When I look at my daughters, I see the two most beautiful girls in the world. However, the older they get, the more I realize that I need to help them understand that the beauty that truly matters has nothing to do with how a person looks. Our culture teaches the exact opposite. If we listen to the messages conveyed by most TV shows, … [Read more...] about Helping Kids Understand that True Beauty is on the Inside
Archives for 2017
Tuscan Tortellini Skillet
As I’m thinking through the best way to plan meals for my family, I’m continuing to try new recipes. One of the best we’ve tried recently is this Tuscan Tortellini Skillet. It’s rich in vegetables and in flavor! Ingredients (Adapted from this recipe.) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1 medium onion, … [Read more...] about Tuscan Tortellini Skillet
30 Resources for a Safe and Fun Summer
When I was growing up, summer meant going on family vacations, playing outdoors for several hours each day, and eating frozen treats. It also meant lots of bumps and bruises, fights with my sister, and an occasional sunburn. With today being the “unofficial start to summer,” I thought it would be nice to look at some resources that will … [Read more...] about 30 Resources for a Safe and Fun Summer
If You’d Just Let Me Help
My toddler grew extremely frustrated while we were grocery shopping a couple of weeks ago. About halfway through our trip she grew tired of walking, so I lifted her into the seat portion of the cart and she proceeded to buckle the safety belt. As she was doing this, I realized that the snap-fit buckle on the belt was damaged. Though it … [Read more...] about If You’d Just Let Me Help
7 Different Ways to Plan Meals
You don’t have to spend too much time with me (or reading this blog) to realize that I love making lists and planning. Naturally, this extends to meal planning. In recent weeks, I’ve been questioning if my menu planning approach is still the best for my family. Is there a more efficient way? Is there a way I can focus more on keeping … [Read more...] about 7 Different Ways to Plan Meals
10 Money Wasters at the Grocery Store
A couple of weeks ago we considered a number of cheap and nutritious foods that are great purchases for those of us who are pinching pennies. In contrast to these foods, there are a number of grocery items—including many with relatively low prices—that are wastes of money. Let’s consider these and their budget-friendly … [Read more...] about 10 Money Wasters at the Grocery Store
Finding Time for Friendship
A couple of weeks ago I was visiting with some friends about how busy life seems. We all agreed that when we were single and first married, we thought we were busy (and, to be fair, we did have many important things that occupied our time). However, now that we’re in the trenches of parenthood, we can’t believe that we felt so busy back then! … [Read more...] about Finding Time for Friendship
It’s Easy to Win When You’re the Only One Running the Race
My two-year-old sort of understands the idea of a race. She’ll zoom down the hall and around the living room before extending her hands and happily declaring, “I won!” She understands that one is supposed to run as quickly as he or she can, but she clearly doesn’t understand the concept of competition. She doesn’t understand that it is … [Read more...] about It’s Easy to Win When You’re the Only One Running the Race
