Well, we’re all but there. The end of the year. Again. How does this keep happening?
I’ve published over 150 articles on jessconnell.com in 2015. According to the stats, these are the top 10 most-read posts on jessconnell.com from this past year:
#1- JOSH DUGGAR & THE PROBLEM WE ALL HAVE
Though the news did not surprise me, it did sadden me. My heart did flip-flops.
The reason I was certain of the veracity of the stories is because I know the wickedness that resides here in my ugly human heart, and the ugly sins that want to take up ever-increasing real estate in my soul. Like Apostle Paul said: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. ~1 Corinthians 10:13
It’s not just Josh Duggar’s problem.
It’s yours, and mine. (Read more here.)
#2- ARE YOU LETTING YOUR KIDS WALK ALL OVER YOU?
I sometimes hear moms almost bragging about it… “it’s been ages since I’ve used the restroom alone.” “She’s persnickety & suddenly won’t eat anything I make!!” As if being a Mommy Martyr makes you a good mommy.
There is a HUGE difference between what the average mom puts up with today, and what would have been allowed 30, 60, 100 years ago. Interestingly, in our post-feminist era, with women determined more than ever to not let *anyone* “walk all over them,” there are a whole lot of toddlers, kids, and teens out there doing just that. (Read more here.)
#3- 20 THOUGHTS ABOUT HONEYMOON SEX FOR VIRGINS
My husband, Doug, and I are privileged to be able to do marital and pre-marital counseling through our church.
Here are some of our thoughts for the about-to-be-married virgin couple about having healthy, realistic attitudes about honeymoon sex.
#4- 20 WAYS ABORTION IS LIKE AUSCHWITZ
The opening of Auschwitz in Poland happened 70 years ago, this week. The stories that come from that wicked place still horrify and are difficult to take in. I would rejoice if, one day, the horror every decent human being feels about Auschwitz would be matched with the horror they feel about abortion.
Here are 20 ways abortion in America resembles Auschwitz in Poland. (Read more here.)
#5- THE TRUTH ABOUT SEX & HOW IT AFFECTS OUR PARENTING
There are things I know about sex. There are things we all know. There are biblical truths and facts about our bodies that are undeniable.
And I think those facts ought to influence how we parent.
[Please note: under each fact below, I share how that fact influences the ways that Doug and I parent our seven children. I want to point out that our oldest child will be 13 this summer. What that means is that I’ve done a good portion of this multiple times over now, but it also means that there is a large portion that I have NOT done. In those areas, I am sharing out of observation of wise and unwise practices of others, the teaching of biblical truth that I have received, and the plans that Doug and I have thought through in regard to how to handle future things. I am a Christian woman writing as a fellow-traveler who has some thoughts about these things, rather than a seasoned guru who has raised forty-two godly children to adulthood.]
While we can’t solve every problem “out there,” we CAN bring about change within our own homes and families. Here are NINE facts about sex and the ways they affect our parenting. (Read more here.)
#6- WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT MOMS & SONS
Have you seen the images on Facebook, trumpeting the amazing, lifelong, unbreakable bond between mothers and sons?
Christian mom, have you ever thought (when you read these things) that you’re being lied to, and that your emotions are being preyed upon?
Now, there’s a piece of truth in each, of course.
I’m not some unfeeling monster here trying to say there’s nothing unique and beautiful about the mother-son relationship.
The love between mothers and sons is amazing! Sons are a wonderful gift!
But, the next time you see one of these pictures with a heart-grabbing quote telling you how nothing will ever change and how your son will always be your sweet little baby boy, ask yourself if it is actually true in light of the very first few verses that tell us about the first family, and God’s plans for the world. (Read more here.)
#7- 13 REASONS I DON’T MIND BEING A CHUNKY, HAPPY MAMA WHILE BREASTFEEDING
While breastfeeding, I tend to stay (how should I put this?)
- plump
- fluffy
- voluptuous
- chunky
- heavier than I’d prefer
- curvy
- rounder-than-while-not-breastfeeding
- soft
Yeah, those adjectives work. You might have other words you’d use. Keep those to yourself, please.
Basically, I’m not the gal the breastfeeding books all talked about. Nope.
I’m the one who holds on to every extra calorie with a tight-fisted iron grip and can’t seem to drop more than about 10 pounds after I have a baby until that baby is weaned. (Read more here.)
#8- WHY YOUR KIDS’ APPETITES MATTER
Parents instill appetites in their children. We know it’s generally true with foods. Even as an adult, while I might occasionally try something new, or discover new things I enjoy, my preferences naturally tend toward the foods I ate growing up.
The same is true with the appetites we develop in life in general.
#9- 7 WAYS I BEAT POSTPARTUM STRESS
I guess I’m a slow learner.
It took me lots of babies and births to finally start figuring it out.
I just had baby #7, less than 8 weeks ago. You know what I did? Well, I’ll tell you– here are the things that help me fight postpartum stress.
#10- BEST PICKS FOR NON-ELECTRONIC TOYS KIDS ACTUALLY LIKE
Now that we’ve reached the frenzied toy-buying Christmas season, let me offer our recommendations for kids up to elementary-ages. We have seven kids, ages thirteen and under, so I’ve got a little more than a decade, and many different personalities’ worth of “experience,” invested in this advice.
These are the non-electronic toys kids actually LIKE. (Read more here.)
I’ll spare us all the “time flies” nostalgic comments, but seriously, can you believe we’re closer to 2025 than to the 90s? Doesn’t it seem like Y2K just happened?
Well, here we go…. 2016, we’re all getting ready for YOU. But first, let’s have ourselves a merry little Christmas.