Celebrating the Holidays with Adult Kids and Less Stress

I hate to sound cliché but the holidays are upon us. Yes, we are only in the first few days of October, but you know I’m right. Christmas decorations have taken over Hobby Lobby; even Target has started a small section for Christmas lights. Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here […]

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Three Questions to Keep Me Joyful and Peaceful this Holiday Season

I hate to admit it, but I’ve shifted into the holiday season mode. Thanksgiving is two weeks from tomorrow! I love having family and friends here. I love decorating and baking. I love giving gifts. But if I’m not intentional, my love of all these things can snowball into a […]

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Pizza Night

When the kids were all living at home or came home from college, I almost always made pizza for Friday supper. To me it says, Family is together. So any time the kids are here for Friday night supper, it’s gotta be pizza. Tonight Kelsey, Caleb, and The Grand were […]

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How Being a Little Grinchy Brings Peace

If you’re anything like me, your angst is growing right along with your Christmas to-do list as the days grow fewer. I need to be ready for Christmas by December 21. Katie and Joe arrive that day and I want to be fully prepared so I can enjoy them and […]

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Navigating Changes in Your Holiday Traditions

“So how was your Thanksgiving?”, a friend at church asked me Sunday morning. She meant it to be pleasant small talk and she really did care. I started my reply with the usual, “Good, thanks for asking”, but before I knew it feelings that I thought were neatly tucked away […]

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Small Action–Big Change in Your Child–Making Christmas Eve Eve Count

  On December 2 I wrote about a few of our Christmas traditions and how they help keep our family connected. One of those traditions was decorating Christmas cookies a few days before Christmas. Today is the day. Kerry and I will cut out and simply decorate sugar cookies and […]

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Small Action for Big Change–Respect

In my first book, Queen Mom, I tell the story of my first memory of losing my temper with my girls. We were starting round two of the chicken pox and I was feeling antsy. I thought I would at least get something done around the house if I were […]

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