John and I recently celebrated 46 years of marriage. Over the years we’ve been to a lot of marriage conferences and spoken at over 60 ourselves. The conference that we are most excited about is Family Life’s “Weekend To Remember” marriage conference. We’ve been speaking with this extraordinary team for 18 years. (We are just … Read More about The Best Marriage Conference
Don’t Get Caught
Have you ever found yourself feeling: “I’m just so mad, so hurt—again. I’m not going to share my heart with him anymore. He doesn’t understand. It is too painful. We’ll live in the same house but he can do his thing and I’ll do mine.” Most of us, if we are really honest, have felt … Read More about Don’t Get Caught
Are You Living with Uncertainty?
I imagine each one of us is living with some kind of uncertainty. Uncertainty over a job application, uncertainty about what medical tests will reveal, or how to handle a hormonal teen, or make the best decision, or sort out a misunderstanding with a friend, or understand a child’s depression and anger. There’s financial uncertainty, … Read More about Are You Living with Uncertainty?
Preparing Your Child To Leave Home
We had five kids in seven years so when they reached high school my husband and I felt like we were in a constant state of getting somebody ready to leave! Just as we were moving one into a dorm, we were looking through college catalogues with the next one. And it all happened too … Read More about Preparing Your Child To Leave Home
Perspective Matters
Recently my grandson Fitz exploded into tears because his mother asked him to hold his brother’s hand for a photo. He did not want to hold his brother’s hand! A young granddaughter “pitched a fit” because an older sibling looked at her in the wrong way. A touch and a look equaled tragedy for these kids. Their … Read More about Perspective Matters
The Most Important Ingredient in Family Relationships
“What do you think is the most important ingredient in the family?” I quickly respond: forgiveness. It also might be the most difficult. I can’t count the number of times over the years that I’ve had to go to my husband or my children and say, “Honey, I shouldn’t have said what I did, or … Read More about The Most Important Ingredient in Family Relationships
Cultivating Courage
Tears streamed down my face as I gasped for breath between sobs. Desperately I tried to pray and recite familiar Bible verses. John’s damp hand held mine as he too prayed and wept. It was past midnight, and we were in the hospital waiting as our son Chris underwent a CAT scan to determine the … Read More about Cultivating Courage
Cultivating Compassion
At the heart at raising kids with character is the trait of compassion. What is it exactly? How can we help our children and grandchildren develop it? Here are some thoughts from my husband John. Compassion is having pity, feeling sympathy for another, and doing something about it. It’s the opposite of envy at another’s … Read More about Cultivating Compassion
