One of the impressions I want to leave with my children is that the home is a place of fun and laughter. I want them know that family life is enjoyable, not just tolerable.
There is enough bad news in the world that we don’t need our home to also be full of solemnness. Isn’t it [...]
Are you like me who just doesn’t seem to have enough time for everything?
With the busy, busy, busy lifestyle of most families today, are you feeling pressured to be productive? I always feel that I should be getting things done, check an item off the list.
But do you consider spending time playing with your kids [...]
Are you familiar with the life of Joni Earekson Tada?
A swimming excursion with friends ended up in tragedy for Joni when she was only a teenager. She dove into a lake not knowing how shallow it was. She hit bottom, and broke her neck, paralyzing her body from the neck down.
Joni was a [...]
A missionary friend in Japan recently sent me this update about her son:
[My son] has gone on a Wilderness Camp with his 11th grade class…They hike and camp out in the open, in groups of 10, taking turns leading the group (with adult advisors). I had been praying for no rain, but also that if [...]
I just finished helping out with a week of Vacation Bible School at my church. It was tiring but fun.
Our VBS attracts a large number of kids from the community who do not normally come to our church. Guess which kids are the ones that everyone gets acquainted with real fast? Yup, the trouble makers.
The [...]
Myths often have a bit of truth about them, and that’s why we often buy into them.
The problem with living with myths is that we end up frustrated with expectations that do not become reality. We beat ourselves up for not having a Martha Stewart house, or not having a HGTV landscaped garden, or not [...]
One of the best gifts to give your children is a good marriage between you and your spouse. But it’s a common experience that after couples have children, they have less time for each other.
No doubt, children are demanding. We give them our time, energy, and affection. Then there’s nothing left for our spouse.
I am [...]
I was the featured guest post on Moms Talk Network yesterday on the topic of “10 Ways to Rejuvenate in 10 Minutes a Day.” I give some practical ideas that have worked for me, that would help a busy mom gain back some “perspective” in the midst of a busy day.
If you don’t have time [...]
A female caller to the radio talk show today asked the host, “I’m a virgin and I’m 24 years old. I’m probably the only one! Should I continue to hold out?”
The host answered facetiously, ” Yes, you’re probably the only one.” Then she added seriously, “And Yes, you should hold out.”
Even if the caller was [...]
A friend who doesn’t have kids said today, “I am going to make sure that when I have kids, it’ll be when I am ready and really want them.”
I thought I was ready when I was 29 and had my first child. Yet, being a parent so changed my life beyond what I could’ve imagined.
Do [...]
Is it always bad to feel bad?
This is the second in a series about how negative situations can in fact be good for our children. Read the first one here.
“Come on guys, let’s go to a party.” Sure!
“Come on guys, let’s go to a funeral.” Silence.
Nobody really enjoys funerals. It’s solemn, it’s sad, and everyone [...]
I admit, we live a sheltered life here in the suburbs.
I’m not complaining. We like the relative peace and tranquility of suburbia. On the other hand, we cannot live with our heads in the sand.
In my zeal after reading about the devastating earthquake in China, I went berserk last night and lectured my 12-year-old about [...]
How many Gen Xers do you know would choose to deny himself of a big house, nice car, vacations, choose to live on $38,000 and give away the rest of his $200k+ a year salary, choose to live in a lower economic neighborhood to share God’s love?
In our culture of excesses and accumulation of toys, [...]
“Hey mom, I cut myself an apple and ate the whole thing.”
My son has never been known to eat more than a slice, a thin slice, of an apple when he was at home.
Now that he is living on his own at college, he is cooking for himself, and cutting up apples for himself.
“You like [...]
