Category: Teaching Your Children

Empty is a word that usually has a bad connotation for most kids. Last Saturday I will admit: I had a grandiose "mom fail!" We had signed up for the community Easter egg hunt and in my mind I was certain it started at 12noon. To my dismay we realized through a few text messages that morning that it had already started at 10am! My kids were rightly disappointed, and we almost didn't go, but I convinced them maybe we could find a few of the hidden golden eggs. By the time we got there at 11am many people had left, but around 30 golden eggs were still to be found; I was extremely hopeful! We frantically foraged through the large park for the next hour to no avail. My…

It’s the 4th of July, a time to remember the Declaration of Independence and the initiation of the United States of America. It was adopted on July 4, 1776 at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall, by the Second Continental Congress. It explains to the world why the thirteen colonies considered themselves as independent states no longer under the British rule. Their independence was justified by the listing of 27 colonial grievances against King George III and by proclaiming their right of revolution. It became one of the “most circulated and widely reprinted documents in American history” (Wikipedia). A few months ago I received a call out of the blue with a special message. It was to inform me that a former Kindergarten ESL (English…

"My favorite holiday is LOVE DAY," said my sweet little Laurelle. "When is that?" I asked. "Valentine's Day, mom!" And my little girl didn't disappoint, with more than twenty hand-made cards! She was thrilled to receive something that day, but her greatest desire was to BLESS others. Laurelle has learned at an early age the joy of GIVING! Jesus Himself was quoted by Paul in Acts 20:35 as having said, "It is more blessed to GIVE than to receive." Daddy's little girl. Photography credit in this post goes to: newphotography11.com As adults, we tend to feel more comfortable giving than receiving many a day. Of course God is the ultimate GIVER, but do I let Him LOVE me? Do I RECEIVE His love on a daily basis? For the past…

I write from weakness. My book and my blogs were and are birthed out of my own life filled with joys amidst lifes' hardships and unanswered questions. Nonetheless, the finished product of my writing can misleadingly seem like “I have it all together." Truth be told: I am an imperfect mom with imperfect children. The difference, the game-changer: having a PERFECT and HOLY God who LIVES in me! This means if I can give him my “pen” (or my keyboard), and my thoughts, He can bring godly insight and eternal blessings of encouragement from me, a broken vessel that HE provides HOPE and HEALING to. I chose this random picture of me because one of my kids snapped it without me knowing...not a glamorous picture but it shows imperfect ME.…

2019 has come and gone, but its memory in my heart and life will always live on. It began with a warm Ecuadorian family celebration to ring in the new year, each one of us sharing our hopes and aspirations. I had written down a few goals for the year, including teaching myself how to play piano by ear and writing a new book. In another sense this would be a year in which physical suffering would remind me of my weakness and frailty to accomplish anything on my own. It started in the spring as I was planting seeds with my children: I hit our metal mailbox and had to get stitches on my head. That didn’t stop me, and summer was a pleasant time of family bonding, active…