Getting Busy While At Home
Just a few weeks ago, we were running from school to practice to dinner to homework. Parents are often stretched to the limit by jam packed schedules. You and I have wished that life would slow down. All of a sudden that wish has come true in a very dramatic way. ...
Creative Christmas Gifts for Your Spouse
Are you looking for creative gift ideas for your spouse? Neckties and flannels have their place, but maybe you’re looking for something different for your spouse this year. What can you give your husband or wife that will communicate your love without breaking the...
Your Biggest Fear
What is your biggest fear as a parent? I had to laugh as I read this blog post entry from about 12 years ago: My biggest fear was realized 10,000 feet in the air. No, I’m not afraid of heights. I’m afraid of screaming babies on airplanes. Every year, we head from...
Video: What are selfies doing to our kids?
Let’s take a moment to consider…what are selfies doing to our kids (and particularly our girls)? We used to take photos of other people, so we would remember that girl we met at summer camp. Or we’d take photos of the places we visit like...
Arlene on Focus on the Family today
How would you like to be happier as a wife? Let’s begin by going down memory lane. Do you remember how happy you were when your husband proposed? Here’s a photo of James and me the morning he proposed. The year was 1998…and I was the happiest girl...
Video: God, Not Google (plus free video series on screen time)
When our kids are sick… When we need advice… When we are wondering where to go on date night… We usually GOOGLE the answer. And although using Google can be extremely helpful, it can also slowly become extremely dangerous, especially for kids. Why? ...
Servant Leadership at Home
More about this at the bottom, but I have a new video course – absolutely free – about technology and girls. It’s one way I can serve you! Today I wrote about serving others on my Proverbs 31 devotional. Becoming a leader in your home is about...
Journaling for Busy Moms
I love buying and receiving journals. When I was in high school, I filled journal after journal with my questions about life, my meanderings about what kind of job I should get, and of course, about all the boys I had crushes on. Decades later, I don’t journal...
Writing a Thank You Letter to God
A special welcome to my friends from Proverbs 31 who read my devotion. So glad you stopped by! The concept of writing a thank you letter is familiar to you. But what about writing a thank you letter to God? Have you ever written one? Well, if you write a thank you...
Video: What does success look like for your child?
What does success look like for your child? Maybe it looks like becoming an overnight YouTube sensation or professional gamer. Success however doesn’t happen overnight, and it actually doesn’t primarily have anything to do with talent. Here’s two...
Video: Because Mentoring Matters
Mentors are role models your kids can talk to. Does your son or daughter have people like this in their lives? Finding mentors for your kids isn’t as complicated as you may think…but it is something you do on purpose. My son Ethan has been in Royal...
Video: Your Game Plan for Summer Screen Time
Game plan for the summer screen time in your home! Here are some ideas to choose from to make your summer more sane with on-purpose screen time instead of screen time that takes over your entire summer. Create your own family media plan here on the AAP (American...
Video: 3 Quick Questions to Reveal Your Marriage Health
Here’s this week’s Facebook live chat: Marriage Quiz: Ask these 3 questions today Ask these 3 questions today for a quick marriage checkup: 1. Are we laughing and having fun everyday? 2. Are we making love regularly? 3. Do I usually have an attitude of...
Things to Include in an Apology to Your Child
I have a pretty good track record with remembering to pick up my kids from school, but this semester, I broke my “perfect pick up” streak. I thought my daughter had biked in to school, but we went with the car. (Duh! I dropped her off at school...
Negotiating with Your Child: Lessons from a Former FBI Hostage Negotiator
Yes, my friend, you read that right. We can learn how to negotiate with our toddler, child, or teen from a former FBI hostage negotiator! Our kids can hold us hostage in our own homes with their angry rants and tantrums. They can make their demands and get exactly...
The Romance of Remembering
A special welcome to my Proverbs 31 friends! How can we keep romance alive and well in our marriages? My husband James and I tied the knot over 20 years ago. It was supposed to rain on my wedding day, but thankfully it didn’t on that January day in Virginia....
Airing today on Focus on the Family
What a joy today to be featured on one of my favorite radio programs Focus on the Family! Hosts Jim Daly and John Fuller do a stellar job making guests feel at home and bringing helpful information to families every day. We are talking about the ideas in my book...
7 Non-Video Game Activities to Do With Your Family
This holiday season, many parents lament… How can I get my children to stop playing video games all day long? Here are 7 non-video game activities to do with your family. They are things we have done and tested! Spending extra time together over the holiday...
Book Giveaway: Calm, Cool, and Connected
***This giveaway is closed. Congratulations to Lisa L!*** When 6,000 kids were asked about their parents phone use, get ready for this… 54 percent of kids felt their parents checked this phones too often 36 percent said their parents’ worst habit was...
Book Giveaway: The Better Mom Devotional by Ruth Schwenk
***This giveaway is now closed. Congrats April W*** I am so happy to have my friend Ruth Schwenk guest posting today AND offering a giveaway of her new devotional, The Better Mom Devotional. Isn’t it beautiful? Let’s get some truth into our...
Turn Bothers into Blessings
Welcome friends from Proverbs 31! I wrote in my Proverbs 31 devotional today about how our words matter. Sometimes we can be nice to strangers but unkind to those closest to us. Why? I think it’s because we spend a lot of time together with our family and...
Dealing with Loss and Failure with Your Kids
This week on FB Live, we’re talking about dealing with loss and failure with our kids.
New Digital Habits for a More Balanced Life
Today I’m honored to be a guest on Jeff Brown’s excellent Read to Lead Podcast.
Now Available
