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Family First

Enrich your family experience with these helpful tips, articles and resources. Learn how to turn negatives into positives and build more meaningful relationships.

Hide and Seek - Last night as my husband and I sat around the table with our five children eating supper, our youngest child, two year old Laura, decided to get up and play on the floor.

Hothouse Parents - My local store features rows of beautiful red hothouse-grown tomatoes. The controlled environment produces perfection on the outside but bland, unsatisfying taste and texture on the inside.

Put the Kettle On - Marianne always put the kettle on. We’d known each other since we attended South High School, in Akron, Ohio. However, the years of our young motherhood launched the full bloom of our friendship. As a friend, she measured well.

Relationship Blues - Every one of us has experienced a situation where another human being, especially a child, has “pushed our buttons”.

Car Buying Tips - My three-month stint as a sales representative in the car business was an eye-opening time of discovery and jaw-dropping realizations that many car dealerships were less than scrupulous.

College Life - Home for the summer from my first year in college, my old friends wanted to know what college life was like. Many of the seniors at my old high school asked me, “What do I do, when I get to college and I have all that free time?”

A Family of Five - Some of you may be familiar with the place. You may have had a similar experience. After eating lunch at Fernwood Gardens (a botanical garden near Buchanan, Michigan), my husband and I had taken a short walk down to a dock.

Ginger the Wunderdog - One Sabbath Jesus showed up at His hometown synagogue in Nazareth and had the Scripture reading.

In an Instant - Last week I remembered that it has been one year since my husband had his motorcycle accident. After I heard a chaplain’s message on my cell phone, after I panicked and went numb, after I called my son, and then found my way to the...

Daily Family Worship - One of the most important ingredients in a happy Christian home is faithful attendance at the family altar. The Bible shows a consistent example of daily worship, morning and evening. In addition to having individual time with God each...

An Angry Wife - I was recently talking with a young woman whose marriage seemed to be crumbling before her eyes.

When Grandchildren Move - Careers and education often create difficult choices for families to relocate—within a state or across the country.

Lesson Learned - Tears stung my eyes as frustration broke through my giddy, excited state. I’d been determined to keep a happy attitude in order to still the fear of traveling alone. It proved harder than I thought once the van driver started yelling at me.

A Genie For Love - Three guys walking on a beach together stumble on an ancient lamp. As they pick it up and hold it, suddenly a genie pops out.

Shoestring Budgets - As a child growing up, one of my very favorite places to hang out was my grandparent’s house. They didn’t have a lot of luxuries but there was a certain humble peace that pervaded their home.

Swinging - As I recall swings of my childhood, I equate the swinging with happy memories. How is it possible to swing and not feel happy? There’s an elation to the movement, be it just up in the air a little ways like a porch swing or a glider that simply...

What's in a name? - I mean no disrespect to Shakespeare, but I think there’s a lot to our names. Now that I’m a grandmother, I’ve been able to watch my children go through the agony of choosing just the right name for each prayed-for baby.

Men and Feelings - Men, have you ever been asked by your spouse (or a friend), “What are you feeling right now?” And, if you are like many men, you respond, “I haven’t a clue! I can tell you what I think, but I really don’t know how I feel.” Some men have said ...

ABC's on My Heart - Long ago, when for many, paper and postage fees were an expensive luxury, receiving a letter was an event and sending one was taken very seriously. With very tiny, even script, line upon line, every bit of space on each...

Missing the Moments - Last spring my wife was visiting a nursery looking over the flowers. She happened to be in the section where the Impatiens were displayed. Abruptly a young man walked up to where she was standing. “Beautiful, aren’t they?” he...

Sabbath Women - On the sixth day of creation, as the culmination of God’s work, “Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man,” (Genesis 2:22). When everything was completed, God noted that it...

Let Go - One of my sons is majoring in Civil Engineering at college. He will be spending six weeks in Costa Rica and Panama, this spring and summer. It is not a vacation, rather it is part of his curriculum...

Teenage Depression - I’ve worked with teenagers for over twenty years now and have loved every minute of it. Many I’ve known have been well-balanced, happy teens. Yet I’ve been surprised at the numbers who have faced either mild or serious depression.

Learning to Wait - As I finished playing my guitar for a group of small children, I invited one little girl to come forward and strum my instrument. Immediately ten other children stepped forward begging to try it out as well. I firmly and kindly said, “No.”

One Accord - It was an extremely corny joke. The worship speaker had compared being of one accord or in agreement with one another, to being in a car together: a Honda Accord. It got me thinking about my friend Lily.

Goodbye Pop - She walked down the brightly lit hallway her slow steps muted by the industrial carpet and low conversations in the nurses station. Her frail frame weighted down by the knowledge that this would be the last time she would see he...

My Pop - He always smelled like mixed nuts. He drizzled olive oil on top of his spaghetti. He wrote me short letters on his old typewriter and used to send me dollar bills for “some ice cream” when I was in college. He played the flute beautifully and...

Toddler Food Fights - “He won’t eat,” declared the exasperated mother. “Daddy makes him eat and makes him go to bed, but he won’t do it for me.” My client was expressing her frustration with trying to feed her two-year-old child. She was also having problems with...

Angels Rode with Us - My wife and I had been married six weeks. One day we decided to go house hunting. The small upstairs apartment we had hurriedly moved into lacked a private entrance. And we wanted to adopt a pet.

Love Life - It was with great displeasure that I carelessly flipped through the pages of the book I’d just received for my birthday, pretending to be interested. I knew I had no need to pretend; everyone knew my dislike for that topic. It was one of...

Family Vacation - Some of the fondest memories from my childhood are family vacations. I can still hear the voices of my parents and siblings as we piled into the Plymouth and headed from the plains of Kansas to the Rockies.

The Perfect Father - My father is not perfect. When I was growing up he drank and physically abused my mother. He was demanding, critical, and verbally abusive. I didn’t enjoy being around him when I was a child. I wanted a better relationship with him...

Generation Me - Some are calling this generation of teens and young adults “Generation Me” because they are so self-absorbed. This concerns me because we have a teenage daughter. And we don’t want her to be self-centered.

Graduation Letter - Dear Grandson, how quickly the years have rushed by since the first day I saw you as you entered my world. It seems like yesterday that you would gleefully run into our home to spend time at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

Different - After almost five years of friendship, I’ve realized that my brain doesn’t work in quite the same way as my friends. I don’t know why, but our ways of thinking are very different. It feels like when they’re seeing a + b = c, I’m seeing a puppy...

She's Gone - It was 4:43 a.m. when I got the page. Mechanically, I groped for the Blackberry on my night stand and stared at the screen.

The Perfect Proposal - Eight years ago, on St. Patrick’s day, Brent proposed to me. Each year as the holiday approaches, I am reminded how important it is to really listen to and honor my husband.

Part of the Family - Several years ago, a stray kitty visited our porch. She climbed up on the bench and looked in our window. It was the middle of winter and snow covered the yard. My husband and I felt bad for the stray kitty as she looked through a frost...

Vapor Trails - This morning’s space shuttle launch couldn’t have been nicer. We watched in the darkness of our backyard before sunrise. The sky was totally crisp and cloudless so we were able to watch the shuttle from the building glow at the horizon until it...

Being a "Grand" Parent - I’m a brand new grandfather! My wife and I became grandparents for the first time about five months ago. I’m thrilled. There is nothing like it. I will have to admit that the thought of a “young guy” like me being a grandfather struck me...

Anywhere Gardening - One of the greatest joys I have is working in my vegetable and flower gardens. My husband and I also grow fruit trees and are working on black raspberries and strawberries. It may seem to some people that the obvious purpose of...

Fierce Independence - "Do it myself," is a pretty common phrase from my two year old right now. I generally don't mind it. I know he's learning independence and trying out his skills. But yesterday's experience took the cake.

Spring Cleaning - Spring has officially sprung! And it’s the perfect time to think about spring cleaning. But if you’re a mom, don’t think you have to do it all by yourself, it should be a family affair. And as much as your kids and hubby may complain, you can...

Loss of a Dream - We lost Washington. As a military family, we are used to the moving process that happens every three to four years. It all starts about nine months out when a list is released showing possible bases we can move to.

Growing Corn and Kids - Every spring our family plants a big garden. With five children and three acres we have plenty of room and plenty of need. But it’s more than just having good food to put on our table. Planting a garden helps us grow in our characters.

In Defense of Animals - I have a very soft heart for animals, particularly animals that have been abused and neglected. One of my favorite TV programs is one that takes an animal (usually a dog, cat, or horse) from an environment of neglect and then builds the...

To Be Loved - The other day, my son said, “Mommy, thank you for loving me.” Being very observant and inquisitive he asked me what love meant. I told him that love is when you care about someone and you have feelings for someone.

They Do Not Give Up! - The words were written in big white letters on the rear window of the car driven by the man in Santiago, Chile. A journalist approached him and asked him: “Is it true? Chile does not give up?” “Of course not!” he answered.

Christian Sneetches - I recently looked at an old Dr. Suess book that brought back many memories for me. If you love children’s prose the chances are good that you may have thoughts of your childhood attached to at least one of the whimsical topics that made these books so beloved to children the world over.

No Princess Zone - So I have one, okay, so I have this little fear. A phobia of princesses. Little girls who insist on putting on one of their 47 princess outfits each day and fall on the floor in a pile of tears if they are told no. Little girls who argue...

Where Flowers Bloom - Who can tell the value of a simple flower? We often send flowers to express love, gratitude or sympathy. We somehow know that flowers lift the human spirit. They help us see the beauty in life, and the hope in living it.

I Need You - My son, Carter, is four-years-old turning 18. His independence is very important to him. The desire to do pretty much everything on his own is not only important, it’s his demand.

Life Is Too Short - I awakened during the night for no apparent reason. As I lay there in the dark, I listened carefully to my husband’s rhythmic breathing. It was comforting. Peaceful. I paid special attention because I knew that in a few days he would fly...

Spiritual Dating - When Christian couples are dating, they are often encouraged to choose their dates carefully. Not only the person they date, but also the actual date itself. Caution is given for when it is appropriate to be alone and when being alone...

Tune in to Family - There are thousands of radio waves surrounding you at this very moment. Unless you are tuned into any of them, they will pass you by unnoticed. Without a receiver to zero in on a certain frequency, you cannot hear or see these...

Mistaken Identity - Two of my 10-year-old son’s best friends are Mark and Miles. Not only are these boys brothers, they’re twins, identical twins. They are so much alike that sometimes their own parents have to stop and take a second look to...

A Special Time - Vacations are journeys that bring us to new places, sights, and insights. Our recent family vacation had many points of interest and stunning beauty, but I have chosen one special memory and time to share with you.

The Family Council - It was Friday night and my family was nervously sitting in a circle in our living room. Every one had a cup of hot chocolate in their hands, looking at their Father and wondering what he was up to now. This was an important...

Coming to Terms - Three years ago, when we moved to Japan with the U.S. Navy, we had a fairly simple plan for our time on Okinawa. It went something like this... During our time in Japan, we will: 1. Become fluent in Japanese. (Duh! I'll be there THREE years—it's a TOTAL given!)

Life's Leaky Faucet - Drip! Drip! Drip! I can understand why this sound makes people feel a little edgy.

It's the Simple Things - I recently gave birth to our third child—a fabulous little girl. She and her two older brothers (4 and 2 years old) are the basis for the question I hear most often lately: “So, how is it with three?”

