Recently my friend Melody and I completed our fourth big hike. So far we’ve done two on the Appalachian Trail and this was our second on the Pacific Crest Trail. (See links below.) This year we spent four days and three nights in the Goat Rocks Wilderness of Washington State. We began at the Snowgrass … Read More about My Fourth Big Hike: Washington’s Goat Rocks Wilderness
God Our Rescuer: Encouragement from Psalm 18
The crisis is beyond old. Each day brings a different plan, an unwanted change. Any sense of normalcy we thought we had, has long since fled. There is little certainty about anything in our lives. It’s easy to get down. I felt really down today. Did you? Once again I found comfort in the Psalms. … Read More about God Our Rescuer: Encouragement from Psalm 18
Why It’s Important to Say ‘No’ to Your Kids
Recently I was chatting with a mother of a four-year-old. This four-year-old, according to others, has never heard the word “no.” Unusually bright, this child is a terror to be around. She is difficult to control, throws temper tantrums, and demands her own way. She does not like rules of any kind. Her parents are … Read More about Why It’s Important to Say ‘No’ to Your Kids
10 Things You Need to Know Before You Get Married
This summer I have several young friends getting married. Mostly millennials, these young women have been asking me for advice. I must seem terribly old to them, but it almost feels like yesterday when I too was walking down the aisle. I had no idea what was ahead and how much I would learn. As … Read More about 10 Things You Need to Know Before You Get Married
How to Flourish in this Uncertain ‘New Normal’
The “new” normal is no longer new. It’s very old. And getting older as headlines change daily. The news overwhelms us with pandemic fears, riots, protests, rumors of foreign and national conspiracies, natural disasters, and… until we are thoroughly depressed. Then there’s our family. We are tired of one another. Tired of being cooped up … Read More about How to Flourish in this Uncertain ‘New Normal’
5 Simple Steps to Pray Powerfully for Your Kids
We had 5 kids in 7 years including twins. Very quickly I realized I needed to run to God for help. I was desperate! The fast pace of our hectic schedules felt like a roaring train bearing down on our household. Homework, athletic practices, carpools, play dates, and summer schedules to plan. Varying emotions erupted … Read More about 5 Simple Steps to Pray Powerfully for Your Kids
How to Pray When You Feel Like a Failure
This week I’m blogging over at Club31Women about how guilt and shame became my companions in my early years of motherhood — and how I learned to change my prayer when I felt like I was letting God down. Here’s a snippet: We had five kids in seven years. Six weeks after our twins were born (numbers … Read More about How to Pray When You Feel Like a Failure
Ask Susan: How to Handle Conflict and Expectations in Marriage
Do you have conflict in your marriage? I hope the answer is yes, because that’s realistic. Every marriage has conflict. Did you know one source for conflict in your relationship may be your unrealistic expectations? Many of us — all of us! — go into marriage without really understanding what it will be like. Our … Read More about Ask Susan: How to Handle Conflict and Expectations in Marriage
