A week ago we were in a group sharing some of what is going on in our lives. Dennis and I were amazed at the difficulties others were dealing with from chronic pain to a prodigal child and aging parents to marriage struggles. Afterward we said to each other something about how grateful we are […]
Read MoreI want to introduce you to a friend. Janel and her husband and their four kids moved to Africa a year ago as missionaries. She is a very good writer and has helped me significantly with projects like What God Wants for Christmas and the new Messiah Mystery, a family Lent experience coming in January […]
Read MoreMy mom asked me to share a few thoughts on the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in addition to her own found on the Mom Life Today blog. You can go here to read her thoughts. I am 27 and work at a school. I imagine that the thoughts and expectations I went to work with […]
Read MoreThe word peace is central to our Christmas messaging on cards, in carols, displayed on ornaments and stocking holders. But it is rarely experienced in the month of December as my son, Samuel, explained in this post he wrote this week. He said it so well that I wanted to share it with you. You […]
Read MoreWhen I was a child, and even as a young adult, I promised myself I’d never reduce the centerpiece of our Christmas celebration, the ceiling scraping evergreen tree, to a miniature fake tabletop version like my great-aunts and grandparents did. Real life has a way of educating like none other. Now I understand that hauling […]
Read MoreFor almost three decades Dennis and I and the kids celebrated Christmas with an annual hunt for the very finest freshly cut Christmas tree. The smell of evergreen was essential. Unquestioned. Then in 2007 we remodeled our living room and kitchen area and traditional decorating was impossible within our gutted living spaces. So I bought […]
Read MoreAfter eleven months of hiding in our little storage shed, affectionately known as “the Cottage,” our collection of Christmas storage bins finally saw daylight as Dennis and I carried them up the hill and up the back steps and into the house. Taking off the lids always reveals various surprises when I find ornaments I’d […]
Read MoreI have to tell you about a photo shoot we at Ever Thine Home did in early October at my house with our new products. I should have taken some random action shots but Carrie and I were working so hard to maximize every minute with our great photographer, Stacey, that it never occurred to […]
Read MoreChristmas has become big business. I used to complain about it, wishing it would change, but I’ve surrendered. An old saying goes, “if you can’t beat them, join them,” and so I have! My greatest desire is to return the celebration of Jesus’ birth to Christmas. I’m weary of seeing Christmas trees adorned with literally […]
Read More1. Create a paper chain to countdown to Thanksgiving. As the links are daily removed, kids can write something new for which they’re thankful. Keep the slips in a jar, and have them read random selections at Thanksgiving dinner. 2. Craft thank-you cards together to send to meaningful people in their lives. Use a 3-D […]
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