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...
Ask any parent and they will tell you all the things they have sacrificed for their newborn, toddler, child, teen, or young adult. When Mark and I were in the thick of parenting, we often sacrificed our time, energy, finances, and more for our family. We still do at...
Dear mama, Thinking back, I remember the days each of my children joined our family like it was yesterday. The excitement. The fear. The love. The anxiousness. The unknown. I’m sure you do as well. For our biological children, I remember the hospital. I remember...
Does it ever feel like your child does more wrong than they do right? As a parent, we know our kids aren’t failures. They can fail a quiz here and there, not win a tournament, and not earn a raise during their first job review, but none of that makes them failures....
Today, Mark is joining me to talk about an important, though often forgotten, topic: listening. Listening is a skill that takes practice, focus, and a willingness to set aside our thoughts and engage with others. It’s not always easy, but when we put in the effort,...
There comes a time when every child steps into adulthood and starts to make their own choices. Some of those choices are ones we agree with, while others are not. How can we reconcile our relationship with our adult children, even in the face of our own heartache? How...
It’s no secret that I love to read! I often share what I’m reading on social media. I love to read before bed, and I usually can get through a few books while on vacation. A love of reading can come naturally, but it can also be nurtured and developed at...
You know, I can relate to many moms because of my personal experiences. I can relate to adoptive moms, empty nest moms, moms who have had breast cancer, those struggling with marriage issues, and so many other scenarios. However, there is a scenario that I do not...
It can be hard to transition from actively parenting your children to doing life alongside them once they become adults. Whether you are quickly approaching this season or are currently in it, I want you to know that you can experience a richer, deeper, more...
It can be hard to transition from actively parenting your children to doing life alongside them once they become adults. Whether you are quickly approaching this season or are currently in it, I want you to know that you can experience a richer, deeper, more...
Will your nest never be empty? If that’s not you, do you know someone who is in that situation? Something that isn’t often talked about is the experience where you will never have an “empty nest.” The never-empty nest occurs when we have a child that is...
A few weeks ago, Mark and I awoke to a 6am text from our daughter-in-love. “When you guys wake up, can you give me a call?” She and our son Austin were scheduled to leave for Mexico within 24 hours and her mom was to keep the kids for their seven-day trip....
Raising a daughter in today’s social-media-oriented, crazy world can be challenging! As our daughters grow up, we actually have some growing to do, too. What does it look like for us to really love our daughters well? How can we mature in an effort to remain an...
Graduation season is upon us! You’re probably starting to see pictures across social media of graduation ceremonies and celebrations. I remember when each of my children graduated from high school, and the swirl of emotions I felt. Will they be okay? Did I do a...
Have you ever heard the term “conversational intelligence?” I hadn’t before, but my guest today is an expert in it! Too often, parents of teenagers or young adults miss out on connecting because we aren’t approaching conversations in the right...
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