"I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me." (Philippians 3:12)
"Even though our family had purchased a real pine tree every Christmas for as long as I could remember, I was determined not to give up the fight until they agreed..." Inspire faith this holiday season by reading "The Great Christmas Tree Debate", a true Christmas story about obedience.
I keep stubbornly fighting this battle between my own will and God's plan for my life. And by the grace of God, I keep losing....
Before I had kids, I thought the adage "children are a blessing" referred to all the joys I would experience as a mother. I didn't understand that the proverb held a double meaning, a double blessing...
At its peak, my addiction took over my entire day. First thing in the morning, I'd slink out of my bedroom to start the day with a little indulgence before the kids got up...
God, why won't you rid me of my flaws? I'm too expressive, too passionate, too talky, too LOUD! (Click here to be encouraged through a quick story about why God doesn't just "snap his fingers".) Have you ever caught yourself crying a similar prayer? Have you ever wondered why you feel like you don't fit?... Continue Reading →
Are you feeling a lack of spiritual connection? Remember: God knows you perfectly. He will meet you in a way that is right for you. Don't lose heart: He's everywhere!
You may not be what you think you are. Find out why I've experienced all three "-verts" - extrovert, introvert, and ambivert - and how I've come to embrace who I am today (and you can, too!)
Whatever your day job is, does that title encompass all that you are? Or, are you more than that? What if you lived your life becoming and embracing the WHOLE you?
I'm hiding in my room with the door closed. My family is invaluable, enthusiastic, entertaining, loving, and caring; but today, I just want them to go away.
Whether you're mildly worried, or whether you're in full panic mode, COVID-19 is a common concern for every mother in the world today. So, how should you explain the importance of handwashing to your child?
"I’m praying we get to keep Stevie..." For a parent who dislikes animals, these are dangerous words to hear. Find out how our family came to love Stevie, the shop cat.
I'll admit it: The Sunshine Blogger Award DOES feel a bit like the blogger world's version of a childhood chain letter. BUT, today I opened my e-mail and was pleasantly surprised to read these words...
How More Grace (and Less Condemnation) Can Be Found in 2020 Keep reading to discover why it may be healthier for you to live out a New Year's Hope, rather than make a New Year's Resolution. Christmas is over. And if I’m quite honest, that tree standing over there in the corner of my living... Continue Reading →
“Is that you, God?” How do you know whether a random thought that pops into your head is from God? What do you do when that random thought is so absurd that you seriously doubt it could be God? Obeying God Isn’t a Science. It seems to me that: Recognizing God's voice and obeying God... Continue Reading →
(Names and details herein have been changed to protect identities.) I knew my cheeks were glowing as red as my teacher’s cherry-painted fingernails. Salty tears rolled over my lips and down my chin. While I cried, Miss Winter towered over me, lecturing and wagging a polished forefinger at my burning face. I wasn’t a troublemaker.... Continue Reading →
I get it. It seems there are a million-and-one things screaming for our attention every day. We get tired. We're overwhelmed, and we're stressed-out. When we've reached the end of our unraveling rope, (and even then, I believe God works in our weaknesses) it's encouraging to hear stories - especially funny ones - about other... Continue Reading →
Can Someone Tell Me How to Find Balance? I used to be a no-sugar Mom. Have you ever fed your kids sugar and then watched (with horror) as your sweet angels morphed into sugar-crazed Tasmanian devils? I have. "So, what?" you may say. "Kids run around in hyper-drive for an hour and then they crash. We've all been... Continue Reading →
At first, I wasn’t pregnant; then, I was. Simple. At least, that’s how it seemed when I first found out I was pregnant with my oldest child. Beliefs Change As my pregnancy progressed, however, I began reading books on how my baby was growing. I learned more about the workings of each delicate part that... Continue Reading →
Is it summer, yet? Calendar-wise, it's not summer until June 21st: weather-wise, though, summer has arrived! Today, despite the fact that it's sunny and 33 degrees Celsius, I'm still thinking about spring. I love spring. What do I love about spring? First, let me tell you what I don't love: how dirt and melted snow have... Continue Reading →
We’re busy women - moms who love their jobs. We chauffeur, make supper, go to work, make time to exercise, nurture, do laundry, help with homework, weed the garden, comfort sick kids, clean, act as household secretary, change diapers, etc. We have very little spare time. So, when I need a break from life, I like... Continue Reading →
It was mid-morning on a Sunday, and the stink in our house was unbearable. I lay on my living room couch: eyes closed, neck supported on an armrest, breathing slowly through my mouth – in and out, in and out – fighting the urge to spew. On my right, two little boys (ages four and... Continue Reading →
What’s your morning personality? Systematic Riser or Morning Sloth? If you lean toward the latter, I can identify. I confess I don’t have a morning routine. Not in the slightest. I am a wayward morning sloth. My husband, on the other hand, observes a daily morning ritual that baffles me: Every day upon waking, Justin... Continue Reading →
Every year, I plan an Easter Egg Hunt for my three children. I love to try out new ideas and change things up from previous years. This year, I found this Easter Egg Fitness Treasure Hunt from http://www.superhealthykids.com. With a few tweaks to customize Natalie's fantastic idea to suit our family, we're ready for Easter... Continue Reading →
I once found a sheep stumbling around my living room. She scrambled onto the linen loveseat and, like a dog performing a rounding ritual before its nap, turned circles with her muddy hooves. After pounding a soiled ring into one of the cushions, she dropped down to the floor. She wandered aimlessly around the room... Continue Reading →
Our family is back with another Ad-Lent family activity! If you’re unfamiliar with Ad-Lent (which is our family’s take on anticipating Easter), click here to find out more. Easter is approaching, and there’s no better time than the season of Lent to teach your children about Christ’s sacrifice for them and his victory over death.... Continue Reading →
At five o’clock, the doorbell rang; and immediately, Thales wailed. It wasn’t really the doorbell’s fault. It was the “witching hour”. (WITCHING HOUR: The time of day when a child casts aside his God-given character in exchange for an unreasonable, erratic, emotion-driven persona. This recurring phenomenon begins at approximately quarter to five in the evening... Continue Reading →
In previous posts, I have confessed my weakness for all things Advent related. Christmas is still nine months away, however... Easter approaches! March 6th was the first day of Lent for 2019, and although our family doesn’t celebrate Lent in the traditional sense, I’ve decided to use this season as an opportunity to teach my... Continue Reading →
My heart belongs to the Rocky Mountains. They call to me, “Come home. Return home.” The mountains are my heritage – predestined by the Father, and set into motion by my parents more than fifty years ago… Mom and Dad were married in a white church, nestled inside a little town on the prairie –... Continue Reading →
She would not tolerate the abuse any longer. After weeks of harsh treatment at the hands of Sarai, her owner, Hagar had finally devised a plan to run away. She lay in bed, ready and waiting. When most everyone in the camp was asleep, Hagar rolled off her thin sleeping mat and slipped her tanned... Continue Reading →
No one asked me if I would like to be born on December 19th. I suppose my parents, also, had little say in the matter. It’s no one’s fault, then. But it does come with its challenges. My mother tells the story of how, as a young child, I ardently pointed out to my father... Continue Reading →
