It may sound a bit morbid but a lot of people die before they plan on it. In fact most do. I think of a former pastor we knew who was so looking forward to retirement and to doing some of those things with his wife that he felt had to wait during his ministry years. ...
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It happens all the time. Little Ryan's parents tell him that it's time to go and take his bath but Ryan doesn't move. Five minutes pass and they tell him again. This time he says, "OK, but I just want to reach one more level on my game." Five more minutes go by and Ryan is still ...
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Have you ever tried to get someone's attention? The nurse at the hospital, the vendor at the game, the teller at the bank or a clerk in the department store? And isn't it horribly frustrating when they don't seem to notice you or give you that look like, "I really don't have ...
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Since 1999 the American Academy of Pediatrics has been discouraging parents from allowing kids under two to watch television. However, many parents, leaders and even some pediatricians have felt that the academy's views were draconian and out of touch at best. However, ongoing ...
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I'll bet you're already envisioning what Christmas will be like at your house. Perhaps it will include a service somewhere, family gatherings, a special breakfast, gifts under the tree, visits to local lighting displays and lots of great food. You probably have other special ...
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I'm sure thousands of articles and blog posts have been or will be written about the terrible revelations of child abuse at Penn State. And unless we're experts in the law or know facts that the general public doesn't know none of us writers should be making judgments about motives, ...
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I'll bet that you and your spouse can quickly come up with a list of things you do individually that are just routine in your daily schedule. You make your coffee, take a shower, read the paper, turn on the TV, go to church, take the kids to school and dozens more. And while some ...
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I'm writing sitting in bed in a hotel room in Moscow, Russia. We're just finishing twelve days here having helped organize and lead a worship and pastors' conference here. One of the best parts for me this year is that my wife Jackie was able to join me in Russia for the third ...
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Comedian Martin Mull once said, "Having a family is like having a bowling alley installed in your brain." I think most of us parents can identify with the many challenges and often the "noise" of having kids. Children always have new ideas and new ways to push ...
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We tried something part way through our parenting years with each child that seemed to be a favorite and positive learning and growing experience. When they were approaching thirteen we developed a year-long challenge for them with a perk or two involved to give them some incentive. We ...
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I was at a large conference this week and happened to sit behind what turned out to be a very special family. A father, mother and son were all in the row ahead and nothing looked abnormal at first. The son, at least an older teen or perhaps a young man in his early twenties, sat ...
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I've written nearly 200 posts now on my Safe At Home blog. Compared to some bloggers and writers that's a drop in the bucket. However, put my total next to many others and I appear like a novelist. Whatever your perspective, I'm pretty thankful I've lasted this long. ...
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Farmers think about it. So do climbers. Even surgeons know it's important. You can't plant corn in the fall in the Midwest. You don't head for the summit in the late afternoon in the Rockies. And doctors make sure their patients are physically stable before they allow them to be ...
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I originally named my blog Safe At Home for a reason. Sure, it's a clever (at least I think so!) play on words with a baseball analogy. But more importantly I've worked with families long enough to know that many homes simply aren't safe even though the people in it think so. In ...
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We all will face some sort of devastating experience, illness, or loss in our lifetime. Some of us have even faced what may seem horribly unfair especially when compared to others. And while we should never minimize our struggle or those of others there are important things we ...
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I currently live in Austin, Texas. We're experiencing our latest drought, one which has broken some all-time records. It was 112 degrees the other day tying the highest temperature ever. Our lakes our down some 40+ feet. We had the second most number of days in a row over a 100 ...
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We've all had a child or two push us on our expectations, right? Your son should know that he can't be a jerk in public but he makes a scene in the restaurant nonetheless. Your daughter seems like she knows that she just can't wear anything to school but one morning she throws a ...
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All families are different and unique. They come in varying sizes, shapes, locations, and personalities. There are lots of things that one family will do or enjoy that another family would hate. That's normal and OK. However, I want to suggest five priorities that every parent ...
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This past weekend my wife and I stayed in a hotel overlooking Reliant Stadium in Houston where their pro football team plays and other large stadium events are held. The arena is a beautiful facility, modern and impressive especially at first glance. However, right next to it stands ...
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If you've ever written a comment on someone's blog you know that sometimes you get a message like, "This comment awaiting moderation." That means that someone needs to review your comments, make sure they're not out of line, laced with profanity or too long. You have ...
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All couples fight or at least disagree. However, not all couples do it well. Sadly, some marriages have ended not because they weren't in love, but because they did so much damage when they weren't feeling very loving. Their words, expressions, and responses all spoke more to their ...
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There was a popular song when I was much younger that started with the lyrics, "Slow down, you move too fast, got to make the morning last." Sadly the title of that song included less than profound and meaningful words, "Feelin' Groovy." However, I wonder if those first ...
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The other day I discovered that my wife had a bag of Hershey's Kisses in the pantry. I hadn't seen that many of those for a while but I quickly remembered how much I had always enjoyed them. And then I also realized that they've been making those kisses for a long time. I remember ...
Read MoreMy mom's neighbor died recently. His name was Ernie. I didn't know him well although I'd met him a few times while visiting my former home. But I'd heard about him many times, usually through my mom, about how much he was known for helping others. He'd watch over her house while ...
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The Smiths pay their kids for good grades. The Johnsons wouldn't think of it. The Andersons have found that providing financial and privilege incentives for their elementary-aged children really motivates them but the Davis' think kids need to learn to do their part without complaining. Parents ...
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If you're at least forty-five or fifty then you probably remember a sappy, but very popular movie from years ago called Love Story. It was probably one of the most viewed movies that year although I don't think it won any major awards. Nonetheless, the most famous line of ...
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Today is our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary! On the one hand it seems like we've been married forever (we've been married much longer than we were single!). Other times though we wonder where all those years went. We have usually enjoyed celebrating in pretty ...
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So let me continue what I began in my last post about helping your marriage last until death do you part. It's not easy, there are no simple recipes but there are a few principles that can help. Brag about your spouse to others. No, don't make things up. But be sure to ...
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My wife Jackie and I just returned from a twelve -day thirty-fifth anniversary trip to Alaska. No, we don't do big trips like that very often but certain special anniversaries have encouraged us to try something a little grander now and then. How do you have a marriage ...
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I've learned over the years why God made teenagers. To punish us parents for the way we acted as children. OK, maybe that's not his purpose but it sure seems reasonable. But let's face it one of our big struggles is that we simply don't know what they're going to do much of the ...
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A survey came out this week that suggests the average married couple fights or at least spar with each other seven times a day! That means there are some who must fight more and of course some less. But the bigger questions seem to be, "How do we fight and why? What ...
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