The day we brought our daughter home from the hospital, still reeling from her miraculous adoption story, I marveled at her tiny size.  I kissed every one of those miniature toes and was awestruck as her soft finger curled around mine. Yet those moments with my newborn were fleeting, as she grew quickly and blossomed […]

Sometimes being a parent resembles a juggling act in the circus.  As the master ring leader, I’m supposed to keep everyone tame and calm. Yet sometimes that’s just not reality. Even as a parent who wants to raise kids who love the Lord, family devotions can be a struggle  Why is it that someone needs […]

You had every intention of growing your children in faith through sweet, family devotional time.  Loving the Lord yourself, you planned to raise your children with the same devotion to God and to love studying His Word.  Fast forward a few years, and if you’re honest, having a solid family Bible study plan can be […]

The last thing we all need during the holidays is one more thing to add to the to-do list, right? I don’t know about you, but I’m heading into the holidays already feeling a bit frayed and frazzled. Don’t get me wrong, I want to be the mom who does all of the fun things […]

(Please note, I was given a copy of The Shepherd’s Treasure to review, but the opinions expressed are all my own.) Christmas is filled with magic and wonder for children.  Before having kids of my own, I dreamed of an elaborate holiday and the memories we would make together.  Fast forward six years and two […]

I was browsing through a crowded store when confronted by pushing and hurried strangers.  It seems as though everyone was on a mission, and demonstrating kindness and patience to their fellow man didn’t make the list of priorities. Mumbling “Excuse me”, shoppers consumed with their own agenda could barely muster a half-hearted smile for an […]

Mindlessly surfing the web, I stumbled upon an article that had me riveted from moment one.  Surprisingly, this post described various ways parents scar their kids for life. Curious and always a bit unsure if I am on the right parenting path, I was floored to learn the #1 way parents are ruining their children. […]

True confession time. I cheat at Candy Land. I’ve been known to throw a game of Chutes and Ladders too. Especially when I land on that super-long curly slide that takes me alll the way back to the almost-beginning. Here’s the true confession part. I cheat so that I lose, not so that I win. […]

“Mom, just let me explain.” “I don’t want to hear your excuses right now.” “But Mom, please, just listen for a second.” You admit it — you made a mistake, you messed up, and you feel terrible. You simply want 2 minutes to let them know that your heart was in the right place, even if […]

As a mother to seven children, I can say that one of the greatest desires of my heart is that my children would not only be siblings, but also close friends. In my case, I think part of this desire stems from being an only child without any siblings until I was nearly nine years […]

As a veteran teacher, I just knew I would never parent the out-of-control child.  An expert at parenting before I was even a mom, I admit I was smug in my ability to raise children who were obedient, good citizens and who loved the Lord. Boy, did God have other plans for me. Now officially […]