This is Part 1 of a two-part series for those of us parents who just love to help our kids – but maybe just a bit too much. Read more
This is Part 1 of a two-part series for those of us parents who just love to help our kids – but maybe just a bit too much. Read more
With Mother’s Day coming up, and with my own sweet mom navigating a recent health scare, I’m especially reminded this year that having the love and support of a mom is a big deal – no matter how old we are. Read more
I recently shared a meal with someone who was getting more and more agitated as she described an issue she cares about. A LOT. It is an extremely important issue, and she is doing great things in working with it. But I also notice there’s a lot of tension in her mind and heart these days. It has impacted her relationships with people who love her but may disagree with her. She seems to have slipped from caring about an important issue to being trapped by it. And I hate to admit this, but as I looked at her that day, I (internally) got a bit judgy. The poor thing just needs to take a deep breath. But then something crazy happened: I felt like God gently challenged me: You do the exact same thing, you know. Read more
Here is a quick update on my personal health, our family, and my latest research project (note one BIG prayer request there!). Read more
Let’s be honest: Conversations (or blogs!) about sex can seem embarrassing or vulnerable. And yet, for married couples, our research has found that talking about sex clearly matters. In fact, in the largest nationally representative study ever conducted with married couples about sex – which grew into a book I coauthored with Dr. Michael Sytsma called Secrets of Sex & Marriage – we found that a full 73% of couples don’t talk about sex well, Mostly because it's too awkward or difficult. Read more
Money. Conflict. Those two words are paired a lot more often than most of us would like, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be that way! Let’s continue our case study of Amanda and Joseph and his infamous VR gaming set purchase that collided with her saving and timing goals. (If you didn’t catch Part 1, you’ll want to briefly read it to familiarize yourself with our case study.) Read more
This is a two-part series on how to view money as a source of connection instead of conflict. In Part 1, we’ll look at how to honor each other’s values and communicate with curiosity. Amanda, a young twenty-something woman I was talking to, was a saver. With her aim set on setting aside money to furnish her first apartment, manage her new car payment, and pay off student loans, let’s just say there wasn’t any room in her financial expectations... Read more
God wants us to have a sense of hope even if we don’t get the outcome we want! This is Hope with a capital H. It is God’s fuel for our lives, and it is available to you and me. I can almost hear the next question. How do I find that kind of hope? I searched scripture and science for answers to this question, and I’ve compiled what I found into my brand new 60-day devotional . Its pages combine Biblical wisdom and inspiration with practical, doable habits that cultivate Capital-H Hope – the kind that sustains us through hard times and in dark places. Here’s a sneak peek into three of the book’s ten hope-building habits. Read more
Hi friends! To adjust the lyrics from the old Rodgers & Hammerstein song, spring is bustin’ out all over –at least where I’m living in the South! Since the last What I’m Loving Lately was August of 2023, I’m in the mood to play hooky from the blog for a week and do something fun. Here are five things I’m loving lately, from #5 to #1. (And #1 is a doozy!!) Read more
What I discovered is what I hope you do, too: that contentment is available to our families no matter what stage of parenting we’re in and what is on our calendar. Here are some practical tips to recapture the lost art of just doing nothing. Read more
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