Hey Friends!! It's alllllmost the New Year. Whew!! We've just about crossed a serious finish line! 😀 However, let's be real here. We all know that ahead of us are 365 more days...which will bring us new opportunities, challenges, and plenty of little (and big) tests of our attitude and character! With this in mind the timing could not be better for the brand new book, Win the Day, by best-selling author, Mark Batterson. And I am so happy to get to share
Miscellaneous
Favorite Christmas Memories and Traditions {Episode 86, with the Swanson Boys}
Mele Kalikimaka!! Hope you are all having a fabulous Christmas week! As promised, I have the Swanson boys on with me to bring some Christmas cheer! Today's episode is featuring son #1, and son #3 (Josiah, 21, and Luke 16.) Jonah and I are planning a separate episode which I will share in the New Year, so I also let Levi off the hook this week! 😉 (I promise to get that rascal on with me soon as well!) Josiah, Luke, and I are talking about favorite Christmas
How to Love Your Actual Christmas {Episode 85 with Alexandra Kuykendall}
Friends, welcome to the smack-middle of December. (woah, really!?) True confession: This is about the exact week when I typically find myself morphing from the happy, care-free, "I love Christmas everything!!!!" Mom, to the stressed out, feeling behind, "I just want to get Christmas over with" Mom. Yep. Anyone with me? As much as I love (truly, adore!) this season, I have learned that Christmas can bring up all kinds of hard emotions and dashed expectations,
Practical Tips for a Tech-Smart Holiday with Your Kids
I've heard from a lot of parents over nearly ten years (10!? 😯) that I've been writing online. I've learned about the things that frustrate and challenge parents the most. And there is no doubt that technology and screen time are high up on that list. Especially after this year of living, parenting, and schooling in a pandemic. The struggle, my friends, is so very real. With Christmas break just ahead of us, I wanted to offer a practical episode to help all of us
(Not Your Typical) Gift Guide {Episode 83 with Kate Merrick.}
Hey Friends! You ready to talk gifts today? But wait -- No, this is not your typical gift guide. It's way better! I'm so excited to share this interview with Kate Merrick with all of you. Kate and I spoke weeks before the holidays, and we agreed that there are a lot of "GIFT GUIDES" out there, but there's not a lot of "guidance on gifts!" haha. (that was a Kate quote, BTW.) But it's so true! We wanted to just share a chat with all of
Getting Practical about Gratitude in Your Home {Episode 82 with Krista Gilbert}
With Thanksgiving only days away and Christmas just around the corner, there could not be a better time to get intentional about GRATITUDE in our homes. This year may be more challenging than ever; it seems complaining has become a common conversation starter even among strangers, let alone those we are close to. Yet, there is no doubt we ALL have much to be thankful for, even on our hardest day. I am so grateful (hehe, see that?) that my friend -- writer, speaker, and HOME
Raising Siblings to be Strong Together, and Apart. {Episode 81 with Amy Carney}
Aloha! Today's podcast episode is on a topic I hear from a LOT of parent's on! How can we help our kids become better friends...to actually like each other, play together, and develop a deep bond? And also: How can those same kids have a strong sense of identity and independence apart from their siblings? Oh this is good stuff! AND I have the perfect woman for the interview! Amy Carney is a Mom to FIVE -- including TRIPLET SONS, 😳 a daughter, and another son through
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
