Her arms swung around me, clutching my neck. Leaning in close, almost nose to nose she declared, “You’re the best mommy in the whole world!” My heart melted like it usually does when she makes such statements. What mom doesn’t love to hear her child declare such love?! I breathed a deep sigh and whispered,…
How can we cultivate sibling friendships in our children as they begin learning about conflicting desires? “You—–!! ” Jeff screamed at his brother. Taking her son aside, Jeff’s mom, said, “Son you know those words aren’t allowed, You will have to go to your room.“ “But Will made me say it,” wailed the furious child….
People often ask me about our oldest son. Things like… “What would you say helped ground him in the faith when he was growing up?” And, frankly, I can understand the question. I’d be asking the same thing too. No, wait. I have asked the question. Except I didn’t ask me — I asked our…
How can we teach our daughters bravery when they face moments or seasons that scare them? In second grade, I spent the first half of the school year faking stomach aches. A combination of a new school, my parents’ divorce, and the fact that I couldn’t recite a single jump rope song left me desperate….
Reading fiction can be a wonderful way to escape reality and enter a different world for a time. Maybe even an easier, simpler world. Fiction can be powerful and life-changing. Stories can inspire or encourage us, or cause us to look at things a little differently than before. And that’s why I’m so thankful for…
How can we comfort our children when they face hard times? Today I’m sharing some of my favorite resources. It was your average Central Pennsylvania winter day. The sky was blue and the bright sun took the edge off the chilly air. As is all-too-common in the winter months, I was sitting in the doctor’s office…
Because we can truly gather anywhere and connect with others, I thought that instead of sharing a meal, I would share a simple, little dessert-ish treat. I was talking to another mom at church a few weeks ago and somehow we got on the topic of dinnertime. She and I shared a similar memory of…
Like many babies, sleep didn’t come naturally to my little son. He struggled with waking up multiple times during the night, thus waking me or my husband up as well. We would then proceed (in shifts) to change the diaper, make the bottle, and cradle him in our arms until he was drowsy enough to lay…
When our children face tough times, how can we as their parent help them navigate life while assuring them God is still good and still in control? Four years ago, I nonchalantly walked into the office of our family doctor only to walk out in a panic. One of my worst fears as a mother was…
My firstborn was about three year old when we took him for his first visit to the zoo. We drove hours to get there and I was so excited to introduce him to exotic and rare animals of all sorts. And that is precisely when I learned that the zoo is not really for 3…
A bowl of fire-roasted goat passed around under an inky Kenyan sky, the unforgettable smell of camel and smoke permeating the air. A ride offered by an acquaintance so the foreign student could join a Bible study at her temporary church. A perfectly made cappuccino and slice of toast waiting every morning, crafted by a…
One of the questions I get asked most often by my kids is, “What’s for dinner, Mom?” I don’t hear it as often anymore from my oldest daughter, Grace, because she is a subscriber to my blog (Catz in the Kitchen), so she receives the weekly menu post every Monday, which means (if she reads her email)…
My three-year-old son, Christian is an early riser (not a gene he inherited from me), and loves waking up with the sun or more accurately, before his daddy leaves for work at about six. I honestly believe that his goal every morning is to wake up in enough time to see Josh off to work. Sometimes…
Isn’t it funny how once you become a parent you have a whole new appreciation for the many things your parents made possible for you? As the sunny, summer days come to a close and back to school season begins, I often find myself chuckling as I remember what my parents let me participate in…
It was just a few days before I was scheduled to board a plane and head to Uganda for 12 days with an organization, offering hope and freedom from foot-related diseases. I was excited about this opportunity, but there was no doubt that I was going to miss the comfort of my life and the…
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