Did you know Valentine’s Day is right around the corner? Oh, right, you probably do, given the constant barrage of guilt-inducing, wallet-breaking, comparison making advertisements that are absolutely everywhere you turn. My hubbie knows too, but he won’t be getting me anything for this red letter holiday. I know it’s possible when you just […]
Patterns of Love in Your Marriage
January 12, 2015 By 1 Comment
When colors, shapes, and sounds come together, delightful patterns can be formed. You encounter them everywhere: in the clothes you wear, the furnishings you buy, the music you hear. While some patterns are easy to spot, some are much more subtle. Patterns of love tend to be this less obvious type, since they develop […]
Laying the groundwork for a stronger family
January 1, 2015 By 2 Comments
Making the decision to move 1,000 miles away from the deep roots you’ve put down over the course of your life is not an easy one. I speak from experience, as it took my husband and I years to finally decide to move from the cold northeast to the mild climate of Tennessee. Now that […]
You are NOT the target
July 16, 2014 By 4 Comments
Wouldn’t it be great if cranky, grumpy, hot-tempered people took an extended, nay, permanent, vacation far, far, away? Ahhh, such a sweet dream. In the real world, though, there are crabby people who will launch their slings and arrows your way with hardly a thought. You get to choose how to respond, and I […]
Saturday Sips: Encourage the dreamers
July 12, 2014 By 1 Comment
I recently wrote about giving your children the freedom to dream and shared an interview I had done with a young man who wished to become a Navy SEAL. Being a parent of any child is difficult, especially when they choose a goal that is challenging, takes a great deal of courage, and […]
Great expectations create happier marriages
May 23, 2014 By
If you have hung around here for any length of time, you know I am an optimist. Yes, I struggle with being discouraged, annoyed, and even angry sometimes when things aren’t working out as I had expected. However, I remain overall, a believer in expecting the best. You could say that in my world, […]
Saturday Sips: Sending Joy via Postagram
May 3, 2014 By 5 Comments
Hang on to your hats, friends: I finally moved up from my five year old flip phone to an iPhone. Yippeee! As one of my brothers said, “Welcome to 2005!” 😉 I have already begun to populate my phone with different apps: Wunderground (weather), Camera+ (improved photography capabilities), Candy Crush *she admits with […]
How to choose a Mother’s Day gift that hits the heart
April 28, 2014 By 1 Comment
A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to […]
Saturday Sips: You are a storyteller!
March 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment
You are a storyteller. Yes, you are. Let’s get that right out there, and no sassing back. We all have stories to share about our lives. As someone once said, “Our most treasured family heirlooms are our sweet family memories.” When my niece Amanda was little, she would ask for family stories. She adored […]
Are you a listener or a fixer?
February 24, 2014 By
Admit it: You love it when folks listen to you, especially when it is your husband. There is almost a sexiness about it when his eyes are looking into yours, and his attention is fully focused what you have to say. But what about when you feel you are not being heard? Stephen […]
