Her slumped shoulders and darkened eyes said it all. Her social media posts send flares of warning to the skies begging someone to provide hope and help. She is the epidemy of yet another absolutely, positively overwhelmed and exhausted mom. It's not a new look. I've seen the haunting images at church. At ...
Day to Day
Gratitude: Your Key to Beating Burnout
Some research shows an astounding 93% of mothers feel burned out today. By definition, "burnout is an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion." 93% of moms are burned out. Can you relate? I know exactly how you feel. I’ve experienced that overwhelming exhaustion from rushing between activities. I’ve felt drained from the endless ...
Empowering Healthy Independence in Your Children
There’s a famous parenting quote that states: “Never do for a child what he can do for himself.” This idea makes me think of the parent who carries her child’s backpack to school or makes a teenager’s lunch daily. While it’s easy to do these things out of love, I often wonder if we’re truly loving our kids the best way possible when we do all the ...
What’s a Christian to Do with the Enneagram?
I find the brain fascinating. How God created each person beautifully unique, yet with similar traits, is humbling and amazing. That's probably why I have enjoyed learning about personalities. It has helped me understand myself, work with others, and better parent my kids. My favorite personality resource is the Enneagram. This guide became ...
How Chores Can Help Reduce Child Anxiety
Growing up on a farm, work was a significant part of my life. Whether it was loading livestock into the trailer, preserving vegetables from the garden, or cutting thistles when the grass was waist-high, there was always something to be done. It took everyone working together to stay on top of it. However, I believe that working together has many ...
How to Create and Use a Prayer Journal to Deepen Your Faith
If I were asked what has had the biggest impact on my spiritual life, I would say, without hesitation, my prayer journal. However, it's important to know that my experience with prayer journals hasn't always been great. Each time I purchased or received a prayer journal, excitement overflowed as I imagined that this journal would suddenly ...
Elevate Your Parenting with Effective Communication
Did you hear the exciting news? The Parenting to Impress Podcast has been named #38 in the Top Two-Mom Podcasts! It's an incredible honor, especially considering there are thousands of mom podcasts out there. Yet you choose to sit down with Melanie and me! Thank you for being part of this journey with us. For listening, sharing, ...
Letting Go with Love: The Journey of Biblical Parenting
Updated and reposted 2020. Parenting in the Franz house is emotionally arduous right now. Bubs, at 16, is embracing new responsibilities such as driving to school and starting a part-time job. It's as if he's spreading his wings to prepare for flight right before my eyes. I find myself wondering: When did the little boy who was the ...
Summer Goals for Every Age {Free Printable}
I love summertime. Just thinking about the slower pace, evenings spent outside, camping trips, gardening, and ab-building laughter with friends puts a smile on my face. Looking back through my past blog posts, I’m reminded of how much has changed—three of our four children now have summer jobs! But some things remain the same. We still use these ...
Announcing the ABCJesusLovesMe 100 Hours Outside Play Challenge!
Are you ready to say goodbye to couch potato days and hello to vibrant outdoor adventures filled with play, learning, and essential Vitamin D? Join the ABCJesusLovesMe 100 Hours Outside Play Challenge and watch your child thrive, and your life get easier! The Challenge Our goal is simple: Spend 100 hours outside with your child or students ...