Nothing is quite as serious at our house as game time. And while football reigns supreme in my part of the world during this crisp time of year, I’m referring to another kind of game. The board game. My family loves a good board game. Whether it be one requiring skill...
Being a differently abled mom, I know firsthand what it is like to feel different. Right before my high school graduation in the year 2000, I was a passenger in a head-on collision, leaving me an incomplete quadriplegic. After years of physical therapy, I regained...
Think back to when you were a kid. What fascinated you? What were you passionate about? How much time were you able to devote to those topics? For many of us, the act of pursuing our true interests was relegated to small pockets of time in the evening after...
There is a reason for the seasons. I am not a scientist and I won’t get all technical on you but it has to do with the Earth and its tilted axis. As I live and learn, I am finding there are seasons in my own life that have nothing to do with the Earth and its tilted...
What do YOU think? Resilience. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger? We each have our story and I wonder, do you believe that saying? I do, when I am far enough away from the trauma or trying times that we had gone through. But when you are in it? Geesh, looking for...
Do you remember a time when you were young and you wanted to be included, but you weren’t? It’s a terrible feeling. It’s strange that now as an adult, it doesn’t bother me much at all. When I first heard of the term FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) I thought, “That’s...
The pandemic was pushing groups of people apart because of their personal views on masks and vaccines, heck, it was dividing families as well. Then we started to see hate and violence against racial groups. Unfair and unjust. I started to pay attention to what, if...
There is something WE DO want to spread these days and it’s kindness. As a society, we have been challenged in more than one way over the last few years. But something that hasn’t expired is the power KINDNESS has in a home, community and in the world. Let’s dive into...
"Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it is the middle that counts the most. You need to remember that when you find yourself at the beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up."Birdee Pruitt One of my very favorite quotes from a movie that is a must...
My mom likes to tell the story that as a child, I wanted to grow up and make tacos as my job. If you consider the fact that our family eats tacos every Tuesday night, I think my dream has come true! In our family, there are a lot of individuals who do not have college...
Are you seeing signs of Spring? Today I was walking the dogs and saw four blue jays! If you feel inclined, I would love for you to reply and share your own signs of Spring with me. I saw several of you ordered your copies of books that focus on COURAGE and COMMUNITY....
Hi all, it’s been awhile since I’ve written a heartfelt message to you! Guess what, this month I am going to be sending you several. There have been so many ups and downs in our world over the last few years, I wanted to spread some LIGHT, since darkness continues to...
As parents and caregivers, we love our children so much it hurts. I am known to look at my daughter on our video monitor and tear up. I can’t tell you how many times I have said to my husband, “She is so cute it’s literally painful.” With all the love we have for our...
The month of January is still young, which means if you neglected your New Year’s resolutions this year (guilty), there’s still more than enough time for you to make some! In truth, we can and should be making resolutions on a regular basis, regardless of...
Who out there is raising a teen or almost teen and feels like they are failing miserably?I am raising my hand over here. It’s a new part of parenting that Dave and I are navigating. I think we are doing well and other days it feels like we just can’t get it right....
Just LISTEN. When a child wants to talk or needs to talk just LISTEN. We all fight battles daily. We all fight battles that we wish were not ours. We all fight battles to be able to help others. In the silent moments that feel lonely, we are never alone because our...
Are you looking for quick tips as a parent to: learn parenting hacks that work?incorporate positive character into your daily routines?Have FUN with your kids, even when life gets hard?Find JOY in parenting? But WAIT–who has TIME to listen to a podcast? What if I told...
"LGBTQ Pride is important for kids, families, and allies because we must work together for equal rights not only under the law but culturally. Visibility is everything, and we are all in this fight together," said Ricardo Cooper, who is helping to coordinate a family...
School just let out, it’s probably getting hotter, and you are preparing your child for all their summer activities. While it’s important to keep them active outside, it's also equally crucial to keep their minds active. Reading picture books can be a fun way for them...
I don’t need to tell you that this has been a particularly difficult year for children. For many of them, it’s been filled with disappointments, unmet expectations and strong feelings. One way to help support your children (and yourself) as we make our way through...
It’s been a strange year. A year full of disappointments. I like to think set backs and tough times help us to grow and bloom. So in a year where we can easily list the canceled vacations, the back and forth of in person events like church and sports, I choose...
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention..” ~ Khalil Gibran As we wrap up this crazy and unexpected 2020 year, it’s worth reminding ourselves that this holiday season is an opportunity to exemplify forgiveness and gentle attitudes...