We kept on “keeping on” until we just couldn’t anymore. Our 28th wedding anniversary was anything but happy. The challenges of married life crept up on us and clouded over all of the romantic feelings we once felt. Mark felt discontent more than I did, but I...
One of the hardest things for an empty nest mom to do is to let go of trying to create the perfect holiday gatherings. I want to share a text conversation I had with my kids last week. Four out of our five kids live within an hour of our Central Illinois home. Three...
Our thoughts are powerful. I remember the thoughts that caused me to leave my marriage fourteen years ago. Those same thoughts fueled the affair I ended up having. And I’m reminded of those messages every time I spend time with a person in crisis, because...
Looking for ideas to keep the kids busy without screens? We have you covered! Our free printable gives you 30 activities that don’t include screens. And if you’re looking for even more encouragement for managing screens, make sure you check out this...
If you’re looking to Rebuild Trust in your marriage, check out these resources: Rebuilding Trust Free Webinar Replay (available through 11:59 pm PST 1/21/21) Rebuilding Trust Course (available through 11:59 pm PST 1/21/21)
Today’s blog post is a guest post from my friend Sharon Jaynes. Sharon’s new book When You Don’t Like Your Story: What if Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories is a powerful message that is desperately needed. I asked Sharon if...
True confession: I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas. It’s true. I LOVE celebrating the birth of Jesus! I love being reminded of the real reason for the season. I love the Christmas lights and the Christmas carols that tell the story of the birth of...
Is it possible to have a restful holiday season? It is if you learn to give yourself and others the gift of mental health. Too often mental health is viewed from a negative perspective instead of a positive one. In the same way that we need to pursue physical health,...
In the past ten years I’ve walked through a breast cancer diagnosis and 8 months of treatment, my husband’s infidelity, and our adopted son’s mental health issues which included several suicide attempts. There were many days I just wanted to pull the...
“Enjoy every minute because the time goes so fast!” Every mother of young children has been offered this advice. Yet for moms in the thick of it, this advice is neither realistic nor attainable. A tired, overwhelmed mom can easily internalize these well-intentioned...
Do you have someone in your life who’s difficult to love? It might be a sister-in-law, a sibling, a friend, neighbor, or co-worker. It could be a hard family season and your hard-to-love person is your spouse or even one of your children. When our marriage went...
Life is not perfect. I supposed you already know that. Because of this reality, married couples will come face to face with the imperfect parts of life. Whether it’s a child’s rebellion, infertility, chronic illness, or a financial tragedy, even couples who have been...
Understanding ourselves and understanding the way our children and grandchildren learn and process the world is so important. We’re all unique and interact with the world and others the way God made us. The question isn’t, “Am I smart?” but rather,...
When it comes to hospitality, my friend Karen Ehman says it doesn’t matter what size your house is, how it’s decorated, whether or not it’s spotless, or what you cook or don’t cook. The secret to making guests feel comfortable is more about the condition of your heart...
At times, life is unfair. Sometimes we go through pain–physical, emotional, and relational. Loss and grief become real. Life unravels and comes “undone” in a way we never imagined. There’s no one better to talk about the undone life than my...
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