Equipping Parents for The Journey
“We receive each child from the hand of God, not as a malleable lump of clay to be molded in whatever way we see fit, but as a unique, distinctive person with a destiny.” —Pastor Chuck Swindoll As parents, we can have three kids all raised in the same household that are extraordinarily different,...
My waking thoughts are sometimes not the most pleasant. Some days they sound like, “here we go again” or “please, God, let today be better than yesterday.” I can get swept up in a “circle mindset” that feels to be a never-ending vortex of chores, laundry, tantrums, and fatigue. I am tired, overwhelmed, discouraged,...
“Rhythm is embedded in our bodies and in our world.” Eugene Peterson Family life is made of rhythms, and with the rhythms come rituals and traditions, created by each family to observe and celebrate. This week on the blog, Elementary Ministry Leader Barbara Deatherage helps us take a step back and consider the...
Being wrong stinks. It especially stinks when you are the one in charge. Or the expert. The boss. The Mom or Dad. This week, Aubree Bryant, Middle School Ministry Leader and mom of two boys, shares with us three reasons why you can’t lose when it comes to apologizing to your kids. Plus, she...
Do you remember middle school? You know, those years where your body was growing and changing almost every day—one day you wake up and your feet are two sizes too big for your body, and you suddenly have acne all over your face and hair in new places. Middle school is also a time...
As parents, there are so many things completely out of our control. Even if you plan and order your child’s day from beginning to end, you are not in every thought, breath, and step they take. And in truth, that is not how God wants you to parent. A good friend regularly reminds me...
It’s back to school season in North Texas. This time of year has always been filled with some level of fear and anxiety. How could it not be, with new schools, new teachers, new programs, new rules . . . So much "new" is hard for anyone. But the start of the 2021–2022 school...
I had the opportunity to attend high school camp this summer. I went with the expectation of late nights, kids who were going to slip off into the woods, some infighting between groups, some hurt feelings, a few bumps, and bruises, and the general camp stuff. I was completely unprepared for the number of...
“There is nothing like being encouraged and affirmed as a mom, am I right? My love language is affirmation, so it is very easy for me to flock to anyone who will pay me a compliment. When I began my blog and shop where I create Bible content for preschoolers at home, I decided that...
In recognition of National Foster Care Month, we asked Megan Adkin to share with us her family's story in an Open Letter to Adoptive and Foster Care Moms. "We have four children who came to us through the foster care system, and three that came the old-fashioned way. My story isn’t short, but I...
One of the most important jobs we parents do is leading the spiritual training of our children. How can we balance the sacred and secular when it comes to holidays like Easter? I really do believe that Easter baskets, gifts, and bunnies can be celebrated alongside the cross and the resurrection of Christ. Our...
We are one week into the new year, the kids are back at school, most of us are back to work, and if I am honest, a little funk has set in. I am enough of a realist to know that we would not wake up on January 1st, 2021 and all of 2020...
