I have parented my adopted child for over nine years. I will never be the same. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. On the days I am frustrated, it is good for me to go back and remember how far we have come. I only wish I had known… Continue reading Mom’s Top Ten Survival Tips for Raising Your Child with Attachment Issues
“I wish I could be a more self-confident! So many times I’ve whispered this prayer when I’ve had to do something new. Your hands shake, mouth gets dry, stomach flutters, and those legs feel so unsteady…don’t you hate that feeling? God asks us to do crazy things that require us to step OUTSIDE of our… Continue reading A Holy Confidence and The Cry for “Girl-Power”
It may surprise you to know that this mother and pastor’s wife struggles with intolerance towards “dumb” people. I’m not referring to intellect when I use the term “dumb”…but FOOLISH people who choose over and over to do dumb things. So when I was recently asked to teach our girls how to identify a “fool”, I jumped… Continue reading Mom’s Top 10 Ways to Spot A Fool
I spend a lot of time talking with parents about raising kids who are “fun to be with.” Some days I find myself in a similar position as a pastor’s wife trying to help “adult” children learn this art. I love what I do. However, there are those moments where I find myself shaking my… Continue reading Handle with Care When Speaking for God
Ten girls and three horses. I’ve recently embarked on a journey with a few friends. We’re working with a group of teen girls this summer. My heart breaks as we hear some of their stories. But we move ahead using our horses to teach how life works best when we live it with God in the lead.… Continue reading The Blossoming of Nim and Two Questions Girls Want Answered
Do you ever find yourself doubting God? As a pastor’s wife, I have discovered that ministry is really hard work. We all have great dreams when we begin. Things that we firmly believe God has called us to fulfill. But it doesn’t take long before you realize what a challenge it can be! Eventually you… Continue reading “Did God Really Say…?”
I tried hard this morning. I really did. But no matter the “holiday”, my internal alarm clock went off as usual. The sounds and smells of morning and my coffee pot are irresistible to me. So here I am so very early, enjoying my coffee, listening to the sounds of the birds singing their “holiday”… Continue reading Remembering Our Little Moments of Peace
I seem to have knack for weird parenting encounters. Last week I listened to a mother drone on and on about why her son was a problem. This kid is a typical pre-adolescent boy; creative…lazy…and as his mother explained, a trouble-maker. He would fall into the “not EVER fun to be with” camp. Now Mom… Continue reading Brat Talk: Great Expectations and Eliminating all of Mama’s Excuses
Last week I went to an estate sale. This was a first for me. I was unprepared for the feelings I had walking through that condo touching all the personal things that this woman had collected over the years. Each item seemed to tell a story about this woman I had never met. My thoughts… Continue reading “Once Upon a Time, There was a Mom…”
I just spent the most wonderful two hours today with a friend. We laughed, cried, drank way too much coffee, prayed, and yes, opened up to each other by sharing some of our deepest struggles with our kids. As I reflect upon those special moments, I realize how much we need each other to navigate… Continue reading The Power of Friendship
