Is there a parent alive that hasn’t wondered if they are screwing up their children in one way or another?

As parents, we all do a mental battle with ourselves, “If I am too strict, they won’t feel loved, if I am too lenient, they'll walk all over me.” What to do? What to do? 

When it comes to disciplining your tween or teen, the real question is: Are you willing to suffer short-term pain for long-term gain?

In other words, do you give in simply for the peace and convenience of the moment, …

Is this your story?

Calling All Super Moms! 

If you’re a wife and a mom, I think it’s hard to read about the woman in Proverbs 31:10-31 without feeling like you come up short. Not only does she sound like she does it all, but she sounds like she’s got it all together. How annoying. At least, that’s honestly how I feel, especially on a day where just getting the kids fed and out of the house on time feels like I’m trying to squeeze water out of a rock. “What’s that in your hair?”, you ask. “That would be the baby…

I spent YEARS trying to make the holiday perfect. Whatever that means.

I had my own ideas about what the holidays should be like, and by gosh by golly you better step in line or get the holly jolly out of my way.

In short, I was a complete lunatic between November 1st and January 1st. I pushed and pulled friends, family, my schedule and my wallet in attempt to give thanks, deck the halls, make the season bright, and ring in the new year.

Lunatic.

Call me crazy, but I think about holding …

You know those days when it all just works out? Your children are happy, clean, fed, well behaved, they know that you love them, and everything is peaceful?

I'll wait until you stop laughing.

Well shocker, today was not that day.

Today my kids woke up on the wrong side of the bed and they let me know all about it. Tween #1 refused to eat breakfast and Tween #2 took an hour to make and eat breakfast. I ate nothing because by 10 am I already had a migraine. We homeschool so we have more…

As I was reading my devotional this morning, I had an epiphany. Immediately afterward, I realized that I should have had this “epiphany” long ago. This summer, Lord willing, I made it my mission to learn contentment and peace within my spirit despite times of hardship. This has always been one of my largest struggles. The last year and a half have NOT helped.

I've never had much trouble praying when times are tough, but I have always had trouble waiting on God. If you have ever wondered how t…

I grew up in Michigan, which is basically the frozen tundra.

Seriously, we watched football outdoors in shorts when it walk is the 50's. Ooooh, balmy. 

I did my first undergrad in Manhattan. Neither of these places uses the words "bikini ready" very often.

...then I moved to South Florida. The land of perpetual bikini readiness. Groan.

For awhile it didn't phase me. It's possible that I was just young, in good shape, and did not have the perspective that giving birth to two babies and subs…