What Miriam in the Bible Can Teach Us About Positivity A few weeks ago I was talking with my friend, Joanna, sharing about some of my recent struggles, especially with my attitude. “I’ve always known you to be a positive person,” Joanna told me. I chuckled, “That’s because most of the time we spent together was before… [Continue Reading]
articles and blogs
6 Ways to Effectively Lead Young Children
6 Ways to Effectively Lead Young Children What does it mean for a parent to effectively lead a family with young children? The answer to that question has come to me through years of trial and error (mostly error). As a young mom, I didn’t give leadership much thought — I was just trying to… [Continue Reading]
5 Tips I Use To Stay Motivated as a Writer
These are 5 tips I use to stay motivated as a writer and to keep going when distraction or the business of life hit. I hope you find them helpful. I first started writing in 1994, I was only 22 years old and pregnant with my third baby. While sitting in the church nursery one… [Continue Reading]
25 Ways to Breathe Life Into Your Day
25 Ways to Breathe Life Into Your Day Do you go through your day drained and exhausted? As a mom of ten kids, I understand. There is always so much to do, it’s hard to slow down … let alone stop to catch a breath. But as moms we need that. We need refreshment. We… [Continue Reading]
Helping Kids Cultivate God’s Goodness in their Lives
What lessons did you learn in the garden as a child? Personally, I remember the wonder of seeing new sprouts poke through the dirt and green strawberries brighten to red under the summer sun. Gardening taught me about God’s good creation, and as I became a mom I understood that I could cultivate patience in… [Continue Reading]
One Brave Step Started My Road to Publishing
24 years ago I took ONE brave step. I was at the Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference, and I’d taken a workshop on article writing. I’d attended the conference wanting to write a novel, but article writing intrigued me. I jotted down a few ideas for articles, but didn’t think much of it. Then, the next… [Continue Reading]
‘Always Faithful’ WWII Marines Meet Again
Today is National Medal of Honor day so I wanted to share a story my friend Connie Pettersen sent me. She is a freelance writer for a local newspaper in Aitkin, MN and wrote this amazing story about two World War II Marines. Enjoy! Two Marines from WWII were reunited on April 16th at Villa… [Continue Reading]
How to Stop Your Child’s Angry Cycle
Today we’re talking about how to stop your child’s angry cycle. Once a child is angry, it’s easy for him to stay in a cycle of thoughts, emotions, and physical responses that feed his rage. Here’s what the angry cycle looks like and to stop the spiral. How to Stop Your Child’s Angry Cycle The… [Continue Reading]
10 Ways to Make Your Home a Place of Healing For Kids From Foster Care
John and I opened our home to foster care and adoption with a lot of hope and little knowledge of what the reality would look like. As a mom trying to help these kids heal, I learned a lot about children, trauma, myself, our mutual needs, and healing. Out of everything I’ve learned, the… [Continue Reading]
Top Blog Posts from 2016
The year is coming to a close and what a year it has been! To reflect on the year, I’ve compiled your favorite posts from 2016 below. Thank you for all your support and encouragement throughout the year!! Why Coloring isn’t Just for Kids! Kids are on to something and grownup are just starting to catch on …… [Continue Reading]
An Ode to Fall, a Poem
Happy first day of fall! Here’s a beautiful poem about autumn from my friend Charlotte Adelsperger. I hope you enjoy it! Prayerfully I Walk Time alone in an autumn wood, I stroll on a mosaic carpet of moist multicolored leaves– rust brown, yellow, crimson. I ponder the deep red patches, scattered every step of my… [Continue Reading]