Kristi Bothur
Kristi is a pastor’s wife, mother, writer, and former public school teacher for English for Speakers of Other Languages. She grew up all over the United States as an Air Force brat, but moved to Columbia in the 1990s to attend Columbia International University, and has called the Midlands “home” ever since. Her days are kept full with the antics and activities of her children - homeschooling, church activities, American Heritage Girls, and Trail Life - as well as writing and leading her Columbia-based pregnancy loss ministry, Naomi’s Circle. Kristi is a contributing editor for “Rainbows and Redemption: Encouragement for the Journey of Pregnancy After Loss” (www.rainbowsandredemption.weebly.com) and a co-author of “Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother“ (sunshineafterstorm.us). She shares her thoughts about faith, family, and femininity on her blog, This Side of Heaven (www.thissideofheavenblog.com).
A Must-See :: The Little Mermaid is in Town!
In my mom career so far, I have worn many hats. I've been the Older Mom, the Infertile Mom, the Preschool Mom, the Special Needs Mom, the Soccer Mom, and the Homeschool Mom.
This summer,...
Back to School – In July?
July has all the hallmarks of summer in the south. Independence Day. Fireworks for sale. Hot HOT weather. A wading pool in the backyard. Sunset well after our children's bedtime. Ice cream daily, just because.
And...
A Little Advice From a Direct Sales Newbie
Does it sometimes seem like everybody is in a direct sales (DS) or multi-level marketing (MLM) company these days? It does to me! My Facebook newsfeed is filled, in part, with announcements about various sales...
5 Ways the Military Didn’t Ruin My Childhood
My claim to fame as a child was how often I moved (eight times before I turned 18), and how many states I lived in (six, from coast to coast), and how many schools...
One in Eight
I am one in eight.
One out of every eight couples struggles with infertility. We are one of those one-in-eights. You wouldn't necessarily know it from looking at me or my home because my life...
So You’re Thinking About Homeschooling
So you're thinking about homeschooling.
Maybe your child is ready to enter kindergarten next year, and your feeling more than the normal sadness of sending him to school in the fall and not seeing him...
Teaching Our Kids to Apologize
It's a phrase we say or hear a lot as parents, so much that I'm afraid it has lost its meaning.
Say you're sorry.
Part of being a good parent is calling your kids on bad...
A Columbia SC Moms Guide to Homeschool Programs in the Midlands
When I tell new acquaintances that we homeschool, one of the first assumptions is that I am with my kids at home all day long, everyday. While that may be true of some families,...
The Due Date That Wasn’t
This season, from January through March, is full of emotion for me. Our sunshine girl, our firstborn who preceded all of our losses, was born in January. January six years ago is also when...
18 Reasons Why I Love Snow in the South
I grew up mostly in New England and Ohio, where snow in the winter is common and no one got excited unless there was a big snowstorm, and "big" was defined as anything over...
Why I’m Teaching My Children Cursive
Because we homeschool, we have the privilege of deciding what our children are going to study and when. Some of that has been as straightforward as purchasing a basic math curriculum and running with...
Dear Mom Who Already Feels Behind in 2016
Do you feel like me? Social media and blogs are all pounding me with the same message - 2016 is here! Make it the best one ever! Here's how to make your resolutions stick...
Including Your Child in Heaven in Your Christmas on Earth
Holidays are hard when you are grieving the loss of a loved one. It seems that every tradition, every song, every festive event is a reminder of what could have, should have, would have been, if...
The Other Side of Black Friday
As a mom and a shopper, I love Black Friday -- and I hate it.
I love the deals -- we got some great videos last year for $5 each!
I hate the pressure of getting...