It’s February, the “LOVE month.” Stores are packed with Valentine gifts, cards, and candy galore. Young men are planning to propose; offices are hosting parties. Secret Valentines are writing notes and leaving mysterious gifts. One year, when our kids were elementary age, we drew names for secret Valentines during the week preceding the day! It … Read More about Is Love Getting Superficial?
The Importance of Not Growing Lazy in Your Marriage
Recently, I’ve run into a lot of women whose marriages have grown stale. Some are hanging in there, and others are choosing to leave. Some have extremely painful reasons, yet others have simply let boredom and a lack of work dim the joys of what they had once anticipated. Have we become lazy in our … Read More about The Importance of Not Growing Lazy in Your Marriage
Three Promises You Can Count on for the New Year
In today’s world, promises often don’t mean very much. Too often, they are broken or simply never fulfilled. Instinctively, we know we can’t count on someone’s word. It can be hard to trust each other. Yet something in us longs for one who is trustworthy, one who will come through, one who will never leave … Read More about Three Promises You Can Count on for the New Year
Are You Overparenting? Raising Children To Make A Positive Impact
Letting go, keeping tabs, setting limits, extending grace—it all seems to get muddled in our role as parents. How do we know what to do? What is right? There is so much pressure on parents today to make sure they are doing this right. There is way too much advice on what a good parent … Read More about Are You Overparenting? Raising Children To Make A Positive Impact
Why We All Need Multigenerational Friends
Recently, I spent three days away with three friends. The unusual thing about this group was that we are four friends from four different decades. Okay, I’m the oldest, and I felt honored to have this time with these amazing younger women. We are all writers, speakers, moms, and three of us are grandmothers. We … Read More about Why We All Need Multigenerational Friends
A Short Devotional for Your Day Today — Joy
What comes to your mind when you hear the word JOY? I can’t churn up joy anymore. I am so done. There’s too much pain in my family, my circles, our country, our world. As a believer, I know I should rejoice, but it’s too hard right now. I do feel guilty for my lack … Read More about A Short Devotional for Your Day Today — Joy
Family Camp: Turning Things Over
We recently celebrated our annual Family Camp! For four days over Labor Day weekend, we hosted 35 family members at our small farm. This year, we had approximately 16 teenagers and 7 young adults. Four college kids flew in. Only parents are guaranteed beds, and gracious neighbors lend us bedrooms. Kids sleep on floors, the … Read More about Family Camp: Turning Things Over
My 9th Big Hike
The one word both Melody, my hiking buddy, and I each came up with to describe our hike this year was stillness. We soaked in raw beauty, lush green vegetation, running creeks, beautiful lakes, fascinating hikers, rocky trails, and worn-out bodies. So why stillness? Both of us left demanding worlds: depressing news shows, friends in … Read More about My 9th Big Hike
