An updated blog post from 2010. Years ago I cut out a quote from an unknown source and tucked it away. Over time, I have tweaked it a little to fit each season of motherhood, but the heart behind it still speaks truth to me: God is not concerned with how clean my floor is, how many dishes are on the counter, or how tall the loads of laundry ...
Mommyhood
Bandaid or Fix It
There are moments in parenting when we are simply tired. Tired of repeating ourselves. Tired of correcting the same behavior. Tired of wondering if anything we are doing is actually working. I remember talking with another mom about our spirited Little Man and feeling completely worn out. During that conversation, she shared a piece of wisdom ...
Parenting with Love
Updated from July 2010 Some mornings in my quiet time, a verse seems to jump off the page and sit with me all day. I just finished reading through 1 Corinthians, and this verse in Chapter 16 stopped me in my tracks. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NKJV)Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.Let all that you do be done with love. On ...
Starting the New School Year with Prayer
This week, we close the door on yet another summer. In the next few days, my children will begin yet another year of school to learn, grow, and be a light in this dark world. I would like to pretend that this is easy to do, but honestly, like a mother hen, I would much rather keep my kiddos safe in my nest. But as my oldest begins his senior ...
8 Effective Discipline Strategies for Children
First, let me say this: if you have ever carried a screaming child out of a grocery store while abandoning your shopping cart, you are not alone. Most parents have experienced that moment—the stares, the frustration, the wondering if anything you are doing is working. Discipline is hard work. And if your child struggles with big emotions, ...
What Kids Wish Parents Understood
Parenting is beautiful, exhausting, sanctifying, and sometimes overwhelming—all before 9:00 am. Years ago, I came across A Child’s 10 Commandments to Parents by Dr. Kevin Leman. The words have stayed with me because they gently reminded me to see the world through a child’s eyes. As parents and teachers, we can get so focused on correcting ...
What Motherhood Reveals About the Heart
There are mornings during my quiet time when a verse seems to jump off the page and settle deeply into my heart. Have you ever had that happen? A while back, I took a slow drive through the book of I Peter. Before reading, I always ask the Holy Spirit to point out something I need to see—encouragement, conviction, or direction for where I am ...
Ultimate Summer Reading List for Adults and Kids
There is something special about summer reading. Whether you are relaxing by the pool, traveling with family, or enjoying a quiet evening on the porch, a good book can make the season even better. I recently asked the ABCJesusLovesMe Family to share the books they loved and could not stop talking about. Combined with several books I have ...
How to Choose Truth Over Fear
Fear in parenting has been a steady theme here and on the Parenting to Impress podcast—and honestly, in my quiet time too. This morning, in one of those still moments, it felt like a light bulb turned on. In my prayer journal, I drew two simple columns:🚫 A fear I was believing✅ Truth from God’s Word that speaks directly to that fear Then I ...
Letting Go of Fear in Parenting
Mama, can we sit together for a moment? Feel free to bring your coffee. When my kids were little, I would constantly count them—“one, two, three, four.” I knew where they were, what they were doing, and I felt like I could keep them safe. But then they grew up. Now they’re leaving early for activities, heading to work, going off to ...