COVID protocols are easing, summer’s here, hope is finally in the air! It’s been a long season of isolation, teleworking, online school, toddlers under foot, financial strain, limited travel. Add to this the emotional roller coaster we’ve experienced — feelings of loneliness, frustration, anxiety, fear, and disagreements over politics, race, masks, and quarantining. And attacks … Read More about Don’t Miss This Rare Opportunity to Reorient Your Life
3 Ways the Enemy May Be Attacking You Today
Are you experiencing division in your family, with your friends, or in your church? Strong feelings about masks, politics, and racism have brought to a head some of our differing opinions and even spoiled some relationships. Believing friends have been “dropped” because they don’t share our views. It’s not surprising, but it’s tragic. However there … Read More about 3 Ways the Enemy May Be Attacking You Today
Want to Plan a Fun Family Get-Together? Here’s Help!
Have you ever wondered at God’s timing? I have. Last March, just when the world was about to go into lockdown, I released a book all about planning family get-togethers — get-togethers that would be nearly impossible for the next year! Let’s just say that from a marketing perspective, that was pretty terrible timing. But … Read More about Want to Plan a Fun Family Get-Together? Here’s Help!
This Is Why You Should Pray Regularly That Your Kids Get Caught!
I want to encourage you to pray that your kids get caught. What?” “Why would I want to do that??” We had 5 kids in 7 years. Even today, as a grandmother of 21, I can still feel the exhaustion of those early years. Raising young kids is hard for many reasons, but one is … Read More about This Is Why You Should Pray Regularly That Your Kids Get Caught!
What Is ONE Thing God Wants From You?
What is ONE thing God wants from you? You may be saying to yourself: Well, He probably, wants me: to get over ____ (that bad habit), to give up_____, to forgive that person who has deeply wounded me, to reach out to ___ (even though this person has not cared for me), to get my … Read More about What Is ONE Thing God Wants From You?
What I Most Admire About My Husband
John and I will celebrate 52 years of marriage this August! I know, that seems crazy to us because we don’t even feel that old ourselves. In my head I still think I’m 38. (But then I look in the mirror, yikes!) We were best friends in college but never dated. He always had girls … Read More about What I Most Admire About My Husband
6 Tactics You Need for Rooting Out Envy and Jealousy
Envy and Jealousy. Every one of us is tempted by these two destructive attitudes. Parents and children alike. These feelings are often found in what I call the “comparison trap.” It might go like this: I wish I had a house like hers. She has a good marriage and well, mine stinks. He got … Read More about 6 Tactics You Need for Rooting Out Envy and Jealousy
How to Do Secret Valentines: A Fun ‘Family Builder’ Idea
Many of us have not been able to be with our family members during this pandemic season. Adult children haven’t seen each other, cousins often can’t be together. Saddened by being apart, we wonder, “What can we do to build the closeness that we long for?”
Here’s one easy idea!
Use Valentine’s Day to re-connect with one another.
Many of us have been a part of “Secret Valentines” (or “Secret Santa”), maybe at the office.
It’s always fun and creates a sense of camaraderie. Let’s use this idea in our families this year.
We have 21 grandchildren ranging in age from 9-23. Their families live in different cities. It’s a challenge to help them grow close to one another, particularly this year.
As parents more than anything we want our kids to love the Lord and each other. And this is true for our grandkids as well. But how can they love each other when they rarely see each other? As parents and grandparents, we can create opportunities for them to bond.
To foster this, here’s one thing we are doing this year: assigning each cousin a “Secret Valentine.”
