Recently a friend asked me, Susan, I often feel like our conversations with our adult kids and extended family members are superficial. How can we encourage conversations to go to a deeper level?” Another mother remarked, My teenager doesn’t talk. How can we get our kids to engage with others more naturally in conversations-both in … Read More about How to Engage in Meaningful Conversations in a Superficial World
6 Powerful Steps to Resolve and Prevent Conflict in Marriage
This week I’m blogging over at Club31Women about some lessons John and I have learned in our 51+ years of marriage. The truth is, every marriage has conflict. You need to know how to handle it well — and how to resolve it with love. I hope these ideas are helpful to you! So, do … Read More about 6 Powerful Steps to Resolve and Prevent Conflict in Marriage
A Fresh Approach to Retirement: Four Things You Need to Know
A few years ago my friend Barbara Rainey and I were either in or approaching the season of the empty nest. Another friend who was a few years younger asked us, How do you navigate the empty nest? I want to prepare. What do you do?” Bursting out in laughter we responded, We have no … Read More about A Fresh Approach to Retirement: Four Things You Need to Know
When Your Daughter or Granddaughter Gets Married
Weddings evoke a tremendous array of emotions: pride, joy, relief, fear, gratitude, hope, regret, sadness. And a sense of unreality. Of numbness. How did this happen so quickly? I remember when she was born. I don’t feel old enough to be the mother or grandmother. A month ago our first grandchild got married. Due to … Read More about When Your Daughter or Granddaughter Gets Married
The Gift of a Hard Season
Are you in a hard season? I imagine most of us are. Stuck at home, overseeing online school or homeschooling for the first time, trying to work remotely, worried about ill family members, tough finances, political unrest, disagreements with those whose views are different than ours. We’re tired of each other and long for time … Read More about The Gift of a Hard Season
10 Things Every Man Needs to Know About Marriage
Some time ago I published a popular blog titled, “10 Things You Need to Know Before You Get Married.” I wrote it mainly for women; however, it did apply to both men and women. One reader wrote back asking that something similar be written for men. I thought this was a great idea, so I … Read More about 10 Things Every Man Needs to Know About Marriage
My Fourth Big Hike: Washington’s Goat Rocks Wilderness
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
