How often do you hear parents say that they want their children to have it better than they did? That they want to give them all they can? We love our children and we do want to and should give our kids good gifts, but that does not mean that we should make life too easy for them. Sometimes the be
[ read more ]
Everything is always changing, nothing stays the same. I love going to my grandmother's in Upstate New York, it is where I spent the most of my time growing up and many things there still 'look' the same, but things are different. This old apple tree is a special landmark on Grandma's farm.
[ read more ]
Anyone who knows Olivia knows she has a passion for politics/government. Ever since she was little she has had this desire for justice and what was "right" and what was "wrong". I have always listened to conservative talk radio when I was driving, even when she was little, so current events and po
[ read more ]
I'm going to start a new series called, How to Work It Out. We all know that character and a good work ethic is important, but how to go about practically living that out is sometimes hard to figure out. With this series I'd like to spotlight some parents that are (or have finished) equipping their
[ read more ]
Here is a little twist on Kipling's poem If, written by Olivia: If you can never marry, see all your dreams rearranged, and still remain pure, If you can plan and plot and it all be overturned at a moments notice, and still submit joyfully, If you can slave over a dinner all day on
[ read more ]
The first time I heard this poem was when Charles Heston read it on the radio. His incredible manly voice drew me in; but even more so, the virtue of this poem goes to the core of what manhood is! IF If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you
[ read more ]
Before you read any further I want to make clear this is just a list that we are aiming for, as is the list for our daughters. This list may change a little as time goes on. Our only true requirements for our children to receive our blessing on their marriage is that they and their spouse be C
[ read more ]
We all want to give our children a good start in life and that includes the skills and character they will need for marriage and family life. A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Proverbs 31:10 The normative is that most women will get marrie
[ read more ]
A while back we watched Frontier House, a PBS series about 3 families that go back in time to 1883 Montana. Most of the people in this series were not equipped skill wise to live off the grid and on the land. I wish I could find a video clip of the teen daughters when they wer
[ read more ]
I guess it is because the bulk of my parenting (as far as child training goes) is coming down to it's last few years that I realize so much that I wish I'd known when I was younger!!! Most of us are not taught any parenting skills as we grow up, let alone marriage skills, other than wh
[ read more ]
I received this e-mail from a brokenhearted mom. Unfortunately, her problem is a common one. I always hesitate to advise in these situations because I'm only hearing one side. So let's look at her situation from her point of view. She writes: st1\:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#ieooui)
[ read more ]
Yesterday I posted about teens and low expectations. A good look at American history over the last 50-100 years and what we've done to the family can explain a lot . Last night we watched a documentary about a family that moved away from the typical American lifestyle to a simple life.
[ read more ]
This weekend our girls attended the Rebelution Conference put on by Alex and Brett Harris, the authors of Do Hard Things. The Rebelution is all about encouraging teens to rebel against low expectations. I believe that our culture has lowered the standard so much that we actually e
[ read more ]
There are times I can look at the state of our country and wonder if we will ever pull it together; if we will ever have leaders again with character like those that founded this nation. It looks pretty bleak! I see people throw their hands up in the air and grumble how they hate pol
[ read more ]
More than ever do we need to be teaching our children the history of our country. We have got to know real history and defend our God given rights! Prosperity has given us a couple of generations of people who for the most part, just don't care, and to be honest many are flat out lazy.
[ read more ]
I try to read a chapter of Proverbs every morning. I'm thinking if I were to heed the truths in Proverbs more often I'd avoid a lot of heartache and frustration. :o) How easily I forget or reason out why to do what is contrary. In light of yesterday's post about Responsibility and not
[ read more ]
Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, man has had to labor for everything, except sin. ~Joel McDurmon We need to resign ourselves to the fact that everyday brings more work. You can complain about it, you can even run away from it, but it does not change that fact that t
[ read more ]
You can lead a horse to water but you can not make him drink it. You can teach, drill, lecture, beg, explain, and even prove facts to a child, but it is THEIR RESPONSIBILITY to learn it! No passing the buck!
[ read more ]
An elderly neighbor whose wife was suffering with a fatal disease, called me to see if I or one of my daughters (then age 13 and 17), could come help him once a month to clean his house. He was 80 and had a bad back and just refused to do housework. Caring for his wife was a full time job for him. H
[ read more ]
Be studious in your profession, and you will be learned. Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy. At least, you will, by such conduct, stand the best chance for such conseq
[ read more ]
"It is neither wealth nor splendor, 0 but tranquility and occupation, which give happiness." ~Thomas Jefferson True tranquility can only come from God, it's called Peace. We all have a void in our lives that can only be filled with God. Peace comes from knowing that God is
[ read more ]
Will our life’s work stand the test of the fire when we come before the Lord? Will it have lasting eternal value - or will it end up in ashes? There’s an interesting difference between wood, hay, straw - and gold, silver, and costly stones. Wood, hay, and stubble are fo
[ read more ]
"The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure." Montteville Let's be diligent to teach our children that work is a good thing, even a hard, nasty task can be somewhat enjoyable if we have a good attitude.There are many
[ read more ]
Do your kids constantly ask you for money? Do you ever hear, “I’m bored”? Do your children spend money on foolish things that disappear in no time? Do they spend money as fast as they can get it? If so, then it is time that your child learn
[ read more ]
Good Character
.jpg)
