This weekend we had a group of delightful young ladies at our house for a slumber party. These girls are wonderful…the kind I enjoy having at our house. They all love Jesus and know how to have a goo time together. What amused me this time was how the 15 year old had her wedding planned out in detail — …
Finding the Beauty in the Moment
Life is more than a little hectic right now. And yes, I love it that way…most of the time. I’m much more efficient when I’m running six directions, but it’s not always best for finding those moments to pause. Sunday, our pastor talked about PLANs. Most of us have one. I live on them. But I’ll confess it’s very easy …
Summer Getting Long Already?
Sometimes family togetherness can get a bit smothering…so what’s a family to do? I wish I had a bullet-proof plan. I don’t. But here are a few things I do…sometimes with more success than others. 1) Pray. God longs for our families to be places of peace. Which means our enemy wants the exact opposite. So be sure to pray …
Epic-Fail or Grace-Filled Momma
Somewhere along the way some one (Nicole O’Dell) decided I was the do-it-all momma. That’s fine. It’s kind of flattering, until I realize how narrow that little pedestal is. Then I’m looking every which way…where’s the staircase that spirals down from the pedestal to the reality of mothering. No matter how good some days are, others can be called nothing …
Riding the Emotional Waves with Our Kids
Some days just don’t start well. One of the kids wakes up on the wrong side of the bed – and it’s so bad you wonder who replaced your sweet, fun-loving kids with this surly grouch. What really makes it bad is one bad mood spreads like the most effective virus…especially when the younger kids watch and decide it must …
Grief and Kids: a Hard Combination
Recently I learned of a 36 year-old mom in our neighborhood who died. Unexpectedly. Her family is emptied. Earlier this year I lost my grandpa and uncle in close, unexpected succession. One week a part. My 4 year old poked my grandpa’s cheek as she tried to understand how he could be there in the casket, but so utterly not …
Mother’s Day: Pain or Joy?
In the shadow of Mother’s Day, I’m reminded of how painful Mother’s Day can be. It’s a holiday laced with immense pain for many… those who struggle to have children… those who had a bad relationship with their mother. Then there are those who have lost a child. Those who wait with longing for a child they’ve been matched with …
The View from the Pedestal
Every get the sense everything is teetering around you? Then you glance around and notice it’s because you’re on a pedestal. Not one you sought, not one you wished for, but there you are. Some days my life feels that way. There’s the Pedestal for Mommy to four. There’s another Pedestal for the Homeschooling Momma. Then there’s professor, attorney, writer…the …
Help for Parents: Lead Your Family Like Jesus
Being a parent is hard. The challenges are never ending and ever developing. It’s also one of the most rewarding roles many of us have. The delight of a child’s hugs or the joy in her laughter makes changing one more diaper worth it. But even on the best of days, I know I need help and inspiration. That’s why …
Living in the Moment with Our Kids
There are days when being a Mom is absolutely, utterly draining. The days when one child after another comes to me, needy, clingy, and filled with attitude. There are days I’d love to check out — even for fifteen, uninterrupted minutes. My son in this photo is 2.5. Yesterday he was a newborn I was meeting for the first time. …