Stories Change Hearts {A Visit to Auschwitz} I’ve always been drawn to stories, but few have changed my heart like the ones I heard several years ago. It began when we traveled to Poland to see Auschwitz-Birkenau. I’d read many books about Auschwitz and part of my novel Night Song took place there. But nothing… [Continue Reading]
Children
Be a Voice for Change {In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.}
Be a Voice for Change We are facing an all-time high of strained race relations in our culture. Even with all that was accomplished by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. over sixty years ago, we are still fighting a disease of racism. Maybe, you know there is a problem, but you don’t know what to… [Continue Reading]
Twice Rescued Child ~ A Story of Hope
Twice Rescued Child Over six million Jews were systematically annihilated in the Holocaust. It’s a number that’s hard for us to wrap our minds around. Nearly eighty years after World War II, horror and sorrow grips our hearts. We’ve heard stories of families torn apart, mass graves, and ash from the chimneys that fell… [Continue Reading]
Living a Grateful Life
It’s hard to believe it’s been over two years since we started living a grateful life with The Grumble Free Year. We started August 2017 and that Thanksgiving Grandma broke her back. We went on the cruise August 2018, and (after writing about it all) The Grumble Free Year released November 2019. One of the… [Continue Reading]
How to Recognize Faulty Decision Making
How to Recognize Faulty Decision Making It’s not my fault!” ranks in my Top 10 Most Frequently Used Phrases, and may well be #1. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not the kind of person who always has to be right. But heaven protect anyone who implies that I might be wrong. My favorite family… [Continue Reading]
12 Tips for a Grumble Free Holiday
12 Tips for a Grumble Free Holiday When the Christmas season comes around we can count on a few things: 1) lots of fun family time, and 2) lots of fun family time disrupted by kids’ bad behavior. Kids often misbehave A LOT during the holidays. Their schedules are messed up; they’re over-excited and over-stimulated…. [Continue Reading]
Practice Makes Perfect When it Comes to Doing Right
Practice makes perfect. We know this is true for first steps, basketball shots, and multiplication tables. Practice means starting where we are with plans to improve. And when my large family decided to take on the challenge of going a year without grumbling (yes, really!), I knew it would take a lot of patience, a… [Continue Reading]
Sight and Sound Theater and Canyon Retreat … the best of Branson for families!
Sight and Sound Theater and Canyon Retreat … the best of Branson for families! Are you a large family looking for the perfect getaway retreat? Our favorite place to vacation in is Branson, Missouri. Why we love Branson: Family-friendly atmosphere. Lots to do! We love Silver Dollar City, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Amazing Acrobats of… [Continue Reading]
Three Steps to Turn Grumbles Into Gratitude
Three Steps to Turn Grumbles Into Gratitude Did you know you can find deep contentment without spending a dollar or changing one thing about your day, your family or your life? In addition to this inner peace, you’ll have more joy, more gratitude and be a better example for your family and friends. How? By stopping… [Continue Reading]
What Miriam in the Bible Can Teach Us About Positivity
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]
I Am Grateful For You
I Am Grateful For You Hi Friend, There are so many things I could share right now. 1. Why our large family took on the challenge of going grumble-free for a year. (We were pretty tired of all the grumbling in our home.) 2. How I drove by myself with five kids for six hours… [Continue Reading]