When Relationships Get Messy at Our House

We’ve had this sign longer than I can remember. I remember the store I bought it in, but I am fuzzy on what town it was in, who I was with (a dear friend, I think), and what year. Most days I barely notice it. But this morning it spoke […]

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When Your Kids Keep Making Decisions You Don’t Agree With

Yep, it happened again. One of my kids made a decision that I didn’t agree with. In fact, I was absolutely against it. When she shared her plan with me I gave her my reasons why her plan was not a good idea. My wisdom did nothing to change her […]

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The Best Is Yet To Come

I wrote this piece last night right before bed. “The Perfect Family” is my nickname for our neighbors who live across our little lake. I call them “The Perfect Family” because they are so fun and have a chocolate Labrador Retreiver.   The Perfect Family had a party tonight. It […]

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Are You Brave Enough to Give Your Child Wings?

“Send your kids to a local college so they will marry locally and stay close to home.” This was the advice someone gave to my friend whose daughter is a high school senior. I know this mom was well meaning. Hey, who doesn’t want her kids close? I confess I […]

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Three Keys to a Healthy Relationship with Your Teen/Young Adult Child

Later this week I will travel to spend time with Katie and her husband. We are all very excited. There was a time many years ago when I could not have imagined a fun visit like this. Most of you have read either here or in my book, Love No […]

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What I Told Your Daughter–How God Sees Her

Part 2—How God Sees You: Who You Really Are Monday we talked about the unique person God made you to be. Today we will talk about how God sees you and why that matters. First you need to know one thing about God. God loves you. 1 John 4:9, 10 […]

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What I Told Your Daughter

This past weekend I experienced a first. I spoke at a high school girls’ retreat. Yes, I have had teen girls in my audiences, but this was the first time teen girls were my primary audience. We had a ball! My heart’s desire was for these girls to know how […]

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One Lesson Your Kid Needs to Learn from You

  This morning’s news program showed a video of three men toppling over the rock formation called The Duck Bill on the coast of Oregon. My immediate thought was– What a lack of respect! The report went on to show to other similar acts of vandalism to nature. Two of […]

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Tips on Doing Life While Your Child is Making Decisions You Don’t Agree With

I often talk with parents, mostly moms, who are in a season of their children making decisions they don’t agree with. By the time a mom contacts me about her child, the child is making significantly poor decisions. I remember those days. The days turn into years. It seems they […]

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Simple Ways to be an Intentional Parent

  On my morning run I pass a house where often the dad, kids and their eleven-year-old yellow Labrador (I stopped to ask his age!) play on the driveway while they wait for the bus. Last year the kids rode their scooters around the driveway. Today the little girl was […]

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