Idols? There aren’t any Buddhas in my house
You might not have any statues, but I’ll bet you have other kinds of idols and your kids know what they are. I was listening to a pastor friend the other day. I loved what he said, “God tells us [...]
It was a tough year!
This past year was a difficult year for the Yoder family. It was a challenge physically, emotionally, spiritually. Almost every area of life was full of uncertainty. As human beings it’s easy to feel sorry for ourselves and internalize it. [...]
So, I’m like a dog?
The last thing your adopted child wants to be associated with is a stray dog or cat. As a dad of a “chosen” daughter, I cringe at comments I hear from well meaning friends and family. I read a story [...]
There’s one thing I wish I would have done differently
As a parent, who doesn’t wish we had a do-over. I sure do. I wish I would have been more faithful in teaching my kids the Word. We talked about it often, but we didn’t study it as much as [...]
Our home is being invaded, what do I do?
What were you thinking when you heard that? A bug infestation? Robbery or unwanted guests? I’m talking about the invasion of anti-biblical values. What parent would allow their kids to hang out with the people we see in TV or [...]
My kids will NEVER forgive me!
Yes, they will. They want to. What parent hasn’t made mistakes in dealing with our kids. Yes, I know, some mistakes are bigger than others. But, our kids need us. They also want us to fix what’s broken. Maybe you’re [...]
What HAPPENED to my daughter?
For the first 13 years of their life your daughter has been your pride and joy. You’re close. While you know you’re the parent, you’re thinking, “Wow, this is the picture of parent/child relationship.” Then, that 13th birthday hits and [...]
Are you reading or studying?
I wish I had asked my kids this question more often when they were growing up. Some of my kids were readers. Others not so much. When it came to studying for tests, the difference between reading notes and studying [...]
My kids just aren’t getting enough sleep
Let’s face it. Teens are busy. We encourage it sometimes, don’t we. But it’s no secret that teens need more sleep than us. But with school activities and time with friends, this can mean late nights and early mornings. Sleep [...]
But I want a dog!
While pets aren’t for everyone, especially if you’re allergic, or are never home, pets can be a source of great lessons for our kids. If you’re the owner of a dog you can teach unconditional love. Most dogs are like [...]