Engage in the Hard Conversations (7 Ways to Connect with Your Teen, Part 4)

Engage in the Hard Conversations (7 Ways to Connect with Your Teen, Part 4)

by | Jun 2, 2021 |

When is the last time your teen initiated a hard conversation all on their own? Wouldn’t it be nice if it always happened that way?

While we’re daydreaming, what if before they brought it up, they sent us an email outlining all their questions, giving us adequate time to look up Bible verses and expert answers? And once we were ready, what if they sat at our feet, soaking every word of wisdom like it was the latest Marvel movie?

Unfortunately, you and I both know that’s not how it works.

Sometimes, if we’re lucky, our teens do come to us with their questions. More often, though, we sense something is going on with them or notice them wrestling with something in current culture, and it’s up to us to make those conversations happen. How do we do it? Here are a few tips on how to approach these hard conversations…

7 Ways to Connect With Your Teen (Part 2: Time)

7 Ways to Connect With Your Teen (Part 2: Time)

by | May 13, 2021 |

This seems obvious, I know. It’s hard to connect with someone if you don’t make time for them, right? Yet, how often do we miss this? When our kids are younger, we naturally spend a lot of time with them because they need us for everything. But as they get older, they become less dependent. They begin to spend more and more time away from us.

If we truly want to connect with our teen, we must be intentional about spending time with them.

7 Ways to Connect with Your Teen (Part 1: Pray)

7 Ways to Connect with Your Teen (Part 1: Pray)

by | May 7, 2021 |

The “teen years” can be difficult. Relating with our teens on a deep level can be even more difficult. But I believe being intentional about connecting with our teens is the best investment we can make!

While there is no formula for perfect parenting, I want to share 7 practical ways you can connect with your teen. For the next seven weeks, we will talk about each of these areas in more detail and how they can positively influence our relationship with our teens.

Let’s start with PRAYER…

This is Real Life…

This is Real Life…

by | Apr 27, 2021 | ,

Today we’re using the #RealLife filter, because sometimes life doesn’t go as planned. And that’s okay.

I was feeling pretty proud of myself this afternoon. It was 3:00 and not only did I actually know what I was making for dinner (which is a minor miracle), tomorrow’s dinner was already thawing on the counter! Impressive, I know.

It was a simple dinner with very little prep, so I was able to squeeze in a quick walk before getting started. I washed my hands and pulled all the ingredients out of the fridge. Tonight’s menu included French dip sandwiches, salad, and roasted brussel sprouts. Sounds delicious, right? (Again, total rock star.)

Well, unfortunately (or fortunately, for my kids) the brussel sprouts spent a little too long in the crisper drawer and ended up in the trash. Not wanting to be outdone, the lettuce I bought last week plopped into the bowl as a giant pile of slime… so I had to toss it out as well.

I was 0 for 2; it was not looking good for the home team…

(keep reading)

Change How You Parent: Fear or Faith?

Change How You Parent: Fear or Faith?

by | Apr 1, 2021 | ,

It is really hard to watch our kids walking that line between right and wrong, tip-toeing as close as they can to the dark without actually falling in. Jeff and I have encountered these types of struggles on multiple occasions with our children, so I feel your pain.
Jeff is better about seeing the big picture, but if I’m honest with you, I pretty much tend to freak out. I’m afraid they are going to ruin their life. I’m afraid they are going to walk away from Jesus. I’m afraid they are going to become everything I have invested so much time and energy guarding against!
I’m just plain afraid. And I begin to parent out of fear…

Asking for Help: Why it’s Hard, Why We Should, and How to Do it

Asking for Help: Why it’s Hard, Why We Should, and How to Do it

by | Mar 30, 2021 |

When is the last time you asked someone for help? Was it hard for you?

For me, it depends on what it is. Earlier this week, we changed plans and needed a last minute T-shirt design for a college ministry retreat. I had a choice. I could spend several hours attempting to design something that, let’s face it, would look awful no matter how much time I invested in it. Or I could text a friend and ask for help.

I am not kidding; the first draft of the design was completed within three minutes of the text.

THREE MINUTES!

Umm, yeah, I think that was a good decision!

But there are other times when I am not so quick to ask for help…

Transformation Update: Marriage Edition (Part 2)- How to Start Transforming Your Marriage

Transformation Update: Marriage Edition (Part 2)- How to Start Transforming Your Marriage

by | Feb 12, 2021 | ,

I have to be honest with y’all. I have written and rewritten this blog post multiple times trying to get it right. I can’t remember the last time I had such a hard time writing something! Why has it been so difficult?

I guess when it comes down to it it’s because I don’t feel qualified to write about marriage.

Sure, Jeff and I have been married almost 25 years. We have a pretty great marriage, and we have even counseled many couples who are either just starting out or struggling. But mostly we just share truths we have learned along the way, most of them the hard way. That hardly makes me an expert!

In reality, though, there is no magic formula. There are no 7 steps to a fabulous marriage, no checklist to greatness, no one-size-fits-all solution for your marriage woes.

So what’s the secret, then? Honestly, I have no idea!

All I know is it has taken us a lot of prayer, grace, and intentionality to keep it all together.

So, I guess that’s where we’ll start…

Tuesday Transformation: (Part 1) 9 Questions to Help Take Assessment of Your Marriage

Tuesday Transformation: (Part 1) 9 Questions to Help Take Assessment of Your Marriage

by | Feb 9, 2021 | ,

At times marriage can be really hard, even when you’re married to a great person. And the devil wants nothing more than to steal, kill, and destroy any relationship that reflects God’s goodness. So, while Jeff and I both feel like we have a really good marriage, we never want to take that for granted. And I have learned I am not always as intentional about investing in our marriage the way I should…