Recently, my husband and I were running some errands in downtown Honolulu. It was just the two of us, and we were enjoying a little time away from our rowdy boys. But we were both distracted: Dave was getting many calls from the hospital, and thinking about the work waiting for him there…I was going over my mental to-do list, and calculating where and when I needed to pick up our boys.Suddenly, just as we neared a corner where we waited to cross the street, the scene brought me back in
Encouragement and faith
Five Ways to Avoid Mother’s Day Disappointment
5 Tips for avoiding Mother's Day Disappointment Aloha Friends! So...I was not planning to publish this post again this year. Since I wrote it a couple of years ago, and shared it again last year, I thought I'd take a year off. :) But the Today Show Site just published it on their Parenting page, and I had a number of readers tell me they hadn't seen it before...So, I thought I better share it... It has been one of my most read and shared posts (top 10 at least), and it is truly
Tahiti: 4 take-home lessons from the Friendliest people on earth.
Though I've been working on this post a little at a time since Luke and I returned from Tahiti (nearly 2 weeks ago!) I realize it's coming out just in time for Easter weekend. That seems impossible since it was New Years like, last week, (right!?) but I guess the calendar doesn't lie. With that, let me begin by wishing you a Very Happy Easter! I hope you have a sweet and meaningful weekend. (Easter is my favorite holiday and I wish I were dedicating an entire post to it, but my little book
Something New for Praying Moms
On any given day, there's a lot we can worry about as moms. My boys do some crazy things: They surf powerful waves, jump off big rocks, and dive deep caves. Of even more concern to me though is the heart issues that all kids must go through to grow up: Identity issues, relationships, academic stress, questions about their own faith, and so much more.As moms, we carry a heavy burden, don't we?Like many of you, I am a total believer in the power of prayer. Prayer is my greatest
7 Books to Encourage you (and your Family) Now
A list of books to encourage your family now (Psst: A special book giveaway at the end!!) When it comes to reading great books, most women I know (including me!!) only wish they had more time. I have some blurry memories of days curled up with a great novel; days when I couldn't put the book down it was so good....Anyone else have distant memories like that?But when it comes to books about parenting and family life, I find time. I can't imagine life without them! I may not lose
For the days that matter. {every day} A word of encouragement.
Hi friends...While I've been away, I've begun the daunting task of looking over hundreds of posts in my blog files -- some published, some unpublished...some inspired, but unfinished, others clearly begging to be trashed. ("blog spring cleaning" --it's a big job.) Anyways, I found a special post tucked away that for some reason was never published. I thought maybe this was a good time to share it. I hope there's something in it for you.BTW: This post was written 4 years ago -- (I
Why Meditate? (with printable 5-minute Bible Meditation Cards!)
**Scroll right to the bottom to get the cards!**This time of year is full of excitement and anticipation. But for some of us, (most of us,) it can also be draining, and even anxiety-ridden. This year I want to encourage you to slow down a little (with me)...and one way I want to do that is by using meditation. But not just any meditation...I hope you'll read on and see what I'm talking about. {and find a free printable to help you at the
When I Heard my Kids Describe my Marriage.
It all began in the car. The boys had just finished school, and we were headed to the beach...All six of us, or "the whole fam-damily" as my mom used to say.The crew of excited boys were clamoring in back, loud as ever, while I thumbed text messages into my iPhone. My husband drove quietly, lost in his many thoughts--likely thoughts of hospital patients, or our skate park project. He's a thinker. Not a big talker.In the middle of it all, one of our boys, the chattiest one, leaned
