(Pt. 1 of 2) You can raise a hopeful child, no matter what their circumstances. Last month you learned that teaching your child to think and behave hopefully becomes an anchor, holding them steady in times of challenge. Easier said than done. Especially when you have a child like Axel who is literally dredging his feet into the floor, held down by the roots of “I can’t.” There’s nothing more frustrating than knowing he can but not knowing how to help him get there. Although those ... [keep reading]
Making the Connection Between Food, Health, and Your Child’s Emotions
Nearly 30 years ago, when I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism and adrenal failure, my naturopathic doctor explained that the systems in my body were being worn down by stress and the toxic overload of products I had brought into my home. Say what? I was in my early twenties and trying to take care of myself, or so I thought. Wasn’t I too young to be worn down? It was an eye-opening and sobering revelation. About a decade later, when our now nearly 19-year-old son was a little over a ... [keep reading]
Embrace the You That God Created You to Be
Can I tell you how happy I am to meet you? I’m KariAnne. I wear yoga pants and messy buns and purple nail polish and currently own almost every shade of red lipstick on the planet. I watch Hallmark movie marathons and I have hands that wave when I talk and oddly long toes and I spend my days trying to find homes for abandoned furniture. I’ve been decorating since my first Barbie house, and I love a DIY, and for seven years, I’ve written a blog called Thistlewood Farms. I still remember ... [keep reading]
Could Cleanliness Truly Be Next to Godliness?
“That’s it! Starting next week I’m going to keep my room clean for the whole week,” my daughter exclaimed just after we finished cleaning her room. “Starting next week?” my husband asked. “Why not start now?” She laughed at his silly notion, but for my daughter to keep her room clean for a week would be like running a marathon. Heck, even keeping her room clean for one day would be like running a 5k. Sure, to some it’s totally doable, but not for my sweet and loving eight-year-old. She is ... [keep reading]
Why Healthy Grief is a Good Thing for Your Child
On Christmas day, my friend’s grandma died. This wasn’t just any grandma, this was my friend’s rock, support, friend, caregiver, and encourager. She was the type of woman who loved deeply, extravagantly shared what she had, and made those around her feel special. I didn’t know my friend’s grandma personally, but her absence in our community was felt immediately. I am the mom of eight children, six of whom are still living at home. Many of my children have special needs. Typical everyday tasks ... [keep reading]
Is Your Favorite Hobby Something God Can Use?
Joy. That’s the word that comes to mind when I think about @Reagandoodle, the Instagram account that features my labradoodle, Reagan. When I first started it, I had no idea that it would turn into something so big that it would be featured worldwide. At first, it was simply a way to showcase my love of photography and show off my uber cute puppy. It wasn’t until someone asked me why we got Reagan in the first place, that I realized his Instagram account could have a bigger purpose than ... [keep reading]
3 Prayers for a Healthy Marriage
Let’s face it, moms. Marriage is hard. And thriving in marriage is even harder with kids in the home. The past few months have been particularly stressful in my household. Between holidays, school breaks, financial pressure, and the ongoing stress of running our own business, my husband and I haven’t always modeled a loving marriage. But we’ve remained committed to making it the best it can be, in good times and bad. No matter what life throws at us, the one action that never returns void ... [keep reading]
How to Teach Your Children to Tame Their Tongues
Taming is a process by which a wild beast is subdued into adapting and submitting to human control. As James, the brother of Jesus, observes, “all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man” (James 3:7). But despite mankind’s success in taming the animal kingdom, there exists one wild thing, James says, we haven’t been able to subdue and adapt: “no man can tame the tongue.” While we may never fully tame our tongues, we can—with the ... [keep reading]
Here’s How You Can Raise a Hopeful Child
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:19a) Axel lay on the floor, his math page in front of him, fat pencils and a thick eraser spread around him like a horseshoe. But instead of working out the equations, his face was buried into the carpet. “I can’t do this!” he insisted, kicking his toes into the floor. At the age of ten, he was discouraged. I wasn’t quite sure what to do. Not only was Axel discouraged, but so was I. Perhaps the most frustrating ... [keep reading]
Resolutions vs Goals: Which One Works for You?
Happy New Year, friends! With the first month of the new year coming to an end, it’s easy to already feel defeated by dashed hopes and unsuccessful resolutions we began this new year with! I don’t know about you but setting New Year’s resolutions used to stress me out! Don’t get me wrong, I loved the idea of setting them, writing them out in a perfectly new notebook, and organizing them by priority. I would read over my list and think to myself: This is it! This will be the year I finally ... [keep reading]
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