Yep, you keep messing up. Your to-do list has had the same three NEED TO DO! tasks on it for weeks now. You thought you would be really good at something but it turns out you’re not and you can’t shake the shame. You’re overdue for your dental cleaning. You spent too much on junk...Continue Reading
It’s Concordia Publishing House‘s 150th birthday this month and I’m celebrating their ministry the story of what they’ve meant in my life—as a reader, as a Jesus-lover, as a writer, as a mom, and as a teacher. Love in the Library My love for CPH books started where all good stories begin—in the library. My...Continue Reading
Dear Catie… It’s a little hard to believe you’re starting over again. We moved houses. You moved schools. Sophomore year and you’re having to deal with #freshmanproblems again. It’s a bit scary—for me, at least. There’s so much at risk here. The years of high school feel like stair steps to the grand goal of...Continue Reading
Someone in your life needs this sparkly-funny Bible study. It’s pretty much a party-in-a box–but with Jesus. 10. That girl at your church who helps at VBS…or in the nursery…or in the 10. That girl at your church who helps at VBS…or in the nursery…or in the praise band. (Or, you know, that one teen...Continue Reading
This school has become our family and our home. And not it’s time to say goodbye. For the last decade, Westlake Prep has been the seventh member of our family. To our kids—who started here just a few days after potty-training and who are leaving as tweens and teens—this place has been where they learned just...Continue Reading
I write for teens and for moms, so talk to them both a lot about what’s happening in their lives. Over the past few years, something has changed. Daughters now have all the information. Like never before, they are able to use social media, YouTube, Amazon, vlogs, and Pinterest to figure out life on their own. More...Continue Reading
Several years ago, I visited my friend Jen at the start of the summer. Like me, she was a mom to lots of little kids, and the summer meant the fun and daunting promise of lots of free time. Like me, Jen hoped to use some of that time to organize her house. She had posted sticky...Continue Reading
My dreams for Spring Break are simple: sunshine, finally kicking the flu that’s haunted our house, and finding a screen time balance during all these days off. The problem is that my kids have different views on nine days off. They’re planning for this to be Screen Break–a break with all the BrawlStars, Clash Royale,...Continue Reading
If you’re on the island for Spring Break or to visit the beach this summer, check out the Hurricane Ike Tree Tour. Our family loves driving (or, in nice weather, walking) around and spotting the beautiful creations these artists have made from dead oak trees. I write about this tour in my book, Family Trees...Continue Reading
As the kids went back to school today, and our lives returned to normal, I kept thinking about the whirlwind that was December. Our kids are older now and the holiday magic changes as they grow up. I’m discovering that I enjoy Christmas with older kids more. It’s sweeter in ways I didn’t expect. Here...Continue Reading
