Must Versus Might

Today’s post is a guest post by Kasey Johnson who is the author of the brand new book/Bible study Mom Essentials: 10 Words Successful Mothers Live By. Kasey is also a Hearts at Home blogger and one of her blog hop posts appeared in No More Perfect Moms: Learn to...

Post-Cancer Nutrition Changes

When I met with my oncologist after my last treatment he told me that I now have three jobs: 1) Exercise Regularly 2) Eat Right 3) Keep my weight down As he explained, lifestyle changes can make a difference in “turning on” the cancer cells in our body....

Quote of the Week

“The goal in marriage is not to think alike, but to think together.”                                                                                                                             ~ Robert C....

Do You Love The Ordinary Parts of Your Day?

This week I’ve had my grandchildren and at times it feels as if I’ve gotten nothing done! As I surveyed my day yesterday, it was tempting to say that I didn’t get much done. But then I thought again. There are many things accomplished in the ordinary...

Parenting in the Early Years: Take Care of Yourself

I remember the day well. I had a newborn, a four-year-old, and a six-year-old. As a stay-at-home mom, I’d been with them all day and I was exhausted. Mark walked in the door from work and I said desperately, “I wanna make a deal with you.” He looked...

Parenting in the Early Years: Rhythm and Routine

The early years are important years for developing security, self-discipline, and emotional safety.  Routine and structure play important roles in setting those foundational elements in place. When you think about it, life is filled with changes.  Even in a...

Parenting in the Early Years: Be In Charge

Mark and I have the joy of having 2 or our 3 grandkids all this week while Mom and Dad take their church youth group to a week-long youth conference. I’m knee-deep in diaper, sippy cups, and cutting up food at mealtime.  Because of the age range of my five kids,...

Quote of the Week

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.”                                                                                                             ~Marcus Tullius...

My Favorite Travel Apps

On our recent road trip I discovered a couple of apps that made travel so much easier! The first was Rest Area Finder.  If we needed to make a potty stop, the first thing I’d do is look at how close the next rest area was. This helped us know whether to exit and...

A Time of Rest

Austin, Mark, and I just returned from a much-needed two week vacation.  I chose to unplug during that time–I scheduled a few Facebook posts and blog posts so it didn’t seem like I disappeared. But in real life, I did. And it was wonderful. We started our...

Quote of the Week

“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.” ~Peter Marshall

Does Grandma’s Prerogative Exist?

I first wrote about this topic two years ago and the response was so strong that I decided it was time to talk about it again. On the Sunday after my third grandchild was born, a well-meaning friend at church asked me if I was heading to Texas that week. I told her I...

Quote of the Week

“If we want to live a wholehearted life, we have to become intentional about cultivating rest and play, and we must work to let go of exhaustion as a status symbol and productivity as self-worth.”                                                                       ...

What I’d Tell My Younger Self About Marriage

It was 31 years ago today that Mark and I promised to love one another for better or for worse. Of course, we had absolutely no idea what those words would mean from a practical perspective. If I had to go back and give my younger self some words of wisdom about...