Balance
What is Happening to the Book Industry?
Everywhere one turns these days, people are bemoaning the state of the book publishing industry. Even non-book people can be heard citing news reports of the downturn in sales for publishers and book stores. Downsizing, low sales, bankruptcy, returns, closures of independent mainstream and Christian bookstores–all bad news. And then one of the worst reports arrived in…
Writing Thanks
Maybe it’s a lost art. Maybe folks are too busy. But I wonder if the reason so many don’t write a simple thank you note is because we’ve forgotten something important. Being thankful. So here’s a short holiday challenge… Think of five people who’ve done something to encourage you this year. Got that list? Now here’s…
Giving Back
Butchering chickens, wildcrafting, soap making, pressure canning, making herbal tinctures and supertonics–I’m fascinated by these basic survival skills, but primarily, I’m a homeschooling mom who loves to write. Meaning, I’m busy already and have plenty to learn! But to learn, one needs a teacher. Books and online resources can be excellent initiators to a subject,…
Praying the ABC’s
My daughter has been learning the sounds for the alphabet and how to write her letters in preschool. The ABC song is now the song of choice in our car every morning. We pray every morning on the way to school too. Recently she said, “Mommy, let’s pray our ABC’s this morning.” Not a bad…
Fireproof Interviews!
During ICRS, I had the privilege of attending the Fireproof screening and dinner with Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea and many of the people who worked on the movie. It’s so hard to put the experience into words. The evening was filled with awe of what God could do with a church with a desire to…
Man-World
My son got into a tussle with a bully in the hockey dressing room this week. The kid had picked on one of the smaller boys, and Grayson had had enough. He stood up and gave him a taste of his own medicine. “See how you like it,” he told the tough guy. News of…
Only 24 Hours in My Day
Idyllic perfectly describes our summer. Plenty of time to hang out together, garden, entertain, plan camping trips with friends. I have to admit, one of the biggest perks of summer, to me, is just plain “time” out. Time to keep the house clean, for instance. Then another school year begins. The alarm clock moves back…
A bad case of CAS (Cleaning Avoidance Syndrome)
Sometimes I wonder if only writers think this way. I can’t get the a scene in the Wizard of Oz out of my mind. Remember when Dorothy is walking through the woods with her entourage and chanting… “Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!” That’s how I feel about venturing into my teenager’s bathroom these…
Organized Kids: Five Habits to Cultivate
Get summer off to a great start by helping your kids cultivate some clutter-busting habits. You might learn something too! 1. Teach kids that less is more. The less stuff you have, the easier it is to keep things organized. Encourage kids to ask themselves why they are keeping toys that are broken, missing pieces…
Excuse Me if I Wax
I’ve been waxing philosophical lately. I’m thinking deep thoughts of intellectual and spiritual enlightenment, reflecting on eternal truths and life lessons. It’s the kind of thing that happens when you reach a major milestone in life. You see that mile marker coming toward you and suddenly you want to turn around and look back at…