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Rejection hurts, no matter how you spin it

August 21, 2017 by Susan 2 Comments

Even though rejection hurts, can’t we find joy in the pain? Can’t our hurt be beautiful too?

Rejection hurts. No matter how you try to spin it, it leaves a wound. When it is someone else being rejected, we are quick to share our platitudes, as genuine as they might be.

Maybe next time.

It’s not you.

You did great.

There’s something better out there for you.

Someday it’ll all make sense.

All potentially true. Yet none heals the sting of not measuring up. Don’t misunderstand me, I am a firm believer that we need people to speak truth into our hearts when the truth doesn’t feel true. But sometimes…it’s also ok to just say, “That sucks. I’d be hurt too.”

Summer is for Serving

July 24, 2017 by Susan Leave a Comment

Summers are the greatest, aren’t they?

It’s all relaxing and eating bon-bons and sipping iced tea. …Yeah, not around here either. But that doesn’t mean that summer’s not fantastic.

Our summers are filled with fun, but they’re also filled with lots of service opportunities. If we’re not heading to a camp, we are hosting a team of people.

Moms, please don’t stop doing things for your teens. They can still grow into responsible adults…promise.

June 5, 2017 by Susan 28 Comments

Parenting changes so much when your kids become teens. But that doesn’t mean you have to abandon them to figure it all out on their own. Apprenticing our teens into adulthood is the real goal. Be sure to scroll to the bottom to catch the link to my interview on this topic!

Listen to my interview with Vicki Tillman on the Homeschool High School Podcast on this topic.

Did you see the article going around recently about parenting teens? It implored parents to stop doing things for their teen in order to grow independence and maturity. Maybe you even shared or ‘liked’ it. It made some valid points.

But it also kind of broke my heart.

Don’t wake your kids up. Don’t pack their lunch. Don’t bring them things they’ve forgotten or fill out paperwork for them. Don’t ‘meddle’ in their academics.

Here’s the thing, parents… as our sweet babies grow into smelly, sassy teens, we do need to change the way we parent. We need to be intentional about developing that independence and maturity. And that can mean hard lessons, consequences, and ‘tough love’. But there are a few major problems I see with advising parents to stop doing these things for their kids altogether.

Scripture Printables for When You Are Overwhelmed

May 29, 2017 by Susan 4 Comments

Scripture printables remind you of God’s word when you feel overwhelmed. And they can be the best way to encourage a friend who is struggling.

Do you ever feel helpless when a friend is struggling? You’ve hugged, visited, shared a meal, and encouraged. But you can’t be there every minute.

The ladies class I’m a part of on Wednesday nights has been trying to actively encourage a friend who is in the hospital. One of the things we decided to do was to flood her room with the truths of God’s word. I created these Scripture printables. We each wrote an encouraging note around the edges, to remind her of our love, and hung them all around her room.

Grace…Then What?

April 24, 2017 by Susan 4 Comments

After we’ve been shown grace, then what? We light the path for those behind us.

Do you watch the Amazing Race? My husband loves that show, and has recently been catching up on years of missed episodes. I don’t love it and here’s why: the bickering. If I want to hear people arguing, I’m perfectly capable of picking a fight myself (quite skilled, in fact. 😉 )

But watching other people argue? It stresses me out.

In one recent episode he was watching, I noticed that when groups found a clue, they would try to stealthily read and record information without other groups knowing. And that’s good strategy when you’re competing.

If they were all on one team, when they found the clue they’d call out, “Found it!” so everyone could run over and see the information.

And that’s exactly what I’ve been noticing that both King David, and the Apostle Paul did in Scripture…and what we, as believers, are supposed to be doing.

Take a Meal to a Friend in Need

February 27, 2017 by Susan 32 Comments

Tips for when you want to take a meal to a friend in need. I’ve collected suggestions from all over to help you be a blessing. Meal ideas, too!

People are in need all around us. Moms with new babies, friends with health issues, families facing all kinds of challenges and struggles.

Sometimes it’s something big, like a cancer diagnosis. Other times it may simply be that you notice that your friend has been overwhelmed lately.

Do you ever feel at a loss for how to help? Enter: Food.

I am my mother’s daughter, and I show love through food. And clearly I’m not the only one, as I found lots of resources online giving tips and suggestions for meal ministry.

I’d like to share some of the best ones I’ve found.