Blogs

What Are You Building? How Your Communication Reveals Your Heart

What Are You Building? How Your Communication Reveals Your Heart

Why Humility, People Skills, and Everyday Interactions Shape the Way We Reflect Christ If you were given the choice to go to prom in a Corvette, a Corolla, or a minivan… Which one would you pick? Be honest. Most of us, by human nature, are drawn to what looks best. What feels impressive. What elevates […]

Screens or Soil? What’s Really Shaping the Next Generation

Screens or Soil? What’s Really Shaping the Next Generation

Why Communication, People Skills, and Preteen Discipleship Matter More Than We Think “Do you limit screen time for your kids?” “Hm… interesting. Why do you ask?” “Well… they look at me when we’re talking. They play and interact with me differently than most other kids I’ve encountered. And they ask questions — they actually want […]

Criss-Cross Applesauce… and Crossed Arms?

Criss-Cross Applesauce… and Crossed Arms?

“Criss-cross applesauce.” It’s a phrase most of us remember from grade school — circle time, sitting on the floor, legs folded, trying to stay still (or at least look like we were). But as adults, there are still things we “cross”… and they say a lot more than we realize. We cross our arms. We […]

The Superpower You Didn’t Know You Had

The Superpower You Didn’t Know You Had

What if you walked around with a mirror in front of you all day, constantly reflecting you back to yourself? Not just what you look like… but how you come across. Your expressions. Your posture. Your tone. Your reactions. It’s a humbling thought. Because whether we realize it or not, people are already “seeing” us […]

Putting My Yes on the Table: Why I’m All In for Preteen Discipleship

Putting My Yes on the Table: Why I’m All In for Preteen Discipleship

Preteen discipleship is one of the most formative — and most overlooked — seasons of spiritual development. In this post, I share why I went all in on this mission, the gap I see between kids and student ministry, and how we can intentionally build pathways that champion preteens in both church and home. A […]

Something New Every Day: When “Can I?” Becomes an Invitation

Something New Every Day: When “Can I?” Becomes an Invitation

When a preteen’s “Can I?” becomes an invitation to guide them with courage, grace, and confidence. The Question That Changes Everything “Mom, can I _____???” This question is becoming an all-too-familiar phrase in my house this year. As a mom, in the moment of hearing this, I have a choice to make. Will I receive […]

Rocky Mountain Fear

Rocky Mountain Fear

How a close encounter in the Rockies shaped my understanding of fear and faith as a preteen. The Beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park Ahhh, Rocky Mountain fresh air. I can still remember the smell of the trees and forests of the Rockies from my preteen years. One summer, we were setting up camp in […]

Hotdog Buns, Peanut Butter, and Jelly | Trust God’s Plans

Hotdog Buns, Peanut Butter, and Jelly | Trust God’s Plans

How a simple childhood memory taught me to trust God’s plans over my own. A Camping Trip I’ll Never Forget I was a Girl Scout for only a couple of years, but I did learn how to pitch a tent from my parents. We did quite a bit of camping when I was a preteen […]

Discomfort in the Familiar

Discomfort in the Familiar

A reflection on how preteens navigate discomfort in faith and why anchoring them in truth matters. When Church Feels Uncomfortable My preteen self would have said “yes” if you asked whether I loved Jesus and loved my church. There was consistency in church being a priority in our family. There was an emphasis on serving […]

Dancing for Today

Dancing for Today

A reflection on slowing down, staying present, and cherishing everyday moments with your preteen. Finding the Dance Floor In every house we’ve lived in, we always seem to find the dance floor. There’s a place in our home where DJ Alexa turns on, where there’s room to be silly, to come together, to let loose […]

The Skort Story:

The Skort Story:

A nostalgic preteen story about comparison, confidence, and the generous grace God gives and how we can help our preteen ask better questions.

A Preteen Poet:

A Preteen Poet:

From childhood nerves to adult faith, this is a story of hope, healing, and learning to trust Jesus as we shape our kids’ hearts and memories.

How Do You Spell????

How Do You Spell????

A mom’s story of self-doubt, childhood spelling tests, and the battle for our minds and how daily time with Jesus renews, shapes, and transforms us.

When God Used a Silent Classroom to Teach Me How to Love

When God Used a Silent Classroom to Teach Me How to Love

A story about learning ASL, seeing people the way Jesus does, and teaching our kids compassion in a world full of noise and distraction.

The Win Behind the Win:

The Win Behind the Win:

A mom’s story of high school sports, hard lessons, and how parents can help their kids grow in humility, resilience, and Christlike character through spiritual parenting and faith-based parenting.