As of today, that’s how many days have passed since the day I was born. I used this nifty calculator to figure it out. We could do that with all sorts of dates. How long have I been a believer? How old is my son/daughter? How long do we have left with them until they turn…
March 2017 Round-Up: Podcasts & Posts
WHOA, we’ve reached the end of March, and I have a four-month-old cutie. How did that happen? Have you heard about this excellent book? If not, and you want to read a surprisingly-prescient call to purposeful family life, written by a Christian couple in the 1950s, GET THIS BOOK. The Mom On Purpose podcast is going strong, and…
What I Noticed After Fasting From Facebook
Some time last year, I did a week-long purposeful fast from everything online (except for e-mail), and as I went through the week, I wrote down the things I was noticing. Recently I found that list and thought I’d share it with you. Here’s what I noticed: Almost instantaneously: I’m alone with my thoughts again. I’m able…
Ep. 21: Fight Fears & Cultural Lies About Discipline
Culture and modern ideas about parenting bring continual attacks against biblical parenting. Christian moms often face discouragement and fears that come from culture, a lack of role models, our upbringings, and more. Dig in with us to discover the dangers of giving in, and how to press through challenging moments to give consistent, loving, biblical discipline to our children. Listen in as…
Our Laundry Pile. (a 30-second video)
This is the mismatched shoe bin at our house right now. WHAT????! (As I told my husband… “SOCKS are explainable. They get wedged behind dressers and slip under beds. But SHOES?????!”) WHY do I have this many mismatched blue flip-flops and mismatched black dress shoes???! The struggle is real. CLICK TO SEE A 30-second VIDEO of…
He’s NOT a “Better Mom” Than You!
It’s a popular thing to say. It sounds self-deprecating and humble and cutesy and modern. “He’s a better mom than I am.” Sometimes it’s accompanied by an explanation, like “my husband: is more organized makes Bento-box lunches plays in the floor with them is less neurotic about cleanliness cleans better is more fun knows more about…
Getting Some Peace & Quiet, as a Mom
Ever felt the guilt that comes on when a child asks you to play a game with them, or read to them, but you want to say “no?” I’m not asking about when you *can’t* say “yes” because you’re doing something else. But rather– what do you do when you just want some peace and…
Ep. 20: Discipline Your Kids — For Their Good!
Time-outs? Spankings? “Positive Parenting?” Loss of privileges? What constitutes biblical “discipline?” Even self-described “Christian” sources can disagree on what godly parents should do to discipline their children. That’s why believers need to look to God’s Word for our understanding of biblical parenting. Listen in as Jess talks with her friend Wendy about: How God’s Word defines “discipline” Biblical principles…
Does Your Husband Have to Do a Jig?
Does your husband have to do a jig… …written according to *your* dance steps… …in order to “get” sex? Does he have to follow a particular formula in order? Does he have to (effectively) win the lottery? Is there an unwritten set of rules that he needs to do *something*– do the dishes, get…
Mom Life: Ever Experienced Daily Burnout?
Have you ever felt this? After a morning filled with: kids squabbling some semblance of chores and house cleaning schooling done (even if imperfectly!) toddler meltdowns bottoms wiped bellies filled it is easy to get to mid-afternoon and to SIMPLY. FEEL. DONE. I have most definitely felt like this before, and yes, sometimes daily, especially when all my…