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Today
Today the morning news reports the United States has the highest infant mortality rate, youngest average age of adult deaths, and highest homicide rate of developed countries. Tonight's news reports the United States puts almost half of it's food in landfills. Today,...
Parenting Series: In My Spare Time, I Raise Boys
Scene 1: A call from Teen Now Driving "Mom, I'm filling the van up with gas, but the gas just goes for a little bit and then stops." Mother asks questions, questions, and more questions, but doesn't have the right solution. "You need to go inside and ask" she says....
Parenting Coach
Parenting isn't your storybook image? Brenda has answers for your kids, teens, or conference. Contact Brenda here for available services.
Hard to Love
I love country music because it’s about real life. A current song out now is “Hard to Love” by Lee Brice. As I listen to the lyrics, faces of people cross my mind. People who are hard to love, and the people who love them. Read the rest of this devotional posted at...
When A Mustang Marries a Buick
You can ask my children what my husband and I fight over. They will tell you: cars and fences. Recently, we've had not-seeing-eye-to-eye discussions over cars. We drive cars we can afford. They are older and are purchased at no-debt cost. That's not the problem....
Snapshots Beyond the Picket Fence
Snapshot One: A family celebrates as their son receives an organ transplant. A true miracle. Hope for new life is with them! Snapshot Two: A family watches their little son fade away before their eyes from cancer. Hope for new life has not come to them. Snapshot...
The Mommy Test and a Giveaway
I have the privilege to post today at Not Alone Mom on just that - feeling alone and a failure as a mom. {Have you ever felt that way?} Read today's post here. Also, the give away for Isn't It Time for A Coffee Break is open until Jan. 9. Find details for the...
Eggs, Muffins, and A Coffee Break
A few years ago, I got a call from a friend saying she was going to drop off a bag. "Put it in the garage" I told her. When I picked it up later, inside were six large muffins with the note below:A few days earlier, she mentioned she needed some eggs. I pulled...
Parenting Series: Beautiful Mommy
Each Wednesday, Life Beyond the Picket Fence will post an article related to parenthood. This week, contributing writer Kristin Nelson of Not Alone Mom shares her heart. When becoming a mother, why does the idea of beauty seem irrelevant or unattainable? Is it the...
Fear, Security, And Stereotypes
Recently my daughter and I traveled to an East Coast city to look at an internship site she is considering for next summer. We've never been to this city. We booked a B&B, made arrangements to meet with a mutual friend, and off we went. I was marked by the...
Ministry to Moms
When I was a young mom, I {knew} how I wanted to raise my family. We started having children and my dream began. A strong-willed, temperamental child, a few more toddlers later, motherhood was not the the idyllic picture I originally had. I often felt alone,...
Raising Kids In Favor With God and Man
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:52 Christmas is over. Baby Jesus is born. It's time to go on with our lives, our faith, go on with our families, and perception of the Christ. God's Word gives us few glimpses of Jesus...