Striving for Better Mornings

Last night I offered up some encouragement and ideas for ways that single parent families can make evenings more relaxing. While I was writing, I also mentioned that mornings can be an incredibly rough and stressful time—we are trying to get everyone up, fed, and out the door and for many of our families, this can be one of the toughest times of the day when it comes to organization. I thought we could brainstorm some ideas to make mornings go more smoothly in a single parent household too… Many of us have already figured out that if we get … Continue reading

The Sunday Bulletin

Every Sunday morning we are usually in such a rush to get to church that by the time we arrive, songs have already broken out and I don’t take the opportunity to read my bulletin. Sometimes my bulletin serves as a coaster for my tea and becomes an object for sermon notes and, I admit, doodling. Since our pastor usually makes announcements of upcoming events from the pulpit, I typically don’t think to look through the bulletin since our church also has a website should I become forgetful about a specific event date. When visiting a church for the first … Continue reading

What Do You Do on Sunday Afternoons?

Sunday afternoons are one of my favorite times during the week. Do I go somewhere exciting? Do I enjoy my favorite hobbies or sports? Not really. Sunday afternoons are for rigorously structured laziness. Our family doesn’t make plans, we don’t take trips, we use them instead, for rest and relaxation. In a society that sees church attendance as less and less of a priority, Sundays have become simply another Saturday. People go to the malls, meet with friends, work on their houses, go to parties and stay out late. In our family, Sundays are a day in which we avoid … Continue reading

How to Handle Those Crazy Sunday Mornings

I’m not sure what it is about Sunday mornings that makes them so crazy. Any other day of the week I can have my kids clean, fed, dressed and ready to go by 8:30 AM. However, when Sunday morning rolls around getting out the door by 9:10 AM seems like an impossible feat. Caleb is looking for his shoe, my husband and I are hunting down all of our Sunday school materials and the breakfast dishes are laying dirty on the table. Maybe it’s because my husband is home and so I spend more time with him, maybe it’s just … Continue reading

Provoke Someone Today!

Did you know that the Bible instructs us to provoke each other? We are to provoke each other to love, that is. Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works.” What do you normally think of when you hear the word “provoke”? I usually picture an argument I have had with another person. There comes a point in a given argument when I make a decision: Do I let the conversation drop and walk away from it, or do I say something to further make my case and incense the other … Continue reading

10 Advantages to Being Part of a Small Church

Here are ten great advantages to being a part of a small church: 1. Personal relationship with the Pastor. Many times in very large churches you don’t have the opportunity to get to know your pastor or pastors as individuals. They often appear on the platform and perhaps at the door on your way out. Conversely, in a small church you have the opportunity to get to know your pastor. You can get together for meals and share your burdens one on one with the Shepherd of your church. 2. More opportunities for service. In a small church, there are … Continue reading

My Daughter Has a Toilet Seat Around Her Head, Should I Be Concerned?

So, I was standing at the sink up to my elbows in dishwater mentally congratulating myself on all of my housekeeping and mothering achievements. It was mid-morning, the house was reasonably clean, the bills were already paid and in the mailbox and my two small children were happily playing independently in the living room. “Yes”, I thought, “I’m on top of everything today. Maybe I’ll even get to read a book during naptime,” I mused. My fanciful illusions were abruptly shattered as I heard a squeal and turned to see my twelve-month-old daughter, Evelyn, coming out of the bathroom with … Continue reading

10 Advantages to Being Part of a Large Church

There are many wonderful advantages to being part of a large church, here are ten: 1. Programs for all ages. A wonderful advantage to a large church is that there are programs for every age group. From the nursery to the youth group to the senior saints, every person has a class that fits them individually. 2. Others with like interests. In a larger church you can find families that are in your situation. Whether you are adoptive parents, childless or a single parent, finding people with which you can relate comes easier than in a smaller church. 3. High … Continue reading

A Child’s Prayer Blooper

Wednesday night at our church is a time of Bible study and prayer. After we spend about twenty minutes in Bible study, the service is opened up to the congregation. People who have needs for prayer will share them with the rest of the church during this time. If someone has a need, but does not want to specify the nature of it, they will say only that they have an “unspoken” prayer request. After we get all of the prayer requests, we pray together either as a church, as families, or with prayer partners. On one such evening my … Continue reading

“You’re Not Still Nursing Her, Are You?”

Immediately after church last week a dear older woman walked up to me and said, “You’re not still nursing her, are you?” Her tone was full of accusation and condemnation and her opinion was clear: If I was still putting my fourteen-month-old daughter to breast, I was completely deranged and likely damaging my daughter as well. As a breastfeeding advocate, I should have confidently replied, “Yes, and I’m proud of it because it’s the best thing for my baby.” Instead, I found myself completely defensive. I actually felt as though nursing my daughter at her age might be wrong. I … Continue reading