This last summer, when I was 36 weeks pregnant, our AC stopped working. It was June and we live in southeast Texas, so you can imagine how hot it was in our house! I’ll never forget how two gracious friends invited us to stay with them until technicians were able to fix our AC. They had no warning, but these friends welcomed us into their … [Read more...] about How to Have a Hospitality-Ready Home
organized living
6 Tips for Getting to Church On Time
There are a lot of families with young children in my church. These families are generally easy to identify because we’re the ones straggling in after service has begun! Being prompt is important to me, so I decided to take action when I realized we were falling into a pattern of arriving late for church. If your family struggles to … [Read more...] about 6 Tips for Getting to Church On Time
Thriving Amid the Messes of Motherhood
Being a mother means facing one mess after another. There are poopy diapers, floors covered in toys, appliances covered in greasy handprints, backseats strewn with snack crumbs, and bedsheets soiled with vomit. When I work to get one of these messes cleaned up, you can be certain my kids are busy making the others! Literal messes are … [Read more...] about Thriving Amid the Messes of Motherhood
Wonderful Gifts for Entire Families
It seems that my husband and I struggle every year to come up with ideas for Christmas gifts that will be appreciated by their recipients and fit within our budget. Sometimes the best solution is to use some sort of alternative gift exchange. This year I’ve had another idea that I think is going to work out well: Instead of buying or … [Read more...] about Wonderful Gifts for Entire Families
A Skill You Must Master In Order to Get Things Done When You Have Young Kids
There are a lot of skills you must master when you become a parent. You eventually get comfortable and confident in your new role and are able to balance parenthood with all of the other tasks you face. I felt I arrived at this point about the time I found out I was expecting my second child. Learning how to mother two little blessings … [Read more...] about A Skill You Must Master In Order to Get Things Done When You Have Young Kids
Hitting Reset After a Bad Day
Last week I had one of those days. You know what I’m talking about, right? A day when everything that could possibly go wrong did. That night, as I sat nursing my infant before going to sleep, I silently rejoiced that the Lord promises us new mercies each day (Lamentations 3:22-23). As assuring as this promise is, sometimes meditating … [Read more...] about Hitting Reset After a Bad Day
Cleanup Songs for Young Children
It’s critical that we teach our young children how to pick up after themselves. Not only does this help us keep our homes clean, but it provides our kids with a solid foundation for other important life skills. As you’ve likely discovered, keeping kids on task while they clean up isn’t easy. One way to help them remain focused is to use … [Read more...] about Cleanup Songs for Young Children
5 Ways to Stop Procrastinating
I occasionally find myself putting off some task that I really need to accomplish. Often the task relates to housecleaning, though sometimes it relates to budgeting, yard work, or home maintenance. I’m a little embarrassed to say that sometimes days, weeks, or even months will pass before I finally buckle down and complete it. Does this ever … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Stop Procrastinating