The Value of Roots - Since I became a parent, I have found increasing reasons to admire my own parents. Parenting is a tough job and we all tend to do it with good intentions and many mistakes.

A Feathered Friend - Growing up on a farm has given me an appreciation of animals and many opportunities to observe them. I’ve marveled at the devotion of the goose and gander to their goslings. My heart has been warmed when I’ve seen cats...

Surviving a Job Loss - Like five million other Americans, you or someone you’re close to may be singing the pink-slip blues. But losing a job doesn’t have to be all gloom and doom. Sometimes great opportunities can arise from initially discouraging...

Best of Breed - I am a dog-lover. So recently when friends invited me to accompany them and their dogs to a dog confirmation show I jumped at the chance. We left early Sunday morning because judging the retriever class...

365 Days - At the beginning of 2009, Pastor Dave Ferguson went to a Kinko’s store with his Starbucks drink in hand. One of the employees joked, “Hey, where is mine?” Dave responded, “What do you want? I’m buying!” He noticed two...

He'll Carry You - I will always remember my first week as a single mom. My own mother had given me the money to rent an apartment and escape with my two small children from an abusive husband.

Nose to Nose - My teenage son just passed me in height. It’s been a year since I last arm wrestled him and won. He’s challenged me since then, but I keep putting it off. It’s crazy! The little boy I used to wrestle with on the living room floor has...

Uncommon Compassion - Can you imagine what it would be like to discover that you’re finally pregnant but the baby you’re carrying is not your child? That’s what happened recently to 40-year-old Carolyn Savage. According to a story in the Omaha World...

Whose Kid is it? - When I first heard someone say “it takes a whole village to raise a child” I shrugged it off and thought it was a ridiculous cliché’.

Budgeting for Success - According to various sources, between 45 and 80 percent of American adults make New Year’s resolutions. And among the top 10 is usually one about controlling spending or getting out of debt.

Slower is Faster - I’m a task-oriented kind of guy. I like making lists and checking them off. When my mind focuses on a project, everything else fades into infinity.

Stirring Up the Nest - You loved being a parent. You loved watching your kid grow up and go through all those fascinating stages of development.

The Gift - She is a quiet young girl with a gentle smile and warm, brown eyes. And although she is smart and talented she never tries to draw attention to herself.

My Christmas Wish - Holiday time is always tough and tender because it holds so many memories for us all.

Love Notes - Occasionally I travel a distance away from home, and I am quite often in a position where I need to pack a bag or two because I’ll be staying overnight in a hotel.

Safe Haven - Despite the best efforts of the emergency room team, the patient’s heart stopped and was not able to be revived.

A Gracious Getter - Christmas tradition in our family allowed us to open one gift on Christmas Eve. It was so hard to choose the perfect gift to open first.

The Least of These... - Two days before Christmas I phoned a girlfriend to ask if she had her shopping done.

Drug-Free Kids - Do you think it is important for your children not abuse drugs, alcohol, or tobacco? You are not alone. Most parents do not want their school aged children involved with drugs alcohol, and tobacco. Parents have good instincts. Habits...

Crisis is Not All Bad - You’ve got to be kidding, I thought as someone shared this thought with me. I had always avoided crisis at any cost.

Teaching Thankfulness - As the mother of five children, I have realized that children are not always as thankful as they should be.

Bye-bye Babysitter! - I did it. I fired my much-loved, inexpensive, and always available babysitter. Why, you ask, would a mother of two (ages six and four) ever consider parting ways with good help? In case you haven’t figured it out, this childcare...

Seek First . . . - The flight attendant held up the oxygen mask, pantomimed placing it over her mouth and nose, tugged the strap that would tighten it around her head and moved on to explaining the seat cushion floatation device.

Amazing Love - I’m coming to You tonight with a broken heart. Grandpa died. I know that You already knew that, but I need to talk to someone.

Call Mother! - Why do you think it is that men find it harder than women to call their mothers? This was the question-of-the hour as I traveled with my neighbor to our Co-op for organic produce.

Fancy Cheese - My middle son was home from college one weekend. It was my youngest son’s birthday, and older brother wanted to be there. He also wanted to talk over some plans with me, so he tagged along as I ran errands, including a trip...

The Price is Right - One foggy Sunday morning in November, I spread boxes of lamps, collectables, furniture, and other items on the cement driveway and held a yard sale.

Train Up a Child - Lately, I’ve been stuck with the importance of raising my children in such a way that they desire to know God. By that I mean to really know God, not just to know of God but to know God in an interactive way, as a friend.

Breaking the Cycle - I know a woman who hated her home life as a teen. Things got so bad that she actually tried killing herself in order to escape the pain. She vowed to never get married, and certainly to never have children of her own. She didn’t...

Basically Green - If you’re looking to do right by the planet without buying a hybrid sedan or expensive organic sheets, don’t stress. There are plenty of other ways you and your kids can help both the earth and your budget. These cost-saving...

Banana Plants - After my walk this morning I sat down in my backyard facing the banana trees. Actually I’ve learned that although I refer to them as a tree, that is not accurate terminology. They are ornamental plants. In our region of the country...

They Listen - My youngest son is currently taking a class on communications. Puzzled about some of what was being taught in class, he asked, “Dad, you give presentations, don’t you?”

Encouragement - Encouragement is a vital part of our personal growth and also in our effectiveness in serving humanity. But often, people tend to avoid encouraging others. I have to say this has always been a bit of a mystery because to me it's...

Un-Super Sizing Kids - You’ve probably heard by now that Americans are getting larger. And adults are not the only ones struggling to control their weight. Childhood obesity is a developing epidemic. The National Health and Nutrition Examination...

People Builders - Last week I had to take my daughter’s car to my friend’s car shop. My friend was extremely busy with jobs going on more than one car at a time. I started to work on my daughter’s car but soon realized there were not enough...

Burying Money - It’s worship time and there he is preaching, Mr. Good-At-Everything, in all his perfect holiness. Ironically, he’s preaching about the parable of the talents. He holds a few colorful Monopoly bills in his hand and calls three...

Fall Family Fun - Although autumn is officially here, don’t feel that you have to leave behind the family time that you shared last summer. There are endless outdoor and indoor activities that your family can do to stay connected. Here are a few...

The Right Thing - You are a baseball fan. You have been going to your team’s games since you were three. Now you are an adult, a dad with two girls. So you take your family to the game. During a game something happens that has never happened to you...

Happy Harvest - With the arrival of autumn and all of its glory, comes the intrusion of Halloween and all that is gory! Personally, I grow less tolerant of Halloween every year. But intolerance is a negative emotion, so I've taken a more positive...

A Green Goodbye - There are green buildings, green cars, even green weddings. Now comes one of the latest, and ultimately last, choices the environmentally conscious person can make, green burials.

Responsibility - When the twins turned 11 their parents decided to allow them to have a television in their bedroom. Benjamin and Aaron were excited, and even though they were only allowed 60 minutes of TV a day, they were grateful that their...

Gift Your Pastor - During more than a quarter century of pastoral ministry, my family and I experienced blessings and challenges in every church we served. One congregation we remember particularly because of appreciation shown to us from...

A Prudent Wife - "Houses and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord" (Proverbs 19:21). I like the way the New Century Version of the Bible puts this verse: “Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a wise wife is a gift from the Lord.”

Crooked Sticks - Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks) when it feels like nothing goes right? Times when you feel all bent out of shape? In the thick of things it can be really hard to see how such crookedness can be a part of God’s...

Realistic Expectations - “What do you want to be when you grow up?” From the time we’re children, it’s what everyone wants to know. When you’re four, it’s cute to answer that you want to be a fireman, a rocket scientist, a giraffe or an airplane.

Three Cord Rope - As I took part in the Communion service at our church this past week, I experienced an especially rich infusion of the Spirit. First, while my husband is a deacon and has many times served the congregation by handing out the...

If Walls Could Talk - I have always loved old houses. Older houses just seem to have so much more character than the cookie cutter type models we see so much today. I love visiting historical homes and imagining the history that has taken place...

Missing Bravery - I’m a young adult and let me just tell you, it’s a tough phase in life. You go through a lot of changes and reality checks in a very short amount of time. At least for me, the first few months after college were filled with doubt...

Gifts - I am not overly concerned about things. Ironically, of the things I do possess, two that I would be reluctant to lose are my wallet and my checkbook. Not because of their contents. If a thief were to demand my money or credit...

Mothers and Sons - When my mom had her first baby, the doctor assured her that she was going to have a girl, so she took a cute little dress to bring her daughter home in. The only problem was, “she” turned out to be a “he.” And my dad had to go...

Family Worship - Before I was married with children, I pictured my future family sitting around the dinner table participating in family worship. Some friends of mine from high school told me about their families reading the Bible together every night...

Education Pays - The start of a new school year is just around the corner. Eager youngsters are picking out new notebooks and choosing what they’ll wear on the first day of school. Teachers are arranging colorful displays in their classrooms...

Blocking a Blessing - At a former job, I met a young lady who longed for a husband. It seemed to me that longing was all she ever did; she believed that her life’s purpose was to be a wife and here she was husband-less, and therefore purposeless. She was...

Fathers and Daughters - Although my mom and I were very close while I was growing up, my dad also played a very important role in my life. Dad and I shared things that Mom and I didn’t: a love for horses, playing the guitar, a passion for pastoral...

Waiting Pays Off - “I want to buy that pocket knife.” My son pointed through the glass case at the glistening knife nestled among a dozen others.

Family Music - I had the most refreshing observation yesterday in church. As the congregation was singing "It Is Well With My Soul", I glanced across the aisle at our pastors young children. They were holding hymn books, but I couldn't help...

Three??? - I'm feeling overwhelmed. We've just found out were going to have another baby. Were thrilled. And I'm terrified. I'm a good and loving mom, but I am not an organized or structured mom. I seem to get by on a wing and a prayer.

Free At Last - Jim felt the evil presence fill the room. He turned off the computer, fell to the floor and began to plead with the Lord to drive the evil away and clean the room, the computer and him.

A True Friend Is... - The Wisdom literature of the Jewish sacred scriptures contains the following proverb on friendship: "As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend" (Proverbs 27:17).

The Awakening - Dr. Seaborn Beck Weathers is a Dallas Pathologist who was 49 when he attempted to bag the summit of Mt. Everest. In the spring of 1996, Beck along with 17 other clients, relinquished upwards of $70,000 to be safely...

Pretty Please - Lucy's a beggar. She's also a beagle. A freckled brown and white, warm, soft, bouncy beagle. Lucy stayed at our house once while our daughter, Kate, was passing through to go to a wedding. Dog-sitting a puppy still in the potty...

The Long Crop - My father-in-law comes over to our place for Sunday dinner most weekends. As I said grace on one Sunday, I thought how good it was that he lived close enough to drop over just whenever. My father-in-law is in his late...

Summer Spirit - Summer is moving right along and moving with it are opportunities for family togetherness. Not that families can't be together during the school year, but summer is a great time for even more quality time.

Domestic Violence - There is never a good reason for domestic violence. Here are six steps a victim1 can take to escape an abusive environment.

New Tricks - I will survive. I will not go crazy. In my house, in a few short weeks, there will be three children under four years of age, a teenager, a husband and a dog (who refuses to potty-train).

A Family 4th - I love spending time with my family on Fourth of July. Every year on July 3rd, our now teenage daughter and my husband make a trip to our local fireworks booth. When they get home she lines up her treasures on the living...

Two Hearts, One Mind - My wife and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary recently. Normally, on our anniversary we exchange cards, but not gifts. We also go out for dinner together, just us, no kids, to a nice restaurant that we, rather than...

