God in the Pumpkin Patch… Halloween FREEBIE!

A pumpkin rests on an orange backdrop featuring Christian text about God's love, a Bible verse, John 8:12 ESV, and mentions of Jesus. The text likens Christians to pumpkins and explores themes of cleansing, removing sin, and shining God's light.

Christians are like pumpkins in the patch, loved by the Creator and designed to shed LIGHT on a dark world. Get your SHINE this Halloween on because God loves you! Download God in the Pumpkin Patch! SHINE with this FREEBIE! © 2018 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved. If you’ve been encouraged by this post, please…

Read More

7 Tips for Littles to End Daylight Savings Time: SLEEP

Two pairs of adult feet and one pair of small child's feet peek out from under a yellow blanket in a cozy bed, inviting sleep. The wooden-framed bed features two light blue pillows resting against the headboard.

Moms and dads… get set for a time change! Daylight Savings Time ends on November 4. A 60-minute swing in the schedule can make a big difference in a child’s world. The rule of thumb for moving the clock for Daylight Saving Time is: SPRING- spring ahead, FALL- fall back. Start a week ahead of…

Read More

The Prince and the Plan

Illustration of a bearded man in a purple robe with text: "The Prince's Grand Plan." Subtext reads: "Lead your children to Jesus in 24 memory-making stories." Background features a soft, pastel texture.

Are you looking for a new teaching tool to reach your children with God’s message of salvation? The Prince and the Plan is a a terrific choice. Since she was a teenager, author and illustrator Sheri Schofield has worked with families and young children. The Prince and the Plan reaches children with the love of God…

Read More

Got Zucchini? Make Cake!

Thin slices of fresh zucchini are artfully scattered on a rustic wooden cutting board.

A number of years ago my friend Judy shared an absolutely AWESOME cake recipe with me. Not only is this cake moist and chocolatey, but it’s loaded with zucchini. Yes, zucchini, the green vegetable that often gets the nose scrunch from many kiddos who refuse to eat anything green. It’s a chocolate disguise for a…

Read More

Benefits of Intentional Friendships for Parents

Two women, intentionally capturing the moment, smile while taking a selfie together. One with straight black hair in a striped top, the other with curly hair in a white blouse, they radiate joy in the bright indoor setting.

A new school year is about to begin! Kids are ready to jump into learning and fun. Parents are ready to get back into a regular schedule. It’s exciting to watch children prepare not only for another academic year, but a classroom of new friends. The same can be said for parents. New volunteer prospects,…

Read More

Ten Ways to Improve Communication with Your Teen

Two teen women are sitting on a couch, smiling at the camera. One has red hair, holding a phone and wearing a black shirt. The other has dark hair in a bun with glasses, styled in a striped top and denim overalls. Soft string lights create a warm glow behind them.

“Once my kids became teenagers, I felt like I’d lost them to their friends.” “He won’t talk to me anymore. He just grunts.” “She spends more time texting than talking!” “What’s with big sighs and rolling eyes?” Sound familiar? Parents are frustrated, sad, and sometimes uneasy when teenagers stop communicating with Mom and Dad. How…

Read More

Do Your Kids Talk Back? How to Stop It, NOW!

Young person with long braided hair and a serious expression, wearing a black top, gazes boldly at the camera, as if ready for some back talk. The background is blurred, highlighting lush outdoor greenery.

Back talk is ugly. No matter what the age of the child, it’s just plain ugly. A child’s insolent, disrespectful, and argumentative response, both verbal or nonverbal, can make any parent furious. Our culture has produced great role models for disrespect. Try watching any TV show or movie to see what I mean. Kids are…

Read More

Faith Lessons for Big Kids and Little Kids

A person is reading a large open book, possibly a textbook or reference book, on a wooden table. The book's pages have handwritten notes, reflecting their faith in knowledge. A colorful, patterned notebook is partially visible beneath the book.

How well do your children know the Bible? Can your children defend their beliefs? Can they stick to biblical principles and family values despite the whims of friends and the culture? Faith lessons and family values are rooted at home, in what a child learns, observes, and lives each day. I’ve noticed in parenting classes…

Read More

Are Our Kids Experientially Poor?

A young child crouches outdoors, experientially engaging with the dirt on a sunny day. Clad in a red outfit and wearing a focused expression, the background blurs into lush green trees, evoking the feel of a park or natural setting.

Are our kids experiencing life, real life? Are they experientially poor because we don’t allow them to fully enter into decision-making, problem-solving, conflict-resolving situations? When we step in, kids don’t have the opportunity to step up.  We’re actually making life more difficult in the long run. Tips to Erase Experientially Poverty Let kids fail. Failure…

Read More

10 Tips for a THRIVING Marriage

A couple's hands are cupped together, holding Scrabble tiles spelling "FOREVER" as a symbol of their marriage. They stand on grass, with the woman in a crochet top and bracelets, while the man sports a yellow wristband.

“Dinner table discussions are all about the kids; homework, sports, and chores.” “We never have a moment to ourselves.” “Sometimes I look at my spouse and wonder, ‘When did we lose the spark?’” Let’s face it, marriage is hard. It’s like any relationship, a person needs to communicate and spend time with the other person.…

Read More