On June 23, 2013, Nik Wallenda set out to cross the Little Colorado River Gorge near Grand Canyon National Park on a tightrope. My husband and I were watching it from home. I was sitting on the couch in my bathrobe. The camera panned out to reveal the breathtaking depth of the canyon and the daunting length of the wire … Read More
Kids Cry a Lot
Our kids cry a lot. That’s what came to my mind yesterday after the third episode of tears in a matter of minutes. I often tell myself, “I can’t stand all of this crying!” Because children do cry . . . a lot. Especially the little ones. In fact, the littler a person, the more he or she cries. Experts say that … Read More
When You Don’t Let Yourself Off the Hook: Hebrews 9
It was a sweet surprise that I’ll never forget. I was nine months pregnant and one week past my due date. I was enormous and uncomfortable. Every additional minute seemed like an eternity! To ease my troubles, my husband took me out for a meal to remember—complete with a generous slice of six-layer chocolate cake. When my husband tried to … Read More
Use Your Education and Career to Enrich Your Child
Have you ever wondered if motherhood is a waste of your education? Have you ever worried that the skills you have developed in your career will atrophy as you raise your child? Do you think that your professional work will fade into meaninglessness as you prioritize motherhood over your career? I’ve wondered and worried about all of those things. When … Read More
Simple Steps for Reading Aloud to Your Baby or Toddler
Experts agree that even when a baby is in the womb, he or she benefits from hearing you read aloud. So, imagine the value of snuggling up with your baby or toddler and reading a little book together. When you read aloud to your baby, you are telling them that they are cherished. You are welcoming them into a story … Read More
How to Have a Good Day After a Rough Night
I’m the mother of six children, ranging in age from six-months to 14-years-old. As you can imagine, I don’t often get a full night of sleep. I’ve discovered that the health and happiness of our home depends largely on how I respond to sleep-deprivation. I imagine that most moms are in the same situation. We’re up feeding newborns, comforting toddlers, … Read More
FIVE ONE-LINERS THAT TRANSFORM THE WAY I HOMESCHOOL
As I go through my days, homeschooling six children and serving the Lord in a variety of ways at home, at church, and in the community, I am regularly blessed by a handful of one-liners that invigorate me and help me to do the right thing with the right attitude. These five phrases come to my mind, and shape my … Read More
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD DO WHAT YOU SAY
Alas, motherhood would be so much easier without resistance, rebellion, and whining. Wouldn’t it be awesome if our children just did what we told them to do? We want to encourage our children to think for themselves and have a voice of their own, but we also want them to respect authority and obey God’s Word. Often, our children must … Read More
HELICOPTER PARENTS: DON’T FLY AWAY!
Every time I scroll through my social media account, I see some type of warning about being a helicopter parent. They say kids these days are too sheltered and are suffering from our fear-laden over-protection. I know that I’m not supposed to obsess over my child’s life. I’m not supposed to solve his problems for him, perfect his resume, or … Read More
The Importance of Wisely Timed Words
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” Proverbs 25:11 It was one of those afternoons with a thousand commitments. The kids and I loaded the van with the snacks and bags and strollers we’d need in order to make the most out of our trip into town. The first stop would be to … Read More
