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There’s Something Special About Farm Kids
I’ve said it time and time again—there’s something special about farm kids. They truly are a breed of their own. And if there’s one week that proves it, it’s fair week. Fair week is a time when farm kids come together and live in a world that feels entirely their own. At the county fair, you’ll see them up early, wearing boots and shorts, caring for their animals. They make sure the animals have food, water, and a clean place to rest. They walk them for exercise and prep them for their upcoming shows. Some kids are laser-focused—locked in, maybe a little frantic—as they get ready to enter the show…
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School Lunch Ideas for Busy Families
I don’t know about you, but I run out of ideas for my kids’ lunches—especially ones they’ll actually eat without wasting food. I also don’t want them getting tired of the same old thing every day. With school starting soon, I thought I’d share my Pinterest board full of school lunch ideas. These are quick, easy, and inexpensive options that your kids will (hopefully!) love. Along with ideas from the board, I also send leftovers with my kids. Our cafeteria has microwaves, so it’s super easy for them to reheat food. If your school doesn’t have microwaves, I’ve got a tip for you… Some time ago, I found metal thermoses…
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Why Coffee Dates with Friends Matter -Even if You Don’t Drink Coffee
One way I’ve been able to reconnect with friends is through coffee dates. I don’t even drink coffee! But we’ll head over to our favorite local coffee shop, grab a tea or smoothie, and sit there and chat—catching up on life. I do this with one friend as often as I can, which seems to be about once a year now. We sit and talk about anything and everything. One time, we even sat by the window watching people try to parallel park. It was just as fun as you’d think—especially with our commentary! It’s such a peaceful environment to connect. Today, I met up with four friends I used…
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Have the Playdate
In our Wednesday night women’s group at church, someone fairly new asked if we had mom cliques—like a group of working moms who were ignored by the stay-at-home moms, and vice versa. We were astonished by this little factoid. Back then, I would host playdates and invite everyone with kids around the same age. One year, we had twenty-five kids here, along with five to seven moms. It wasn’t anything fancy. We just let the kids run wild—splashing in little pools, digging in the sand, and swinging. They always had a blast. They ended up muddy, dirty, and needing to be hosed down from head to toe—probably dunked in a…
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A Heart To Serve: Where My Journey Began
I didn’t always have a heart to serve others. In fact, anxiety often made it hard to look beyond my own needs. But thanks to the steady example of my husband, I’ve learned that serving others is part of who I am—and who I’m called to be as a follower of Jesus. Christian Service Doesn’t Have to Be Grand Serving others doesn’t always mean doing something big or public. Sometimes it’s the small, quiet things that make the biggest difference. At our church, we use a Meal Train to support families who’ve had a baby, surgery, or other life event. I sign up the moment I see it. Bringing a…
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We Don’t Do Sleepovers
In our family, we don’t do sleepovers with just anyone. It’s not you—it’s us. I have trust issues when it comes to others being responsible for my precious babies. The invitation to stay the night is appreciated, but if I don’t know you, I don’t trust you. Trust takes time—especially when it involves my children. I’ve seen too much in my career, read too many heartbreaking stories, and watched too many crime shows to casually say, “Sure, you can have my child overnight while she’s sleeping and at her most vulnerable.” No way. Even if your intentions are pure and the situation is completely innocent, I still have the responsibility,…
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Friend Break-Ups
It’s okay if we’re not friends anymore—but just know, I’m still here when you need me. Maybe nothing happened. Maybe we’re just in different seasons of life. Maybe our kids are in different extracurriculars now. Maybe there was a moment—an awkward interaction or something between the kids—and it left you annoyed. Whatever the reason, good or bad: I’ll still be there. You need me to pray for you? I’m on it. You need my brutally honest, ill-filtered opinion? You got it. You need someone to keep your kids—whether it’s an emergency or not? I’ve got you covered. See, we may not talk anymore. We might just be acquaintances now. But…