Power of Friendship - The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote extensively on the philosophy of friendship, describing the nature of genuine friendship, what it is, what it looks like, how it works. Here's how he defined it...

Mark on My Heart - I can’t get my it off. My wedding band. If I didn’t live in a tropical, humid environment; if I drank more water and ingested less salt; and most importantly, if I wasn't six months pregnant, I probably wouldn’t be having this...

Catch! - I walk my dog every evening. More often than not, I see a father and his two sons in the front yard of one house on the route. They are practicing baseball. As I near the corner, I hear a steady “tink” of an...

Carrying Burdens - They have been lying at the bottom of a box for two years—dozens of sympathy cards I received after my brother died. I read and appreciated each one as they arrived in the mail. But after the funeral, it was just too painful to...

All Things New - It’s been five months that I’ve officially been “on my own”. My sister and I had been living together until December of last year, when she got married. I have to be honest, it was tough leaving. I loved living with her and always...

My Anchor - He came to me for help with an English paper, but it was really he who helped me. The assignment was to write a poem using a symbol. He chose an anchor, and here’s why. He had recently made some wrong choices and had gotten caught.

The Wedding Gift - My single favorite wedding gift was not a card with a generous check or gift certificate. It was not a much needed kitchen appliance or household furnishing. It was not even a cherished heirloom now bequeathed to me for my...

Be the Change - "Be the change you want to see in the world." Have you heard that quote before? Mahatma Gandhi coined the now famous phrase. I thought about this quote as I was watching an old episode of Oprah on my DVR. This particular episode...

Love is Listening - “I write because…I need to express my thoughts. It seems no one listens when I speak.” I learned amazing things about people in my Adult Education Writing classes when I issued their first assignment: “I write because….”

Sarah's Vase - Sarah’s parents were new to town, and Sarah was just getting to know her new classmates at church. The second-grader was full of energy and brimming with mischief.

Potty Training - I woke up one day and realized that my continuous dream of having three kids in diapers might actually come true! The baby bump had started to get quite large around twenty-eight weeks and even though I was encouraging my...

Good Kids - Once I served as an election judge. My wife was one of my clerks. We left home at 5:15 am, worked non-stop all day, and got home, after dropping off the ballot box, at 11:00 pm. Exhausted, we had more to do. I still had to take...

Lessons Learned - The current recession has fueled a barrage of store closings, plant closures, massive layoffs, cutbacks in service and an 8.5 % unemployment rate—the highest in 25 years. To date, 5.1 million jobs have been lost since 2008.

Content in His Arms - As I was waiting to go up and see a friend in the hospital, I noticed another family also playing the waiting game. Two or three would go up at a time and in 15 or so minutes they would come back down to allow another...

God's Provision - My husband and I have been living in this little town for just over two years. We both knew that the job he took there was just temporary. A family friend was happy to help us out while my husband looked for something more...

Letter in the Attic - One day a little girl was rummaging through a trunk in the attic when, in the very bottom, she found a letter. The family had moved to the community several years earlier, and the mother had written the letter to one of the...

Spanking OK? - Thankfully, the media paid next to no attention to the fact that last April 30 was “End Spanking Day” as proclaimed by a group calling itself EPOCH—End Physical Punishment of Children. My former graduate school...

Help, My Mom Died - This year marked my second birthday as a motherless child. I will always think of Mom on my birthdays—we two started out together.

Today's Teens - I often hear people talk about how messed up this generation of teenagers is. And their concerns are valid. Take a look at these statistics from Teen Mania Ministries.

Free Ice Cream - A great-aunt taught me the free ice cream rule. When someone offers you free ice cream, there are only two acceptable responses: “Yes, please,” “No, but thank-you for offering,” or some variation of those two responses.

Forgive and Forget - My in-laws did not want me. The day their son became my boyfriend our whole relationship changed. Their son and I had been friends for almost three years. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I expect to be rejected as a...

What's in Your Closet - Because it’s still too cold in my neck of the woods to be gardening, I’ve decided to conquer my cabin fever by cleaning the closet in the den. The first layer isn’t too bad. I don’t mind parting with old homeschooling...

When Siblings Fight - My boys are six and four. My older son prefers playing by himself, and when I make him share with his younger brother, he just goes to something else. For example, when I suggest they take turns shooting...

Of Mice and Men - All of us make plans. When we make plans, we hope they will go as desired. But that doesn’t always happen. If “astray” happens, how do we balance our life and get back on track? Do we even dare?

The Girlfriend Need - As a transplant to Florida, I meet other people who are also transplants. A complaint I hear from them is the lack of friends. They miss their old friends—and sometimes so much that they return to where they moved from.

One Quarter at a Time - My middle son was home from college for the weekend. Before heading back he handed me a roll of quarters. “I almost forgot,” he said. “Can you use any of these?” I am not so financially strapped that I cadge quarters...

A Return to Virtue? - As President Obama approaches the halfway point of his first 100 days in office many Americans are continuing to experience job and home losses in what some analysts are terming the worst financial and credit crisis since the...

Good, Clean Dirt - Margaret Atwood said, “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” Margaret got it exactly right. When spring is enjoyed to the fullest, it is more than just seeing green grass and colorful flowers.

Speak Truth in Love - Sometimes we are so busy trying to keep the bad things from happening, that we miss unbelievably rich opportunities to grow and embrace what’s happening in our lives. When we step up to having really important...

More Like Your Son - I saw John’s mother at the grocery. John had been in my son’s Boy Scout troop. My youngest son invited John and his parents to attend the court of honor where Ben would receive the rank of Eagle. Ben admired the older boy.

Children Say Things - Our son, who’s almost four years old, says nasty things to us. Last night, for example, when my husband was reading him a bedtime story, he said, “I don’t love you anymore, Daddy, and I want you to move out of our house.”

Ten Special Prayers - From the dawn of time parents have been seeking to pass along to their offspring spiritual strength and enlightenment. This process is always lengthy, and never easy. Yet with perseverance and the blessings of God it...

Word to Your Heart - We don’t always get along very well with others. I suspect God had a pretty good idea this would be one of our most difficult problems come this day and age. Scripture is rich in resources aimed at helping us with this problem...

Unemployed? - Not too long ago, after a few weeks of searching and praying about it, I was able to find a new job. We all know that this is not a guaranteed situation or luck, it's a blessing. This process got me to wondering if God is...

The Secret to Success - When I was younger, I was a terror of an overachiever. I had the tendency to get discouraged at not being able to do something or not being able to get it right on the first try (I still at times suffer from this malady). When I would...

Nurturing Mothers - My son wrote a song a few months ago called “Time Passes By” which lamented the passing seasons of life. As Mark and I are about to have an empty nest, I tend to hear the words to that song echo through my mind now and...

Debt-Free? - Living in a debt-free societ. What a novel idea! The sad fact, however, is that the average American family is swamped with debts.

Terrible Twos - If it were possible to decode the burst of activity that occurs in the brain of a newborn at the moment he first opens his eyes, it’s likely that the message would read, “Wow! Look what I just did!”

Heart's Desire - “Girl of my dreams—I love you.” In one letter Ron wrote, “Feb. 14 may be the date they observe and call Valentine’s Day, but that is for people of only ordinary luck. I happen to have a Valentine’s life, which started on...

Patchwork Heritage - Tears filled my eyes as I watched the Presidential Inauguration of Barak Obama. I honestly didn’t think it would happen in my lifetime—that an African American would become president.

No Valentine? - While shopping for groceries and passing by the card section, a Valentine’s Day card caught my eye. It was perfect for my husband so I bought it. When the cashier was scanning my groceries and saw the card he said...

"I'll Pray for You" - Have you ever been listening to someone sharing a particular trial in her life with you and as you absorb what she is saying, you simultaneously try to think of some way you can fix it? It’s only natural to do that since you truly care...

My Friend, Francisco - You can smell the aroma of coffee from a couple of blocks away from “Café Cuba.” Francisco, the owner and friend, is a warm and pleasant Cuban, just like the espressos and coffees he serves from day to day…week to week.

Overdoing - My son called from college, relating some good news. He had done a report so well that he had received extra credit on it. He was particularly amused, because the assignment had irritated him. The subject seemed trivial...

Gaius, The Beloved - That day I arrived early to his bookstore. I had had a busy morning at home – a wife quickly getting ready so as to not be late to the daycare where she works everyday, and a teenage daughter asking: “Daddy, have you seen my...

Good Communication - There is one thing I actually heard Pastor Morris Venden say on my wedding day, as I stood before him with my handsome groom by my side and stars in my eyes: “The key to a successful marriage is communication. I’ve found...

Education Investment - With the current concerns about our country’s economy, being a college student (or even their parent) can be stressful. Paying for tuition, on top of housing, food, and bills is tough, especially when you are trying to...

The Marriage Solution - On January 1, your whole life can be transformed. For one day at least, all your good intentions can be jump-started and all your bad habits unplugged. At least for a few hours—minutes?—the year is a perfect reflection of your...

A Matter of Time - Are you always running late? If so you’re in good company, according to a study by Proudfoot Consulting. They report that American CEOs are late to eight out of every 10 meetings, resulting in $90 billion in lost productivity.

This Moment - Anita was a young, vibrant, active mother of a 10-month-old and a two-year-old when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. I did not know her well, but her husband and mine had been friends and coworkers for several years.

God, Toddlers, and Me - A few weeks ago, at my weekly Bible study meeting, the conversation centered on how we were just living our lives, yet not experiencing anything all that special. Most of us are mothers of young children making it...

The Scrapbook - I have a friend who will be spending her eleventh Christmas without her mom this year. And although eleven years sounds like a long time, when I spoke with Kari today I could still hear sadness in her voice. Her mom had been...

Gift Giving - My sister-in-law has already finished her holiday shopping. I haven’t even started! It’s hard to face the mall when I know how tight our finances are this year. It’s not that I don’t want to be generous. I truly...

The Present - “Free Pre-Paid Cremation! Details inside.” These were the words on the outside of an envelope addressed to my husband, a cancer patient. While I don’t regularly open his mail, this time I made an exception. My blood...

Gold, Frankincense... - For several months now (practically since last December 26th) my children have been wishing and dreaming for Christmas. Is it their eagerness to hear the story of Baby Jesus and sing “Away in the Manger”? Do they relish the...

Another Flight - We’d left our home in Japan 22 hours before. There’d been a six hour wait at the military terminal before the first three hour flight. Then another three hour layover before the second 10 hour flight. When we arrived in the States...

Not a Silent Night - We had done it with so much joy, yet with so much sacrifice. Penny by penny, we had put money aside, all to give our first-born daughter, Margarita, the Christmas gift she so longed for. That Christmas Eve was special...

Wartime Christmas - Even during wartime, when the enemy is clearly identified, one can still find a spark of goodness…

Family Thanksgiving - “Mom! Do you want to see something really sick?” Our teenage daughter spoke with such urgency that I immediately looked up from my computer. “Look at this,” she said, handing me two brochures that had come in the mail.

Praying Children - The first prayer most of us prayed was the blessing, “God is great, God is good, Let us thank Him for our food,” or the classic bedtime prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep.”

Beauty Queen - Jackie’s parents divorced when she was about nine years old. Her mother directed much of the ill feeling she felt for her ex-husband squarely at her youngest daughter. Jackie, who inherited her father’s exotic looks, Her older sister...

