My little sister is graduating tomorrow, and I am proud of her. Graduation doesn’t mean “she’s done learning, and now she can get on with real life.” She will keep learning and growing, just like the rest of us. Nevertheless, “high school” graduation has been an important milestone for me and my siblings as we move from one season of life to the next. Susannah will celebrate a 12 year […]
Read More →Always Challenging Us
“…when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10b). Last week my two youngest daughters, Bethany and Susannah, went off with me to spend three working days at the beach. Our purpose was to focus on some writing projects. My goal was to write as many blog posts as I could. Bethany was wrestling through a revision of the book she is writing for young ladies, and Susannah […]
Read More →What Do You See in the Mirror?
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22, ESV) Many children know the song, “The Wise Man Built His House upon the Rock.” I certainly remember enjoying the motions when we sang it – especially when it was time for the foolish man’s house to go SMASH! Jesus said that those who hear His words and do them are like a wise man who […]
Read More →A Shopping Adventure
When our children were really little, we didn’t have a car that I could keep running reliably enough to take the kids out shopping. Shopping night was a family affair. Because we weren’t always sure if the van would start again when we turned it off, John often drove around the store parking lot with all the kids while I zoomed through the store. By the time we had a […]
Read More →Guess the Proverb!
“…To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth…” (Proverbs 1:4, ESV) The book of Proverbs is a wealth of wisdom for young and old! Saturate your children in the wisdom of Proverbs, and, as the Holy Spirit works in their hearts, they will become more discerning and better equipped to live and work in the world God made. Try this little exercise to get your children […]
Read More →A Mother’s Day Tribute
My mother’s life was a life of quiet service. She was a contented and diligent homemaker, a devoted and patient mother, a loyal and hard-working daughter, a proud and boasting Grandma, and a quiet lady who knew how to listen well. My memories as a young girl include vivid pictures of going along with Mom as she ministered to her parents and to the elderly in our congregation. She helped […]
Read More →Taking the Time to Get to Know Our Children
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). My daughter and daughter-in-law introduced me to Loving the Little Years, by Rachel Jankovic. It’s a book for moms with little kids. My kids are not little anymore. In fact, in less than three weeks, I will be a retired homeschooling mother (ready and waiting to take on the […]
Read More →Christian Heritage Conference in Redmond, WA
We’re in Redmond, Washington right now for the 6th annual Christian Heritage Family Discipleship and Homeschooling Conference! This is our fourth year attending this conference, and it’s become one of our favorite events. It’s fun to meet up with friends we see here each year, and also to see so many like-minded Christians (and lots and lots of children!) all together in one place. This event is held in the […]
Read More →Let go.
Here’s a quote I read this morning from Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis. I need to post this somewhere where I can read it over and over: “Keep nothing back. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, […]
Read More →Preparing Ourselves to Train
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Do you ever feel unprepared to address the discipline issues that come up in your household? The project posted on April 12, “Arming Yourself with the Word,” was intended to be a “training exercise.” It outlined steps for studying God’s definition of love in 1 Corinthians […]
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