The journey matters most. When people ask me why I write books with my children, they often assume it's simply about creating a finished product. While I'm certainly proud of each cookbook we publish, the books themselves are only part of the story. The greatest gift has been the journey of writing together. As a parent, I naturally become the teacher. I guide my children through the writing process by asking questions, providing direct instruction, encouraging research, and

A recipe, a smile, and time together. That's what Cooking Up Literacy is all about! What a wonderful day of learning, laughter, and family fun! Six amazing families joined us at the Gwinnett County Community Resource Center for a special Cooking Up Literacy experience that combined reading, movement, music, nutrition, and hands-on cooking. We kicked things off with our upbeat "Stir It Up Together" song, getting everyone moving and excited for the adventure ahead. Families san

5-Day Family Financial Literacy Challenge "Growing More Than Money" #WealthBuilding #FinancialLiteracy #FamilyChallenge #Money #Finance #FamilyLearning #YouthDevelopment #Education #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #FinancialEducation #FutureReady #FamilyGoals #Community #Growth #Success #Learning #WhatsStirring #BuildTheFuture #MoneyMindset Congratulations! 🎉 You've made it to the final day of our 5-Day Family Financial Literacy Challenge! We've explored: 💎 Assets — Things tha

#Ownership #FinancialLiteracy #Money #Finance #Entrepreneurship #Business #Leadership #FamilyLearning #YouthDevelopment #FutureReady #Creativity #Education #Learning #Community #WhatsStirring #DreamBig #BuildIt #OwnIt #Success #Growth 5-Day Family Financial Literacy Challenge "What Does It Mean to Own Something?" Welcome to Day 4 of our 5-Day Family Financial Literacy Challenge! This week we've explored: 💎 Assets — Things that create value ⚠️ Debt — Borrowing and responsibil

#Income #FinancialLiteracy #Money #Finance #Education #FamilyLearning #YouthDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Creativity #Learning #FutureReady #Community #WhatsStirring #MoneyMindset 5-Day Family Financial Literacy Challenge "How Do Opportunities Turn Into Income?" Welcome to Day 3 of our 5-Day Family Financial Literacy Challenge! This week we've explored: 💎 Assets ⚠️ Debt Today we're exploring: 💵 INCOME Many people think income only comes from having a job. But i

#Assets #Money #Finance #FinancialLiteracy #Education #Learning #Youth #Family #MoneyMindset #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Literacy #Community #Growth #WhatsStirring 5-Day Family Financial Literacy Challenge Theme: “What Do You Already Have That Has Value?” Today’s challenge helps youth and families discover that assets are MORE than money. Assets can include: 💡 talents 📚 knowledge 🎨 creativity 🛠 skills 🏡 businesses 🤝 relationships ⏳ time 🧠 ideas The goal is to help y

#MemorialDay #YouthLeadership #WhatsStirring #TectonicVillage #PurposeDriven #CommunityLeadership #LegacyBuilding Honoring Sacrifice, Purpose, and the Next Generation of Leaders Memorial Day is more than the unofficial beginning of summer. It is a time to pause and remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives in service to something greater than themselves. Their courage, discipline, and willingness to serve remind us that freedom, opportunity, and community are neve

Family bonding begins with simple moments around the table. Late Friday afternoon, as we celebrated family, connection, and togetherness this May, What’s Stirring Family Foundation had the opportunity to provide a warm and joyful cooking experience for four families with children of all ages. The room slowly came alive with songs led by Daniel and Alonna, a fun reader’s theater activity, and the preparation of two simple and healthy recipes. Together, families learned about n

Sometimes what looks like a mistake…is actually a moment of meaning in the making. It started with a spelling assignment. A child was working through their words—sounding them out, thinking carefully, and trying to make sense of what they heard. When they got to the word nutrition , they paused and wrote something close: “new-tri-cion.” It wasn’t correct. And in that moment, we worked through it together. The child learned the correct spelling— nutrition —and we talked about

As I began learning the kids’ names and hearing their excitement, it was clear this experience was already becoming something special. Our very first Cooking Up Literacy experience at the Boys & Girls Club didn’t involve cooking—but it delivered something just as meaningful. It built excitement. It built connection. And it gave kids ownership from day one. A Sweet Start Before the session began, kids enjoyed free Kona Ice during part of the scheduled time. It was a simple mo

At What’s Stirring Family Foundation, we believe every child deserves not just a seat in the room—but a moment to shine. During a recent literacy festival, one young participant eagerly anticipated her chance to take part in our Cooking Up Literacy demonstration—a hands-on experience combining reading, storytelling, and cooking. Although she was initially selected, only a limited number of participants could be chosen, and she did not have the opportunity to participate that

This young chef helped create our Lively Lemon Water recipe during the What’s Stirring family cooking demonstration. Hands-on moments like this allow children to explore healthy foods while building confidence and joy in the kitchen. Yesterday morning , our What’s Stirring National Nutrition Month gathering turned into a warm and meaningful experience for the families who joined us. We welcomed four families , with three young children actively participating in the cooking