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