Gifts and Giving - A friend of mine posted a blog recently that caught my attention. In essence, she requested that if any of her friends were interested in giving her a gift in the upcoming holiday season, she would appreciate it if...

An Old Prayer - It's been 12 years. They’d had sex outside of marriage. They’d gone their separate ways. And a child had been born. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t easy. But because they both loved this baby girl, they made the best of the situation.

No Place Like Home - Most people with Alzheimer’s disease have a strong desire to live in their homes as long as possible. Families share this desire. Paradoxically, the home is often the best place and the worst place for Alzheimer’s care.

Missing Money - On this particular day I began imagining what my husband and I might do if we suddenly came into money one of our deceased parents forgot to tell us about. It was a generic advertisement I’d read many times before but never...

Beauty In Friendship - One of the hardest things about moving to a new town is finding new friends. Trying to find where you belong; a place to call your own. When my husband, son and I moved a little over a year ago, I felt blessed to be moving to...

Her Biggest Fear - She was terrified. Of her locker. Her combination locker. The one she had to open on her first day of seventh grade. It’s all I heard about for weeks before. Not the new teachers, or new students or all the homework.

God Invented Sex - My 9-year-old son was watching a sports news program with his daddy a few months ago. In the middle of all the discussion of RBIs and pass rushing, came a news story about the sexual impropriety of one of the players.

Teen Pregnancy - Some friends and I once talked about high teen pregnancy rates. They were concerned about it. I pointed out that teen pregnancy rates in the United States are lower today than they were in the nineteenth century.

Saving at Checkout - I was immediately intrigued when I saw the receipt. “You bought all this stuff for only that amount?” I inquired. “Yep” she replied, “And here’s best part; this isn’t an isolated incident, I get deals like this all...

Candy Land - Oh, the memories. Rainbow squares. Peppermint forests. Chocolate swamps. And the King of Candy. It’s amazing how strong childhood memories can be. It’d been 30+ years since I’d played this famous kid’s game, but it all came...

Miracle Eyes - The fable is told of a village in Holland where lived a baker named Fouke. This tall, thin man had an appearance that matched his reputation for rigid rectitude. He was intolerant of the faults of others to the point that...

Set the Sails - We’ve all heard the old adage “The set of the sail determines the port.” If I remember correctly, that was the motto of my high school graduating class. It was a good motto, but as I marched down the aisle to receive...

Who Does What - It's 6 p.m. and you’ve just walked in the door. The kids are hungry, and they have homework. They also need to practice music and take baths. The breakfast dishes are in the sink, and the dishwasher needs to be emptied.

Too Young? - Is seventeen too young to marry? Many think so today. The median age for marriage in the United States is almost a decade older – 27.5 years old for men, and 25.5 years for women. In Europe, it is 30. While seventeen has always...

The Tragic Nanny Ad - “My kids are a pain!” So began the brutally honest help wanted ad written by a mother of four from Manhattan’s Upper East Side who was recently looking for a nanny. Here are a few of the other excerpts from the listing that...

Teach Thankfulness - How many times have we given a gift to someone without receiving a thank you? Or maybe we've done a special favor only to wonder if we should have minded our own business. Let’s face it, it feels good to hear people say...

Unnecessary Scare - “I’m scared, Momma.” And so we crawled past the bag of popcorn, the special-occasion candy, the friends we had arranged weeks ago to meet... and left the theater. I had done the research. I’d gone to www.pluggedinonline.com...

Habits and Marriage - Habits are those behaviors we acquire in life, some being intentional and many unintentional. They may not seem like a big deal in the great scheme of life; but some, even small ones, can wreck havoc on our relationships.

Picture This - A camera and a small sign; that’s all that he left there on the park bench. What he received when he developed the photos was an amusing lesson about humanity.

The Ordinary Paper - One Sunday morning the English etcher, William Walcot, wanted to put on paper some of the impressions he had gathered in his study of New York’s skyscrapers. Stores were closed, and he could not find paper on which to work.

Bringing Dad Home - When Darlene’s mother lay in the hospital with an incurable lung disease in 2006, she watched her dad age quickly in just two-weeks’ time. He had difficulty walking, and seemed confused, disoriented—and lost.

Pacifier - He won’t still sleep with a pacifier by the time he’s in high school. He won’t still cry if he has to go to class without me. He’ll pronounce his “L’s” by then. He’ll be able to eat without dropping half his meal on his clothes.

Appreciation - His ashes are scattered there. They’re also scattered in other favorite places around the country. Famous comedian George Carlin’s ashes were taken to a number of spots around the United States by his daughter Kelly Carlin...

Curiosity - The parents of a five-year-old asked for my advice about an interesting problem. Mandy took things from her parents without their permission. Most of the things she took were small items that belonged to her mother such as...

Sticks and Stones - “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” Sound familiar? But it isn’t true, is it? Words do hurt. In fact, a cut or scrape of the skin will heal, but wounds caused by words can last a lifetime.

Talking to Teachers - If your child is one of the projected 56 million elementary or high school students heading off to school this fall in the United States you may be wondering what you can do to make things go more smoothly.

Back-to-School Breeze - The transition between summer and a new school year can be difficult for both children and parents. Even children who are eager to return to class must adjust to the greater levels of activity, structure, and even pressures...

Fun Work - “Daddy, have a fun time at work,” yelled my son as he waved toward a car disappearing around the corner. I smiled, knowing he was copying what I say to him before school each day. And then I realized, with amazement...

Respect - Are you as respectful to your mate as you would be to a stranger? Patterns of communication with a spouse sometimes don’t adequately reflect the caring that couples feel for each other.

Sibling Admiration - When I was growing up, my younger brother and I fought all the time. We loved each other, and as adults we are close friends, but boy, did we fight. Looking back, I am sometimes surprised we both survived to be adults.

Orphan Train - My eyes filled with tears as I read about the thousands of children between the years of 1850 and 1930 who rode the “Orphan Trains.” These trains were filled with children (mostly from Northeast cities) who needed a...

Subbing For Jesus - At the moment, I'm sitting in Mr. Cramer's science classroom. The topic of the day is hurricanes, and while I'm no meteorologist, it is my job to do my best with the subject and to encourage those who are looking to me for...

Boys and Pornography - We recently found pornographic material under our 16-year-old son’s bed. Last year he battled depression, bad grades, and drug use, but this year he’s made a big turn around. He’s upbeat, has a job, is making good grades,

Going to Granny's - The sun is coming up. My brothers, sister and I are asleep on the living room floor, but sounds from the kitchen wake us. A fresh egg hits the skillet and it sizzles. The aroma of homemade biscuits makes its way to our noses.

Restorative Justice - Restorative justice is a very old concept. The Old Testament “cities of refuge” provided for it, and Jesus modeled it. Perhaps it was His redefinition of criminal justice in that culture that provided the final straw...

Be an Angel - She always had a smile on her face. She lived in a small apartment at her sister’s house. She had lived there for over three decades. No one would have imagined that big house without that small apartment.

Of Hope and Healing - Pregnancy is a time of excitement, high hopes and high expectations. Yet it can be filled with stress of the unknowns. When my husband and I found out we were pregnant with our second, we were extremely excited.

Parenting Harder Now? - In this modern world we live in, It is harder than ever to be a parent. Everyone says that. But is it true? Is it harder to be a parent today than it was two thousand years ago? Back then, kings could, and did, order every...

Oh, Say Can You See? - As Independence Day approaches, I'm reminded of July 4 of last year. Mark and I saw a beautiful display of fireworks, and the evening was perfect. There was no wind, the crickets were tuned up nicely, barefoot kids were...

Grandma's Influence - Have you ever had a special person in your life that you were so close to you considered them family? I have been blessed in this way. As long as I can remember, there has been a special lady in my life that I thought of and...

I Pick Jesus - I think one of the prickliest positions to be in as a kid is the choosing of sides for teams in school sports. I was somewhere in the middle: not the first to be picked, but not the last either. My pain came in the suffering...

Papyrus - I used to be Papyrus. For years now, the default font on my computer has been set to it. I loved the slightly splotchy lettering, rounded letters and long lines. It was the style of type that most felt like me. When I’d begin...

Unplug for Summer - School’s out for the summer! Our kids have worked long and hard and deserve a few months of rest and play. But for some kids, summer is a time of boredom while their parents are away at work or busy around the house.

Transforming Grace - When people spend their lives trying to transform or fix their spouses and kids, the natural result is exhaustion, depression and the hopeless sense of wanting to bail out of it all. In the book, Families Where Grace Is in Place...

Wedding Day - Hidden behind all the clothes I actually wear, is a beautiful white dress. My mother and I went to a special fabric store in Seattle to pick out material for this perfect garment. A family friend stitched it together...

Just the Same - I recently attended my 20-year high school alumni weekend. It was great. We spent the whole time repeating again and again and again that we all looked “just the same.” I think we hoped it would become true through repetition.

Being Dad - Dads get little respect today. The foolish father is a stock element in sitcoms. Government treats fathers as the disposable element in families, even as dangerous. Male buddies, especially the unmarried ones, razz you. You...

Saving Gas - My dad spoke in grave and authoritative tones as we pulled up to the gas pumps; “The price of gas is ridiculous! If the price goes up past 50 cents a gallon, I’m going to have to find another way to get around.”

Bless Me, Father - I adored my father. Being the only girl among three brothers, I felt like a little princess to a certain extent. My father was refined, yet quick to smile. Every time he spoke to me, his big, dark eyes seemed to...

Mentor a Teenager - On June 15, 1965, our 16-hour flight from Santiago, Chile ended. After making stops in three different countries, we landed in Miami and waited for several hours for our connecting flight to our final destination, New York City.

Dad's Affirmation - Everyone had new fishing equipment except me. My dad and two of my older brothers had gone to the fishing department at our local store and picked out the best gear that they could afford. There was an air of anticipation...

Marriage Partnership - Thinking about marriage? I have been married over 30 years. It took me nearly ten of that to figure out what marriage was really about. The true meaning of marriage is found in scripture and in tradition. In his letter to...

Remembering - We Americans are grateful to the men and women who have bravely served our country. Yet too often we view Memorial Day as just a three-day weekend--the beginning of summer--the day fashion designers declare it’s okay to...

Years of Pears - It is early spring and there are pears in the grocery flyer this week. Though it is hardly the season for local pears, somewhere pears are getting ripe and after a long journey they are appearing in our northern grocery store.

Remember Loved Ones - Spring is usually thought of as the season for celebrating new life. We see green grass springing up, tiny leaves unfolding and flower buds pushing from the earth. Birds begin to sing and baby bunnies abound. But for hearts...

Canned Fun - If you are a police officer who was working where I lived during the late 1990’s, please cease and desist immediately from reading this article. Or if you are an impressionable youth who would get ideas from this...

Lessons From Mom - I could now write a book titled, “Lessons Mom Taught Me.” I couldn’t have written it when I was a child, or even a teenager. But now that I’m a mom, I realize that my mom’s example taught me all along, that I stored lessons in...

Seasons of Motherhood - “They grow up so fast!” I can’t count the number of times I heard that sentiment expressed when my twins were small. “Can’t be true!” I told myself. There were days that I could not see beyond the dirty diapers, piles of...

The Fun of Being You - In high school I won many art contests. After graduation, I was contacted as a candidate for a mechanical drawing job, preparing important blue prints for a national company. Though my mathematical skills were poor, I took...

Learning to Share - The Reuters news service reported recently that Branko Zivkov, a 76-year old farmer in Belgrade, purchased a grinder and cut all of his tools in half after a court ruling ordered him to split all his property with his...

