live.

CHURCH: WAKE UP! We are called to judge each other! That’s right: we’re supposed be be judging things like movies and behavior. Why? Because our hearts are prone to wander, that’s why. Because our flesh wants to drag us off into the mire and muck of movies that bring dishonor to God and quench the Holy Spirit within us. Because God clearly says that engaging in such things is wrong.

We have allowed ourselves to become desensitized to sin. We allow it in our churches and call it “progress.” We watch it in theaters and call it “entertainment.” We excuse it in others and call it “freedom.”

How far we have fallen! No wonder our nation is in such grave danger: there are no watchers on the wall. Personal holiness is no longer a priority.

This is not a gray area, men and women! Those who claim the name of Jesus should know His Word and long to bring honor and blessing to the Lord. Instead, we toy with things He died to save us from and then cry like babies if someone suggests that we might be crossing the line.

It’s time for Christians to grow up in Christ. These times need more than lukewarm faith. It’s time to seriously ask ourselves who we are living for. As Believers, our lives are to be a reflection of the One who redeemed us.

Whatever happened to “be holy as I am holy?” Whatever happened to Christians NOT wanting to be like the world? One day, we are going to give an account to the the Lord for the way we lived our lives before men on this earth—and God has made it clear what He expects.

Watching filth (yes, like Deadpool and 50 Shades of Porn) clearly falls outside of “whatever is good.”

I hope that my fellow Christians will continue to hold me to the standard of righteousness that honors the Lord because they care not just for me, but for the One who died to set us free from “the sin which so easily entangles” us.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

Anything else is cheap grace. My Lord’s death was anything but cheap.

It cost Him everything.

Surely we can honor Him with our bodies and our minds.

Gluten Free Pad Thai {YUM}

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So, last summer, my friend Jane was using a spiralizer while I was visiting and I was fascinated. We’ve been gluten-free in our home for about 18 months and the idea of using veggies for noodles seemed like something I should try. I’m so glad I did! This recipe is totally authentic tasting, because the sauce is fabulous, too.

I thought for sure the kids would make faces and squirm at the idea of zucchini noodles. Let me just say: there were NO leftovers. Everyone loved it, even the five year old and my mother in law. Believe me, your whole family will love it. #winning

This recipe works exactly the same way with traditional pad thai noodles, too.

Here’s the recipe!

Serves 8-10
Ingredients:

1 lb chicken (I used the meat from a Costco roasted chicken that we happened to have.)
2 TB minced garlic
1-2 red bell peppers
1-2 eggs (depending on how much you like egg in your pad thai. We used two)
1 bunch cilantro
2-4 large zucchini or 4-5 small
1/2 cup chopped peanuts (optional but de-lish)

I’ll show you the sauce recipe below.

Here’s how to do it:

Put some sesame oil into your skillet and cook the spiralized noodles until they’re soft.
Remove the noodles and put them in a strainer with some paper towels. Make sure the liquid gets strained off.
Add the garlic and red pepper, and 1/4 of the chopped cilantro. Sauté until tender.
Turn up the heat a little and add the eggs.
Add the noodles back. Cook for about 2 minutes.
Add HALF the sauce and cook until bubbly. If you need more sauce, add it until it’s the consistency you like.
I ended up with too much sauce the first time, and adjusted the recipe here but I discovered something: I could add edemame noodles to the sauce and it soaked up the extra sauce and added incredible flavor and texture to the dish. So I learned something!
Add more cilantro and some crushed peanuts. Stir together, heat through and serve!

Top with cilantro and peanuts if desired.

Pad Thai Sauce:

1/4 cup each:

rice vinegar
fish sauce
brown sugar
soy sauce (we used gluten free)
lime juice
siracha (omit or use less if you want milder sauce)

I know I said that I love crock pots and Mexican food, but from now on, You can call me Dragon Lady.

Enjoy!
Heidi

Cauliflower Bacon Casserole

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Alright. I’m taking a little, tiny break from my slow cooker today. If you have kids who don’t like cauliflower, I’m here to win them over to the right side. This recipe is a WINNER! I know this because every.single.one. of my kids went back for seconds and I didn’t have leftovers. Yeah. That’s how I know.

I’ve been replacing potatoes with cauliflower for the past several years, and it’s been a good change. So probably the bacon isn’t that good for us—but once in a while—okay. Nevermind. I eat bacon whenever I can. #truestory

Serves 8-10
INGREDIENTS:

3 chicken breasts, cubed and cooked
2 head of cauliflower (I had a little leftover but 1 head would have been too little.)
1 tablespoon diced garlic, or to taste
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
bacon pieces (as much as you like) but I did about a cup or so. That’s because I was eating it as I went.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cook cauliflower until tender. DO NOT OVERCOOK. I cook mine in very hot water for about 10 minutes. The trick here is to let the water drain off, so while you’re prepping the rest of the dish, set it in a colander to cool and drain.

While cauliflower is cooking, add cheeses, bacon and garlic to a big bowl.

Cook chicken.

Add cooked check to the bowl and mix well. Then, add the cooked cauliflower.

Dump it into a greased glass 9×13 casserole pan. If you don’t have a glass dish, don’t sweat it.
Cover with foil and cook for about 25 minutes. You want it nice and steamy.

I served ours with a delicious spinach salad. I chose to withhold bacon from the salad, but hey—do what you need to do! If your kids are like mine, they will love this and so will your husband. It’s a crowd-pleaser!

Enjoy~
heidi

EASY Slow Cooked Chicken Chipotle Fajitas