We became first-time moms within nine months of each other, and although we didn’t realize it at the time, we both entered motherhood with high expectations. Yet today, with eight kids between us, our optimistic expectations have toppled under the pressures of everyday life. Just like when we realized our carefully selected muslin swaddles were insufficient at holding our Houdini babies’ arms in place, motherhood left us feeling inadequate, frustrated, and desperate for new solutions. And ... [keep reading]
How to Find Your Ministry as a Mom
I used to feel guilty about not doing my part in sharing God’s love with those around me. When my kids were babies, I felt as if all of my time was consumed with doing the laundry, changing dirty diapers, and keeping the house clean. If I didn’t even have time to take a shower, how was I going to have the time to share God’s love with those around me? I grew up in the church and was taught that reaching the unchurched was the number one thing we as Christians were supposed to do. As an ... [keep reading]
What to Do When You’re Feeling Lonely
I am the mom of eight children. I am the grandmother of three grandchildren and the mother-in-law to two sons. I am a wife, a friend, an auntie. I’m not just surrounded by people either. We have sixteen chickens, two miniature horses, a donkey, three dogs, three cats, and a turtle. To tell the truth, I’m almost never truly alone. Even when I’m in the bathroom, someone is pressing their face to the crack in the door asking me for a sandwich or a bowl of cereal. My house has been bursting at ... [keep reading]
What Will You Do with the “Rest” of Summer?
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him (Psalm 62:1). Summer vacation. The words conjure images of a loaded-down vehicle, perhaps pulling a trailer or items secured to the top with a multiplexity of bungee cords. And kids. Kids everywhere. Your kids, their friends, nieces and nephews. Sometimes you don’t even know where the kids came from…they’re just there. In your car. Summer vacations always involve some sort of travel. As a kid I remember vacation being synonymous ... [keep reading]
Why You Should Bring Fruit on Your Next Family Trip
My family loves traveling together. Whether it’s driving to a national park or visiting the beach, we’ve made all kinds of memories on the road. Can I be honest, though? Some of our trips haven’t been filled with 100 percent happy memories. Some—okay, all—of them have involved at least one fight or argument. For instance, the time we got lost in the Arizona desert. (Google Maps said there was a road. There wasn’t.) Or the day we visited all the Washington DC monuments in 95-degree heat, and ... [keep reading]
Trust God to Help You Grow and Bloom
I’ve shared my experience with gardening here before and how I tremble at the thought of pruning my plants. To be honest with you, friends, I have gained confidence in adding new plants to the yard, but I still find myself hesitant and a little anxious to pick up the pruning shears and cut back the once beautiful summer blooms that grace the bushes around our yard. As a mom I want to give my kids the best—the best experiences, the best food, and the best home. I want to be the best mom I can ... [keep reading]
Stop Swimming in Doubt About How God Made You
I put on a swimsuit today. No, not for me but for the sake of my kids. I should tell you first that I’ve never struggled with being overweight, but I’ve also never not struggled with my weight. In the fifth grade I became aware of how I looked in a swimsuit. Nobody said anything to me. I had simply and suddenly realized that I had a larger frame than most of the other girls my age. I have always had more of an athletic build, but by the time I made it to junior high, I had noticed that my ... [keep reading]
4 Great Ideas for Limiting Screen Time This Summer
“Mom, can you add more time for me?” This question has been on repeat in my house this summer. In my attempt to limit my kids’ screen time, I’ve set automatic timers that shut down their devices when they’ve reached their limit. It’s built-in accountability for them and me. But inevitably, whenever their device shuts down, they ask me to add more time. I wish I could say I never cave, but that would be a lie. Sometimes I’m busy trying to get a work project done and need a few more ... [keep reading]
Connecting with Your Kids when Summer Boredom Sets In
“I’m bored, Mama! There’s nothing to do….” As a kid, I couldn’t wait for summer vacation. But that excitement usually faded by July when I realized there wasn’t as much to do at home as there was to do in school. I grew up in a rural area, and we didn’t have a TV in the house. That meant my brother and I had to create ways to entertain ourselves. Or rather, my mother had to create those ways. As a woman managing a household and working part-time outside the home, I know summer school ... [keep reading]
How to Deal with Your Child’s Prickly Behavior
Blackberries are ripening in Indiana. The warm, rainy summer has left our crop of berries abundant. Behind our barn on the east side of our property, the blackberry bushes grow wild, twisting and climbing, weaving their way over old tree stumps and hiding the fresh fruit behind tall weeds. I love to grab a large bowl from the kitchen and make my way behind the barn to pick the dark purple berries. I reach gingerly past the thorns and delicately pull the berries free from the vine. By the time ... [keep reading]
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