Ministry of Mothering

Travel Mom Hack: Tuna Sandwiches on the Go!  One of my favorite travel hacks as a mom? Packing simple, protein-packed meals that don’t take up much space and don’t require a cooler. Enter: tuna sandwiches on the go! Here’s what we bring: ✅ Individual packets of tuna (easy to tear open, no draining required!) ✅ A small squeeze bottle of mustard ✅ Individual mayo packets (you can order these online or grab a handful from a deli!) ✅ A loaf of our favorite multigrain bread —sturdy enough to travel well and not get squished This combo has saved us so many times when fast food wasn’t an option, or when we just wanted to picnic at a park or a scenic overlook without hunting down a restaurant. Plus, it’s way cheaper and healthier than most roadside options. The kids can each customize their sandwich (some like just mayo, some mustard and mayo, some plain tuna), and we get to keep moving without hangry breakdowns. 🙌 🛒 You can find our favorite tuna packs here 🍞 A...

Not for the Faint of Heart: Our Visit to Capulin Volcano If you're ever in northeastern New Mexico and up for a little adventure (and I mean hold-your-breath, grip-the-steering-wheel kind of adventure ), Capulin Volcano National Monument is a must-see! This dormant cinder cone volcano offers stunning panoramic views—but getting to the top? That’s another story. The road to the summit is narrow, steep, and winding, with absolutely no guardrails . As in, you're hugging the edge of the volcano with nothing between you and the valley floor below. Not for the faint of heart, especially for this mama with a truck full of kids! But once you reach the top, every nerve-wracking moment is worth it. The views are breathtaking . On a clear day, you can see parts of five different states —New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas. Standing up there, surrounded by vast open skies and rugged volcanic rock, I couldn’t help but pause in awe. It felt like we were standing on the edg...

Colorful Cars and West Texas Wind: Visiting Cadillac Ranch with Kids On a recent road trip, our family made a quick stop at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas—and it ended up being one of those spontaneous, quirky moments that we’ll remember for a long time. Cadillac Ranch is one of those places that sounds a little strange when you first hear about it: ten vintage Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground in the middle of a field, open for the public to decorate with spray paint. But once you see it in person, especially with kids, you realize—it’s just plain fun. A Little Bit of History Cadillac Ranch was created in 1974 by a group of art hippies from San Francisco known as the Ant Farm, and funded by Amarillo millionaire Stanley Marsh 3. The installation was meant to showcase the evolution of the Cadillac tail fin, from 1949 to 1963. Over time, it became an interactive art piece—visitors were encouraged to bring their own spray paint and add to the ever-changing masterpiece. I...

Discovering the Grand Canyon of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon State Park with Kids If you’re a homeschool mom like me, always on the lookout for educational (and fun!) places to explore with your family, then Palo Duro Canyon State Park needs to be on your radar. Known as the Grand Canyon of Texas , this place seriously blew us away—and we weren’t expecting to love it as much as we did! Why We Loved It Nestled in the Texas Panhandle near Amarillo, Palo Duro Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the United States, and it’s packed with stunning views, rich history, wildlife, and—get this— tons of family-friendly things to do . We were pleasantly surprised at how many options there were for all ages. From hiking and biking to scenic overlooks, this park offers something for everyone. Whether your kids are tiny trailblazers or you’re pushing a stroller, you can find trails and activities to match your family’s needs. Where We Stayed We stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Amarillo i...

A Day at White Sands National Park: Scenic Views, Soup Hacks & Sandy Sledding If you’ve never been to White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico, add it to your family travel list right now! Our family recently made the trip and spent the day exploring the glistening gypsum dunes—and it was every bit as magical and memory-making as I hoped. We kicked off our visit with the Scenic Dunes Drive , a beautiful route that winds through miles of soft white sand. The farther you go, the more it feels like you’ve landed on another planet. The views are breathtaking, and the sand stretches out like a sea of snow. We made a few stops to soak it all in, take photos, and let the kids run around. While they were running around, I quickly refueled with my favorite Aloha bar: chocolate fudge brownie .  After the drive, we found a shady spot to enjoy lunch —and this is where one of my favorite mom hacks came in. I brought along our little propane stove , boiled water right there at our pi...