“I wish I hadn’t done that…” My youngest child Casey broke his pinky toe on Friday. He was at gymnastics camp, and I later heard that he’d tried to do a front flip on the tumbling ramp … without the help of a coach. He is not a gymnast, but he is a daredevil. Casey… [Continue Reading]
God
A Marvelous Journey with an Amazing God
Dear Montana, we’re coming for vacation soon … I can’t wait. Seriously Montana is one of my favorite places on earth. We lived there for fifteen years, and I never took it for granted– its beauty, the people, the peace. Ten years ago, I was a mom of three (nearly an empty nester), serving in… [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]
Giving Your Children a Heart for the World {Guestpost}
Our Life I felt like the worst homeschooling mom ever. While other parents were taking their kids on nature walks and art classes, I was dragging my three children along with me to the pregnancy resource center that I just helped to start. Cory, Leslie and Nathan—all in elementary school—helped me to fold baby clothes… [Continue Reading]
Praying God’s Word For Yourself and Your Child
Through the years I’ve seen how important it is to pray God’s word over and for my children. I’ve also watched how God moved in my kid’s hearts and lives when I shared the scriptures with them. That’s why I’ve made it a priority to read through the Bible each year and journal what… [Continue Reading]
How to Balance a Busy Writing Schedule and a Busy Life
I’m a wife, homeschooling mom to ten kids (yes 10!) and best-selling author. I’ve had 60+ books published, and I lead a Teen Mom support group in inner-city Little Rock. The number one thing I’m asked by others is, “How do you do it all?” If you were to see the piles on my… [Continue Reading]
Spring is a Celebration!
They say ‘April showers bring May flowers.’ But when you’re an author (and a homeschooling mom!) it also brings a busy conference season! However, when May comes around the first thing I think about is my WWII friends. Because my first novel From Dust To Ashes was inspired by the liberation of Mauthausen Concentration Camp… [Continue Reading]
How to Invite Others Into Your Healing through Transparency
Years ago, in 2005, I faced one of the hardest struggles of my life. I thought I was doing so well—as a writer, as a mom, and as a wife. One November, I pondered my family and my work, and I thought things couldn’t get any better. I even prayed Psalm 139:23-24: Search me,… [Continue Reading]
Helping Your Child Focus on Prayer Through Easter and Beyond
Easter is one of my favorite times of the year. I love celebrating Jesus and His resurrected life. I appreciate how—symbolic of Jesus’ rebirth—the whole earth breaks forth in life, budding fresh and new from a frozen world stripped bare. Easter gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the life of Christ. I… [Continue Reading]
Learning to Stand, to Believe, to Overcome … in the midst of life’s pain
For much of my parenting I focused on helping my kids make good decisions, yet as they’ve grown into adults I’ve realized that their decisions are only part of the factor. My kids will also face heartbreak because of hard circumstances and the decisions of others. There are times the darkness will seem to overwhelm… [Continue Reading]
3 Meaningful Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Your Kids by Jennifer Deibel {+ giveaway}
Have you ever stopped to think about why we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Did you know that Patrick was a real man, who brought the gospel to Ireland? Or did you think Paddy’s Day was just an excuse to wear green, pinch people and talk like a leprechaun? It might surprise you to learn that… [Continue Reading]
7-Day Writer’s Challenge