My time management skills are faulty from birth. Confessions of a constantly late mom are not entirely true. Most people want to give me grace because I am a mom but I have been this way as long as I can remember. Time management has been an issue for me all my life. I…
daily prayer time
Want a Happy Life? Answer These Three Questions.
Everyone wants a happy life. The question is how do you get there? I truly believe these are the three fundamental questions you must answer for a happy life. Life is not a chance; it is a gift. Rambling aimlessly through life rarely offers deep fulfillment or happiness. Thoughtful answers to these questions provide a…
Triggers: How to Exchange Your Angry Reactions for Gentle Responses
Triggers are the little things that jump under your skin and cause reactions you did not intend. An explosion of anger when you only meant to correct your child gently can send you reeling. These reactions hurt you and your beloved child. You know how the teacher will appear when the student is ready. Well,…
How Over-Scheduled Are You? A Pop Quiz
Over-scheduling seems like part of the American lifestyle. As a first year middle schooler, my 11-year-old son has packed his schedule full of activities. A typical Wednesday starts early with 6 AM homework he was too tired to finish after he got home from soccer at 7 PM the night before. Then off he goes…
5 Hacks for Leaving the House On Time (with or without kids)
I call it the SWAMP! I feel totally sucked in by all the things to do and left undone when I leave the house. Physically, it is like walking through water with weights on. I am pushing with my arms, my legs and my mind to just get out the door. Don’t ask me anything…
Most Remote Monastery In Americas
My pilgrimages to the distant desert location started in the late 90’s. A friend spoke mystically about a remote monastery called Christ in the Desert in New Mexico. In college a world religion professor invited all his students to experience one night in a monastery in Southwest Missouri. I have forgotten the name of the…
Procrastination- The Queen of Self Sabotage
Dog Pee! All I can smell is dog pee! I am standing in the middle of my other wise clean house sniffing. Dog pee is not really the issue, After challenging myself to a 2 hour house cleaning fest that turned into 6 hours. I am trying to rationalize my own self-sabotage. I took an…
Two Month Travel Adventure: Travel with the Kids
The Joyous Family is off on a two month travel adventure. Looking at Elijah (9) and Wesley (11), I just could not wait any longer. My sweet boys were becoming young men and their personal schedules were trumping family scheduling. Previously, I thought 11 &13 would be ideal ages for a long road trip in…
Daily Prayer Time Hacks for Busy Moms
I awoke to no heat. Dealing with the immediate issues stopped me from my daily prayer time. It was 30 below that frosty morning in Northern Colorado. Huummmph! Calls to the landlord, checking and rechecking the furnace and the thermostat gratefully produced heat an hour later. The much needed time alone with Jesus just evaporated…
How to Create Last Minute Holiday Cards
Constantly late with holiday cards? I might even pick up a card earlier than the holiday cards but then I forget where they are, can’t find a stamp, or even my favorite get it all ready to go and then find it three months after the holiday buried in a school book. UGGGHH Happy Valentine’s…