It's in the waiting room where we learn to grow and grow slow. We’ve visited the same stretch of beach nearly every year for twenty-five years. There is not enough distance between visits for my memory to lapse. When I’m back at the beach, I can access being seventeen and adventuresome. And every year, there is one event that I scrapbook in my mind. Unfailingly, the happenings at the beach seem to mark the movement of God within my heart. This year’s mark went like this: The place we ... continue reading...
4 Simple Steps To Hosting the Perfect Tea Party
Hello Teresa, I was wondering if you could help me with something? I would like to throw a "proper" tea party with my daughter for some of our friends, but I hardly know where to begin! Do you think you could give me some ideas on how to put together a lovely tea party? What should I serve, and what would make it special? I'm all ears.... Thanks so much! Lisa Hi Lisa, How exciting! Everybody loves a tea party, and having all the components makes it very special. The main thing is to ... continue reading...
21 Questions Your Daughter Really Needs You to Ask Her
She was only about 12 at the time. No longer a little girl, but not quite a woman. Somewhere in between the two. I could see there was so much going on in her heart and mind, and I desperately wanted her to let me in. When she was very young, she used to chatter on about most anything that popped into her head. But I found that had slowly changed over time. She wasn't quite so forthcoming and kept more to herself. And it concerned me. So I invited her for a walk one warm summer ... continue reading...
21 Questions Your Son Really Needs You to Ask Him
He is not exactly a big talker. That son of mine. He is kind, thoughtful, and a man of action. But not necessarily a talker. More of the strong, silent type, if you know what I mean? And I don't mind it so much that he doesn't say a whole lot. I tell him that's fine by me. He doesn't have to be a talker . . . but he does need to be a communicator. Not merely for my sake, but for the sake of his friendships and future relationships. Because even at the age of 12, this ... continue reading...
How to Infuse Hope Into Your Child’s Heart
Hope is her middle name. Literally. You can see it tucked in there---snugged right in between her first and last name. If you're new to our family, then you might know that our youngest daughter suffered a massive stroke before she was born. And that our little darling has faced more than her share of challenges. The brain damage was so severe, we had to tube-feed her for the first three years of her life since she couldn’t swallow. The medical staff told us that if she didn’t learn to ... continue reading...
One Daily Habit That Will Make a Big Impact on Your Marriage
It was one of those gray rainy days preceded by another sleepless night with kids that were up –again. I curled up on my couch with my early morning cup of tea while I read my Bible, prayed, and tried to get myself in a good mood before the household exploded with ten little feet. As my brain cells began to stir I started to think about my misery and my husband. In my exhausted, early morning mental fog these thoughts tumbled out- I wonder if he ever thinks about how I feel- how hard life ... continue reading...
How to Help Your Family Love the Bible with Both Heart and Mind
What resources would you recommend to encourage your kids to know and love the Bible? I’m asked this question often. And I understand why. More than almost anything, I want our family to be grounded in their faith---and that means being grounded in the Bible too. Because I'm convinced that no matter what the future holds, they will be well-equipped if they have the Word of God on their minds and hidden in their hearts. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm ... continue reading...
Good Advice for the Parent of A Challenging Child
I get the shudders just thinking about it. How at only 8 years old, she would sit on our neighbors' fence. Wait for their horses to come galloping by so she could make the jump. How she would ride bareback through their pasture and how the neighbors never even knew about it. And neither did I. Not until later when she confessed. Oh, child of mine. What am I supposed to do with you? Except she's no longer a child anymore. She's in her 20's now and quite grown up. She's a lovely, ... continue reading...
A Prayer for Oneness In Our Marriage {with free printable}
Praying regularly for your marriage is one of the best ways to invest in it. John and I have been married for 50 years. We have five grown kids-all married and 21 grandchildren. Yes, this still shocks me! The greatest desire of my heart, and probably yours too, is that my kids will love the Lord and each other. I long for this passion to continue throughout generations to come. However, I know this will take a lot of prayer, a lot of forgiveness, and a lot of God’s grace. ... continue reading...
4 Reasons To Be Still and Calm Your Anxious Heart
Be still—and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10 I am prone to worry and be anxious, are you? That worry usually leads to stress, bad night’s sleep, and sometimes bad attitudes towards my family. Through the years I have always come back to Psalm 46 in order to calm my anxious heart. Here are some things I have learned . . . . 4 Reasons to Calm Your Anxious Heart 1. Be Still - Don’t Worry The command to be still and know that the Lord is God is a direct assault on our tendency to worry ... continue reading...
How to Draw Close to Your Husband During Hard Times
When life falls on hard times, rather than withdrawing from your husband, be intentional about drawing close to him. Every marriage will face hard seasons. Some are happy even when a certain amount of stress surrounds them. Some are tragic and very difficult. The time to be intentional about drawing close to your husband is during these times. It's easy to feel close when everything is going well and no major life events are taking place. But when large amounts of stress creep in ... continue reading...
How to Create Strong Family Bonds that Will Last for Generations
What does a strong family look like and how is it accomplished? "Are you thinking about your Family Legacy yet?” Some of you can’t think that far ahead right now. After all, you are surrounded by toddlers, suffering from sleep deprivation, or in a tough place in your marriage. Or you may be single but dreaming of what your future family might look like. Others of you are becoming grandparents, and you long for your grandchildren to know one another. You are thinking about the next ... continue reading...