Ancient kings I’m reading through Kings and Chronicles (Old Testament) in my daily Bible. At this point, the two groups of Israelites are distinct – those called Israel and those called Judah (learn more here). Throughout Kings and Chronicles, we see a succession of kings, one after the other, for …

Today’s Truth: God will not leave us nor forsake us Read more »

One of my family’s stories is about the holidays. Every Christmas Eve, my family celebrated a Polish tradition, handed down from generation to generation. The meal includes seven homemade courses and a couple of side dishes. It’s a pretty stressful meal to make, but we love it. Every year my …

Inside Jokes: How a Good Story Helps Family Satisfaction Read more »

Today’s devotional about obedience comes from: 1 Samuel 14:1-15 The Attack Saul has been attacking the Philistines. Jonathan clearly felt led to attack the garrison of the Philistines. He didn’t tell his father – perhaps he knew Saul would not condone it. Either way, Jonathan takes his armor-bearer and heads …

How to Be Obedient to God Read more »

To everything there is a season “For everything there is a season…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Solomon was certainly right about that! We’re all in one season or another. I’m in the peri-menopause, aging parent, teen children, tired of my career season. I’m in a season that is much more demanding for …

Learning to adapt to changing season of life Read more »

Planning time A few times each year, I take specific time to plan as we shift from one season to another. Typically this is at New Years, end of school/beginning of summer, end of summer/beginning of school, and birthdays. Taking time to touch base with my kids during these seasons …

It’s time to plan the next season…AND connect with your kids Read more »

In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining a strong and healthy relationship can be a challenge. As couples work through the ups and downs of married life, effective communication becomes the key to building a stronger bond. Communication is not just about talking. It’s about truly understanding and connecting with your partner …

Improve Your Marriage With Effective Communication Read more »

All goodbyes are tough I love getting hooked on shows. I’m sort of old school – binge watching isn’t my thing. I like the anticipation of a new episode, then knowing I have a week to wait for more. I love seeing the story unfold and the characters grow. What …

Off to college: How to say goodbye Read more »

The Late-Summer Crazy The kids are arguing…again. The dishes aren’t put away and the floors need attention. Don’t even ask about the status of the bathroom. The sheen of summer break has grown dull and now we’re in the countdown to school. I know many moms are about crazy from …

Kids driving you crazy? Here are 5 parenting sanity savers Read more »

As a coffee drinker, the title grabbed my attention first. And honestly, unless I’m drinking an ICED coffee, then getting the coffee down before it’s cold is the name of the game. So grab a hot cup of coffee and come with me… Summary Open the door and you’ll hear …

Your Next Good Book: Before the Coffee Gets Cold Read more »

In a previous post, we learned a general introduction to encouragement and that there are typically two types: goal-directed encouragement and person-directed encouragement. Both are vital to our social relationships. Both also show up clearly in the different types of social support we offer to others during difficult times. Support …

5 Types of Social Support and How To Communicate Them Read more »