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Encouragement Feb 11, 2014

Valentine’s Family Game Show

When we love someone, we want to learn what makes them happy, so that we can bring more joy into their life. So would you like a fun way to find out what makes your kids happy? Then play iMOM’s Valentine Family Game Show this weekend. My co-worker Andy gathered his family together and had a blast wi

Marriage Feb 10, 2014

An Uncommon Love Story

My friend Lauren Dungy has been married to Tony Dungy for more than 30 years. I love the story of how they met, so I’m sharing it with you today. It’s taken from their new book, Uncommon Marriage. This part of their “how we met” story begins after Lauren finishes a phone call with her church pastor,

Encouragement Feb 9, 2014

A Star Athlete Who Happens to Be a Hero

My friend Nancy’s nephew, Declan Farmer, is heading to Sochi, Russia for the Paralympics. I’ve heard Nancy talk about Declan over the years, and how he’s overcome a significant physical challenge to excel at a world-class level.

Marriage Feb 3, 2014

Uncommon Marriage

Today I have to share some rah-rah for my good friends, Tony and Lauren Dungy. Their new book, Uncommon Marriage, officially launches today! Wahoo!! In their book they share the roller coaster they’ve ridden together. They make you giggle. They make you ponder. They offer encouragement for building

Encouragement Jan 30, 2014

What is Beauty? Beauty Is…

I love it when a company uses it’s influence for good and Dove has done that for many years. The company has had an ongoing Campaign for Real Beauty. And they use very poignant, relevant videos to make girls and women think differently about beauty. I have watched all of their videos with my girls b

Marriage Jan 27, 2014

How to Find Contentment in Marriage

Jacob and Leah were not “in love” by today’s standards. He didn’t bring her flowers, didn’t write her love songs, and didn’t hold her hand. He didn’t ask how her day was, didn’t take her on dates, and didn’t tell her she was beautiful. Jacob was not finding contentment in his marriage. In fact, he d

Parenting Jan 23, 2014

How Far Would You Go to Protect Your Child?

I was really conflicted when I saw this. Could this be real? Yet, last summer I found my seventeen year old playing an online video game on his laptop that had been produced in China. It looked very similar to the game shown in this video. The game had levels that could only be accessed in certain w

Parenting Jan 22, 2014

Invest in Your Children and Others in 2014

This year, what can we invest in that will never fade? The answer is sitting in your lap, pulling at your shirt, looking up at you with their sweet, puppy eyes: your children. Building relationships with your kids is something that truly matters. Here’s one of several stories that I’ve received as t

Encouragement Jan 19, 2014

Life Hack Lovin’

Have you heard of life hacks?? Well they are da bomb. They’re these quirky little tricks that make your life easier. You can use toothpaste to clean your headlights or put a wooden spoon over a boiling pot to keep the water from boiling over. It’s amazing what you can find! Speaking of life hacks, i

Encouragement Jan 7, 2014

Do Your Cups Overfloweth?

Do your cups overfloweth? Mine do. I walked into the kitchen this afternoon and there they were–overflowing on the counter—fast food cups, Solo cups, juice cups and coffee cups—over a dozen of them. My eyes tried to count as my hands went to work, and the voice in my head vented with questions like,

Marriage Jan 5, 2014

5 Reasons Why I Love My Husband

We all have different reasons why we love our husbands. And we need to remember them daily. Think about your reasons

Parenting Dec 30, 2013

10 Mom Prayers Printable

Sometimes when I look back on a year like this last one, a startling reality washes over me. I become painfully aware of how little control I have over life, especially the lives of my children. In these moments, the mom in me panics, like a woman at the edge of a precipice fighting the urge to look

Encouragement Dec 24, 2013

Prepare Him Room (Merry Christmas!)

No room. It’s a sad thought, really, but one that makes a lot of sense. In a busy time of census taking, inns were full and rooms were hard to come by. Still, no one knew that this woman they were ushering out was about to give birth to Jesus, the Son of God, the One who would change the world and b

Encouragement Dec 23, 2013

O Little Town of Bethlehem (Christmas Countdown Day 2)

Bethlehem, a small town a few miles southwest of Jerusalem, had seen busier times before the birth of Jesus occurred. Because history describes it as an ancient caravanning route, quite a mix of cultures could probably be found there at any given time. In Old Testament times, it became the burial pl

Encouragement Dec 22, 2013

Joy to the World! (Christmas Countdown Day 3)

Joy… it comes naturally when hopes are fulfilled. The wise men, who had seen the star and set out to find the reason for it – the Christ child baby – had fulfilled their purpose and had reason to rejoice. Their long journey ended in great joy. But what about when it doesn’t? What about when hopes do

Encouragement Dec 21, 2013

The Gifts of the Magi…(Christmas Countdown Day 4)

On researching the wise men’s gift choices, it was discovered that all three gifts carried a special meaning. Gold was a symbol of royalty. Frankincense was a rare commodity burned on the Altar of Incense, where God’s people offered up prayers to Heaven, and represented worship. Myrrh was a rare per

Encouragement Dec 20, 2013

Those Good Ol’ Peppermint Sticks (Christmas Countdown Day 5)

Candy canes are a cute festive touch to decorating and gift packaging, but just like many other Christmas related items, they can also hold a special meaning. Legend states that many years ago, a candy maker in Indiana created the candy cane as a way to share the true meaning of Christmas. Here are

Encouragement Dec 19, 2013

Mary Did You Know? (Christmas Countdown Day 6)

I wonder how much Mary did know as she looked down at her sleeping newborn baby. Yes, the angel had come to her in private, making her aware of the miraculous story that would unfold through her womb, immediately encouraging her not to be afraid, and empowering her with strength and love for this un

Encouragement Dec 18, 2013

Flowers of the Holy Night (Christmas Countdown Day 7)

Many poinsettias will adorn the insides and outsides of homes during this Christmas season. But besides their festive color, have you ever heard the meaning behind the use of this flower as a Christmas decoration? There is a Mexican legend about a poor little girl who had nothing to give to the baby

Encouragement Dec 17, 2013

While Shepherds Kept Watch…(Christmas Countdown Day 8)

Nighttime… when most of the world sleeps and only a handful of us have jobs that require staying awake and keeping watch over something. In Bible times, this was the job of the shepherds, a lower class group of people whose job required little skill, whose clothes probably stunk of sheep’s wool, and

Encouragement Dec 16, 2013

Why Stockings? (Christmas Countdown Day 9)

The stockings were hung but why? Have you ever heard how this began? Legend has it that a poor widower and his three children left their washed stockings out one night on the fireplace for them to dry. Nicholas, a kind man with a big heart focused on giving to others, passed by the house after they

Encouragement Dec 15, 2013

Mary Pondered…(Christmas Countdown Day 10)

I desperately want to celebrate Christ in this season that tends to pull me in any and every direction except toward the very One whose birth we are celebrating. So to help me focus, today begins a 10 day countdown to Christmas devotion, of sorts. We will start with Mary because she is the mom and I

Encouragement Dec 11, 2013

An Awesome Way to Share Christmas Love

Christmas is my favorite time of year. The essence of good will is wrapped in vibrant color, peppermint and pine. I love it. I want my kids to love it. I want them to taste how precious giving good will can be. I want them to give in visible ways and to see the joy that giving produces in the faces

Parenting Dec 10, 2013

How You Can Guard the Gate to Electronics

Phones, iPads, laptops, and video games may be a big part of your child’s Christmas joy. But after a week of policing your child’s use of their new technology, you may feel slightly less joyful. Electronics are here to stay and as a mom protecting your child while using electronis is your job. I cal