Tag: intentional family
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Ash Wednesday journal
Celebrating the first day of Lent today (as an evangelical Christian) by making sourdough soft pretzels with the kids; I put ashes from our fireplace on their foreheads, and mine, and we talked about coming from and returning to dust, our need for a Savior, and what fasting means. “Does putting ashes on our foreheads…
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My positive home birth after multiple cesarean birth story
I want to share my birth story to normalize VBAC (yes, even after 3 c-sections!), home birth and unmedicated birth, and so others can gain confidence in their own ability to birth naturally. Yes, there are risks to VBAC and HBAC (just like there are risks to repeat c-sections), and yes, birth is most often…
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Physiological birth
Birth without: Needles, scalpels, sterile metal tables. Bright lights, beeping machines, constant monitors. Restriction of food and water, restriction of movement. Strangers checking progress, changing shifts, unspoken time limits. Numbness, narcotics, dullness. Fear of failure, fear of risks, fear of something going wrong. Birth with: Peaceful spaces, dim lights, maybe music, maybe silence. Encouragment to…
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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord
We went to the high school graduation last week, and for the first time ever I was interested in hearing what the speakers had to say. Guess I’m old now. Most of the speeches I did consider to be fairly boring (so maybe I’m not that old), but some were intriguing. A couple truly inspired…
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The secret modern war on “be fruitful and multiply”
Sometimes a system or culture looks “normal” because it’s been slowly adding and accepting things- harmful things- over a long time so that society hardly notices. But taking a step back we can see there is an absolute war on God’s design for people to “be fruitful and multiply”. Obviously there’s a lot of nuance…
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The most unexpected big goal you can have this year
“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11 When there are unspeakable injustices or conspiracies, when anxiety starts to rage within me over things that are completely out of my control and out of my understanding, things “out there” that I learn…
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Questions and topics for family New Year meeting
The beginning of a new year is such a wonderful time for reflection and resolution. There seem to be lots of opinions about New Year’s resolutions; I’ve heard that they’re essentially useless, that habits rather than goals are far superior, that winter isn’t a time for goals but for stillness. But opinions aside, New Year’s…
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When life hands you lemons, take a Christmas-light drive
We were just getting home from a family Christmas party, tired, ready for bed. But when we opened the door of the house we were hit by a smell. You know me, I smell everything, but everyone smelled it this time. An obviously toxic smell, like that purple primer you use for PVC pipe. We…
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Are you “in tune”?
Yesterday we had our piano tuned. I should back up- I’ve dreamed of having a piano for years but always thought of it as maybe a “someday” thing; well, recently someone Justin knows from work just gave us a piano. Just said, “if you can move it, you can have it” (by the way, moving…
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Each season is precious
This time around with a baby, I’ve been so aware, much more than ever before, of how each stage goes by so quickly. It’s so cliche- “it goes so fast”, “blink and you’ll miss it”- but seriously! Most of us realize it, but it’s still surprising, almost shocking. This little chubby infant is already almost…
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Stop squashing kids’ joy
“Settle down please”, I interrupted my conversation with an older couple, Ernie and Diane, at church to quiet my children. The kids’ volume and activity had been gradually escalating over the last few minutes; they were in good moods- happy, not fighting or anything- but I wanted to prevent a just-for-fun wrestling match or scream-filled…
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Tips for a simple, intentional, connecting bedtime routine with kids
When days seem to run together into one- when they feel exhaustingly long or way too short- bedtime routines can be grounding, connecting, collecting breaks to help end the days on high notes. We’ve made slight tweaks to our family’s bedtime routine over the years, but for the most part it has remained a constant…
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How to not be a fool
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise” Ephesians 5:15 One nice thing about living in New Mexico is that you’re always near nature. We can visit lakes, rivers, forests, or mountains in a 10-30 minute drive from where we are. Earlier this week, the kids got an urge to climb…
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September day journal and God’s provision
I’m sitting on the couch with my nourishing cocoa (raw milk, raw cacao, raw honey), watching, listening to, and smelling the rain come down. It’s so kind of God to give rain. Justin’s been working all day on the plumbing under the house, and it was so difficult and gross. When I saw clouds I…
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Don’t let labels be excuses
Labels can be so helpful. They can identify important aspects of our personalities and callings, making it easier to prioritize what’s important. Being an “intentional parent” will determine many decisions for how one spends their time. Being a “disciple of Jesus” will change the course of a person’s life. Even a label as simple as…
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A prayer to fight selfishness
I know selfishness is wrong, but something we often fail to realize is that it doesn’t pay. The lie it tells is that it will serve somehow, give something good. But, though not necessarily seen immediately, “you reap what you sow”. Selfishness with friends/relatives repays with… Gossip? Loss of opportunities? Lack of closeness? Selfishness with…
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Journal- unexpected hospitalization & false accusation
Part 1 Wednesday evening I sat on the porch with Willa on my lap, watching the kids ride bikes and bat baseballs. I combed my fingers through Willa’s curls to peel off some remaining cradle cap I noticed, and I felt something. A bump? Not quite. More like a soft spot, but I know what…
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The joy of selflessness, and the line between generosity and overextension
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 “How can I be a blessing to you today, dear girl?” was how Kim, our pastor’s wife, answered…
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Fun Non-Competitive Games to Play as a Family
I’ve been surprised to find that cooperative games are just as fun as competitive ones for our family to play together! Cooperative games build creative problem solving and communication skills while also teaching kindness, respect, and a sense of security and unity in your family. Like the closeness and dependence that’s formed among members playing…
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Stop telling kids “don’t” (and do this instead!)
“Don’t stomp, it’s too loud!” I whisper-shout to my three-year old, knowing the thumping will likely wake the baby I just eased into bed for a nap. My jumping toddler pauses for a split second, then does one big stomp and looks at me. Frustration, anger and confusion rise up in me at this show…
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Two Simple Daily Rhythms For Connection and Reflection
Having little routines and rituals as a family is so important for connection and attachment. These little things we may count as “too small to be important” but we don’t realize the deeper impact they’re actually having on us and our children- things like the greetings we give each other in the morning with a…
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2 Life-Changing Weekly Routines For Your Family
Habits, routines, traditions- they’re deeply formative. There’s a saying: “show me your habits, and I’ll show you your future”. The things we do regularly shape us. They also determine what we’re not doing regularly, which also determines the direction we’re going and thus our future. -If I’m regularly eating real food instead of processed junk,…
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71 Simple Family Advent Activities!
Advent is such a special season- looking forward to the birth of our Savior with joyful expectation and anticipation! It’s a wonderful time to slow down, focus on God and His Word- particularly the birth of Jesus, and have fun together as a family in the days leading up to Christmas. Wanting to make the…