If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5
Last summer, I tutored a rising freshman in writing. He was your average fourteen-year-old boy who wanted nothing to do with the rules of grammar or the mechanics of writing. He could have cared less why you sometimes use a semi-colon instead of a coma. What he did care about, I learned, was sugar.
So I worked that angle and bought a bag of Skittles. Continue reading
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He saves them. Psalm 34:8
I recently found out that Zack got some kids to walk the Prayer Path at the Youth Group camp-out this summer. He just shrugged it off when I commended him for inspiring some teens to get closer to God. Despite him being a kid of few words, I needed more details. I had to dig deeper. Continue reading
“No one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.'” Luke 5:39
“When can I get a cell phone?” my son had asked constantly over the course of his Middle School career. “When you’re in High School,” had always been my go-to response.
I knew I was the one parent in his peer group that had held out the longest. But, just like Jesus wasn’t phased by his disciples’ behavior being compared to that of John’s and the pharisees’, I wasn’t phased by mine being compared to that of other parents. I knew my teenage son getting a cell phone would change everything. Continue reading
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Offer praise as your sacrifice to God… Psalm 50:14
One of the Kindness Projects my kids did this summer was to appreciate my husband. They rotated weeks focusing on how hard he works to provide us with the life we lead. Then, in gratitude for all he does, they carried out small, secret acts of kindness for him: writing him little thank you notes, leaving candy on his desk, etc.
Initially, I was having them do this so my husband could get the recognition he deserves. But, as it played out, I could see a dual purpose: My kids slowly recognized, for themselves, all my husband does behind the scenes. They also learned to be grateful for all of it. Even more surprising was what I learned. Continue reading
All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness… 2 Timothy 3:16
Last week, on vacation, my husband and kids did something to really piss me off. I’m too embarrassed now to admit what it was because, in retrospect, it was pretty minor. But in the moment, I was all fired up about it. Continue reading
This is our family “staycation” week: Acting like tourists in Massachusetts and coming back to our house to sleep. Enjoy the photos below!
Here’s wishing you all a wonderful end to your summer! Continue reading
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. Ezekial 36:26
Jocelyn picked Beados as her project this week. She meticulously arranged the teeny-tiny beads in a certain pattern in the little tray that holds them in place before you spray and seal them. But every few minutes, she’d bump the tray by accident, causing the beads to get all jumbled. Each time she did, her frustration level rose. Continue reading
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com.
As I drove Zack to Youth Group a few weeks ago, he and I hit a snag while planning his upcoming birthday celebration. Now that he’s entering high school, his and his brother Mason’s relationship has shifted. Where they were once joined at the hip, shared all the same interests, and finished each other’s sentences, they’re paths are now diverging. The love and bond are deep and everlasting, but things on the surface have changed.
The issue was: Zack wanted just his same-aged-friends to go to the local amusement park for his birthday. Yet, he was deeply distraught about excluding his brother. The seven-minute-drive to the Parish Center was not long enough to solve the problem. I dropped him off saying we’d talk more about it when he got home. Continue reading
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He had him (Peter) put in prison under the guard of four squads of four solders each… Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door, guards kept watch on the prison. Acts 12:4 & 6
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com
I went to the bank a few weeks ago to cash some checks. What I thought would be a five minute errand turned into an hour of deep confusion and stress. Continue reading
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com
In summers past, I made all the plans and kept them a secret from my kids. I just called everything an “adventure.” I thought it would be more fun for my kids that way. Plus, it made it easier for me if something got canceled, or the weather didn’t cooperate. I could easily make new plans, and my kids would be none-the-wiser.
Now that they’re older, I’ve been giving them the choice: I can keep things a surprise, or I can tell them if they want to know. Their reactions have been interesting… Continue reading
Shifting My Perspective 