There's no sense in looking back when you can look ahead to see what God has for you in the new year! 2020, a hard year. Disappointments, illnesses, political turmoil, personal losses, racial unrest, pandemic fatigue, fears for the future. But now? As we move into 2021 be encouraged. God has something new and good for you. Winter can be bleak, cold, and just plain blah. Yet in His magnificent creation, God has given us beautiful metaphors of His handiwork. When we look outside, it may seem ... continue reading...
Couch to Table 2021 and Easy Garlic Spaghetti
It's okay to keep things simple so here is an easy spaghetti recipe to help you do just that! The year 2020 will inevitably go down in history for many reasons, but one of the things we'll remember is that it was the year we had to pivot from many of the plans and ideas we had intended and simply stay home instead. Like a lot of women in the early spring of 2020, with nowhere to go, I relaxed and wore mostly loungewear (i.e. sweats!) because I wasn’t going anywhere, it was comfortable, and I ... continue reading...
Historical Fiction Series I Think You’ll Love
History was never my favorite subject. But a good historical fiction series? You've got my attention. Important dates evaded my memory. Events blurred together. It all frustrated me (and my teacher—my mom!) to no end. I loved to read, however. I was often found with a book in hand hours before breakfast. To me, having to do my schoolwork before I got to read a book was the cruelest and most unusual punishment a day could hold. But the more books I read like Johnny Tremain, Carry On, ... continue reading...
5 Helpful Ideas to Strengthen Your Marriage
Don't allow the busyness or hardships of life to make you lose sight of how special your spouse is and why you married him. Make an effort every day to strengthen your marriage. I have been married for 16 years and with every passing day, I aim to help my marriage grow. Through every little daily interaction, to big life decisions. My husband and I said from the beginning that divorce was not an option. The thing about divorce is that it is never a sudden incident that leads to divorce. It's ... continue reading...
3 Reasons A Planner Makes Me Happy {& Which Is My Favorite One}
*Yes! It's that time of year again! The time to plan for. . . planning. And as I often get asked, "What's that planner you like so much again?" Here it is and why.... ~ Lisa I am a planner. You can ask my husband, and he’ll tell you. It’s something he has learned about me and even come to appreciate about me. Sometimes my kids appreciate it too – and sometimes, it frustrates them. And they all like to tease me about it. Whispering in hushed tones, "It's Mom and Her Planner" as if ... continue reading...
When Healing Comes Slowly: Hope in Suffering Seasons
It’s tough to escape hard times unscathed. Even when the worst of things hasn’t landed on your front door, the ancillary effects of widespread disappointment, rampant frustration and fear, impact all of us to some extent. Friends disagree, families dissent, and disapproval and disputes disease hearts and relationships miles from the epicenter of any given issue. The tug-o-war between hope and hopelessness can feel fierce at times. The tether frays. This year has upped the game. How Can We ... continue reading...
12 Wholesome Gifts for Your Christian Tweens and Teens
Finding good, wholesome gifts for teens, tweens, and kids can be extra challenging. Here are some great ideas! Four of them. I'm serious! We have four teens in our home right now. Tweens are kids ages 8 to 12 years old. Teens...well, I'm guessing you already know about them. And since we have a 14 and 16...and 18 years old...in our home this Christmas. You can imagine I've been thinking hard this year on what would be wonderful and wholesome gifts for our teens. Both boys and ... continue reading...
One Crucial Way a Wife Can Improve Communication in Her Marriage
Communication is one of the most common marital challenges. If we can change one thing in our communicating, let it start here. I do it occasionally and sometimes don't even realize I'm doing it. It starts off as a little annoyance and as I turn it over in my mind, it begins to turn into anger and then into bitterness and resentment. I have this imaginary conversation in my head that my husband knows nothing about. The next thing I know, I am snapping at him for not helping me clean the ... continue reading...
12 Simply Special Gift Ideas for Every Friend and Sister On Your Christmas List
What lovely gift can I get for my friend? That's the question that's been going through my mind. I'd like to come up with something special, but that fits into our small Christmas budget as well. You probably know what I'm talking about here. I could get all the "regulars" - those "specials" that are displayed at the same stores we both shop at, but that feels a bit lame. I want something more. But that costs less. And those kinds of gifts are much harder to find. So ... continue reading...
Finding Hope in the Heartache
Heartache can feel so heavy and so overwhelming. Where is there room for hope? Have you ever been so heartbroken that you just didn't see how you would make it through the day? Have you ever been so burdened down by life that you felt hopeless? I remember sitting on my couch on New Year's Eve watching TV. I'd put the boys to bed at their usual time and couldn't find anything on TV to watch I just turned to some sort of countdown and stared blankly at the screen for the next few ... continue reading...
Surprisingly Romantic Gift Ideas for The Man You Love
*Looking for a romantic gift for that special guy? Here are over a dozen wonderful gift ideas! We are hopeless romantics. He and I. And I still enjoy finding that perfect romantic gift for him. We still hold hands, kiss on the lips, and give little love-gifts and whisper words of kindness. And while we recognize that this is only small stuff, we consider such things as a kind of glue that connects our two hearts. So we keep it going. Even after all these years. Even though it goes ... continue reading...
Classic Thanksgiving Traditions for Any Present Day Family
This year may call for a few new Thanksgiving traditions, wouldn't you say? :) I’ll admit it was a bit early, but this year I began thinking about Thanksgiving in August. Not a lot mind you because we were in the throes of planning Laura’s wedding, but I knew which of our six kids were coming with their families, so I found myself thinking about sleeping spaces and how we’d juggle it all. For most of our children, it’s an every other year arrival. We do have to share with their spouses’ ... continue reading...