We get so carried away with red, white, and blue desserts, parades, picnics, and fireworks that it’s easy to forget that the 4th of July isn’t just a day for relaxing. It’s Independence Day—a day for celebrating our nation’s history, namely our independence from the British Empire. When I look at the political section of the news these … [Read more...] about Avoiding Discouragement in Our Volatile Political Climate
Archives for 2018
Why Give Kids Glass Dishes Instead of Plastic Ones
I used to hold my breath every time my 3-year-old would carry her plate from the table into the kitchen. I wasn’t concerned about her getting food on the floor, but I was certain she’d drop her plate and we’d spend the next half hour cleaning up broken glass. Yes, my children (currently ages 3 years and 23 months) use glass dishes. I … [Read more...] about Why Give Kids Glass Dishes Instead of Plastic Ones
5 Common (But Often Overlooked) Safety Threats in the Home
Most of us feel that our homes are havens. We feel safe and secure from the chaos and dangers of the world around us when we are at home. Unfortunately, we may not be as safe as we think we are because we face a number of safety threats while in our homes. We overlook a lot of these because they aren’t obvious. What are these safety … [Read more...] about 5 Common (But Often Overlooked) Safety Threats in the Home
Ways to Save Money this Summer
We’ve already had a number of days that have neared 100°F. It won’t be long before we are crossing that threshold! We’re always pinching pennies in my household, so I’m considering how to save money as we face the sweltering days of summer. When cooling the home It’s typical for electric bills to spike during the summer months because … [Read more...] about Ways to Save Money this Summer
Why Kids Desperately Need Outdoor Play
I have a love-hate relationship with outdoor play for my kids. I love it because they get to run around, climb, and get fresh air. It’s challenging, though, because sometimes it seems like it takes forever to apply sunscreen and get their shoes on, not to mention that here on the Texas Gulf Coast we have a lot of bugs (mosquitoes, fire ants, … [Read more...] about Why Kids Desperately Need Outdoor Play
17 Bible Verses to Encourage Dads
Five weeks ago I shared 16 Bible verses to encourage moms. That week we were celebrating and encouraging moms for Mother’s Day. This week we’re celebrating and encouraging dads for Father’s Day, so I’m sharing Bible verses to encourage dads. The words of Scripture are a powerful way to provide encouragement. As you can imagine, the … [Read more...] about 17 Bible Verses to Encourage Dads
Grandparenting is Great Because of Perspective
I’m honored that today’s post is a guest contribution from my father, Roland Thiel. He wrote this piece a few years ago to express why he loves being a grandfather. Though he never intended for it to be a blog post, he sent it to me a few weeks ago and asked if I would like to share it here. I think many of you will appreciate it, especially … [Read more...] about Grandparenting is Great Because of Perspective
Quick and Tangy Beef Stir-Fry
Though I’m always eager to try new easy-to-prepare recipes for my family, I realized a couple of weeks ago that I rarely try stir-fry recipes. This doesn’t make much sense because stir-fries are generally prepared in one skillet (so preparation and cleanup are easy) and they are very versatile (you can prepare them with a number of different … [Read more...] about Quick and Tangy Beef Stir-Fry
