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Page 4 of 26.

Encouragement Jun 12, 2017

Why You Need a Relationship Bucket List

Have you ever made a bucket list? They are a fun and practical way that can help you connect with someone, and also something you can do in all phases of life, with all types of people that you love. A relationship bucket list isn’t just something that you want to tackle before you pass away—make it

Marriage May 31, 2017

5 Things We Wish Our Spouses Knew

When Mark and I had young kids, I spent most of my time at home with the children. While being a mom was my main focus, I craved a creative outlet and I pretty much became a professional volunteer. Mark didn’t understand that. He couldn’t imagine why I’d want more on my plate. “You don’t get me!” I

Parenting May 29, 2017

School Options: From Someone Who Has Done It All

It is rather bold, I admit, to say that I have done it all when it comes to school options. But I have participated in almost every kind of schooling. I have had at least one of my five children in the following: Elementary school–public, private, private home, charter Middle School–public, private,

Marriage May 24, 2017

Couples Who Out Love, Have Marriages that Outlast

Are you a competitive person? The popularity of reality shows and sports attest to the fact that most of us enjoy the competitive aspect of an individual striving to be the best. Unfortunately, my competitive drive must be satiated as a spectator for I cannot sing, run, or come up with an idea innov

Marriage May 22, 2017

5 Unfair Expectations I Have of My Husband

Before we got married, Mark and I went to premarital counseling. At the first appointment the counselor gave us a test. At the second appointment we reviewed our results. Before he started the review the counselor asked us, “So, do you two have a date?” We answered, “Yes, on March 4th.” We were 6 mo

Marriage May 15, 2017

Must Do’s and Don’ts for Your Marriage

In every wedding, you will hear the “Do you?” questions. Do you take this man…? Do you promise to…? Perhaps, if you are like me, you have heard them so many times you almost tune them out. However, these questions and our affirmative “I do” commitment are the substance of what marriage is made of an

Encouragement May 10, 2017

3 Secrets to Keep Motherhood in Perspective

When we bought our “forever” 1920’s house and spent a year renovating it, I remember thinking, It’s a shame I won’t ever do this again because I know so much more now that I have walked through the entire process. Now that my oldest child is 27 I am thinking the same thing, It’s a shame I won’t ever

Marriage May 8, 2017

6 Things that Keep an Emotional Connection in Marriage

It’s important to keep an emotional connection as a couple, and Mark and I have learned some ways to make that happen. I say make that happen because if you don’t put your mind to staying connected to your husband, a thousand other things will get in they way of doing it. Or, in my case, 5 children

Parenting May 3, 2017

3 Reasons You Should Spy on Your Kids

We got in a pretty heated discussion during an iMOM meeting the other day. The topic: should you spy on your kids. One of our iMOM writers had written about three ways that she spied on her children. A couple of the younger people in the room thought it wasn’t right for a mom to snoop. I disagreed,

Marriage May 1, 2017

5 Kinds of Compliments Your Husband Needs

Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” I think this is especially true in marriage. When you are knee deep in children and half of them have the throw-up bug and a toilet just overflowed, a good, honest compliment from the one who sees the dark, weary circles under y

Encouragement Apr 26, 2017

How Would Your Kids Answer: Who Would You Like to Have Dinner with Dead or Alive?

There is a message, in this video, for you and for me. It made me cry. But not out of despair, because this can be remedied in every family today. This is a simple parenting task that has a profound impact on our children.

Parenting Apr 24, 2017

5 Bad Behaviors Your Kids Must Conquer

Conquering bad behavior is not my favorite part of parenting but I learned that the sooner it was caught, the easier it was taught. In other words, when you observe bad behavior in your child, correct it quickly. If you allow the behavior to go on and on without correction you will have a harder tim

Encouragement Apr 19, 2017

3 Ways to Fight Mom Guilt

I hear it from moms everywhere I go, I’m just not a good mom. No matter how hard I try, I am not the mom I want to be. I messed up again, today. I know how you feel. There were many days, especially when my children were toddlers and teens, that I felt like I had missed the mark. But as my children

Encouragement Apr 17, 2017

Forgiveness: What It Is and What It Isn’t

“Here you go again…” “Maybe if you didn’t always…” “Let’s not forget it was you who…” These are scripts of unforgiveness that inflamed many an otherwise common argument in my marriage. The phrases were hot coals left smoldering from past unforgiveness. While small statements, they packed such heat t

Marriage Apr 12, 2017

What Not to Say to Your Husband During a Fight

Mark and I can definitely argue. He’s an attorney by trade, and I’m half Italian! When we argue with our husbands, there is a point at which we cross a line and toxic words push an argument to a fight. We usually go to these statements as a defense mechanism. For example, you’re in the argument and

Parenting Apr 10, 2017

8 Things Moms Should Do For Their Kids Every Day

When I traveled to Siberia to complete the adoption of two of my children, I met their biological mother. It was heartbreaking. She was very detached and her eyes were so vacant. My children were two of the five she had lost to the orphanage. She didn’t take care of them or protect them. For many re

Marriage Apr 5, 2017

Where in the World Did I Put My Soulmate?

A better question is what in the world is a soulmate? Maybe you can’t tell it, but I am so annoyed with this fictional excuse to leave your spouse! Somehow, using the word “soul” provides an excuse for some people to do whatever they want—justifying their decision as if it were for some higher purpo

Parenting Apr 3, 2017

Science Confirms the Best Way to Love Your Child

Science confirms what God established when he created us: physical touch is life-giving. The best way to love your child is to touch them–hold them when they are young, hug them when they are too big to hold. From inception, a baby is held, in the womb and then in the arms of a mother or father. The

Parenting Mar 29, 2017

Research Confirms a Family Connection is Crucial–Not Complicated, Just Set the Table!

I know a guy who grew up eating takeout his whole life. For as long as he can remember everyone in his family just got what they wanted and ate when they felt like it. It became his habit to eat what he wanted when he wanted it. As a result, at 5:00 p.m. every day he subconsciously starts thinking a

Marriage Mar 22, 2017

7 Truths about Marriage and Making it Last

Years ago, Mark and I were having a pretty serious argument. We were both very frustrated. I could tell Mark was getting discouraged as he realized that we were not going to resolve things quickly. So I said, “You know what, honey, we’re in this marriage for life and we will work this out, even if i

Encouragement Mar 20, 2017

Learn the Truth About the Insta-life

Every picture on Instagram tells a story about life. Or does it? Recently, we were on a family ski vacation in Park City, Utah. It was gorgeous, and especially so to us because we live in Florida sans snow, mountains, and views of anything but water. Being an early bird who relishes quiet morning mo

Encouragement Mar 15, 2017

Money: The Biggest Mistake I Made as a Mom

Money is the last thing I want to think about if I feel my child needs something. Looking back at how I spent money it is clear I wasn’t thinking. I did not go crazy and send us into debt, nor was I selfish because we always gave generously, at least ten percent to ministry. However, I certainly did

Parenting Mar 8, 2017

Loving Your Child Through Teenage Rebellion

I am so thankful I am not a teenager today. It is not an easy age to grow up in! Teenagers have so much more coming at them in the form of opportunities and temptations. Teenage rebellion is really the natural manifestation of your children growing up and asserting themselves as individuals. When th

Marriage Mar 1, 2017

What’s the Love Code in Your House?

What in the world do I mean when I say “love code”? It’s a kind of code that forms from observations you made growing up. The code can be influenced by your parent’s marriage or another relationship you admired throughout your childhood. What you observed can subconsciously – or perhaps consciously