It is just a few days into the new year and I wonder how many of you have dropped the resolution(s) you made for 2023? Or maybe you never made one to begin with. How often do we make goals only to feel like a failure when we can't keep them? Maybe resolutions are dumb and we are actually setting ourselves up for failure. This was my sentiment ...
Best Soup Recipes
I turned to our Facebook community because I needed help getting out of a rut. A soup rut. The answers flowed in - 363 comments to be exact - suggesting soups to add to my repertoire. Knowing this list was too good to lose, I created a combined directory to reference. I know you will want to keep this collection as well (Pin ...
Will You Walk with Me?
Her slumped shoulders and tired eyes said it all. A look that I have seen so many times at church… in restaurants… at the park… at Walmart. The same image sometimes reflected in the mirror. This is the image of mommas who are absolutely, positively overwhelmed and exhausted. My heart hurts each time I cross ...
How to Teach Your Child to Receive a Gift
My kiddos loved to open presents when they were young. I cringed as each bow came off. Sounds crazy that I wouldn’t enjoy watching my young children open gifts. But in reality, I feared birthdays and Christmases wondering what shocking statements my children would make upon unwrapping a gift. This was especially true of Bubs and Little Man ...
Secrets, Giveaways…Oh My!
Have you heard the news? This week I am making a BIG announcement. And what God has put together has ignited a fire in my purpose! The gist of this announcement is pretty simple: I want to help women who are struggling with the same things I struggled with – burnout, grouchiness, loneliness, feeling inadequate…the list goes on. I tried ...
How to Get a Child to Stay in Bed, Part 2
After 3 1/2 weeks of returning Little Man to his bed, we conquered the war! If you read Part 1 of this series, you know that this didn't happen without consistency. Some kiddos don't put up much of a fight at bedtime. But then there are those who are relentless. The above three key points made all of the difference with our spirited Little ...
How to Get a Child to Stay in Bed, Part 1
Kids don't want to go to bed, while adults long for bedtime. Oh the irony! And I think it is these contrasting bedtime goals that can make nights so challenging. But I have some easy tips that will remove the battle and will help your child stay in bed. To begin, let me share a blog post I wrote on May 10, 2010. Little Man was almost 2 and ...
Happy Birthday Jesus Party {Giveaway}
With the vast commercialism of the holiday, Christmas can feel like the whole world is shouting at my children to want more things. As a Christ follower I know this isn't what God desires for Christmas, but that doesn't mean it's any less overwhelming. So what's a Christian to do? How are we, as parents and teachers, to teach our children and ...
Is Your Child Meeting Pragmatic Milestones?
I remember it like it was yesterday. Bubs was laying on the floor, playing with a friend's baby. He looked at me, circled his face with his finger, and said, "I don't know what this means." He knew that the baby was telling him something but didn't understand what her face was sharing. After talking about her eyes, mouth, and body language, he ...
Do You Understand Pragmatics?
Pragmatics. Depending on your education and experiences, pragmatics may or may not be a word that you are familiar with. Even with my education background, it wasn't until we were neck deep in Bubs' delays that I began to understand what pragmatics is and why it is so important. What is Pragmatics? Pragmatics is the study of language ...