Big Announcement from The Chester Family!

Well, the day is here that I share something big that is happening to our family. After years of wrestling with a vision of a more creative life, showing up season by season to journal, write, make art, make music, encourage my husband in his incredible music, support our children through homeschool and giving them…

Living an Unscripted Life

It is nearly September.  This is when I am always scrambling for a good idea for how to make life work around here.  We only get 24 hours a day.  There is so much to be done.  Every day is a combination of homeschool, home business (teaching music lessons most afternoons), explosive creativity that needs…

Pitter Patter: The Story Behind the Song

I discovered coffee shops in college.  I never had very much money, but back then I could usually dig up $2 to buy a hot drink and rent a space at a little cafe for a few hours to think and write and declutter my brain.  I lived in a creative state, with lots of…

Staying Creative While Raising a Family

Our fourth child, Remy, was born 15 days ago.  Life is starting to even out into a normal routine–although we are still eating off of paper plates and (thanks to dear, generous friends and family), I have yet to cook a meal for our family of six since he was born.  I am recovering really…

15 Ways To Enjoy Family Life on a Tight Budget

This summer marks the beginning of our family living on one income, so our tight budget just got tighter…  Here are some of the ways that we have learned to live more frugally over the years.   I’d love to hear your comments about additional ways your family enjoys life on a modest income. Food:…

Creativity and Parenting

I am the creative type.  I am the person who does not fully enjoy watching a movie if, by the time the credits roll, I don’t have a crocheted hat to show for the time I’ve spent sitting still…  I love to make things.  As a child, I spent hours drawing pictures and writing stories…