Teaching children about Good Friday isn’t easy, especially if you’re talking with younger children. How do you explain why Jesus had to die? That Jesus knew ahead of Good Friday that he would die? And the true meaning of the cross as Jesus’ sacrifice for our ultimate salvation? Teaching children about Good Friday isn’t easy,…
Jesus or the Easter Bunny: An Easter Memory
As I think back on the years of celebrating the Easter holiday with my husband and children, my memories are filled with Easter morning church services, frilly handmade dresses, matching ties, and baskets full of fresh fruit, plastic eggs, and inexpensive treats. I remember Easter afternoons spent vacuuming the green plastic Easter grass off our…
Helping Kids Express Everyday Gratitude
Finding ways to grumble and complain is easy. Choosing to look for ways to express gratitude can seem like one of those dreaded last chance workouts on the hit series, The Biggest Loser. And for kids, giving thanks in all things can be like eating their peas before the can enjoy dessert! So parents, how do we…
Praying for Physical Health, Safety, and Security for Your Children
Praying for Physical Health, Safety, and Security for Your Children “Lord, Why Did This Happen?” I know I’m not the only mother who has ever questioned God’s tactics. Even my “spiritual giant” friend, Susan, found herself wondering what was up when her son Michael started suffering from violent stomach pains. Their pediatrician had dismissed…
Christ-Centered Easter Traditions for Kids
One of the best parts of being a parent and having my own family is getting to pass on family traditions, as well as starting new traditions of our own. Growing up, on Easter, I always wore a new Sunday Easter dress, went to early worship service then headed to my aunt’s house for a late…
Preparing Our Hearts and Minds for Easter
Holiday seasons are wonderful, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of preparations for activities and forget that our hearts and minds need preparation as well. Easter is the glorious celebration of Christ’s resurrection! If there is ever a time we want to focus our hearts and minds on all that Jesus…
4 Ways to Honor God on Valentine’s Day
I love loving the people who are special to me. I love all things sweet and sappy and sentimental. I love red puffy hearts and pink shiny bows and glittery Valentine cards. I love heart-shaped pancakes in the morning, heart-shaped sandwiches at lunch and heart-shaped pizzas for dinner. I love presents covered in heart wrapping paper…
New Year, New Family Routine
As families with growing children, we often have to evaluate the family routine. Our children change fast, and as parents, we have to navigate and set the pace for our families. It can feel tricky, but as my family has rolled through quite a bit of different seasons, there’s a few questions that I ask…
5 Ways to Enjoy Fall with the Whole Family
Fall is one of my favorite seasons! The cooler temperatures (here in Texas we experience some pretty extreme summer heat), the golden colors, the animals getting their winter coats… it is spectacular! But with all of the busyness of life and back-to-school activities, we might miss the pleasures of fall if we aren’t purposeful about…
Holy Week Activities for Kids
The days and week before Easter, also known as Holy Week, can be a wonderful time of encouraging children to understand the significance of the days before Christ’s crucifixion and the resurrection. Holy Week, also known as Passion Week, is the week before Easter, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending on Easter. Today we are focusing on…