I just need a break!
Pastor David DeSelm at Fellowship Missionary Church says REST. Do it! We need it. He was speaking at a conference I was at recently. And I thought, “Parents need to hear this.” Question: Did God NEED to rest when he [...]
“Up North” is my favorite place. Yours?
“Up North.” It really is a place. In Michigan, it’s anywhere NORTH of where you live—usually somewhere in a wooded area or a lake. For me, “Up North” was the family cottage that my grandparents built in 1955 along the [...]
“She’s just like you!” Yeah—isn’t that cool?
Many people say my youngest daughter and I are a lot alike. I’m not sure why, but we’re the kind of people who tell it like it is. You don’t typically have to try to figure out what we’re thinking. [...]
Being a stepfather is tough, but worth it.
Many of you know that I was an instant 22-year-old father of three. This past Father’s Day was an amazingly emotional one for me. The three, now in their 30s, sent me this plaque that said, in essence, “Some say [...]
An empty nest? What am I gonna do?
It’s nearly Christmas, and you realize that next year your last child is going to be off at college and there won’t be anyone around. Decorating the Christmas tree is just going to be you and your husband—or maybe just [...]
This isn’t a good time of year for some.
You’ve heard the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” right? It’s true for some, but not for others—especially for those divorced or for some foster parents. It can be terribly lonely. As a stepparent, it was the [...]
How’s your relationship with your grandkids?
I remember quite clearly the times I spent with my paternal and maternal grandparents. One set of grandparents helped me learn to swim, fish, and taught me the importance of helping others, while the other set of grandparents taught me [...]
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 [...]
We’ve met the enemy, and he is us!
If you’ve lived long at all, you know certain kinds of sins tend to run in families. Some struggle with poor work habits, dishonesty, or even legalism. My family? We can be pretty judgmental. We worry a lot. And discouragement [...]
I’m still home with my kids – help!!!!
The coronavirus has done one thing for families. It’s forced us to spend time TOGETHER. Now, we’re at a point we’ve done everything we can think of. We’ve tried home school. We played board games. We’ve watch movies – LOTS [...]