Clik here to view.
How to have a victorious year (even when bad things happen)
It was 2010. We sat crammed around a table too small for all of us, but no one seemed to mind. Over the years we had come to love this time away to renew our hearts, eat kettle corn, and play games...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do you really want to start over?
Have you ever wanted to start over? Life is hard and sometimes ugly. We mess up and get messed up. Painful circumstances haunt our joy and bad choices laugh in our face. Sometimes we long to just...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to prepare your heart for the hard things
We’ve walked through the doors marked “Pediatric Oncology” 18 times since November. It’s the place no one ever wishes to go and most people never imagine they will face. But we’ve done it over and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
6 Ways to Find Peace in the Storm
It’s the longest 52 minutes of my life every single time we enter that room. It would be easy to blame it on the chill of the air or the stiffness of the chair, but I rather think it has more to do...
View ArticleClik here to view.
For when you feel like you’re not enough
It was 2am and darkness blanketed more than just the empty hotel room. As sleep teased my exhausted heart, the light from my phone illuminated the moment. The message was as long as it was heavy,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
For when there’s an emptiness in your heart
The tree glistened behind him as we sipped hot chocolate on the sofa. “Mom,” he wondered, “do you ever feel like there’s an empty seat at the table?” I glanced over at the table dressed with sparkling...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lessons learned from the dandelion thorns in life
“We have to stop NOW, Mom.” The urgent plea came as I searched for a safe place to pull over alongside the highway. Once again, there would be no time to find a suitable exit. An air of annoyance...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to help your child obey when it’s hard
I’ve found that some kids just really struggle to obey. Have you? I saw this a lot as a classroom teacher. Some kids were just natural rule followers who couldn’t get in trouble if they tried. Others...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Control Your Tongue: 5 Strategies to Teach your Kids
When I was a kid, I was taught this little rhyme as a way of dealing with mean people: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. You probably know it, too. And I’m sure you...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Cancer is the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
Cancer is one of those things you pray never happens to you. It’s one of those things you KNOW can happen, but hardly can fathom the reality of and so you don’t. In 2009, two of my friends had young...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Blessing of Make-a-Wish
I remember clearly my plans for November 2, 2016. My work to-do list was stacked with the launch of a brand new product, a few business calls, and the usual Wednesday check-up tasks. I had planned to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Teaching Kids to Guard Their Hearts
I remember when I first became a mom. Despite poring over dozens of parenting books and listening to countless hours of advice from friends, I found out really fast how WRONG I was about pretty much...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Reclaiming your life from the grip of circumstances
I remember so clearly the day my husband moved in with his new girlfriend. I remember it not for the particular details of the moment, but for how it threatened to destroy me. Although shock held my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
6 Ways to Help Kids See God’s Provision
The day was ordinary. Down the hall, I could hear the buzz of children happily playing and the hum of the washing machine busily making things clean. There was no reason to expect any hint of turmoil...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Dear Children, I’m glad life is messy
Recently I came across a post on Facebook where a friend was asking for advice on teenage boys and dating. Her question was simple: “Do you let your teen girls text guys first or do you tell them to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Creative and Fun Kids Devotions For The Whole Family
One of my favorite childhood memories was the summer I learned 1 John 4:7-21. There were 1000s of teens all gathered under a giant white tent on Panama City Beach to learn more about Christ. Each night...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Every Parent Needs to Talk About Christian Sex Education Early
I lost my virginity at age 12. Now before you get all judgmental, I want you to hear the story. You see, I was a “good” Christian girl with no intentions of ever breaking any rules. I made straight...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Teaching Boys About Sexual Purity from a Biblical Perspective
We sat together on the couch. Me with a book in hand, sharing a tale of a runaway train, and my boy, with his hands in his pants. All at once my palms grew sweaty and my heart beat rapid. I knew this...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Single Mom Devotional: Encouragement for Christmas
The corny tune blared loudly over the PA system as we stood in line behind what seemed like hundreds of shoppers. With four kids in tow, I hadn’t set out to accomplish anything more than to purchase...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Devotions for kids: Tools, Tricks + Tips for an Effective Quiet Time
The #1 question I hear from parents when we travel to homeschool conventions isn’t about homeschooling at all. In fact, the thing that everyone wants to know is… do you have any tips or tricks for...
View Article