Take a look at this picture. The desk on the left is Mark’s. The one on the right is mine. This, my friends, is the difference between innies and outies. Innies tend to file. Outies tend to pile. I first talked about innies and outies in my Better Together book...
In the Spring of 2020 I had the opportunity to share three programs on Family Life radio. We talked about three different subject on the three days of programming: empty nest, marriage, and loving your LGBTQ+ kids. If you’d like more information about any of...
It happens to the best of us. We’re handling life well until one of our kids just pushes us right over the edge. We’re no longer talking in our sugary sweet voice that seemed to be helping us keep our anger under control. Now we’re yelling and the...
Today’s words of encouragement come from Janet Thompson, an international speaker, freelance editor, and award-winning author of nineteen books including her latest Mentoring for All Seasons: Sharing Life Experiences and God’s Faithfulness releasing TODAY! Her...
Three times this week I’ve received an email or Facebook message from someone who has a friend whose husband has left. Because I’ve walked through that horrible experience, each of these women are asking, “How can I help my friend?” It is truly...
“Mom, will you run up to the mall with me Sunday after church? I’ve narrowed my wedding attire down to two different suits and I’d like to have your thoughts.” I indicated that I’d be happy to do that, fully aware that he has taken the...
Last night I had hoped to make a trip to Springfield to be at our granddaughter’s school concert but I just didn’t have the energy for the two hour round trip after my second shoulder surgery on Tuesday (I had developed adhesions after my first rotator...
Jill: Mark and I spent some time with friends recently. As the parents of several young adult children, they were struggling to make sense of their oldest child’s choices. Substance abuse and crime have landed their girl in prison for quite some time. Mark: Jill...
It all started with a picture and comment my friend and coworker, Connie, put on Facebook. I like my little Living With Less So Your Family Has More car, but honestly I get razzed about it all the time. “What CEO drives a 23 year old car?” I’ve been...
Sex…I could go the rest of my life without it!” I said to my husband, Mark, as we drove up to the bed-and-breakfast we had reserved for a two-day getaway. “I have no desire. I’m so tired, and I can’t seem to ever meet your needs!”...
Dear Jill, Tonight I’m writing to you asking some advice, wisdom, and maybe some strength and encouragement sent my way. We are moving our oldest daughter to college and seriously I am kinda doing the “happy dance” tonight! Awful as it may sound,...
Today’s Marriage Monday is brought to you by Milan and Kay Yerkovich. The Yerkovich’s book How We Love has been a complete game-changer in our marriage over the past year. It’s also changed how we parent and tune into our kids’ emotional...
Mark and I have always believed that teaching our kids money management strategies needs to be a priority. When they were small, we gave them one dollar a week for allowance…in dimes. Then we had them manage their money with the 10-10-80 principle. 10% to God,...
Pay for chores? Not pay for chores? Ah the debate. Over 27 years of parenting, we’ve been all over the map on this issue. We’ve done allowance, we’ve done no allowance. We have tied allowance to chores. We’ve separated allowance from chores....
For some time, people have been telling our son how much he looks like Justin Bieber. We definitely saw the similarity and kept telling Austin that he needed to find a look-a-like job and make some money. Last summer, we were visiting our son and his wife who live in...
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