In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Today was not pretty. It started with the mad dash to get ready for trip two of three this week to the Big Hospital to the North. My daughter began to complain about her new shoes and her new clothes. Maybe it is because I have not been sleeping (due to my oldest son’s medical condition, or because hubby has had a cold), and because I have driven the Big Red Bus this week a bazillionty miles (and it’s only Tuesday, mind you!), but most likely... more

You have adopted an older child into your Christian family from the foster care system or an orphanage abroad. The child has never been to church, which has been our experience with most of our foster children. You would like your new child to learn the stories and verses that you may have grown up hearing, a foundation for faith. You would also like your child to get excited about doing it. You want your child to meet other Christian children and make new friends with similar thinking families.

Your new children may be lonely. They are probably missing their friends... more

Have you thought about your daughter’s purity? Don’t wait until it is time to begin dating to discuss the subject, as uncomfortable as it may be. Don’t just assume your daughter will know what to do in a pressure situation, if you haven’t helped her to plan her actions. This can be especially important if your daughter was exposed to questionable activities prior to her adoption.

My sisters-in-the-Lord threw a book shower for Amigrace when we brought her home. One of the books we received was The Princess and the Kiss, by Jennie Bishop. My friend said that she and her... more

I really hope I make it to Heaven, because in my head, I live in a Utopian society – everyone does the right thing, rules are fair, and atrocities don’t exist.

If you’ve read my road trip series, you know my family loves the superstore circuit. Tonight, upon exiting our local superstore, we went to our car, only to find a really big ding to the back of it. No note, no nothing. I just couldn’t fathom why someone wouldn’t go into the store, or at least stick their card or a note under the windshield.

But, then again, I can’t fathom the tragedy... more

I’ve been online for about 12 years now. I’ve participated in chats, e-mail discussion groups, community boards and forums. The topics have been diverse – some seemingly innocuous like homeschooling – some rife with debate like attachment parenting (with sub components like the vaccination debate and whether to circumcise or not). And, in all of these cases, whether “innocuous” or not – you get debate – some healthy – much of it not. And so it is with adoption.

As Jan Baker over at First/Birth Parents eloquently states it:

That... more

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. (Titus 2:3-5)

In an age of micro-minis, jelly bracelets and spring break beads, its clear we need to raise godly girls. We need to help our girls develop a moral compass,... more

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18)

Pornography is just a click away for Internet-savvy teens and ‘tweens. Read on for how you can help protect your child from pornography’s lure.

According to the website XXXChurch, the average age of first exposure to pornography is eleven years old. This statistic crosses all socio-economic and religious boundaries. One online site... more

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:7)

Religion is one of the areas covered by a homestudy, and one that birthparents often use as a screener for potential adoptive parents. In our personal situation, the private Christian... more