Recent Posts

Friday Favorites {Uniqueness, Finding Time and Child Training}

Some favorite things around the web this week: The Dangerous Pit of Uniqueness. How easily our minds can spiral into self pity when we begin to think that nobody can understand our situation because it’s so complex and special. Actually, God’s word has promised us 

Limitations Make Children Creative.

I am a firm believer in limiting a child’s screen time. Why? Because nature walks, exploring and reading an old fashioned book will never “out glamour” electronics to a child. How can you blame them, given the choice? Flashing, dancing lights or a leaf on 

Living An Artful Life: Figuring Out What is Really Big and What is Small

Does life make you a little crazy? Are you over stressed and pre-occupied? Me too, sometimes. That is precisely when I need to intentionally surround myself with beauty. When my children were very young, and I was stressed out, {ahem, often!} my husband would watch 

Five Things My Daughter Needs to Know Before She Leaves for College This Weekend

My sweet daughter Emily is leaving for college this weekend and I’ve had these crazy “mother thoughts” about her leaving. (Will she eat balanced meals? Will the other kids treat her well? Will she recognize shady men and get away from them, because who wants 

A Post in Which I Sound Old and Ask for Your Input

Peter and I were recently discussing the seeming lack of pursuing personal excellence in the culture around us. Kids who don’t really care about how they look or how they are perceived. And a seeming indifference to the people around them. {I know kids care 

Dear Disillusioned Christian Girl,

Dear Disillusioned Christian Girl, I can see it in your eyes even though you force a smile trying to be cheerful, but look a little hollow. I see your disillusionment. You are the good girl. The rule follower. The one who everyone expects great things 

Answers to Child Raising Questions

Can you raise godly kids in this generation? The answer is yes and no. Yes, we can influence our kids towards godliness, but only the Holy Spirit in a child’s life can move them towards godliness. I  know that I am helpless to “change” any of 

A Wise Woman Guards her Mind

My posts have been few and far between this summer, and I thought it would be fun to do a short “Wise Woman” study because wisdom benefits all of us and is worthy pursuit. “Above all, get wisdom.” First up, our minds. Women are emotional, 

If Christ Were A School Teacher

{The Winner of the Touching the Hem Book Giveaway is Jill’s Joyful Noise! Please email me your address at joyfilledmama@gmail.com and we’ll get that mailed out to you! Congrats!}   Have you ever thought what it would be like to attend a school taught by 

Weekend Edition

  What’s new in my house? Why has this blog been so quiet? Well, SUMMER. 🙂 My days look like: looking for summer jobs for kids, searching for college scholarships, entertaining friends, grilling out, beach days, reading aloud at night, getting ready for Vacation Bible