How is making our children go to church like making them brush their teeth? I share with you the link to this article written by Jenny Evans. I found it helpful and thought-provoking.  http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865623037/Why-I-make-my-kids-go-to-church.html?pg=all Rev. Susan...

  As a parent, it is my job to decide what choices I will allow my children to make. I never let them make a choice if I can’t live with whatever decision they make. I never want to end up in the position of begging, pleading, offering bribes or in any other way trying to get them to change their minds because they made a choice that I didn’t want them to make. Here’s what I mean:   Scenario #1: Do you want to wear your blue bib or your red bib for supper? I can live with either choice....

I’ve seen it happen right before my eyes. One day my child is fully capable of organizing their belongings, being on time for activities, carrying out household chores in a timely manner, remembering things they are asked to do and getting enough sleep at night. Then, it is as if a switch has been flipped, and my child can’t remember something I said a minute ago, totally forgets to practice piano, is walking out the door without grabbing lunch, has clothes all over the bedroom floor, and complains about being too tired to go to school. What happened?   Well, my...

“She did it on purpose,” the five year old declares to me. “She hit me on purpose! Give her a time-out!” The demand for justice is loud and clear. And indeed, this five-year old has been wronged, but maybe not on purpose, even though it seems that way to him.   To do something “on purpose” takes mature thinking, and truthfully, most hurtful things, especially by those under 10, are not done “on purpose” but rather because of lack of maturity. The little girl hits the little boy out of frustration, her feelings pouring out in the punch, without a moment’s...

What is faith and why do we need it?   The answers to those questions are actually quite simple. It is living them out that may be harder.   What is faith? I define faith as believing in something greater than myself. For me, I name that as God, a spiritual presence that is greater than I can imagine, that loves us beyond definition and that binds all of the universe together. For others, that “greater than myself” is named in many ways. In AA, they refer to a Higher Power. In others faiths, it may be Allah, Heavenly Father, Supreme...

We’ve all had those frustrating moments when we know our child is lying to us. It is so easy to see them as bad and deceptive, but the truth lying is a natural reaction in a child who is maturing. Yes, we’d like our children to not tell lies, but we shouldn’t make a big deal about it when they do. I’ll tell you why I say that first, and then I’ll suggest what you can do.   Here’s what you need to know about why children (and even adults) tell lies: Children under 8 years can’t hold two thoughts/feelings (mixed...

It’s December 24th and the malls and stores will be filled with those trying to find last minute gifts. But here’s a last minute gift idea that won’t have you heading off hoping to find a parking spot at the mall. Why not give your loved ones the gift of presence?   We want to surprise our family with presents under the tree, but the greatest gift we can give is our presence! True presence is the best present of all. Giving our attention, our time, our focus to the ones we love is a gift of more value than anything...

On behalf of our family, we wish to pass our Christmas blessing to each and everyone of you.  Christmas arrives each year whether we are ready or not and regardless of our state of affairs.  That probably is the way God intended it.  The birth of Emmanuel—God with us—comes whether we’re ready or not and is born into whatever our life is in the moment.  It is a profoundly incarnate celebration that captures the very depth, meaning and purpose of being human.  We are all living through a unique time of recovery as our community continues to rebuild.  Christmas helps us...

Christmas Day Family Worship whether you are a family of one or a family of 15 or somewhere in between or more Needed: 5 candles, four of the same colour and one a different colour Candle holders If you wish, you could also use a manger and its characters for this. Take everyone away and add them back in as you read about the characters. Sing the carols with gusto. Don’t worry about whether you’re singing in tune or even know the tune. Feel free to sing other carols in the place of ones suggested. Thanks to the Youth at High...

Okay, so I admit it. I’m 55 years old and I still believe in Santa Claus. Yes, I know that I am the one who wraps the gifts and places them under the tree. I know that I’m the one who diligently finds stocking stuffers and fills the stockings on Christmas Eve. Yes, I know that David is the one who drinks the milk, and eats the cookies, leaving just a few appropriately placed crumbs on the plate. And in spite of all that, deep down in my heart, I believe in Santa Claus. I’m usually quite practical and down to earth,...