One of the most beautiful gifts we can give to others is our presence in their pain. Knowing you are not alone when you are walking through something hard is so important, especially when it involves the death of a spouse. When you lose your teammate in life, it’s...
Most parents hope to maintain a close, loving relationship with their children as they grow into adulthood. Unfortunately, the relationship they imagined doesn’t always become reality. When that happens, the disappointment can run deep, leaving parents wondering...
My mom, Patsy Fleener, showed me what it looks like to have a beautiful, full life. I’ve always strived to be more like her, and I can only hope to have a life as full as hers when I’m her age! Mom came to town recently to see one of her grandchildren in a show, and I...
When we adopted our fifth child, Nicolai, at the age of nine, we never imagined we would end up battling circumstances that would lead to over 100 hospital visits. Today, as an adult, Nicolai has several issues that prevent him from having a normal life. Before we go...
As Christian parents, we do our very best to help our kids develop deep and lasting relationships with Jesus. However, despite our efforts, they will sometimes still choose to walk away from their faith. If you’re navigating this struggle with your own child, I...
The “Perfection Infection” is a phrase I coined years ago when I wrote No More Perfect Moms. Like most women, I had entered into motherhood wanting to be the perfect mom. Little did I know, my pursuit of perfection would set me up for failure. The Perfection Infection...
Did you know we homeschooled several our children for a while? Whether or not you’ve done the same, every parent serves as a teacher to their children in one way or another—in fact, we do it every single day! We may not always consider the lessons we’re passing...
With Christmas right around the corner, we decided it was the perfect time to sit down and have a chat about the expectations that can go hand-in-hand with the holiday season. Whether you’re a new parent, an empty nester, or somewhere in between, we’re...
Dear Jill, Our adult child has been out of the house for just a few short months. I’ve tried to offer all my wisdom and give advice so they are well-prepared to handle the world on their own. I’m so afraid that they will make a mistake or not be able to find a good...
Life is an adventure, isn’t it? (That’s definitely an understatement!) At some point or another, we all need some support through the highs and lows of what the journey of life includes. Sometimes you find yourself in circumstances you never expected. Your...
“God is in the resurrection business.” This is a phrase Mark and I love to say, and for good reason! Throughout our lives, we have seen God restore relationships between family members, provide healing from addiction and past hurts, and turn lives around completely....
As warm weather arrives, many of us find a sudden motivation to poke into the dusty corners of our house and freshen up the space. If the sunshine finds you brushing off cobwebs, decluttering, and browsing the throw pillow aisle at Target, here’s something else to...
The excitement of the holidays is hard to contain! Your young children are anxiously waiting to leap out of their beds to open presents on Christmas morning. Your adult children may be traveling home from college or coming to visit from their homes. You may be looking...
Prayer is the work of a parent from the moment your child is first placed into your arms all the way through their adult years. In fact, the best thing you can do for your child is to pray for them consistently. If you don’t have any children, we can still have an...
Many years ago when I was a young mom, I read two books that I had actually just picked off the shelf at a Christian bookstore. Those two books absolutely changed my life and my mothering—A Mother’s Touch and A Mother’s Time—and the author was Elise Arndt. To say that...
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