Happy New Year!!!! And also: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to this BLOG! We just turned TEN, and that makes me a feel a little like... A LOT has happened in ten years! A lot of hard work...a few years wondering what the heck I was doing/where I was going...(nearly quitting)...Some highs, some lows, and more hard work. But also tons of blessings and fun along the way. Now, if I had more forethought...time/energy, I might have put together something really special for the occasion.
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Fall Coffee Date, 2020 Edition.
Aloha Friends! It feels like it's been a very long time since my last Coffee Date Post (or any regular post at all...😳) But someone tell me: Do people actually read blog posts any more? Hello? Anyone out there?... Oh hi! I see you! Yay. Glad you're here! So...ready for coffee? Of course, we have to start off by acknowledging that coffee dates in 2020 are not exactly the same as they used to be. At least in Hawaii, there are no coffee shops with
Family Favorite Pad Thai
Dave and I have always had a weakness for eating out. We love date nights, and splurge more than we should on good food. We have many fun family memories of eating out at simple (family-friendly) restaurants with the kids too -- especially back when they could just eat a bit off our plates or split a burrito between two of them. While I remember often leaving a restaurant asking myself, "Why did we try that again?" I am glad for the memories we have at our local Mexican spot,
7 Attitudes that Will Sabotage Your Marriage, and 7 to Replace Them.
Aloha Friends. 2020 has stretched most of us in many ways, and marriages are no exception. I've seen this post from a few years ago popping up on social media a lot this summer, and I think that's a good sign that people are seeking some help and support, which is so much better than staying in a bad place, right? 😊 I hope this post is an encouragement to you, and perhaps you can share it with your own community using the social media buttons. Keep pressing on...In
Kids and Porn: A Guest Post, a Great Resource, and a Wake-Up Call.
Hey Friends! I'm back with another summer NOBP (new-old-blog-post.) Today I am sharing a post from a full FIVE years ago, but I am more passionate about this topic now than ever. ESPECIALLY while our kids are spending more time at home...on devices. I've heard from too many moms this summer who discovered that their kids (one was 10 years old, another 15...) were looking at porn. 😢 Please read this. Please share it. Please get your hands on the books
9 Recipes To Finish Your Summer Well
Try these favorite recipes before summer is over! Hey friends...I'm sharing a special summer NOBP (new-old-blog-post) that brings back all kinds of delicious memories. If you're needing a little extra inspo in the kitchen these days (and who isn't?) then this post is for you! Hope you enjoy- ----------------------------------------------------------- Well my personal summer is about to come to a sudden, painful, emotional, (insert all of the dramatic adjectives here)
3 Character Qualities that Set Your Kids up for Success
Character Qualities to help your kids succeed in all areas of life. Like most well-intentioned parents, Dave and I have high hopes for our boys. We want our sons to grow up to be good men, productive, stable, and successful. So we teach them to work hard, excel in what they do, and to never give up. In school we want straight A's, and in sports, well, spend any time with us and your likely to hear a few rounds of "Go big or go home!" (My husband and I have
How Fifteen Minutes could Save your Relationship with Your Teen
The 15 minutes that can make a big difference in your relationship with your teenager. Today I am sharing one more favorite post from the archives...If you missed this one, I hope it inspires you to parent with thoughtfulness this week. If you've read it before, then perhaps it's a healthy reminder. ***** This weekend something came up...once again...with one of our sons. It was an incident related to the way he treats one of his brothers, and honestly--we've all
