It happens every year around this time- the Christmas season burnout. I start off bubbling over with joy and intent on focusing on the Nativity, right after putting up the tree and all the decorations. I'm on top of making each day of Advent meaningful. I execute crafts and lessons that center around Jesus' birth. As it draws closer to Christmas, however, I start fearing I won't get to everything on my checklist. My mind races as I mentally plan out how I can cram all of those special activities and memories with my children in the days left until December 25. Then I get stressed, doing the very things that were supposed to help me focus on the true meaning of this holiday. My natural inclination is to do more, when in fact I ... Read More...
What The Christmas Story Reveals About The Family
An unmarried, teenaged girl. A poor carpenter pledged to be her husband. Two of the most unlikely people chosen to birth and be responsible for the upbringing of the Savior. Even though we know how the Christmas Story unfolds, we still marvel each year at what seems to be so unexpected. We say, as the song goes, that it was "such a strange way to save the world." But is it really that unexpected? All throughout the Old Testament, we are told of God's plan of salvation beginning with the promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:5. From his line of descendants (as numerous as the stars) was to come the long awaited Messiah. The Gospel of Matthew starts out with the genealogy of Jesus, revealing Christ's family tree. It strikes me ... Read More...
Hey Mama, Your Child is Your Neighbor
I witness a trend taking place almost every day. During the first week of school, I saw several moms posting how happy they were that their kids were going back because they drove them crazy over the summer. There were pictures taken in the drop off line with comments about how convenient it was not to have to actually walk their children into the building. It's trendy now to wear shirts with cute print on them expressing just how much your kids get on your nerves. I've even heard the phrase "to get away from your kids" tacked onto recommendations for vacation spots. Really? Why can't we just say it was a fun time in the sun and leave it at that? That annoyed, irritated tone which conveys to a child that they are an interruption and ... Read More...
3 Ways To Intentionally Disciple Your Children
We are currently studying American History in our homeschool, and recently finished a unit on the Puritans (or Pilgrims). It was inspiring to learn about how their faith gave them the vision and courage to make that journey to America and then continue to persevere in the new world despite suffering many hardships. During one of our lessons my nine-year-old piped up, "It's like God was their life theme". Yes, it was pretty much exactly like that. For the Puritans, there really was no separation between the spiritual and the secular. They taught their children how to read for the express purpose of reading and understanding the Bible. Their schools included religious teaching in everything from the alphabet to arithmetic. The intent ... Read More...
Dear Mom Burdened With Endless Needs
As I folded the weekly mountain of laundry the other day, my son sat on a chair next to the bed and read his Bible chapter out loud. Among socks, shirts, and underwear, I was transported to the story in Numbers 11 where the Israelites are complaining about only ever getting manna to eat in the wilderness. And Moses had had it up to here with their whining. He began crying out to the Lord, claiming how unfair it was of God to burden him with all their needs. Hmmm, sound familiar? "Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth?" he asks. When my kiddo got to the part where Moses said, "If this is how you're going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me," he burst out laughing. In its context it was a rather hilarious statement. ... Read More...
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