It’s an oft-spoken observation about marriage and family: it is easy for us to act the most hurtful toward the people we claim to love most. Can I challenge you today to be purposeful about the words you speak to your husband? #1- STOP USING WORDS THAT BITE & DEVOUR HIM Galatians 5:13-16 challenges us all: “through love serve one another. For the…
Author: Jess Connell
5 Things To Do When You Feel Overwhelmed By Motherhood
The holidays are over. The “magic” is gone, but the mess, exhaustion, and daily needs remain, don’t they? Are you feeling overwhelmed? In our house: Recently-bought games & books need a “home,” but our shelves are overflowing. Luke is due in 2.5 weeks. My pregnancy wardrobe is slung here, there, and everywhere, because everything is too tight and/or makes me…
“Do The Next Thing”
Do the Next Thing From an old English parsonage down by the sea There came in the twilight a message for me; Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven, Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven. And on through the hours the quiet words ring, Like a low inspiration: DO THE NEXT THING. Many a…
Freestyle Friday #2
Freestyle Friday is my new way of sharing random bits, in smaller portions, rather than in full-length articles. I’m trying this for a season, as a way to connect with YOU. So let’s go- here’s Freestyle Friday #2. Today I’m taking the opportunity to interact with a few of the survey responses: First of all: You guys are AWESOME & I…
Do You Encourage Your Husband in These 3 Ways?
Have you ever considered: what or who is the primary earthly source of encouragement in your husband’s life? There are really only 4 options: Your husband’s primary source of encouragement is someone/something else, and he/she/it is not very encouraging. (Meaning: Your husband has little-to-no regular encouragement in his life.) Your husband’s primary source of encouragement is someone/something…
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? Here are some quotes I’ve seen on these photos: “There has never been, nor will there ever be, anything quite so special as the love between a mother and son.” “The bond between mother and son… remains unchanged…
Has Your Marriage Lost Its Affection?
The morning began like any other: snuggles, breakfast, coffee, schoolwork, chores. Mid-morning, my son was reviewing his list of words for the day, which focused on the short “i” sound. After reading each word, I asked him to use it in a sentence to make sure he was connecting the sounded-out letters with real-world meanings. He got to the…
Why Your Kids’ Appetites Matter
Parents instill appetites in their children. We know it’s generally true with foods. I didn’t grow up eating: Russian goulash Thai peanut chicken over a bed of sprouts & star fruit for dessert Ethiopian injera I did grow up eating: pancakes tacos spaghetti Even as an adult, while I might occasionally try something new, or discover…
Will You Take My Reader Survey?
Will you help me by taking a simple 10-question survey? Click here, or on the image, to access the survey: It is an extremely big help for me (and for Doug & I together, as we sit down regularly to discuss the direction/timing/aim of my writing endeavors) to hear specific feedback from you! I look forward…
5 Ways You Need To Be Honest With Yourself
It’s New Year’s Eve– the time for self-evaluation, promises, and resolutions. The problem? Most of those goals go unmet & forgotten. 25% of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned within a WEEK. I’m convinced that a large part of that “failure” rate is that we aren’t honest with ourselves about our real life limitations BEFORE we set…