God's Green America

The heart of operations as a family should reflect a core belief. Every small effort to make the home a safe and welcome place where relationships happen is con-nected to what one thinks about the Earth. God's Green Home presents one's home through the lense of sustainability, helping design and maintain the home for the sake of those being nurtured within it. Greener choices, from construction to dinnertime conversation, improve the green quotient of a household and create a healthier environment for the life of the family.

I cannot express how deeply excited I am to be the executive director of God's Green Home! Welcome aboard, friend. Chuck Swindoll said years ago something I love, "Home, where life makes up it's mind." That's what we're all about. Home is indeed a place where we grow and change...where our longings of comfort and care are satisfied. Home is a place we leave from and come back to. A place where we belong, a place of teaching and loving, a taste of heaven.

Now did that sound like YOUR home? I had to laugh out loud when I typed that because, let me tell you, I was a mother of four kids under five years old at one point and that didn't sound like my home at all! All of us have seasons when we feel our home is anything but beautiful, green and lifegiving. A number of people though the years have come into my home and commented on the peace, order and life they sense there. I stand there amazed because I was just yelling (loudly) at the kids to throw the dirty underwear under the coffee table into the laundry room and grab the escaped birds (whom the dog was chasing) and put them back in their cage!" You get the picture -- not exactly perfect peace and order.

Yet it's in those chaotic moments we choose to start simply but simply start. We choose to let go of what we can't control and embrace what we can. We choose to focus on the potential of life, joy and the beauty that surrounds us. We choose to live life from the ground up. Perhaps you are new at "the green thing" and tempted to think "If I can't do it perfectly I won't do anything at all or I don't even know where to start?" Well, friend, you are in great company. Here is the wonderful news. A green home is just a healthy home that gives life, and it starts with one simply thing, taking the next step in the right direction. I'm glad you're on this journey with us! We're all here to start simply, but simply start. There is courage and boldness to just beginning.

- Tammy Maltby

My nieces and nephews and their spouses and kids! We have an internationally adopted crew! It is a blessing to all...

Join us for episode 5 in the series Caretakers of the Universe as we see part one of "The Best Thing That's Happened To Me."

Come along as we gather materials to create our epic novel series.

Sit back and enjoy the third episode in the series Caretakers of the Universe.

My family gave me a little herb garden kit for Christmas. It's still in the box. My fear is that I've killed so many plants in the past that I don't want to keep adding to their number. But I have a friend who grows a sizable garden, composts almost everything and generates very little garbage. Her huge contribution inspires me to start small. Today I found that the US EPA tells us everything we need to know about composting, including indoor composting for my tiny herb garden. This moves me to take one simple step.

Cheryl Hill visits the people of Benin and checks out a Benineze answer to diabetes.

My daughter fainted at school and we discovered the need to give her more protein in the morning and foods with a lower glycemic index. Would you believe that cinnamon lowers the glycemic reaction of carbs like oatmeal? Here's a great way to dress up oatmeal in the morning for a protein powerful day. http://www.ehow.com/how_2333535_highprotein-oatmeal-breakfast.html

Join us for episode 2 as we develop our story and characters.

Don't tell me I'm the only one. Usually we take it all down on King's day, but that fell in the middle of the week and then....OK, I won't tell the whole sad story, but the tree still stands today. Thanks to earth911.com I learned that the Boy Scouts are still recycling trees with two more curbside pick ups this month. They also will take cell phones, glasses, inkjet cartridges, rechargeable batteries, single-use batteries, toner cartridges and more. It's a new year, a new chance to simplify, a great time to get rid of things I don't use. Search earth911 in your area and it will list all the organizations in yoru zip code who are there for your recyling pleasure...and more. Great resource.

Many towns don't help with recycling, but I'm grateful ours does. Problem is that it's not in our budget to order the service. That might be a good excuse not to make the effort, but I found a simple solution. I have to get the recycling bins out of site before my husband tosses them into the regular trash. (read: not on board) My neighbor doesn't fill her can every week. Neither does my other friend one block up. So, Monday mornings I take a little "walk" with my recycling bins and shove them in an empty green can. I figure I'm making the most of their investment! And no more excuses for me.

God's Green Africa President, Dr. Cheryl Hill and Green Apple TV Director, Brad Bischoff recently visited Benin, Africa. They had a great time there, but let's face it... getting there is half the fun!