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Monica Swanson
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Monica Swanson
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parenting+ marriage

I love to help you build strong families, beginning with a healthy marriage, and purposeful parenting.

faith

Every good thing comes from God and healthy families are built on a firm foundation of faith.

homeschool

After 15+ years of homeschooling, my family agrees it’s the best choice we have made!

healthy mind+body

With a background in sports medicine and fitness, I am passionate to encourage women to embrace a healthy mindset and lifestyle.

Latest bit of encouragement

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal {The Perfect Fall Breakfast}

Post-publish note: This was a post from (quite a few) years ago, but I wanted to pop it up to the top of the blog…

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CTC Math review
Home School

CTC Math review

Homeschool curriculum review Hi Friends! Since I have been sharing about CTC Math on my podcast recently, a lot of people have been asking me…

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Summer Coffee Date {with FUN Giveaway!} 2023
Encouragement and faith | Miscellaneous | Parenting and Family

Summer Coffee Date {with FUN Giveaway!} 2023

Alooooha friend!! I’m so happy to see you! Got time for a coffee?! This is my quarterly chance to check in, swap updates, photos and…

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Summer Chicken Veggie Pasta Salad
Lunches and Dinners

Summer Chicken Veggie Pasta Salad

Ok friends: I’m back with a recipe! And I think it’s worth telling the story behind it: I have always promised to share recipes that…

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Kids, The Internet, & Social Media:  Seven Steps that might Save your Kid (this summer)
Parenting and Family

Kids, The Internet, & Social Media: Seven Steps that might Save your Kid (this summer)

Timely announcement! — June 5-9th 2023 the doors to the Raising Tech-Smart Kids Mini-Course are OPEN!! It is everything you need and nothing that you…

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Spring Kick-Off Coffee Date {with a giveaway!}
Encouragement and faith | Home & Country | Miscellaneous

Spring Kick-Off Coffee Date {with a giveaway!}

Hey friends…We made it to the middle of March and Alexa just told me that winter ends…tomorrow! — Wow what timing! Congratulations! You’ve made it…

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Spotted in the Scottsdale @barnesandnoble (Shea st Spotted in the Scottsdale @barnesandnoble (Shea street ๐Ÿฅฐ). There is only one copy left and it is (nowโ˜บ๏ธ) a signed copy! Whoโ€™s gonna grab it?!

Somehow this is the first time I remembered to stop in a real book store to look for #raisingamazing so it was fun to spot it, alongside so many other great titles by awesome authors! (I see you up there @karikampakis !๐Ÿฅฐ) 

If you find either of my books at a bookstore Iโ€™d LOVE for you to post or send me a photo! โค๏ธ๐Ÿ™ - and of course wherever you live you can get a copy on Amazon (link in my bio! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’›โค๏ธ) 

PS Today!! โ€” Iโ€™m covering highlights and nuggets from Ch 6 on this weekโ€™s podcast episode! ๐Ÿฅณ. And Iโ€™m just gonna say: itโ€™s an important one!! Hope you can listen ๐Ÿฅฐ

Book and podcast are all linked up in my IG bio! โฌ†๏ธ ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
There is something so very special about the relat There is something so very special about the relationship between a mother and son. (right!?) Traveling with my boys and being away from the regular schedule always makes me savor time with them a little extra!โ 
โ 
But the good news is we donโ€™t have to go on a trip to make our sons feel loved. We can carve out time every day to make our sons feel loved โ€“ if we are intentional about it!โ 
โ 
In my book Boy Mom, I share a list of 20 very simple ways to make your son feel loved. Book readers can download and print this list and choose one a week (or one every day!) Itโ€™s been a favorite resource from the book!โ 
โ 
But wait โ€“ have you read Boy Mom yet? Well, if you have sons, I donโ€™t know what youโ€™re waiting for! ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ’™This book will encourage and inspire you. (And challenge you in the best sort of way.๐Ÿ˜‰) I want to help you treasure these (brief!) years, pour into your boy(s), and navigate all of the seasons well!โ 
See link in bio to get a copy of Boy Mom!โ 
โ 
LEVI DID IT!! ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐ŸŒ๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธโ›ณ๏ธ LEVI DID IT!! ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐ŸŒ๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธโ›ณ๏ธ

Yesterday @leviswanson_ took the win in the @pgatour Regional Drive, Chip, and Putt contest and qualified for the National Finals in Augusta Georgia during the Masters next April! ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ. 

It was such an intense day, but @leviswanson_ maintained his composure, and performed like a pro. ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿ˜Ž

*For those who donโ€™t know (but actually want to know ๐Ÿ˜œ) this contest involves 3 chances to drive (hit the ball long ๐Ÿ˜‰) - 3 chances to โ€œchipโ€ - (hit the ball up and onto the green,) and 3 chances to putt from various distances. โ›ณ๏ธ Of course itโ€™s super quiet ๐Ÿคซ๐Ÿ˜‰ and there were lots of spectators and you could feel the pressure. ๐Ÿ˜…All the kids were so impressive! 

Since Levi has only been golfing for a relatively short time I was honestly surprised he made it to Scottsdale Regionals! ๐Ÿ˜‰๐ŸซฃNow to be headed to Georgia, I am just blown away! ๐Ÿคฏ๐Ÿฅณ.

- Having Dave and @lukeswanson_ and my parents here to support, encourage, and celebrate has been the very best! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ˜Œ 

It is such a joy to discover gifts God has given our kids and even personalities that go so well with their interests ๐Ÿฅฐ. What a blessing to see Levi walk in his gifts, learn to trust God courageously in competition, and give Him glory in victory. ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผโค๏ธ

PS 8th slide over is when Levi chipped it into the hole! ๐Ÿ˜ I love the officialโ€™s response ๐Ÿ˜‰ (and of course Grandmaโ€™s enthusiastic cheer! ๐Ÿ˜‚)
59 years married! ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ 59 years married! ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸผHappy Anniversary to my amazing parents! ๐Ÿ’•

Last night I asked them to share a few keys to their long and happy marriage. Hereโ€™s what they said:

1. A sense of humor. 
-My parents are some of the funniest people I know, but I realize theyโ€™ve chosen to keep perspective and not take themselves too seriously through many seasons of life and marriage. 

2. Living as teammates, not competitors. 
(So good and so important. And sometimes so hard. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ)

3. Patience. 
Ahhh, do we all need that one. ๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿ˜Œ

4. Realizing that when issues do come up they are typically b/c of pride. (So: stay humble.) 
Oh boy, another good one. โ˜บ๏ธ

5. Thoughtfulness. - Small daily acts of kindness. (my dad brings coffee to my momโ€™s bedroom every morning and leaves her a little love note by the bathroom sink. Mom has faithfully served my dad in a million small ways over the years. Itโ€™s a lot of little things that add up over time..)
#marriagegoals 

6. Appreciating the little thoughtful things!! โ€” saying thank you for the coffee and the notes. Noticing that the laundry is done and being grateful for the daily acts of kindness ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผโฃ๏ธ

I am so grateful to have a front row seat to this lifelong commitment. I know God has blessed these two and blessed so many others through them! ๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

Thank you Dad and Mom for setting such an example for us to follow ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’•. 

PS. Desert sunsets are also incredible. ๐Ÿ’
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Recent Popular Posts

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  • Start Here
    • About
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    • Raising Amazing
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