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
Chores or No Chores? Which is Best for Kids?
It doesn’t take long after becoming a parent to realize that there are a lot of parenting controversies out there. For example, parents of infants will butt heads over topics like breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding and sleep training vs. not sleep training. Now that my oldest has left the baby and toddler years, I’m encountering new … [Read more...] about Chores or No Chores? Which is Best for Kids?
4 Ways to Quell Comparison
I don’t know what it’s like for you, but when I hang out with friends and acquaintances, I find it easy to begin comparing myself with them. I’ll take note of their talents and see how mine measure up, I’ll think about how my house compares to their houses, I’ll consider how our approaches to parenting are similar or different, etc. I … [Read more...] about 4 Ways to Quell Comparison
6 Air Mattress Alternatives
I’m so thankful that my family’s home is large enough that we are able to use one bedroom as a guest room. However, sometimes one guest room isn’t enough to accommodate all of our guests! For example, my husband’s youngest brother and his girlfriend came for a short visit a couple of weeks ago. Their visit happened to coincide with a visit … [Read more...] about 6 Air Mattress Alternatives
Why and How to Share Tough Bible Stories with Kids
The Bible is full of stories that encourage us, show us how much God loves us, and leave us feeling inspired. However, it is also full of stories that depict violence, speak of curses, and leave us struggling to remember that God is good and just. I find it a little difficult to share these latter stories with my kids! In the past, I often … [Read more...] about Why and How to Share Tough Bible Stories with Kids
Super Easy Pear Blueberry Cobbler
There are some flavors that just go together perfectly. In my opinion, one of these great flavor combos is pears and blueberries. Because I love the flavor of these two fruits together, I once tried a simple recipe for a pear blueberry cobbler. This was about a decade ago. The recipe was so easy and yielded such a tasty dessert that … [Read more...] about Super Easy Pear Blueberry Cobbler
Forming Genuine Friendships in the Age of Social Media
Because we have many friends or followers on social media and we interact with these folks (often by “liking,” commenting on, or sharing posts), it seems like we are connected. However, this sense of connection is often an illusion. In fact, I bet many individuals walk away from time spent on social media feeling just as alone as they did … [Read more...] about Forming Genuine Friendships in the Age of Social Media
