Too often kids learn about “the birds and the bees” through playground sex ed or from the media. Determined to have my 8-year-old daughter learn the facts from me, I began sharing…
Julia DesCarpentrie
Julia DesCarpentrie is passionate about orphan care, adoption and fostering. She has been blessed to live out God’s call on her life in those areas through her work with The CALL (Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime), a foster care church initiative encouraging more Christian families to foster children in need. Julia has been an advocate for the fatherless for 10 years, as both a volunteer and also serving with Hope for Orphans before her work with The CALL. She is also an active volunteer in the community and has served on several community boards. She continues to minister to other mothers and foster/adoptive families through writing and speaking with MomLife Today. Julia is the mom of five children entrusted to her care through birth, adoption and fostering. She and Branden have been married for 16 years.
Exchanging My Slippers for Pumps
Almost nine years ago, I began a new career as a stay-at-home mom. Within six months I was ready to hang up my spit-up laden apron and fuzzy slippers to return to…
In Praise of Air Freshener
Hello. My name is Julia and I’m an air freshener addict. Especially to the “clean” scent—also known as fresh linen, clean laundry, fresh air, etc. With a mere flick of my…
A Simple Meal
Kristina walked into our yard selling overpriced magazines. She explained that she was from the inner city and the organization she represented gave her an opportunity to “reach her goals.” …
Strategic Planning
I recently heard an interesting observation about warfare that inspired me to inspect my “battle plan” for parenting. The speaker related how a general’s battle plan changed according to the weaponry…
A Conversation at Walmart: Naming a Birth Mother
by Julia DesCarpentrie When I envision having a profound conversation with one of my children, I picture us snuggled in my big comfy chair in the living room, a compassionate facial expression,…
Keeping perspective in moving
I actually start thinking about our next family Christmas card photo by March. I’m a planner. I like to take it in the summer and know how many children are going to be…
Doing the Next Thing
In November, guest author Kristen Swick Wong wrote a post titled “Adoption: Do the next thing.” Working for an orphans’ ministry and daily hearing about children needing care can be…
Adjustment Issues
A tattered envelope fell out of my son’s baby book while I was tidying up. As I turned it over, memories of a hectic day with a toddler and preschoolers came…
Well-Laid Plans
I cherished the solitude of the late-night drive home. No one hollering or bickering from the back seat, radio off, just me with my thoughts. My mind was trying to…