What Do You Expect?

Stacking up the pretty, but unused plates, I decided to go ahead and leave the holiday napkins right on top where I had put them earlier that morning. Maybe I’ll get to use them next year. I might as well just leave them so they are ready. I tried to think of something positive to push out my thoughts loaded with disappointment. Thanksgiving morning wasn’t what I thought it would be. If fact, it was nothing like I had planned. When I had whisked together the sunny eggs earlier that morning, I hadn’t picture myself moving the breakfast casserole from the oven to …

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The Best Time to Make Up Your Mind

As a teen, no one let me in on the power of my heart. I wish they had. Can you remember how you didn’t even know a guy existed, then your friend told you he was crushing on you? Next thing you knew, you were crushing back. Mental drool took over and he was all you could think about. From there, it was just a matter of following your heart. Your mind hadn’t already decided what you were going to do when you found yourself overcome by such powerful emotions. We just listened to what we were told: “Follow your heart.” Maybe …

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Mom – Never Give Up!

I know. I’m there too! Worn out. Exhausted. Each day, this thing called parenting seems to be getting harder. That’s not how we thought it was going to go. Mom – don’t give up. Don’t quit praying; you might be the only one praying for your kids. Don’t quit believing; the Lord says He rewards those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Hang on to this promise today; His promise: “Thus says the LORD, “Restrain your voice from weeping And your eyes from tears;   For your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD, “And they will return from the land of the enemy. …

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Street-smart or Safe?

Street-smart or safe? As a parent, do you often feel like you’re caught between the two options you want for your child? On one hand, you want your children to be intelligent; understanding what is going on in their culture, so that they can make wise decisions and not be caught off guard. But you also want to protect them from so much of the evil that surrounds all of us each and every day. We want our kids to talk to us and feel we are a safe place; no issue is off limits. Yet, when we know things that are …

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Is Your Child on Something?

She looks different to you.  Her eyes are glassy. Or is that a twinkle? Giggling, she can’t keep quiet. Gushing all of the great things about him, all conversations now lead to this one subject. If she were back in her light up shoes, the strobe light would be blinding as she twitters around the room. It’s like she’s on something. And she is. It’s infatuation. Although it’s not deadly or illegal, it does give this mama heart cause for concern. It’s a drug that can blind our kids, causing them to miss what is glaring to everyone but them. …

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When Life Throws Us More Change

  Welling up with tears, I began my apology to my daughter. Seems like I’d been doing that a lot lately. This time I had failed to order her graduation announcements. What kind of mom am I? My girl smiles at me as I blubber my confession. She reassures me: this is not an emergency. Tilting her head, she looks at me as if I’m from another planet. Not because I forgot, but because I’m crying. Who is this woman? I imagine her asking in her thoughts. I know she must wonder about me these days. Lately, I haven’t been …

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How Children Can Hear God

When hormone-crazed emotions mix with future-impacting decisions, quick answers such as ask “Just ask God” can leave our children feeling frustrated, fearful and filled with more questions than before! We can help teach them how to hear from God. Anxious to be independent as fast as I could, learning to drive was so exciting for me! When my mom compared a streetlight with hearing from God, I listened. Try this explanation with your child as well. You can open the door for a great conversation on your next road trip or errand to the store: Heading somewhere new, your eyes …

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Is Your Girl Dieting?

In my interactions with moms, many have shared with me that this really is a scary topic; one many even see as taboo to some degree. I truly believe God when He tells us in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” He can give us the wisdom we need to speak truth and life into our children, even about those oh-so-tough topics like body image!  You might be thinking, “My daughter is young; I don’t need to be thinking …

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I Just Need 15 More Minutes!

Can you give me just 15 more minutes? I whisper a prayer, grabbing my phone so I can slide the little button under my original alarm setting. I simply need more time to prepare.  Time to prepare so I could face another day of different. As I lay there, I can’t go back to sleep as I had hoped. Instead, I begin to pray; asking the Lord to heal my family member who is sick, a job for a friend who needs to provide and a prayer for me. Prayer to have the discipline to get out of my bed. …

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Teaching Your Child to Hear the Voice of God

Anxious to be independent? I couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel in high-school. Learning to drive meant I no longer had to wait on my parents to take me where I wanted to go. Always in a hurry, not willing to miss a single thing, having keys meant having control. For most teens, middle school and high school is a time of hormone-crazed emotions mixed with future-impacting decisions. If we haven’t already, these years are a great time to begin helping our kids learn the importance of seeking God’s direction. Even if we ourselves are just learning to consult …

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