O, Christmas Tree
I love Christmas trees. I love the way they smell. I love the way they look. And I love the thoughts and feelings they evoke. I have fond memories of decorating the Christmas tree with my family when I was…
And Just Like That…
Note: This post is from my "Growth Spurts" column, which runs in Parents & Kids Magazine. I often see social media posts, from moms especially, that begin with the words โAnd just like thatโฆโ And then they finish with phrases…
Gratefulness: Teach Your Children to Look Beyond Themselves
An attitude of thankfulness is sometimes hard to find in our increasingly me-centered society. Attitudes of selfishness and entitlement seem to run rampant, while attitudes of service and gratefulness are often squashed or might even be considered to be weak.…
Confession
A few nights ago, I hit a very low point in my parenting. I was exhausted, worn down, and battle-weary. My buttons had all been pushed, and my triggers had all been triggered. I was tired of hearing lies, tired…
Along the Road
These are pictures of my two adopted sons, Carlos and Brandon. The picture on the left was taken around four years ago, before they even knew there was a family ready to adopt them. The picture on the right was…
Cultivating Self-Control: It Takes the Spirit Plus Some Effort
Note: I wrote this as a guest post for Mary Kathryn Tiller: Cultivating a Faithful Heart Amid a Frenzied World. When I caught my son sneaking Netflix after he was supposed to be in bed, I couldโve used some self-control.…
Making Marriage a Priority When You Have School-Aged Children
Remember when you were newlyweds and just couldnโt get enough of each other? Spending time together was never a question; the question was more What else would we do BESIDES spend time together?! But as so many of us have…
Gotcha Day
Three years ago today, Kevin and I met Carlos and Brandon face to face in Colombia, and they became a part of our forever family. It has been an intense three years, but there have been many victories to celebrate!…
I Am Not a SuperMom
I am not a SuperMom. I do not have it all together, nor do I balance it all. My house is usually messy, as is my minivan. I let my dogs get on the furniture. I hate to dust. If…
You’re Not Just a Mom
Fifteen years ago I was referred to as a โbucket of rocksโ by a man I had just met. This is a true story. My husband and I were at a dinner held by the company he worked for at…
