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Is Your Parenting Style Hurting Your Child?
This post has been weighing on my heart for a long time…I’m talking years. This particular aspect of parenting keeps creeping into my life and then I get busy and forget about it, but it’s one that I think is important to discuss. Now, this post is mainly for parents, however, I know I have at least a few teen readers out there and I would love to get your perspective on this topic as well. Please don’t be shy! Leave me a comment with your thoughts so we can some more insight into whether or not this phenomenon actually exists and if it does, what we can do as…
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My One Small Miracle
There is no way that anyone will ever be able to convince me that there isn’t a God. Ever. Today is one example of why… Tomorrow is my son Jonathan’s high school graduation. Let me give you a little background on the boy. He is somewhat of a freak of nature as far as kids are concerned. He rarely ever cried unless he was hungry or needed his diaper changed. I don’t ever remember having to spank him or discipline him in any way other than the one time his older brother was being a super butthead to him and Jonathan got so angry he punched Michael…and then cried because…
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Thoughts on Time and the One Word That Drives Me Nuts
Let’s discuss time and how we spend it. I think if we looked at time in the same way we look at money we would be more discerning in how we spent it. If you were only given $24 in your day would you really choose to spend $3 surfing Facebook? See, that right there was a game-changer when you put it into perspective. Why do we value money to the point that we go to great lengths to save it any chance we get (ie, coupons, Black Friday shopping, BOGOs…) but when we have an opportunity to save time (ie. turning the TV off, getting off of devices, logging…
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The Mom Machine
Growing up in a large family, our house was pretty much chaos 24/7. I think my mom liked it that way. If the house was too quiet she seemed uncomfortable. She slept with the television on just for background noise…come to think of it, the television was ALWAYS on, not because anyone was watching it but because Mom liked the noise. My mom did a lot for our family. She kept the crazy together if you know what I mean. Dad worked a ridiculous number of hours each week to provide for all of us and Mom kept the house running. It’s just how our family worked. Now that I…
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He Who Humbles Himself Shall Be Exulted
Remember the last couple of weeks before New Years when everyone was chatting it up about all of the great things they were going to accomplish in the new year? Remember that? Yeah, me too. I was one of those people with a list of resolutions this and goals that…what the heck? I don’t know about you but I’m getting my butt kicked by 2018 and we’re only 4 weeks in! Now, some may think this is a bad thing…most actually…however, I have been doing some reading and apparently when life hands you a bucket of worms you’re supposed to go fishing or something like that. There’s supposed to be some deeper…
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The Life Lesson That Hurricane Harvey Has Taught Us
It’s currently 12:32 a.m. By all accounts, I should be in bed. I have 5 teens/preteens to get up and out the door in roughly 5 hours. Why, then, am I writing a blog post? Well, when the spirit strikes you listen…that’s what writers do. I’ll make this one short and sweet because, despite what the spirit may think, I’m darn tired. Let’s talk about Hurricane Harvey for a moment, shall we? My husband spent over 2 years in Texas on a mission with his National Guard unit, specifically in the Austin area. Texas was like a second home to him, and we have many friends who are still in…
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Angry About Charlottesville? Here’s What You Can Do
Confession: I skipped the gym this morning. Why? It’s a long story, but it boils down to I have a lot of work I need to finish and I’m taking tomorrow off to take my son to college. Sounds like an excuse, I know, but me not going to the gym is not the point. As I mentioned, I wanted to start work early this morning. I sat down at my computer and started going through emails and tasks, tried editing blog posts and I just can’t concentrate. This whole business in Charlottesville has got my head spinning. I’m about to suggest something in this post that is going to…
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Baby, There Are Simply No Words…
I honestly don’t even know how or where to start this post. And for a writer, it is a rarity that I ever run out of things to say. Something has been weighing heavily on my heart, not just recently, but for the past 9 years actually. I’ve held it in. I’ve journaled. I’ve cried. And now I share it…with all of you. I had a son. His name was Brendan. He would have been 9 years old this September…actually, he wasn’t due until November. He was a vibrant baby…always kicking and rolling around. The kids were thrilled to be adding #8 to our beautiful family, especially Nathan. You see,…
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The Hidden Power of PB&J
One of my absolute most favorite memories from being a kid starts with a simple, ordinary peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We didn’t have much growing up, but one thing we always had, by the grace of God, were three good, healthy, hearty meals every single day. My mom was a thrifty shopper, and back in the day grape jelly was the cheapest…so that’s what we ate, every single day. Lunch meat was a luxury that was saved for my dad’s lunches out of respect for the hard work he did to support our family and the fact that he was the head of the household. This is something that…
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Here’s to You…Robin Williams
I am in shock. Even though I didn’t know Robin Williams personally, I think everyone who was ever moved by one of his films can attest to the fact that he was like a friend to millions. As I watch the tributes to his life on the news and read about him on website after website, I wonder if he would have felt the same sadness and despair had all of these people shouted his praises from the rooftops while he was still alive. Why is it that we wait until someone passes away to say the best things about them? What are we waiting for? Day after day passes…