Being Blessed - My husband’s job takes him out of town periodically, sometimes for several weeks in a row. As one might imagine, these single parenting stints where I am left to manage the house and our two preschoolers tend to wear...

A Lesson in Checkers - “Dad, will you play checkers with me?” It was a request that took me totally off guard considering all that I had to do.

Teenage Brains - Scientists are continually gaining new insights into the remarkable changes in teenager’s brains that may help to explain why the teen years are so hard on young people and on their parents. From ages 11-14 a young person...

Power and Siblings - I was the boss. I was bigger and louder than my little brother. He was lucky to get a word in edgewise and didn’t get many chances to pick what game we’d play or the role he’d have in our make-believe stories.

Mothers and Daughters - I’ve known women (some childless, some not) who’ve sat together at various social functions and expounded on the virtues of having daughters over sons and vice versa.

Miserable Marriage - Ten years later, they are miserable. I’ve recently had two conversations with women who feel this way about their marriages and their lives. As you can imagine, there are many painful issues in each relationship, unhappiness...

Happy-ever-after? - People who work at least a few hours a week after retirement are healthier, and happier and live longer that those who choose not to work, researchers tell us. But what about when you get into ten years and more beyond...

I Can't Do It! - If I had a nickel for every time I heard the phrase “I can’t do it” last weekend, I could buy a new car—or at least go out for a nice dinner! I had just spent four days baby-sitting 4-1/2-year-old Johnny* while his parents...

Dispensing Blessings - The Bible defines stewardship as the act of serving God by carrying out a kind of household administration—the dispensing of God's riches to His family, meaning all those who have become His children through faith in the...

Life's Happiest Day - As I sat down besides my new sister-in-law I could tell she was stressed. It was her wedding day and things were not going well. The disk jockey, hired to provide music, had arrived tipsy, and was insulting the guests. Her...

Unexpected Outcomes - We all long for a healthy baby. Most pregnancies proceed without many complications. Even when complications do occur, Western medical science provides women with treatment for nearly every complication related to...

Wise Investments - The world of financial investing generally baffles me. I’ve never personally bought or sold stocks, and I couldn’t differentiate a mutual fund from an annuity or a stock from a bond. While my husband and I do contribute...

A Handful of Weeds - This morning as I headed out with my girls to walk down the mountain to school, the fog was thick and the air was crisp. I look forward to these early morning treks in the quiet before the world around me has fully roused to meet the day.

Parental Arithmetic - This is a quiz for those with children. Your child’s doctor tells you your child had a serious health problem. It is potentially fatal without expensive treatment. Would you:

Post-Wed Depression - The other day I was listening to a radio program describing the varieties of depression. As the mental health professional rattled off the types and descriptions, I considered people I have known or worked...

Stay Connected - People who work at staying connected are those who possess the gift of encouragement. Heart ties with a kindred spirit can often mean the difference between successes and failures in our lives, not only with personal...

Leaving a Legacy - As Alissa and Barry enjoyed drinks and dinner at Dr. Salamis Café in Pella, Iowa last month, a middle aged gentleman approached their table and struck up a conversation.Claiming he had just stopped to gas up on...

Read! - I recently read of a college that wants to make its students aware of whether they had a “privileged” upbringing. The most curious part of the exercise was some of the items indicating the presence of a silver spoon...

God's Menagerie - Amidst the burgeoning fallout from the nation’s mortgage crisis, a new victim has recently emerged. Added to the increasing number of home owners driven into the streets, their credit in shambles as banks foreclose on their...

Home Sweet Home - The moving truck is gone and everything is unloaded at your new home. You have made it through the most stressful part of your move, right? Not necessarily!

Teams Children Need - I grew up watching, playing, eating and living futbol, known in this country as soccer. Soccer is a simple sport without many rules. There are 10 players and a goal keeper, two periods of 45 minutes each and almost...

Family and Friends - Everyone knows what a blessing good family is. But it’s an even greater blessing when your family members are also your friends. Our family recently became aware of this at our daughter’s wedding.

Engagement? - Did you know that most marriage proposals happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day? So with the month of February here, many dating couples will consider making their relationships permanent.

And a Time to Refrain - Both of my grandfathers immigrated to the United States from Greece. They arrived here while both were in their mid-teens. By the time they were 25, one was about to become an education professional, having earned a...

My Valentine, Melvin - February 14 had always been a bleak day of empty mailboxes and broken dreams for me. On my very first Valentine’s Day after moving to a new town, I found a tremendous bouquet of flowers waiting for me at my front door.

Winter Boredom Buster - Ever wonder what to do with your children or grandchildren on these long winter days? When our daughter was young, we spent two years in a very small town that had little to offer young families. So we had to get creative.

Right-handed Giving - Jesus offers some powerful advice for giving in Matthew 6, warning His listeners against giving in a showy, self-glorifying manner. Instead, Jesus makes this recommendation in verses 3 and 4: “But when you give to...

Good Job! - Children need encouragement, and most parents understand that. Maybe that's why we hear the words, “Good job!” so often. While intended to raise the self-confidence of the child, have you thought that maybe instead it encourages...

The Wages of Envy - The Bible often warns against covetousness and its close relative, envy. We are commanded to avoid them, less because of the damage we do to others through them (although it can be substantial), than because of the...

The Ripple Effect - I sat down at my computer the other day and did a search for a pastor I had known as a child. What is he doing now? I wondered. Of all the pastors of my childhood, he had made the biggest impression on me.

Learned on Flight 847 - My father has always been my mentor, spiritually and in other aspects of life. Growing up, I can remember him complimenting people on the fine work that they did. I especially noticed that he did this for those who worked...

First Born - I understand that it’s not fair. He’s been the center of our universe. He’s had uninterrupted time with us for two years. His needs have been met and his cries soothed promptly. And now it’s all different.

The Chore Challenge - Household chores. Bring up the subject, and you’re almost sure to see children running in every direction. Chores are not a favorite, but they have to be done in order to keep the home running smoothly.

“Must Do's” - Eating leftovers, reclaiming your house. The usual chores that follow the holidays also accompany moments of reflection regarding the past few weeks. A smile surfaces while remembering the jokes shared.

Wanting Too Much - Someone has diagnosed the disease of modern Americans as affluence, either having too much or wanting too much. It seems that most want to live like the Johnsons next door (unless you are a Johnson) or they cannot possibly be happy.

Jesus is More - The story of Christmas has always elicited hope in me. My family raised my brother and I without faith or religion, but I knew around Christmas time there was something different. My parents, along with many people who did not

Suspension - Life is always a little crazier during the holidays. But this year just seems to have been worse. For the last several weeks I’ve found myself repeating the same conversation with friends, parents and my husband.

Simple Delights - The other day, I put up our Christmas tree while my two-year-old son was napping. When he woke up and I brought him out to the living room, his eyes were full of curiosity, awe and sparkle. He ran over to the tree and...

Alone, Please Visit Me - Alone. What pictures and emotions does this word bring to mind? For many it evokes thoughts of peace and quiet in the midst of a stressful life, a few moments of respite from the busyness that can leave us feeling overwhelmed.

Blessing the Boys - Not long ago my husband and I were discussing the current enactments of adult men depicted in the media. He feels outrage, shame and sadness at the way society seems to see the failings of men/fathers. I have to agree that...

Memories of Christmas - Growing up in Columbia, South America, our Christmas traditions were especially memorable. On Christmas Eve families gathered for songs, the retelling of the Christmas story, a good meal and colorful fireworks.

An Issue of Trust - Trust isn’t what it used to be. Employers require background checks, stores and street corners are peppered with security cameras, passwords and secret codes protect many aspects of professional and personal life.

Play At It - My friend Charlie Croteau was a tall, blond 20-year-old at the university when his life went into reverse. The fateful moment came when he was in a gymnastic class trying to master a backward somersault on the trampoline.

Avoiding Poverty - Suppose you knew four secrets that would help avoid poverty. Would you want your children to know them? Four simple rules, which if followed, would keep the wolf from the door in most cases.

Choosing Contentment - Today marks the sixth anniversary of moving into our duplex. We originally planned on living here for only a few months. We’d been renting a spacious, remodeled house with a beautiful view of the Blue Mountains.

Moving 101 - “I will never go through another move like this one!” I said. Over the years we have moved several times so you would think that we had the process perfected, but alas, such was not the case.

The Warmth of God - I believe, because I read the newspaper, that Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in places like Orlando and San Gabriel, though I’ll confess that it’s sometimes hard to see why.

Importance of Hair - I used to have cute hair… funky, short, lots of product, lots of color – great, cool hair. Now I have frumpy mom, ponytail hair. How did this happen?

Baby Boy - Three months after I got married, my husband and I were blessed to find out we were expecting a son. We did not try to plan out when we wanted to have children, but I think that in my mind I had decided that a year after...

Losing a Family Pet - My brother-in-law and his wife came home the other night expecting to be greeted by Toby, their adorable Chihuahua. Purchased as a puppy, he’s been a part of their family for years.

Life After Birth - When at eighteen weeks of pregnancy, I saw my son on a black and white screen in a darkened room, I was in a state of complete amazement. I saw his hands, his feet, and his beautiful beating heart.

Loving Unselfishly - A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee." The husband...

A Comforter in Shoes - I discovered him a bit apart from the rest of the picnickers. His head was bent over his dimpled hands, which were covered with at least a half dozen butterflies clinging to his fingers. Eagerly we rejoined the rest...

Family Worship 101 - Family worship has taken a bad rap! Over the years, so many family worships have been so boring and dry that many grown children now don’t follow the tradition of worship with their own families. That’s a tragedy, and it...

Kids, Parents, Time - My kids drive me crazy. They’re not bad kids, they’re just, well, relentless. They desire nothing more than to spend their days basking in my presence and attention. I receive no breaks. (Okay, that’s not entirely true, but...

Buddy - My brother, who lived in another state, came to visit me one summer day. We had not talked to each other in years, ever since Mom died. We disagreed about who should get the house, the dog, and almost everything.

Seeing as God Sees - It was late afternoon and my husband had just returned to his desk after attending a company-wide meeting. Rumors that had been circulating for months had finally been confirmed. Layoffs were imminent.

Brother, My Brother - The ball dribbled across the court and finally rolled off the asphalt. My brother and I paid the ball no attention. My mind was fully focused on the punches I was throwing at my brother’s face with all of my might.

Neighbors to Friends - Wrapping myself warmly against the biting cold, I tucked my still-warm-from-the-oven gift under my arm and herded my equally well-bundled youngsters out the door in front of me. “This won’t take long,” I assured them.

Moving Forward - When my husband told me he had found a wonderful teaching position in a beautiful part of Oregon, I was overwhelmed with joy.

Do You Take Pets? - My middle son will be attending a four-year college this fall. He studied in local community colleges, before being accepted at one of the state’s best engineering schools. His acceptance came late in the spring.

Back to School - I came home to an empty house this morning. It’s our daughter’s first day back to school. On this day every year I have mixed feelings. Although I’m always excited for her, there’s still that feeling of nostalgia that...

Hello Daddy - Everyday around 4 p.m. my husband comes home from work. He looks tired, but is always enthusiastic to talk to me and spend some quality time with our two children.

The Stretchy Dollar - Does it sometimes seem like the money is vanishing into thin air? Saving money isn’t easy, but there are ways to cut corners without cramping your style. Here are five simple tips that can save you hundreds (if not...

