Paperwork Pregnant
I am, as they say, “paperwork pregnant.” It wasn’t coursing hormones or a full bladder that stirred me this morning at 5:06, but a chirpy…
8 Practical Ways to Parent with Grace
“You look festive!” My friend looked over my golf-ball-sized silver hoops, turquoise tank, knit plum skirt. It was one of my more art teacher-ish outfits….
How to Raise Good Conversationalists
It was the dress rehearsal for “The Pirates of Penzance” at a local Christian school. A friend had asked me to pitch in on the…
Is Your To-Do List a Monster?
Something tells me I’m not the only one with a to-do list that’s got a lot more mileage than my day. You’ve been there. When…
Chillin’ with My Husband: Time for a Plan
It was time: My husband and I took a night away just before the new year. We needed to pray, to plan, to think—both alone…
Art Lessons … From My Daughter and Her Father
Sunday afternoons at my house have had some perks lately. They have found me on my back porch with a little 5-year-old who looks a…
Quiet Time Ideas for Moms of Littles
I’ve been there, and am still somewhat there. It’s fuzzy. Mostly for severe lack of sleep. But I remember. Some of you are still nursing…
Faith: Small Weights, Lots of Reps
A handful of people I talk to seem bewildered—or concerned—by some strange internal constitution that would make us attempt Africa with four kids. (It seems…
The Great New Year’s Purge
You’ve probably done it yourself before. Packing up to travel home after all of the Christmas festivities and generous gifts of relatives who—like God—love to…
How to Help Kids Tackle Challenging Social Skills
It was a family wedding. Everyone was exclaiming over the kids, reluctantly decked out in their ring bearer getup—or happily in a flower girl dress….