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Bible Reading – Book vs. Electronic
I’m a reader. I love reading books in any format, whether the good old paper version or an electronic version on my smartphone or Nook. I find I’m reading more and more electronically, including my...
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Lessons from a Live-In Grandparent
We recently moved my husband’s dad in with us. He’d had some health issues and none of us, including him, were comfortable with him living alone anymore. My daughter had to move to an upstairs bedroom...
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Raising Content Children
Society pushes us to want more, always reach for the next rung on the ladder, be more, do more, live more. Advertising tries to tell us and our children that what we have is not enough, that there’s...
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My Life as a Writer–Or Not
Honestly, I feel a little guilty about that title. Because lately, I don’t feel much like a writer. But several of the authors on this blog agreed to share their writing routine just so people would...
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11 Tips for Sharing Your Home with Married Childen
It happens to a majority of parents. When the kids grow up, they get married and return to live with you for a time. It may be just for a few weeks, several months, or even years. My son and...
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Teaching Children to Use a Softer Voice
One thing I’ve noticed in recent years is that some children seem to have only one volume setting when they speak. Loud. Or maybe that’s not fair. Some have three volumes. Loud, louder, and loudest....
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A Simpler Easter
It seems every holiday, these days, comes complete with craft ideas, gift ideas, Pinterest boards, and plenty of suggestions for how to celebrate. It can be overwhelming! Most people are just trying to...
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Insomnia? Take a Dose of Quiet
Today’s world is noisy. Between people talking, radios, TV, computers, iPods, and cell phones, it’s no wonder we sometimes want out of the rat race. Where can we find quiet? Or does it even matter? I...
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Learning to Say No
I’m a people pleaser. There. It’s out. I want people to like me and I sometimes say yes to things I should say no to just because I don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings or I’m afraid something won’t...
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Loved Because of Whose You Are
I remember a time when I went back “home” to Indiana, where I was born. My mother accompanied me on the trip, and she, having grown up there, had many friends and relatives to see. One of the people we...
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Flying with Small Children
(This was first posted in Aug., 2013. But with vacations starting up again, I thought it might be helpful for families to be reminded of tips for flying with their kiddos. Enjoy!) I just returned from...
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Writers: Shoot for the Stars!
As a beginning writer, you’re often told to submit your work to smaller publishing houses and places that publish often, like weekly Sunday school take-home papers. Why? Because your chances of...
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How to Handle Writing Rejection
Are you a writer? Then get ready for a life of rejection. I don’t mean to sound discouraging, but rejection is a big part of the writing life. Believe me, I know from experience! A rejection letter...
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Birthday Celebration Twist
My oldest grandson turned thirteen last Sunday. I’ll not go into how that made me feel. That’s a different post. But I couldn’t help but think about how this was the first birthday I wasn’t there to...
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A Grandparent…Who Me?
I was practically a child–a month shy of being 42–when I became a grandma. Maybe that doesn’t sound young to some, but I felt unprepared to be in that elite group. Didn’t grandmas have gray hair and...
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10 Tips When Meeting a Shy Child
When my youngest daughter was young, she was shy. People who know her now would probably laugh at that because she’s a talkative, confident young woman today. But as a child, she often lowered her gaze...
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I Am Thankful
In January, my elderly father-in-law had several mini strokes and came to live with us. Though the move went smoothly, the transition has been difficult for my husband, daughter, and me. It’s easy to...
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7 Ways Guests Can Show Appreciation When Kids Give Up Their Rooms
My family has always enjoyed hosting overnight company. Sometimes this meant one or more of our children gave up their beds for our guests. They always did it willingly, and were such good sports about...
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A Mother’s Shepherd
As a mother of young (or even not so young) children, it sometimes feels like all you do is care for others. Constantly meeting people’s needs is exhausting and can sometimes lead one to wonder, Does...
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My Top Ten Games to Play with Kids
Over the past 31 years that I’ve been a parent and 13 years I’ve been a grandparent, I’ve played a lot of games with kids. Watching their skills develop from simply learning to count as they move...
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