Parents Courageous - I reread "Captains Courageous" last week. I have read it before, first (and often) when I was in my teens, and once when I was in my early 30s. It is one of Rudyard Kipling’s finest novels, a tale about a spoiled rich kid stranded...

Wash That Man Out - A 1949 musical, “South Pacific,” has a signature song that I loved singing when I was a teen, “I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair.” I was a typical boy-crazy teen and those words were exactly what I needed from time...

Battered to Blessed - It was 3:00 a.m. when I was jerked out of bed. Insanely furious, my inebriated husband threw our infant daughter into the crib. As I raced to see if Becky was OK, I felt my head being pulled backward by my hair, and I was...

Broken and Saved - When I was fourteen years old, my friend's family went through a rather messy divorce. Their family life had never looked perfect because he was a police officer working the night rounds, but when one saw my friend's...

Can We Talk About It? - I saw a comic strip in which the wife said to her husband, “I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize what you heard is not what I meant.”

Proof in the Fastball - As the snow would retreat to smaller and smaller patches in our yard every spring, there would be a feeling in the tips of my fingers that that would start crawling up my arm. It was a feeling that demanded action.

I Made the Bully Cry - As I climbed onto the school bus, I quickly scanned the seats to see if Daniel was on board. I prayed he’d have track practice or something else that would keep him from riding.

Sick Son - My baby boy is sick—high fever, heavy congestion, a wracking cough. He is miserable. I am, too. I want to make him feel better so I’m vigilantly giving his fever and cold medicine on a strict schedule.

Hound Dogs in a Hurry - When I lived in Tacoma, Washington, an unlikely local hero emerged by the name of Tattoo. Now this basset hound never intended to go for an evening run, but had no choice when the owner clamped his leash in the car door and took off...

That First Job - My youngest son has started his first job. He is sacking groceries at a supermarket. It is the type of first many teens have, part time, minimum wage, no experience required. He is learning about responsibility.

Making a Difference - When Ariel Kravitz first started working with animals and the handicapped in 1999, she was not sure of the value of her work. “At first, it seems like I was doing unimportant things,” she said.

Standing in Grace - “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1). This particular Bible...

Where HOPE Happens - I stood just inside the clinic and watched them come—an endless line of stern-faced Dalits filing toward Hope—each with pains that were magnified by their proximity to the registration table.

Should Have Prayed! - Last week our family was invited to a friend’s home for lunch. It was a beautiful day, and we all enjoyed a fine picnic outside in the fresh air and warm sunshine.

When Men Go Mush - I think I have discovered a new developmental phase for men—Male Mid-life Pet Attachment Phase. During the Empty Nest period of parenting and marriage, this phase seems to be expressed as a time of bonding with family pets.

Too Late? - It happens every Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day. We stop to honor the people who have served so bravely in our armed services. There’s usually not a dry eye in the place as we applaud their service.

Your Teen's Scene - With all the hormones racing through their bodies and the new ideas bubbling in their brains, teens can go from sullen to sociable, from contented to cantankerous…all in a relatively short period of time.

The Father Factor - It’s healthy when dads are involved in parenting. Here are the facts: kids with dads have healthier social relationships and higher achievement motivation and therefore do better in school.

Young and Stupid - You’ve been busted—by your teenage children. When you were their age you did something foolish, something you are not proud of, something you warn them against doing. It may have been driving recklessly, experimenting with...

Just Be Nice! - It’s amazing the life lessons a parent can learn from his/her children. One lasting lesson that I learned was from my son when he was very young. I had become upset about something and ended up yelling at him.

Good Manners - I grabbed my shin and winced. It had just been kicked by my seven-year-old nephew who wasn’t getting what he wanted. It began at a family picnic a couple of years ago, and I have to admit the situation threw me totally off...

He Sees the Sparrow - Jerevien loved birds. She loved birds so much that her pets were all different kinds of birds. Jerevien had three parrots, five sparrows, and one bright-red cardinal named Firecracker.

B.F.F. - We met because we were dating the same guy. Well, not at the same time. In fact, over the eight years of high school and college we sort of traded him back and forth a couple of times.

Secrets of Parenting - Being a good parent is simple, but, not easy. The principles are straightforward, really just common sense. Sticking to them is hard work. The results are worth it.

No Regrets - What would you be willing to give up for your spouse? Watching sports all day on Sundays? A habit that annoys them? A tendency to nag? Or how about a kidney? That’s exactly what Cindy gave up for her husband, Chip.

Carpet Cruising - I recently visited with my nephews and was amazed to see that nine-month-old Brandon is already beginning to walk with help. He grasps, very tightly, the fingers of whoever is holding him and begins to walk towards the goal.

Cheaters - It used to be that cheating on a test was a somewhat simple endeavor; write answers to difficult questions on your arm, or look over at your neighbor’s work for the correct explanation to that tough problem.

Fragile Things - A little five-year-old girl named Megan was being led through an art gallery by the artist whose paintings were being showcased. At the end of the day, after seeing so many beautiful, exquisite paintings and being told by...

Patience in Parenting - I never properly appreciated God’s incredible patience until I joined the ranks of parenthood a few years ago. Now, knee-deep in diapers and the “terrible two’s” (a condition that lingers well past the child’s third...

A True Gossip - Imagine listening to your pastor announce from the pulpit that you were a true gossip. Would you take it as a compliment, hang your head in shame, or flare up in anger?

New Mom Tips - If you are a new mom, here are some coping tricks to make your life a little easier.

Priceless Motherhood - One hundred thirty eight thousand and ninety five dollars! That’s a lot of money, and according to a recent report by Salary.com, that’s the amount of wages that would be assigned to a stay-at-home mom.

Losing Your Baggage - After Pam suffered the loss of her mother, she spent a few days helping her sister sort through the house and their mom’s personal items. When Pam flew home, I picked her up at the airport. She was crying.

You Please Me Well - The fullness of time had come and the stage was set for Daniel’s prophecy to be fulfilled. Messiah, the anointed One, arrived on the scene (Daniel 9:25). John the Baptist saw the Lamb of God in the distance.

I Am Beautiful - How is beauty defined? Is it having straight hair, a flawless face, and being able to wear a size 4? The media typically devours women who possess the above qualities. What kind of lifestyle do these women have to live...

Mentoring - Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee.

Mother's Day Tears - In my home church, everyone knows that Mother’s Day is a difficult day to celebrate for my best friend. The church sponsors a Mother’s Day breakfast, there are announcements, and people think of ways to treat and...

To Love and Cherish - A story from the Jewish Talmud pays a fine compliment to women: An emperor said to Rabbi Gamaliel, “Your God is a thief, because it is written, ‘The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and He took one...

Mothers of Israel - I clearly remember a time when I was confiding in an older female friend about the responsibilities and difficulties of parenting and also of teaching children in church.

Me Blessed? - I don’t mean blessed (one syllable) in terms of “fortunate.” I know I’m fortunate. The majority of us living our middle-class existence are blessed. I’ve visited third-world countries, overcrowded city slums and poor rural areas.

My Child is a Bully - My eight-year-old son is a poor sport. He’s been asked to leave several sports programs because of rudeness to other players and disrespect to adults, but he doesn’t seem to care.

Support Success - When the home and school are in partnership, children learn best—no matter what schools they attend. Here are some ideas to consider as you continue to invest in your child’s education:

"Know-It-All" Person - “I’m very concerned.” A well-meaning church member had cornered my wife about a particular way that we were raising our children, and she was explaining the “right way” of doing things.

Part of a Sandwich - The sandwich generation is upon us. This generation is the one sandwiched between their aging parents and raising their children. I’ve read about this and even written about it as a newspaper reporter, but I didn’t think...

Mentor Center - Mentoring, or sustained friendships between youth and adults, is a rich opportunity to provide support, advice and constructive examples for young people. For Christians, it’s an opportunity to share God’s love and freedom.

Wanted: Volunteers - Deamonte Driver, a twelve-year-old Maryland boy, died needlessly on February 25. The infection from an untreated abscessed tooth had spread to his brain. A visit to any dentist’s office would have easily solved the problem.

No Right to Strike - Years ago young woman came to our door, asking to use the telephone. One eye was purpled, the face around it discolored by a days-old bruise. Her jaw had a matching, fresher bruise. She had been beaten by her husband.

Nuts About Hazel - I sat in the rain on an overturned bucket wishing I could forget the past week. With tears trickling down my cheeks I remembered my friend. I remembered how she talked with a Southern accent that turned any two syllables into three.

Afghan with a Story - A few weeks ago I was trying to “take good care of myself” and truly rest on the Sabbath. When I decided to lie on the sofa to read and rest in the living room, I first went into our bedroom, reached up into the wardrobe...

Empathetic Grief - The phone rang the other night. It was a friend in our neighborhood, wondering if we had the phone number of the family next door. I knew that the woman next door was really sick with a heart condition that she had just...

Two Things Kids Crave - Give your child the right kind of attention and power, and watch behavioral problems go away.

The Power of Gossip - You have a choice. Sail with William Bligh or Fletcher Christian. The historical Bligh or Christian. Your life depends upon it. Decide now.

Friend or Foe - Brenda and I were about the same age. We had two children each; an older daughter and a younger son. We took our children to church regularly when they were young and we both continued to attend church as empty nesters.

Idiot Box - Like most middle-age Americans, I grew up with a television in the home. First, there was the portable black and white that sat on a stand in the living room. That sufficed for quite a while.

Man on Fire - The summer after my freshmen year in college, I had a singular focus that I think may be particular to nervous young men who have been in the situation that I was in. After meeting a dream of a woman winter quarter...

My New Career - Playgroups have become my new stage in life. It is encouraging to create a community consumed by conversations including children's' eating and sleeping habits.

The Computer - I learned how much I trust my son over the weekend. I had him upgrade my computer. My old computer was dying. It would run for an hour or two and then lock. It was the computer I write with, so it was a tool, not a toy.

Grandpa's Letter - Grandparents are lucky. In a way, they get to be parents twice; they raise their own children and then hopefully play an active role in raising their grandchildren.

Travis - This morning I was called in by the public school to help read standardized tests for the special education department. I was assigned to a young man named Travis.

Your Child Is Bullied - Several boys have been bullying our ten-year-old son, both physically and verbally, since the beginning of this school year. When he went to the counselor’s office in tears to report the problem, she told him that tears...

Cyber-bully - “I see you. I know where you are right now, and I’m coming to get you.” David winced as he looked at the computer screen. Who had sent this message, and why did they keep contacting him?

A Brand New Life - Stranded in the desert! And to make matters worse, night fall was fast approaching. Shivering, I forlornly circled my vehicle. Dressed only in shorts and a T shirt, my attire would have been perfect for summer.

Christian Connection - “Pastor Mike” and a zip code scrawled out on a business sized envelope; that was all there was. A few months ago I pulled this correspondence out of my post box and was surprised when I noticed what a small amount of...

Curiosity - When I was a young girl, my family lived on the campus of a boarding high school, where my father taught religion. The elementary school and church I attended was on campus, so basically that was where I spent most of my time.

Stopping the Cycle - Recent disturbing news events have illustrated the dark cycle of sexual abuse. Most recently, U.S. Congressman Mark Foley resigned from his post after sexually explicit contacts with young congressional pages came to light.

Together Forever - My wife and I will be married 30 years this May. That is not all that long, though. My parents are still going strong after 55 years. My in-laws reached 52 years before the death of my mother-in-law closed that partnership.

Supercharged Teens - Q: During a recent talk show appearance, a psychologist said that runaway hormone levels often cause the rational part of the teenage brain to shut down, resulting in all manner of exaggerated emotional displays.

