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 ...
Day to Day
Helping Kids Handle Fear
Read an updated blog post from May 24, 2010. Last night, while I was laying in bed reading a book, Bubs walked into my room with a worried look on his face. You could tell something was bothering him deeply. He climbed up beside me and said, “I can’t get [the movie] out of my mind.” This was a movie we had chosen not to let him watch ...
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 ...
Why Sensory Play Matters for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Sensory play is one of those things that kids really enjoy —water tables, bins of rice, finger paint, play dough. Adults, on the other hand, tend to dread. Why? Because they are often messy, leading to sticky kids, wet clothes, and messy floors. Maybe if we could see all of the learning, calming, and development happening below the surface, it ...
Easy Visual Chore Schedule for Teaching Kids Responsibility
When my kids were young, I tried multiple chore charts and posters, but nothing seemed to stick. I found that my kids (especially those with ADHD) needed something more hands-on—something visible, movable, and easy to carry from room to room to help focus and remind them of their daily responsibilities and routines. Just in time for summer, I ...
Raising Courageous Kids
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about that tricky balance we have to strike as moms. Here's just one area. You want to teach your child how to navigate the world—things like ordering their own food, asking for help, or advocating for themselves—but you’re also constantly weighing that against keeping them safe. Then there’s the future to ...
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 ...
The Sanctification Process: Why Sin Keeps Coming Back
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, I thought I already dealt with this sin? Maybe you prayed about it. Maybe you confessed it. Maybe you truly believed you had victory over it. And then—sometimes just an hour later—it shows up again. It can feel a little like playing whack-a-mole with your sin. You push it down, and suddenly it pops back up ...