"Oh Mom, I just love this magical time of year. It's so cozy with lights, hot chocolate, movies and our special family traditions!" My heart warmed as I agreed with our youngest daughter. So when our Sunday school moderator asked me as their Mentor Mom, "How do you keep the Christmas story fresh for your children?" I knew he didn't mean, ...
Our house sits in the middle of some fairly dense woods. We call it “The Homestead” and with five children, it’s offered up a haven for every kind of fort building activities you can imagine over the years. One afternoon, our son called to me, “Mom, we can’t find Emma. She was just here.” She’s my baby, our fifth child, so I didn’t bat an eye. ...
“Mom, I really don’t want you to invite them to our house. Their kids are kind of weird, and I’m not friends with them. It will be just plain awkward. Can’t you just ask the mom? I mean it. Don’t make me do this.” I sat stunned and frustrated and honestly, a little heart sick as those sentiments spewed from my daughter’s mouth. Here I’d spent ...
I did it to myself, and I knew better. That last cup of late night coffee created my self-induced insomnia, and now I was dealing with its effects. Isn't it something how our bed becomes this magical place where we suddenly remember everything we were supposed to do — problems to solve, relationships to mend, closets to clean — as soon as our head ...
Everyday I look into a mirror. Once, twice, if not multiple times a day, but after last week, I will never look at my reflection the same way again. For five days I was part of a ministry team that deep cleaned apartments for struggling families in transition. Yolanda, a single mom of two boys, was one of the residents, and while we were there, ...
Come as You Are is an invitation I’ve extended on my blog for years. When you’re known for freely sharing your bedlam moments — those messy, less-than-perfect moments — you start a mini revolution of women who need a place for theirs. As a result, I get the most hilarious e-mails, texts, and pictures of crazy things other women know I’ll ...
Snuggled on the sofa with my 15-year-old daughter, we scrolled through her Instagram feed together. 100, 115, 125 “likes” became a theme on each photo and it became clear that she’d found some committed “followers.” “Wow, Abby, your last picture got 139 likes,” our 11-year-old daughter declared in amazement. A check in my spirit occurred and ...
Over the last year I’ve been working behind the scenes on a message that I hope will encourage many women. So here I sit -- typing away with my hands shaking and my heart beating a bit faster than normal. Why? Because I am beyond excited for you to read my upcoming book, Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation. Many of ...
We're celebrating long-time (in)courage contributor Jen Schmidt as she prepares to release her first book, the next to sit on the (in)courage bookshelf of publications! So today, we're giving you a glimpse inside Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation. Enjoy! *** As I think back on where my legacy of hospitality started, ...
I raced around my house like it was the final lap of the Indy 500. "Kids, I want the counters spotless. Grab that laundry from the sofa. Stuff all clothes in your closet." My outside voice bellowed up the stairs. "You better get off your phones right now. Seriously, I need your help this instant or..." Sweat dripped down my shirt and while ...
