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]
Christian
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]
How to Bring Racial Reconciliation in 2020
How to Bring Racial Reconciliation As a white person growing up in California I had black friends, and I thought I understood black history, just from things I’d learned in school. Then, in 2010, my family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, I started a support group for inner-city teen moms, and we started attending a… [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]
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]
#WalkItOut Podcast 084: Rachel Swanson
I am so thankful that I dared to follow God. I dared to dream His dreams. I dared to take that time, whether it was during my kids’ nap time or waking up early on Saturday mornings instead of sleeping in, I am thankful that I followed this God-given dream. God led me on an… [Continue Reading]
#WalkItOut Podcast 083: Susan Merrill
#WalkItOut Podcast 083: Susan Merrill How well do your kids know you? I’m not talking about knowing which kind of coffee creamer you like (which my kids know which kind of creamer I like in my coffee). They may know what it means when you slip on jeans and put on make-up instead of your… [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]
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]
#WalkItOut Podcast 079: Hillary Morgan Ferrer
#WalkItOut Podcast 079: Hillary Morgan Ferrer If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, or if you’ve gotten the chance to meet me at an event, you probably think that I’m a nice person. I do try to be nice and kind, but talk to my kids and they can tell you that… [Continue Reading]
#WalkItOut Podcast 078: Sharon Miller
#WalkItOut Podcast 078: Sharon Miller Today we’re chatting about a topic that I haven’t really thought of before. Is it possible to be too nice? Is it hurting people when we are? As Christians, we always talk about love, joy, and peace, but is that what people really need? They need to know about Christ:… [Continue Reading]