“So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” Deuteronomy 5:32-33, NIV  It’s a busy time of year, so I will keep our chat brief! I am giddy every

You know one recipe that increases the likelihood of enjoyment for all in the holiday season? Forethought + Surrender = Peace! My favorite practical tip for savoring the holidays is begin preparing WAAAAAY earlier than you think is necessary! I want to give you a first step toward preparing for a more peaceful holiday, beginning today. But first, the why. Why plan ahead and give anything meaningful forethought?  God is a planner, as we see

There is a Scripture that gives me pause each time I come across it. It’s found in Ephesians 6:4b and it’s speaking to how we ought to raise our children: but bring them up [tenderly, with lovingkindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (AMP) The part that resonates with me today is “instruction of the Lord.” When I read that, I wondered what might the “instruction of the Lord” look like in day

Have you heard of Parkinson’s law? This axiom states that work will expand to fill the time allotted for its completion. I wonder if you have ever experienced this as a parent, because I am experiencing this right now! Here’s a picture of our morning: Our oldest three girls are in elementary school and our youngest daughter is in preschool for just a few hours a week. Today is one of those rare days when

“Living on Love.” This was a phrase Mark and I often used during our first couple years of marriage. When we wed on July 11, 2009, he was a traveling consultant with IBM, living in Atlanta, GA. Our final day in Georgia was our wedding day. After our honeymoon, we headed to Coronado, California.  Mark’s degree is in industrial engineering and he was great at his job, but it was not fulfilling to him. He