“Hello Jill, this is Dr. Nord’s office. I have the results of your breast biopsy. Are you alone?” It was five years ago today that those words turned my world upside down. Yes, I was alone. In fact, I was driving and had answered the phone using my Bluetooth. I pulled...
Mark: Jill and I hear it all the time: “I’m not so sure I love my spouse anymore.” It’s entirely possible that thought has entered your mind at some point. If it hasn’t, it’s entirely possible it might someday. Jill: Honestly, it’s bound to happen to most of us...
Mark: Jill and I and our daughters Anne and Erica spent the weekend with hundreds of moms at Jill’s Mom Getaway Day in Rochester, Minnesota. It was a full weekend of fabulous music, teaching, and getting to hear the stories of so many wonderful moms. Jill: The...
Mark: I am an extrovert and Jill is an introvert. As an introvert, Jill needs her space. You see, introverts refuel by being alone. Extroverts refuel by being with people. In general, I want to be with her–and others–to refuel my tank. Jill: In the early...
Today’s post can be read in two different ways: with conviction or condemnation. It’s conviction we’re shooting for though, because every parent has said these statements at one time or another. We all experience impatience or exhaustion and that...
Jill: In our No More Perfect Marriages book, we identify the seven slow fades we find every couple experiences in marriage. As more and more people are reading the book, attending the seminars, and reading the blog series, they’re identifying other slow fades that...
Jill: One of the things I love about being an author is having the opportunity to start a conversation on a topic, fully knowing that those who read the book or hear you speak will keep broadening your grasp of the subject. Mark: In our No More Perfect Marriages book,...
Mark: Most of us would say we’re “busy.” Busy with work, busy getting the kids to all their activities, busy with family, busy serving at church, and the list goes on! Many of those activities we do side by side with our spouse. We go to church...
Last summer was a summer of grief for me with the Hearts at Home organization bringing their season of ministry to a close. I never thought that would happen. Shortly thereafter, I heard the news that Women of Faith had canceled all of their Fall conferences in order...
Dear Momma who is letting go this month, I know it’s hard. I know it feels like a part of you is walking out of the house. It doesn’t matter if you have a little kid heading off to kindergarten or you have a big kid heading off to college, giving them...
This is an open invitation to all the “Over” moms: Over-whelmed, Over- worked, and Over-It! If that’s you, October 26-27 is just for you! You’ll recharge your mom batteries, refresh your soul, and re-ignite your vision for your motherhood journey! The Mom...
There’s something that happens in August and December each year for Mark and me. It’s a natural time to push the pause button. Focus on home and family. Take a deep breath. Clean out some drawers…and closets…and cabinets…and whatever...
Today’s post is a guest post by my friend Elisa Morgan. Elisa is an author and speaker. Her latest book is The Prayer Coin: Daring to Pray with Honest Abandon. The book came in the mail right before Mark and I spent a week at Maranatha Bible Camp in Muskegan,...
Jill: We’re often asked what the top books are that we read for our marriage. To be honest, initially I was the reader in the relationship. I would summarize to Mark what I’d read. In fact, I actually wrote my Is There Really Sex After Kids book that...
I’m a reader. Of course, I love to read a good fiction book, but even more than that, I love to read books that challenge my thinking and change my perspective. I’ve been thinking about how books have been my mentors over the years. They have affected my...
