Of all the spiritual lessons I've learned, one of the most important is choosing to give thanks. When we teach our young children to say "please" and "thank you," it is a lesson in politeness. When God teaches us to say "thank you" in the midst of our messy lives,…

When I was a wide-eyed college student, without a clue of how to raise healthy, happy children, I heard a Christian professor speak passionately on the value of creating traditions in a home. He shared the Christmas rituals of his own family, and then described that these yearly activities function

Forging a family tradition takes time and effort. . .May my faltering experiences with this bring you hope and encouragement in this season. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come…” As the disbelieving eyeballs of customers and tellers at our local bank peered at us in astonishment, my children

Have you noticed that your kids are more fidgety, more distracted, and less enthused about studying Daniel Boone than they were in October? Why is that? Actually, are YOU less enthused about math and science and history right now? Do you find your thoughts running more and more to Christmas—when

Christmas is over. Whew! All the work and flurry ended a few days ago, and, hopefully, you weren’t so exhausted that you missed the celebration. You may be wondering if this is a time to get some rest. . . Hmmm. School doesn’t start for another week. This in-between week,…

If I were to ask about your memories of being in school, what images pop into your mind? Do you see a desk, a stack of books, a chalkboard, a report card, recess? Perhaps your impressions run more along the lines of a stern and forbidding teacher or the camaraderie of your…