Ashley Willis - Encouragement for those in the trenches of motherhood and marriage.

For the MAMA Who is Having a ROUGH DAY

September 17, 2018 By Ashley Willis

Sweet Mama, are you having a rough day? If we are all being honest, every single mother out there would admit that she’s had her share of rough days where she feels defeated and depleted. You are not alone, friend. Maybe the day got off to a rocky start and you lost your temper on your kiddos. Maybe your kids haven’t been listening well all day, and you’ve had just enough of the angst-filled attitudes. Maybe you are just simply… Read more

When Making “Mom Friends” Feels Like Middle School All Over Again

September 10, 2018 By Ashley Willis

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After moving halfway across the country this summer, I am reminded of the great importance that friendship plays in our lives–especially as mothers. We desperately need women in our life that we can relate to and people who embrace us just as we are. I have moved before, and I know that true friendships take time to develop. But, I think I forgot how awkward this can be. I honestly feel like I’m in middle school all over again in… Read more

The Ongoing Parental Debate: What freedoms/responsibilities are age-appropriate for our kids?

August 28, 2018 By Ashley Willis

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I was watching Today one morning, and one story in particular caught my attention. Apparently, a mom in the Chicago area was surprised to find police officers and child services at her front door all due to the fact that she allowed her eight year-old daughter walk their dog around the neighborhood all by herself. A concerned neighbor had called the police and alerted child services because she believed the child was too young and could be in danger. As a… Read more

Are you expecting your spouse to be a MIND-READER? Here are the signs…

February 21, 2018 By Ashley Willis

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When Dave and I got married, I made a really silly assumption. I honestly assumed that the longer we were married, the less words we’d have to share. We would just know what the other was going to say before he/she ever said it. We would be so in sync that glances and body language would just say it all. We would pretty much be able to read each other’s minds. Over the years, I’ve realized that this is a… Read more

Why Modern Love Won’t Make Your Marriage Last, but THIS Will…

February 13, 2018 By Ashley Willis

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The world defines love as a feeling and something we fall in and out of, which means we can lose the love that someone has already given us. This is especially disheartening when it comes to marriage. If love is just a fickle feeling, then how in the world can any of us stay married for life? The truth is, we can’t…if THAT’S love. But, don’t worry. This is GOOD NEWS… Click CONTINUE for more on this. (more…) Read more

Your Spouse CANNOT Make You Whole, and Here’s Why

February 1, 2018 By Ashley Willis

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Many of us are familiar with the iconic line “You complete me” from the famous movie Jerry Maguire. I loved watching the tear-filled scene as Tom Cruise’s character, Jerry, professed his undying need to be made whole by Renee Zellweger’s character, Dorothy. It seemed to make perfect sense…two halves becoming one whole. But, it’s not at all how marriage is described in the Bible. (more…) Read more

The One Thing Your Marriage and Family Can’t Live Without

January 30, 2018 By Ashley Willis

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Life – as beautiful and amazing as it is – can be exhausting. In an effort to stay ahead, or simply keep up, we push and push and push ourselves to achieve. And, then sometimes, the only thing we have to show for it is our worn-out, shell-like self crying out for stillness. So, what’s missing? (more…) Read more

15 (Funny, yet Serious) Warning Signs that Mom Desperately Needs a Break

January 26, 2018 By Ashley Willis

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Being a mom is an amazing, but it takes nearly every ounce of our being–emotionally, physically, and mentally. And, we often find ourselves taking care of everyone else EXCEPT ourselves. It is a tremendous blessing that is both exhausting and rewarding. Motherhood is a job where the to-do list is endless…BUT moms need breaks too. With a two year-old at home, two kids in elementary school, and one in middle school, I sometimes feel like I get to the end… Read more

12 Signs that Your Marriage Needs Attention

January 20, 2018 By Ashley Willis

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GUEST BLOG by Debra Fileta The dangerous rift between two people in a marriage doesn’t happen overnight. Just like anything significant, marriage takes time to build – and it also takes time to tear down. But sometimes, we begin to slide away from one another without our realizing that the rift is happening. Like the slow dripping of a leaky faucet, we get so accustomed to the pattern of the noise that we don’t even realize that something is broken. Something… Read more

7 Important BOUNDARIES that Every Marriage Needs

January 17, 2018 By Ashley Willis

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I don’t know a whole lot about sports, but I do know that certain plays in a game aren’t “good” if the player goes out of bounds. In baseball, your pitch isn’t considered good unless it is right over the plate. In a football game, you can’t score a field goal unless the football goes directly through the uprights. Staying within the boundary lines is extremely important in order for a team to score or better yet win the game…. Read more