18 years ago today, I had the best night’s sleep of my whole pregnancy. It had been hard to be in the last month of pregnancy during the hot month of August so I was grateful for an unexpected night of solid sleep. I opened my eyes at 6am Sunday morning and knew...
Love. Your. Failures. Those 3 words seem odd to say. Why would we ever love our failures? How could we even begin to put the word “love” and “failures” in the same sentence? The only way we can ever do that is if we can see some benefit in...
As you read this today, and listen to Day 3 of the No More Perfect Kids Focus on the Family broadcast, Mark and I will be moving our youngest son into his dorm at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. There’s a mix of emotions churning inside of me. I’m happy...
Today is Day 2 of the No More Perfect Kids Focus on the Family radio broadcast. You can listen online, download the podcast, or catch the program on your local Christian radio station. Listening to these broadcasts is a great way for you and your spouse to be on the...
Welcome Focus on the Family listeners! If you’ve dropped by here for the first time, please take a minute to introduce yourself! If you need some regular encouragement as a parent, I invite you to subscribe to receive my posts by email. That will also get you...
Last week my daughter was at the grocery store with her two-year-old daughter. Erica had been battling Marie to stay seated in the cart. Determined to win this battle, Erica stopped in the middle of one the aisles and re-seated Marie once again. When she turned her...
Many years ago I discovered something that transformed the saving habits of our family: online savings accounts. Initially I was drawn to the accounts because their interest rates were better than any brick and mortar bank. However, now I’m sold on them because...
Every kid does it. MOM… Mommy… Moooooooom! It happens while you’re on the phone, or talking to someone at the store, or just having a conversation with your spouse. In exasperation, we usually say something like, “It’s rude to...
So what’s bugging you today? Are you knee deep in school supply lists? Are you looking at the mess in your child’s bedroom and wondering where to even start? Have you already dealt with a spilled drink today….multiple times? Are your kids bickering...
I seem to read so much more in the summer than any other time of the year. Reading is one way that I take care of me! I’ve read some great books this summer that I would definitely recommend! Biblical Fiction. This book brought the Biblical story of Rahab to...
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...
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,...
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