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Christmas Survival Tools
I have to admit, my hometown is beautiful at Christmas. Twinkling lights and picturesque decorations. It mirrors the image most of us have of Christmas. A season of great expectations. But...
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How To’s for Releasing a Child
Today is one of the lasts of the lasts. I celebrated my youngest’ thirteenth birthday. One of the milestones of lasts. The last child to leave childhood. The last child to become a teenager. I was...
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Relationship Survival During the Holidays
I received this poem in a Christmas letter from a high school friend in 2005. I’ve kept it all these years. When I was teaching, it was in my classroom. Now, it’s a wall hanging in my counseling...
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The Gift of Contentment
Two conversations this week had a striking theme. Question to forty-something co-workers, “What do you want for Christmas?” Answer, “Nothing, really, just time with my family. I don’t really need or...
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When A Mustang Marries a Buick
You can ask my children what my husband and I fight over. They will tell you: cars and fences. Recently, we’ve had not-seeing-eye-to-eye discussions over cars. We drive cars we can afford. They are...
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Hard to Love
I love country music because it’s about real life. A current song out now is “Hard to Love” by Lee Brice. As I listen to the lyrics, faces of people cross my mind. People who are hard to love, and …...
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Today
Today the morning news reports the United States has the highest infant mortality rate, youngest average age of adult deaths, and highest homicide rate of developed countries. Tonight’s news reports...
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Inspiring Stories: Tanya’s Story
I have the humble privilege to share Tanya’s Glanzman’s story of being an overcomer and survivor of childhood abuse, abandonment, and neglect. Tanya is a remarkable woman. She is a contributing...
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Tanya’s Story: A Response
Today I’m posting at She Stands. Stop for a heart check! If you didn’t read Tanya’s inspiring story posted this weekend, read it here. It’s a beautiful story of hope and redemption after a life of...
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Parenting Series: Improving Your Relationship with Your Son (Part 1 of 4)
By contributing writer, Joshua Kissee Worry not about the high cost of building men…but be concerned about the high cost of failing to do so. Texas Prison Museum Wall Poster So you’ve heard a hundred...
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Updates
It seems like forever since I’ve posted. It’s been one of those weeks. Do you have weeks like that? This past weekend my husband and I traveled 22 hours to be with our daughter for 36 hours, moving...
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God Made a Farmer
I married a farmer. Though I’m a mental health professional, I’ve learned answers to life’s problems can be solved in lessons of farm life. On Superbowl Sunday, a commercial aired titled “God Made a...
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Grace
I’m also posting today at She Stands and Encourage 24/7. “I struggle with it,” he said. Judgment is what he was struggling with. He is also wrestling with grace. I’ve wrestled with judgment and grace....
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Parenting Series: Improving Relationships with Your Son (Part 2)
by Joshue Kissee (Manbuilders.com) Author Tim Ferriss blogged about reality distortion field and rarity of giving your full attention to another person. “We are living in a world where no one, it...
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Taking Risks Despite the Gloomy Forecast
I’m going to try” I said. Snow was no longer coming down, but school had just been canceled. The winds were blowing snow across the road in front of our house. I checked the weather between Indiana...
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Why The Breakfast Club is Still Relevant Today
When I taught high school Sociology, we studied stereotypes and social groups via the movie “The Breakfast Club.” As I’m watching it at home tonight, I realize the movie’s content may be even more...
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I’m A Fighter. Why Fighting For What’s Important Is Worth It All
Thank you to those who read Kaylee’s inspiring story, “Loving the Kids“. Her words were a gift because we’ve seen the depth of her journey. Like her dad, she’s not one to put herself out there. I...
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Parenting Series: Things I’d Do Over in Raising Girls
I’m posting at Parents Space today one of my most popular posts on raising girls. If you’ve been reading the blog the last week, you know the challenges and journey I’ve had in raising my girl. Here is...
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Saying Good-bye and the Power of the Mundane
I’m sitting on my porch swing taking in the day I hope will never end. The sun is on its way down to slip behind the trees in an hour or two. The flowers are bright around me and a … Continue reading →
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Between A Rock and Hard Place {Or A Buggy and A Pig}
I live in the middle of the third largest Amish community in the United States. Driving in our area requires a certain level of acquired proficiency. Slow-moving horse and buggies are plentiful, and...
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