Delighted Motherhood

Flying with kids is hard. One of my favorite lines from the memoir Cheaper by the Dozen (published in 1948) is when the dad (who has been serving in Washington during WWI) asks the mom about her travels with their kids from eastcoast to westcoast to visit her parents. “It was fine, dear. But next time, you take the children to California and I’ll go to war.” Hilarious and relatable.  Flying is by...

It’s Fall time! It seems like the majority of us love it. And really what’s not to like! It’s a time for lots of good food, reading, campfires, leaf piles, and delicious smells.  Daniel 2:21 says: “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” God has given us the seasons and they are lovely! Fall ought...

In my limited experience, little boys only stay little for so long and then they very quickly start pretending they are men. They drive trucks, dig holes and find sticks to turn into swords. You could simply say, boys will be boys. But in a very real sense they are practicing manhood and in particular they seem to be looking for examples of strength to imitate.  It’s not that boys aren’t concerned...

Four reasons I love homeschooling. (As a second generation homeschooler.) Christian Instruction  Academic Rigor Family Connection  Flexible Lifestyle  NOTE: Every family is different. Homeschooling isn’t right for everyone!! What’s good for one family might not be the best for another!! It is so sweet to enjoy the freedom to seek the Lord for guidance in what in each specific circumstance. <3 ...

Your objective as a rhythm maker is to fight against the “patterns of this world” and consider how to use the regular cycles of your day/week to advance the values that are most precious to you.  How can a woman intentionally direct lifegiving rhythms in her home? Recognize that homemaking (and ordering your time) is a uniquely high calling.  (Genesis 2, 1 Peter 3, Titus 2)  Homemakers are tasked...

Memorizing Scripture is something our kids often do at Sunday school and VBS, but is it something we should do too?  Although memorization is more challenging for adults, our hearts and brains are far more capable than we realize.  Have you ever felt like you just don’t have the right words to say to a friend who is struggling? Or don’t know how to respond when your child acts out?  Listen in for...

Several weeks ago I to watch my almost 9-year-old and almost 7-year-old ascended a 50 foot rock wall and it was equip. I was so proud of them for working so hard and having the courage to keep on going even when it was scary!!  But what I’m most especially thankful for is that harness! Because my kids were wearing the right equipment, they were protected during the activity. Even though it was obj...

As mothers, we are all called to teach the Word of God faithfully and handle Scripture rightly. Sometimes that teaching will be informal, and other times it will be more structured. It may look like applying biblical truth in everyday moments, leading family devotions, teaching a Sunday school lesson, or facilitating a Bible study. In any context, teachers are held to a high standard. The Word of...

Going to church with my five little kids can sometimes feel like wrangling monkeys –very dear little monkeys –but little monkeys that have been known to spill the coffee all over the pew in front of us and then shriek in terror at the act. (Nothing to see here, people. Normal Sunday.) Matt Merker in his book Corporate Worship argues, “A church service is one of the primary settings in which believ...

In honor of Father's Day, listen in for a slightly exaggerated but hilarious story about the Magic of Sleepy Ridge. When a disgruntled doorknob decides he's done being taken for granted, Mom and the kids are trapped outside. There's only one person who can rescue them: Dad. This story is my reflection of the everyday faithfulness of my dear husband. Often, I can get caught up with e...

Practically, how do we carve out time, in the midst of hectic mothering, to seek the Lord in prayer?  Susanna Wesley, mother of evangelists John and Charles Wesley, had sixteen kids. She was certainly busy, but she taught her kids that if they saw her with an apron over her head, they were not to bother her because that meant that she was in prayer or in the Word.  That’s a woman committed to depe...

Some Christian authors describe fasting as the most feared and misunderstood discipline, and perhaps the least practiced in the Christian church. Why? What stops Christians from fasting? Listen in as James walks us through a definition of Christian fasting as well as why and how to engage in fasting as parents.  Like all spiritual disciplines or ordinary means of God’s grace, through fasting, Chri...

The Nelson Family welcomed sweet Katherine Grace Nelson on April 1st 2026. Sweet Katie has been a joy and a delight to all of us. Listen in for a brief update about life with five kids and the magic of Christ centered motherhood.

What is classical education? In particular, what does it look like during the early years? Is it boring? Is it rigorous? It is effective?  Are there ways to blend elements from the classical model with other models?  Although this conversation is largely geared towards parents who choose to home educate, the concepts discussed can enrich the the educational experience of all families whether schoo...

Listen in as Kelly Schibi shares her testimony of God's care for her as she has battled cancer as a mom to three young children.  For ease of listening this conversation has been split into two segments. Be sure to listen to part one before part two. Kelly Schibi’s reflections on her Caring Bridge Scripture References:  ·       Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, b...

Listen in as Kelly Schibi shares her testimony of God's care for her as she has battled cancer as a mom to three young children.  For ease of listening this conversation has been split into two segments. Be sure to listen to part one before part two. Kelly Schibi’s reflections on her Caring Bridge Scripture References:  ·       Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, b...

There’s something deep within us that craves a haven and a place to belong. We have been created to dwell with God. Although that desire, to reside and abide with Him a beautiful secure place of rest, can never fully be met on this side of heaven, we can receive a sacred foretaste through rooting ourselves to our homes in the here and now.  But sometimes the kind of home we long for feels out of r...

All of motherhood is both hard and beautiful, but there is something uniquely intense about those first few weeks after welcoming a baby. A mother is recovering physically from bringing new life into the world while simultaneously learning how to care for a tiny, mysterious new person. It is tender. It is overwhelming. And it is often deeply exhausting. In this episode, Annie VanderHedien, author...

Christian parenting is inherently missional. Rather than limiting ministry, parenting can provide a springboard for evangelism and discipleship within the home–both inside and outside our families. Far from being sidelined from ministry, parents who approach parenting with a missional mindset will find explosive opportunities to declare the glory of God.  In this episode I'll be talking to Ja...

How do you process grief? How does your husband process grief?  Marriage is full of many good and lovely seasons. But every marriage will also experience losses. How do we process those losses in a way that brings us closer to one another and also closer to God? How is processing grief a chance to lean into God’s design for marriage? How can we work through differences in the way we grieve without...

As members of a large-ish family, my kids aren’t often the center of attention. But I want them to know that they will gave a regular time when they have my full, complete, and undivided attention.  For us, this means special monthly one-on-one coffee dates on Sunday mornings before church. Listen in for why to "date" your kids and when and how to do it.   It’s by no means a requirement,...

Setting year long goals can be a helpful way to stay on track with our ideals. Listen in for a very brief discussion of how and why to track fitness, reading, and outside time goals in 2026.

Parents are in the business of training --and that should include training to serve. We train our kids not to run in the road, to put their shirt on frontwards, and to use the bathroom. During childhood these actions are challenging, but by adulthood, most of us have it figured out. We practiced these things over and over until they became ingrained and second nature. In addition to learning to br...

If you’ve been married for more than five minutes, chances are you’ve faced conflict. Sometimes conflicts resolve easily, but other times they can eat away at your heart and mind. What should your heart’s response be when your spouse is unreasonable and reconciliation seems impossible? When you’re facing serious disagreements with no clear path forward, what are some practical next steps you can t...

Several years ago, the kids and I started eating our breakfast on the front steps of our house. I had just finished reading The Art of Neighboring , in which the authors encouraged Christians to look for simple ways to be “seen” in their neighborhoods. One of the easiest ideas they shared was moving some activity from the backyard to the front yard. At first, I set up a blanket on the grass and re...