Hell on the Homefront - “These are the ones who really suffer.” Tears welled up in the eyes of the khaki-clad soldier as he introduced me to his wife and two sons.

Blessed Homesickness - Holiday arrangements did not happen as planned this past year. I found myself floundering about in a melancholy haze, going through the motions yet feeling sad and homesick.

First Valentine - She was his first Valentine. He was hers. They married on Valentine’s Day, 1953. People said it wouldn’t last. She was too young; he was a bit restless. But their love set out to prove everyone wrong.

Generations - In January my younger brother got married. I was the best man. Our older brother conducted the ceremony. None of us are in the first blush of youth. Nearly thirty years earlier, my younger brother had served as best man.

Polar Opposites - Countless times when tragedy has flashed across a screen, or when I have heard about a horror unspeakable, I have thought to myself: “How does this affect me?”

Talk vs. Action - When I was a kid, my parents rarely asked me to explain myself when I misbehaved—and it didn’t matter whether the misbehavior occurred at home, at school, or in the neighborhood.

God's Blessings - My husband and I recently received the news that his new teaching job had fallen through. We tried to digest this devastating news, but remained in a state of confusion and panic for several weeks.

Praying Parents - I found it out in our garage the other day—my Creative Writing Journal from a high school class. One of the entries took me back 30 years and 450 miles away to my childhood home.

Bubbly Explorer - My one-year-old son is a bubbly, good-natured and very active little guy. He loves to explore all of his surroundings. Just recently, some friends invited us over for lunch.

Sharing the Grief - My voice was shaky, and my eyes filled with tears. The only words I could seem to squeeze out were, “I’m so sorry.” I was attending the visitation services for my nephew who had been killed in a car accident.

The Plague - Play a thought experiment. Imagine that a plague hits the United States this year. Like a Biblical plague it affects only a chosen few, and none of those that catch it escapes death.

It's Always Something - One thing that’s plagued me for years is the confusion over what I want written on my tombstone; something more profound than “See, I told you I was sick.”

Best Christmas Ever - I sighed as I began setting the table for six friends and myself. Six friends who didn’t know one another, who were all facing physical or emotional challenges, were all going to be having Christmas dinner with me.

Parable Tree - I was enjoying the winter evening curled up on the couch under a throw blanket. The twinkle of the Christmas tree lights and the winter wonderland outside brought peace to my soul.

Our Christmas Visit - Our walk took us through, then out of, our neighborhood. Soon we were strolling past store windows twinkling with lights, catching strains of carols from occasional passing cars.

A Senior Servant - Is it possible to live alone, yet not have a constant overwhelming sense of loneliness? I think so. In the first church I pastored, the average member was 83 years old.

Homework Hassles - Q: My fifth-grade daughter tests well and does well in class but will not do her homework unless I stand over her and make her. That, however, results in horrible scenes nearly every evening.

Christmas All Year - A Christmas story in January? Well…yes. And here’s why: Since I was little, I’ve heard people say, “I wish Christmas could last all year long.” But what do they mean?

Adult Son - I just got an email from my son’s office with his name and title at the end. My heart swells with pride. Knowing that he has a good place to use his abilities and that he has married a smart, kind woman, puts my heart at peace.

Christians and Debt - Dave and Melissa* have the perfect life: a beautiful house, two new cars, and children who are always dressed in the latest fashions. But appearances can be deceiving.

Live Simple - "We should live simply so others can simply live.” Although I’ve forgotten the author, the words of this quote have stuck in my mind for several years, perhaps, because they say so much about our responsibility.

Room for Seniors - We recently had a visit from some very senior (over age 85) family members. They had not been at our home in several years, and in the meantime, several health conditions had changed for them.

Source of Contentment - In his book, "Winning with People", John Maxwell, leadership “guru” tells of the time he was hired to teach a class to the coaches and players of the St. Louis Rams.

Electric Giving - For Christmas 2004, Richard and Donna Hamann found a way to make their entire town happy. Anthon, Iowa, a community of 650 people, received an unexpected present from this retired farming couple.

Little Things - In 2002, I was out of a job. My employer closed shop in September 2001, and immediately after 9/11 no one else was hiring. By the time businesses were again hiring, I had been unemployed six months.

The Happy Christmas - Perhaps you remember the following “true” Christmas story that happened a couple of years ago. A Washington state mother found the gift of her dreams – almost six feet tall and wrapped in a desert camouflage uniform.

Letter to Santa - Just before Christmas, I was walking thru my daughter’s school hallways looking at the displays of artwork and various class work, when I came across a display of letters to Santa.

When Friends Divorce - The insistent ringing of the phone stirred me into wakefulness. Reaching for the receiver, I mumbled a faint “hello?”

Anatomy of an Apology - An apology is often the beginning of a process toward healing and forgiveness. It is not always a long process, since the situation may be remedied by the apology.

Leaving a Legacy - My grandpa died today. It wasn’t unexpected. It hardly can be when someone is almost 95 years old. Knowing it’s coming, however, doesn’t make it any less significant.

Thankful for Families - In my childhood, Thanksgiving was something to celebrate every day, not just once a year. While I didn’t grow up with lots of worldly goods, I did enjoy the warm embrace of a loving mother and the example of a good, responsible father.

Silver Anniversary - Hanging on the wall next to our computer is a picture of me wearing long white dress. I’m smiling, standing next to a handsome young man in a tuxedo.

The Comb-Over - When I was in my 20s I worked for a man in his late 40s. He was a good boss, and a nice man, the type of person you naturally like.

Old and New - I like new things; perfectly white socks, sharp kitchen knives, tiny spring flowers. But I like old things, too; butter molds, lace handkerchiefs and antique cake plates.

Cultivating Kindness - In recent years Oprah Winfrey has given her studio audiences new cars, paid off their debts and provided gifts that many had only dreamed of. Recently she decided to distribute gifts that keep “giving back."

TV Servant or Master? - Radiation: Hazardous Waste Material! This phrase aptly describes most television fare. And what are the problems with television?

Owning "My Stuff" - Some people will do anything to avoid taking responsibility. Take the Toronto man who recently hired someone to kill his ex-wife so he wouldn't have to pay child and spousal support.

Water! - The year 1986 contained tremendous financial challenges for our family. It was our son’s first year of college with all its heavy financial demands.

When I'm With You - As part of an assignment for a doctoral dissertation, a university student spent a year with a group of Navajos on a reservation in the American Southwest.

Helping Mom - Pam's mom had just been in a car accident. She said she never saw the car ahead of her as she was merging into traffic on the highway. No one was hurt, but Mom was upset.

Preschool Teacher - “Mommy, that’s my teacher.” “No she’s not! She’s my teacher!” “She’s mine!” “She’s mine!” “No, she’s mine!” Three-year-old Tamara and her four-year-old sister, Jennifer, were arguing over to whom I “belonged.

Single Popcorn Piece - “I’m the boy who shared his food!” my two-year-old daughter announced. She had her arms wrapped around a glass jar filled with plastic play food.

Family Meals Together - I remember coming home after school to the delicious aromas emanating from the kitchen. Immediately my mouth would water as my mind made visual that which my nose smelled.

Ashley's Miracle - What’s a parent to do when her teenage daughter is stricken by a medical condition that is usually fatal?

To Love or Not Love - Molly is our family’s cocker spaniel. Actually, she is our son Jon’s dog and always has been, even though we didn’t necessarily set out for it to be that way. It’s just that Jon is so obviously her favorite that...

Infant Discipline - Q: Is it possible to discipline a child below the age of two, and if so, how? A: If by discipline you mean teaching and enforcing proper behavior, the answer is No.

Learning Fun - To help your child learn the “9” times tables, here are some techniques. The fingers know!

Church Family - I planted a meadow two weeks ago. It’s in my backyard. I hadn’t wanted to spend the money for an all-out sprinkler system, so I bought a can of seed that promised me a meadow.

A Cheerful Giver - When our oldest child was a toddler, we lived in a small house on a very crowded street. Since I had grown up on a farm, I was very anxious to get out of town and find a place in the country to raise our family.

Prayers of a Mother - I want to encourage you today as a mother. There are times when we as moms feel discouragement, worry, fear, or heartache.

My Father is... - It’s said that God couldn’t be everywhere, so He created mothers. But, I think He created fathers to show us His character.

Show Them - Find your child wherever he is in the house. Tell him you have something to say. Get to the child’s eye level, look him in the eye and say, “I love you!”

Feelin' Like Zero - Zero is an unusual number. By itself it is nothing. Zero. Naught. A record of emptiness. A place holder. Despite this, it has many functions. On one side of the decimal it can increase the value of whatever it is standing next to.

School Discipline - A friend of mine happened to be looking in on her fourth-grade son’s class one day when he talked back to his teacher. She confined him to their house for a week and made him write a one-page, single-spaced letter of apology.

Tie That Binds - Several years ago, we took an overnight flight from Chicago to Hong Kong. Shortly after we took to the air, the flight attendants put the movie The Story of Us on the screen. The story line was about Ben and Katie and their marriage.

Delayed Anger - My brother and I caused my mother a lot of grief while we were growing up. Our parents loved us, but when our mother became upset, she would lose her temper and yell at us in a high-pitched voice.

Preschoolers Math - To help your young child get ready for math, give her practice now by using number, size and quantity words. Make a point of using these words yourself.

A Beautiful Woman - All women are created beautiful—but tragically some women never come to a realization of their own loveliness. Popular culture venerates its peculiar brand of beauty. Being one of the “beautiful people” is a ticket to fame...

Enjoy Your Children - Being a mom is by far the most rewarding part of my life. To watch a tiny little baby grow and develop into a beautiful, kind child is a blessing! I loved being pregnant and giving birth.

Unhealthy Labels - Shyness is un-American! Researchers suggest only 15-20% of infants are “shy,” and nearly 50% of us are shy in adulthood.

Spiritual Growth - A few years ago I received a gift of a planter with three cacti from Arizona. In anticipation that they would flourish and grow, I placed the pot on my kitchen window sill along with several other plants.

Single Parent Options - If you’re a single parent with a tight financial situation, spending time with your child can be a legitimate challenge.

Roots and Wings - “What’s gray, has a bushy tail, has four little feet, climbs trees, and eats nuts?” Mrs. Simpson asked her class.

Perspectives - I wearily coaxed my body out of bed with the promise of an action-filled day ahead. As a mother of three young children, my days started running into each other and I was feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Beyond Crazy - When Emmerson Eggerich talks about the “crazy cycle” he isn’t referring to the frantic round-and-round scramble of our daily lives. He’s calling attention to the disconcerting periods...

Holding Back - She could have said something. She could have said a number of things. In fact, she could have gotten really upset and yelled, and I wouldn’t have blamed her one bit.

Listening to Women - My daughters wanted the door between the chicken pen and the duck yard fixed. I meant to get around to it. I intended to ask my son to work on it. I thought fixing it was probably a good idea.

Kid Community Service - If you have ever wondered how to grow a child who is more sociable, campassionate, and environmentally aware, it may be time to consider getting them involved in community service in the area where you reside.

The Gift - I watched her sheepishly approach with large blue wanting eyes. You see, my 13-year-old daughter discovered that I had a tasty treat that she desired…

Sibling Rivalry - “Mommy, Mommy! Joel hit me!” cries Celeste. You think you have everyone quieted down when Joel screams, “Get Celeste out of here!

