Marriage and Family

Tools for Homeschooling for Newbies & Veterans!

The choice to homeschool should not be taken lightly. It demands a significant amount of time, prayer, and patience. Whether you are a newbie homeschooler or a veteran in need of inspiration, I hope the following resource list will be helpful! Getting Started When I initiated homeschooling in 2011, I didn't even know where to begin.… Continue reading Tools for Homeschooling for Newbies & Veterans!

Christian community · Christian Living · Marriage and Family · The Word of God

Why Children Need Spiritual Instruction from Their Parents

We cannot expect our children to cling to their faith with conviction if they are only exposed to God for 3% of their life. Some will undoubtably cling to their faith because the Word of God is powerful whether we wield it or not, but if we neglect to teach our children, history (particularly biblical history) teaches us that only a remnant will remain. Parents, the job of spiritual instruction was never meant to rest squarely on the shoulders of the Bible class teachers.

encouragement · Marriage and Family

Encouragement for the Discouraged Homeschooler

The kids aren't alright, and neither is mom. Exasperated sighs and groans cover each math lesson. Tear drops glisten across those essay rough drafts. Mom's hair is standing on end and there just isn't enough coffee or chocolate in the world to combat her stress or exhaustion. Welcome to notorious November. Mid-year, many of us… Continue reading Encouragement for the Discouraged Homeschooler

Marriage and Family

Social Media Ground Rules For Your Children

We take so much care with driver’s training, yet so little care with technology training. Our electronic devices provide children access to one of the most powerful and dangerous tools of our age—the internet. Occasionally, we are lulled into a false belief that parental controls will prevent our children from being “one of those kids”—those who post inappropriate pictures, suffer from bullying, or get lured away by predators.

Christian community · Christian Living · Knowing God · Marriage and Family

What Our Children Need Most

"Mom, I need to get a zipper binder and headphones."  "Dad, my teacher said my pencil box isn't big enough. I need another one" "Mom, I have to have a zipper binder too." My head was spinning. It was only the first week of school, and on top of the lengthy list of supplies we'd… Continue reading What Our Children Need Most

Christian community · Christian Living · Marriage and Family · Prayer

Prayers for Parents of School-Aged Kids

As we press through August and into the fall, we will see frequent signs that school is back in session. Gradually, a few parents will develop a worry line or two. Homeschool moms may find themselves sobbing as perfect lesson plans implode in the face of another autistic episode. Another mom may be quietly sobbing in an empty room as their youngest child moves three or three hundred miles away from home in pursuit of a college degree. A dad may be getting stomach ulcers worrying about the safety of his daughter around all those teenage boys. On top of all the back-to-school changes, these parents are still facing life with all it's pressures and frustrations. Are we sensitive to their needs? Are we reaching out to be supportive? Encouraging? Helpful?

Marriage and Family · Prayer

School-Time Prayers

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5.16-18, ESV Raising kids isn't for the faint-hearted. Educating them is no cake walk either. In the run-of-the-mill routine of life, we can slip into two traps: putting our parenting… Continue reading School-Time Prayers

Christian Living · Marriage and Family

It’s Back to School Season!

August, in all it's heat, is back again. A nearly palpable sense of change is in the air, even if you are far removed from school and school-aged children. Parents push baskets full of school supplies, their faces creased with worry lines. Aisles teem with pencils, erasers, markers, and backpacks. Soon, the school bus will… Continue reading It’s Back to School Season!

Christian community · encouragement · Marriage and Family

To The Parents with the Squirmy Kids at Worship

  I saw you on Sunday morning. I watched you walk down the aisle at least three times. On the first trip, you held a squirmy baby in one arm and a diaper bag in the other. Your second exodus involved a recalcitrant toddler, howling like a wolf at the moon. You made your last… Continue reading To The Parents with the Squirmy Kids at Worship

Knowing God · Marriage and Family · Prayer

Is Your Parenting on Cruise Control?

Parenting is inconvenient. Yes, I just said that. Once you have a child, your life will be forever changed. You will be humbled. Humiliated. Screamed at. Loved with abandon. Squeezed with unimaginable strength by those little arms. Amazed. Shocked. heartbroken. Overwhelmed with love. Filled with a newfound awe for your own parents. Unfortunately, once the baby… Continue reading Is Your Parenting on Cruise Control?