I am going to come right out and say it. Raising and releasing spiritual leaders is what God calls parents to do. While there are millions of blogs, books, and podcasts on the raising portion, very little is shared on releasing. Maybe because it is the most gut-wrenching part of our jobs. From Dependent to Independent If you follow me ...
Parenting
Reaping a Harvest in Parenting
I am in “spring” mode planting my garden and the flowerpots around the house. I anxiously await the joy that will come from the yummy produce and gorgeous display of color. But preparing the soil, pulling weeds, and planting is hard work. The beginning of Psalm 126:5 echoes this sentiment, "Those who plant in tears..." RAISING SEEDS In ...
Why Raising Good Kids is So Dangerous
If I polled 100 Christian parents, I bet all would agree that they desire to raise “good” children - those who are kind to others, respectful to authority, and stay out of trouble. Isn’t this a good goal? Blogger Barrett Johnson encourages us to rethink this mission. ▼ Jump to Listen to Episode #33: Blind Spots in Parenting: ...
Is Parenting Frustrating You?
If you can answer "Yes!" to the above question, you are not alone. Even for the most "successful" parent, parenting is frustrating. But maybe for you parenting holds more emotions than frustration. Can you relate to any of these feelings? Join Us! If you can relate to any of these points, I invite you to join us on an Intentional ...
5 Tips to Raising Successful Kids
A few weeks ago Bubs and I attended a college Scholarship Competition. The college invites potential students who have a specific GPA and ACT score to interview for the top scholarships. During this time, we also had the opportunity to visit classes and meet professors. The Engineering Department Chair shared something I can't stop thinking ...
When Technology is Out of Control in Your Home
Because technology is such a large part of our lives, it is easy to become overwhelmed and unsure how to manage it in our homes. We shared the scary statistics in last week's blog post and podcast, but we can't run away from electronics. Where is the balance between allowing technology use and not? I don't have all of the answers, but based ...
Blind Spots in Parenting: Technology Part 2
A favorite phrase of this ministry's is "Begin with the end in mind." It's far easier to make parental decisions if you know where you desire to end up! This is especially true in the realm of technology. How you want your child to utilize smartphones, tablets, and video games when they are 18 should guide the decisions you make when they ...
Blind Spots in Parenting: Technology, Part 1
What has surprised you as a parent? In my 18 years of parenting, a few blind spots have caught me off guard, particularly in the areas of technology, sexual purity, discipline, and raising successful kids. Why do I call them blind spots? Because these are issues that I couldn't see clearly as I traveled the roads of parenting. I needed the ...
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 ...