Homeless - I’m not sure where I’m supposed to go now when I go home. I spent most of my growing up years in Southern California.

Tips with Toddlers - Infants begin bonding with their siblings during the first year of life. All siblings are fascinating simply because they are kids, says Judy Dunn, author of “From One Child to Two.”

When Parents Travel - Help your child adapt to your absence on a trip by developing some rituals around your departure and return.

Not Right Now - During an annual Chaplain’s conference, one of my fellow ministers shared the heart wrenching story of the illness and death of her seven-year old son.

Baby Talk - All babies cry, and for good reason! Before they learn to talk, crying is one way to express their needs and send out signals of distress.

Preferred Learning Style - How you learn affects not only how you teach or parent, but how your students or children learn.

Being Left Behind - As a Hospice Chaplain, I am often called in the middle of the night to comfort a grieving family who has just lost a loved one. On one such occasion the following incident took place.

Slow Down - Sometimes in today’s society we, as women, find ourselves constantly juggling work, social activities, church activities, and school activities so much that our first priority – our home – is unwittingly neglected.

Transforming Love - His face broke into a smile as he and I said goodbye on a recent Sunday morning, and my heart was filled with gratitude for what had transpired in the previous seven days.

Love Your Sister - “Stop cracking your knuckles!” my daughter shouted at her brother.“Well, if you’re so perfect, why are you always late to breakfast,” he shot back at his sister.

Thank You Notes - Do your kids say "no thanks" to writing thank you notes? Here are some ideas that can make it fun and creative.

For All Seasons - I knew that eventually I’d have to experience all the seasons, but in reality I’d lived most of my life in summer.

Redeeming the Years - As I send another baby gift to one of my children’s friends, I am amazed that we are now entering this phase of life. I am not yet a member of some of my generation’s elite club known as Grandparents.

Teach Your Child - A virtuous woman prepares her children for marriage. Proverbs 31 begins with the words, “The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him…”

Gambling: The Downside - "My name is Paul, and I am a compulsive gambler. It has been 40 days since my last bet."

Green-Eyed Monsters - Looking back on my childhood, I now realize I was a somewhat mischievous kid. During the summer months especially, “our gang” of neighborhood children would circle around on our bikes playing “doorbell ditch.”

No-Fault Divorce - Is there such a thing as no-fault divorce? I once believed there was, but after initiating one and now a decade on the other side, I realize it’s a phrase that lawyers coined to make the dissolution of a marriage more palatable.

Children Do Listen - If you have been a parent for any length of time you know that kids will make you look bad every time. Whether it is the baby proving you wrong when you say, “Come look! She just rolled over!”

Life's Seasons - “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). We are perhaps the busiest generation ever to live.

Reborn Addict - God saved my life. You could almost say that He saved my life so I could give it back to Him, because that’s what I have chosen to do.

The Porch Cover - The cover over the front porch is ugly! Why did we spend hard earned money to have it built? These thoughts tumbled through my mind as I looked back at the house on my morning walk.

Homecoming - The summer following my 10th birthday, our family made its first and only trek to Disneyland. We lived up north in Stockton, California, and in those days one had to travel Highway 99 to get to L.A.

Passing God's Test - Rene is in the Navy and is currently on her way to the Middle East to support the war in Iraq. She has been in for two years now and is stationed on a carrier.

Her Perfect Skin - She was born with perfect skin into an imperfect world. I remember her peach-soft, Milky, white skin on Birth Day. Little arms that reached out for hugs,arms that slid through tiny shirts and lacy dresses.

Family Reunion - Robert Frost wrote, “Home is the place where when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” That may be the case, but do you really want to be taken in?

Your Treasure - Materialism. It seems that most of us at one point or another are consumed with wanting the newest gadget, the hippest clothing, or the fanciest car.

The Game of Chance - Paul is the grandfatherly type whose New England accent and jolly nature attracts others to him. His genuine compassion and caring nature radiates from him.

Hearing the Unheard - Five-year-old Robert Turner did the right thing when he dialed 911. He had called to report that his mother had collapsed on the kitchen floor, but instead of sending help, the dispatcher scolded the soft spoken child.

Laundry Days - I know what you are thinking. How could laundry ever be enjoyable? Yes, I have been there too. In fact, I used to dread doing the laundry. It was like a giant monster that grew larger every day.

Family Worship Times - Whether it’s morning or evening (or both, if possible) having a family time of worship to God is a blessing for everyone involved.

Budget Vacations - Want to get away and relax together but can’t afford a fancy vacation? By planning ahead and focusing on what’s most important to you about a vacation, families can enjoy quality experiences together.

Show Them Your Love - Ever feel like your love life, family life, and community life are in the doldrums? Here are some easy tips that will lift your spirits and show others you care:

Growing in Faith - Before my car accident this past December I loved to stay busy. I had a full time job plus I had a couple side jobs that I made some money on here and there.

Serving Others - It was the first time I placed myself in an area where I knew I would not be seen by my children. I stood watching, somewhat transfixed as they flitted here and there.

Old Dogs Do Learn - I wasn’t a very strict Mom. I had my rules, but if my kids played their cards right, they could often find a way around me. I got so tired of asking my son to make his bed that I got him a sleeping bag.

Kids and Money - Whether it’s true or not that “money makes the world go round” kids need to learn early how to relate to it. Money itself is an inanimate object, neither good nor bad. It’s our ideas about money that determine whether it affects our lives for good or evil.

Use Your Personality - When you look around at other people you notice that everyone has a different personality. One person may love to be the center of attention; that person talks a lot, enjoys other people...

Need a Counselor? - When our bodies’ breakdown, we go to doctors and hospitals for help. But when our hearts and minds are hurting, when things seem to be going from bad to worse, where do we go?

Cheap Vacations - Does your family desperately need a vacation? Is your bank account squeaking? You don’t need a key to Fort Knox to enjoy time with your loved ones.

Our Last Argument - Not long after we were wed, my wife, Sue, and I had a terrible fight. Providentially, what could have destroyed our marriage ended up strengthening it.

Over the Fence - I grew up on a farm in north central Minnesota in a community where we got along very well with the neighbors. That is, with one exception.

Being Robbed Twice - Nancy cried as we unpacked our household goods. I seethed with anger. We’d just moved across the country, and when we unpacked we found dozens of broken items.

Who Does What? - “Wash on Monday, Iron on Tuesday, Mend on Wednesday, Churn on Thursday…” This little ditty from pioneer days may be outdated in modern society, but the principle still applies.

My Quiet Time - “Are you having your quiet time with Jesus?” I asked my 7-year-old son Brandon a couple days ago before breakfast. He told me yes.

An Unlikely Answer - Cheryl told me the story of her oldest son, Brian. He had grown up a great kid, in fact he had urged the family to go to church when he was twelve.

Camping Together - I’m cold. It’s 2:00 a.m. I’m supposed to be asleep, but the blow-up mattress underneath me has lost some of its “blow-up.”

Easter Celebrations - All those little pink and blue chicks are kind of cute, and lots of kids like to have an Easter egg hunt. But think about it – is the Easter Bunny really teaching your child anything valuable?

Been There, Done That - Some people have been married, divorced, and single, married again, divorced again, and single again.

Amazing Race Grace - It was Tuesday night and time for my favorite television program, The Amazing Race. But instead of a dozen teams of two people each, the teams were made up of four members.

The Blame Game - It’s as old as earth. Some call it rationalization. Others environmental. It’s been said that it is just the natural byproduct of dysfunctional families and systems.

A New Marriage - A little over a year ago, my husband and I entered the Empty Nest phase of our lives together. For a while, the "Nest" had become a refueling station.

Taming the Tiger - Child [A] begins yelling angrily, “He started it!” Child [B] starts grabbing at his brother, “Did not!” If this scenario sounds all too familiar the following tips may be helpful!

Bless That Stranger - Any Bible student will recall the Genesis (chapter 18) story of Abraham entertaining strangers – three men, who were really angels.

The Tube Turn-Off - While I was putting gas into the family vehicle a short time ago, I was amazed to see a video screen in the gas pump. The small 12 inch moving picture played short commercials, upcoming events, and video trivia to a captive audience…me!

Birds, Bees and Purity - It started out like any other school day. You know, where you’re running around wondering why your gym clothes aren’t clean and your hair has that funny sticky-up thing going on.

Marriage Healing - I sat in the counselor’s office talking about marriage problems. Not just my own, but the whole historic issues that men and women face.

Living With Dust - Right now I’m staring at dirt – 2,400 square feet of it. Relaxing in my lawn chair (with no turf in sight), a gentle breeze catches the dust and carries it to the cement slab where I sit.

I'm Afraid Daddy - “I’m afraid, daddy.” My eight-year-old daughter started her nightly ritual sharing her fear to go to sleep alone in her room.

Being in Love - After 25 years of marriage, my wife and I were apart on Valentine’s Day this year. And that’s all right, really.

A Father's Love - After years of trying to have a baby, Mark and Amy were finally blessed with a baby boy. They named the child after his father.

Ready for Healing - Sue always had good reasons why she got herself into the messes she did. It was her younger brother’s fault when things were found broken around the house.

Forty Winks - It was the week prior to the 4th of July and all the kids in our apartment complex were stockpiling their fireworks.

Outside the Box - My husband bought me a new cookbook for my birthday after I not-so-subtly hinted that I wanted it.

Make Room for God - The other day, I was cleaning out some old boxes of books from when I was a teenager. I had not gone through them in years. I had forgotten many of the titles.

Family Hate - They were all there…father, mother, two sons, a daughter with her newborn son. It was a family reunion. But, the gathering was in court.

God's Love Manual - Sometimes I think that if people only knew what the Bible had to say, they would read it more. As wives and husbands, we often wish we knew how to fix our marital differences.

Free to Find Joy - Going through life someone taught me, or I absorbed the concept, that life will always disappoint you—so do not hope for much since you will just be disappointed.

The Shepherd's Cudgel - In biblical terms, a rod was a serious piece of equipment, most generally associated with punishment in some way.

The Gift of Words - At times, it seems like the greatest accomplishment of parenting is just keeping the children alive!

My Breaking Heart - My heart is breaking. My child is in a difficult and unhappy marriage. Like most parents, I wanted her to unite with a partner who would protect her and affirm her.

The Friendship Factor - Got friends? At various times throughout my life I’ve heard people complain they don’t have friends, or that people at church, in the community, or at a local barbecue aren’t friendly enough to them.

Leave It! - My dog, Teddy, is easily distracted by every bit of trash, leaves, sticks, bugs, acorns, that we come across on the sidewalk or in his line of vision.

When Promises Fail - Is it just me, or has there been a more-than-normal-for-Hollywood rash of celebrity marriages busting up recently?

Twisted Contraints - Don’t deny yourself a sense of play—a chance to step down, relax, refresh yourself, put your molehills in perspective and not let them become mountains.

Doing It Alone - In the final analysis it is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.

Hope in Despair - Tom was overcome with despair. His orderly world was crashing in all around him. He had lost total control.

Never Ride Alone - Last week I was listening to Charlie Rose, a well-known public television personality, interviewing Lance Armstrong who had just won the Tour de France.

Working Moms - The debate between moms who work outside the home and those who work inside the home has raged for ages. In the end, I think the title of this little piece says it all.

Clay Pots and Hope - Approximately five months ago, my only brother died unexpectedly and traumatically. Since that time, I have made seven or eight trips to his home in Stockton to get his affairs in order.

Seasons of Change - On a recent Saturday I took the time to browse through some old photographs of my family of origin.

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