For 20 years, our family has had a special pumpkin-carving tradition with Papa. When the kids were young, their favorite part was picking shapes for the faces—triangles for eyes, zigzags for mouths, and even some creative asymmetrical designs. Carving the pumpkin also opened the door to share the Gospel. As the kids got older, their designs became ...
Day to Day
Moving from Temptation to Fruit
We know the verse by heart, yet living out the Fruit of the Spirit can feel nearly impossible—especially when we’re running on our last nerve. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5:22-23 Yet there is hope! Check out this ...
Parenting Without Comparison
We all do it. Compare the things we own. Compare our marriages. Compare what we know. And yes… compare our children. As another school year begins, let’s pause and talk about how comparison affects us as parents — and what we can do about it. Here is Becky's story. When Comparison Creeps In “I need to teach Jack Bible stories!” I said to ...
Raising Kids Who Truly Apologize
As moms, we’ve all been there—two kids in tears, one clinging to a toy, the other muttering a quick “sorry” before running off. But deep down, we know that kind of apology doesn’t build character or heal relationships. What our kids need is to understand why their actions hurt others and how to respond in a way that shows genuine heart ...
Helping Your Preschooler Learn at Home
If only teaching our kids looked like the picture-perfect moments we imagine—smiling child, tidy table, eager heart ready to soak in knowledge. In reality, teaching your own preschooler often feels messy, frustrating, and personal. One mom from our ABCJesusLovesMe Facebook group put it perfectly: “I find it is easier to teach other children, ...
How to Teach Volume Control: Free PDF
“Why are you using your yelling voice?” “Please turn down your volume.” “I need you to talk quieter, please.” Do those phrases sound familiar in your home? If so, friend, you’re not alone. Those were regular lines in our home when my son was younger. For the longest time, I felt like a broken record, constantly reminding him to lower his ...
Starting Strong with the ABCJesusLovesMe Curriculum
Fifteen years ago, I was just days away from sending my oldest to kindergarten and preparing to welcome baby #4. Life felt full—full of joy, full of activities, and full of change. But in the midst of it, I was committed to being intentional with the two little ones still at home. ABCJesusLovesMe provided the structure I needed. During that season, ...
A Meal Planning Trick Every Busy Mom Needs
Let’s be real: I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook. It’s full of distractions, but sometimes it delivers little gold nuggets. Several years ago, a friend of mine posted a meal-planning idea she created, and I immediately knew I had to try it. It’s simple, flexible, and—most importantly—it works. Let's go into the archives to 2016 and ...
How Much Time Is Enough?
"Am I spending enough quality time with my child?" It's the kind of question that creeps in while folding laundry, driving, or scrolling late at night. I remember asking an older, wiser mom this exact question: How much time should I be spending with my children each day? Being a high school math teacher, she smiled and shared a ...
The Story I Didn’t Choose
I want out. This isn't fun anymore. Discouragement is winning, and I see no light at the end of the tunnel. Have you ever felt this way? Maybe it’s in marriage. Maybe parenting feels like too much. Maybe a friendship fell apart, or your job leaves you drained and defeated. Life has a way of leaving us gasping for air and wondering if we’ll ...