“If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?” My mom, and most likely every mom ever, used to say this to me when I was young. She wasn’t specifically worried about me jumping off a bridge. That wasn’t a popular thing to do in our town. Instead, she was using an extreme example…
My kids have taken an interest lately in watching our wedding video. It has been a fun thing to indulge in with them. They get to see the faces of friends and family they know so well, and grapple with comprehending how they weren’t even alive yet. It’s also been bittersweet. We have been married…
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the food and getting together with family and friends. But I mostly love the spirit of the day. When there are so many things bombarding you and fighting for your attention, when Christmas season is staring you down and the new year is right around…
For most of us, the concept of honor is inextricably linked with flags and Fourth of July, military salutes and Veteran’s Day. After all, the men and women who put their lives on the line for the sake of our freedom are definitely deserving of recognition for the brave work they do. But at its…
Have you ever planted a fruit tree? I’ve always wanted to but never have gotten around to it. I have done a little research, though. Do you know if you plant a two-year-old apple tree, it could take another five years to bear fruit? Pear trees can take another six years and cherry trees up…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. We’re on the cusp of all things holiday and fun. The festivals. The fairs. The pumpkin patches. And the promise for more parties and holiday spectaculars just around the corner. It’s the kick off to a magical—if not insane—season, made all the more magical—and insane—with kids. Not…
From the parades to celebrate the Chicago Cubs for winning the World Series for the first time in 108 years and “participation trophies” for you name the sport, there are plenty of ways to honor big and small accomplishments. There are cap-and-gowns and life-will-change-forever speeches to kindergarteners earning ribbons for tying their shoes. Honor, though, is more than…
We want our kids to understand how best to treat their neighbor, follow God, and trust Him no matter what. We could explain the facts of why they should, have them memorize the verses, or lecture them on what will happen if they don’t. Or we could tell them a story. More…
Carlos Whittaker gives a practical way to invite other adults to speak into the lives of your kids at critical times. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcHgYqzYxtA] OTHER PARENTING HACKS Date Your Kid’s Desires Change the Wi-Fi Password Source: The Parent Cue
I didn’t want to say it. I’d been down this road so many times, and I knew that it usually stalled at a dead end. But I could feel the words on the tip of my tongue, scrambling to get out of the awkward silence of our greeting. Before my brain could find a decent…