Family by God&#039;s Design

Build Your Child’s Success Mindset

I overheard two college students talking about their classes. I was eating a bagel but I couldn’t help overhearing. Their conversation went something like this: “I can’t believe you got an ‘A’ on that test. I’m just not that good at math. But you’re smart.” “Not really. I just sat with the study group and...

Family Shepherds

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May 14, 2016

Catch the Little Rascals Red-Handed

Children love to get attention from their parents. They will work to gain your attention by any means necessary. I’m sure you’ve noticed this truth on more than one occasion. For instance, the time your child quietly played until you received an important phone call and they suddenly “needed you.” Or, the time you tried...

Family Shepherds

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March 14, 2016

Do You Rob Your Teen of Victory?

Do you rob your teen? Many parents do even though they don’t even know it. Parents rob their teens by “getting in the ring” with them instead of “staying in their corner.” For instance: Parents “get in the ring” to protect their teen from the consequences of poor choices. In the process they rob their...

Family Shepherds Honor

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February 13, 2016

Six 10-Second Marriage Refreshers

Every marriage needs refreshing. Busyness, everyday frustrations, little irritations, arguments…they all serve to clutter our marriage and slow our loving response. When that happens, we need to refresh our marriage, reaffirm our love and reestablish our connection. Here are some simple, yet effective ways to refresh your marriage in 10-seconds. Give your spouse a 10-second...

Celebration Honor

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January 25, 2016

Are You a Marriage Consumer?

We live in a world that encourages consumerism. From commercials to billboards, we are encouraged to consume products and services to gain rest, pain-free living, joy, and satisfying relationships. Movies even encourage the idea that intimate relationships “complete me,” satisfy our need for joy, and offer escape from bad situations. In such a world, marriage...

Celebration Honor

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December 28, 2015

Start Your Children’s Day with a Memory Boost

Christmas break will soon be over and our children will soon be returning to school for a new semester. How can we help them have the best day in school? Is there a way to boost their memory and increase decision-making abilities? If so, doing so could benefit their academic achievement and social interactions. And,...

Family Shepherds Honor Uncategorized

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August 24, 2015

Giving Children Freedom to Grow

We love our children. We will do almost anything to help them grow and become the amazing adults we see waiting to burst forth from the guise of childhood. We know they have greatness lurking beneath that façade of awkward teenage angst. But, our kids still need to be kids, not superstars. We need to...

Family Shepherds

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August 22, 2015

Last Weekend “Was Very Good”

My family and I attended a beautiful wedding at Camp Christian last weekend. The wedding ceremony took place in the chapel. Then, everyone walked a short distance to the Millhouse for the reception. It was a beautiful day. The bride and groom, along with their families, have participated in numerous programs at Camp Christian over...

Celebration Honor

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August 3, 2015

Motivation & Focus in Children

Did you see the article in Time magazine (7/23/15) entitled “In Praise of the Ordinary Child”? The author (Jeffrey Kluger) made several excellent observations. I would like to share two of his quotes along with a few comments. “There’s a difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation;” and, I would add, parents need to learn the...