In 2010, I hosted an essay contest. The topic was The Inspiration Connection: How Being Inspired Transforms the Quality and Effectiveness of Our Education.

A friend, Jody Jarvis, who lived in Nevada at the time, won. The prize was awesome and was inspired. You will enjoy that story also.

You will learn from and appreciate the experience she had, inspiring her boys by being an example for them. Her example made all the difference in the learning experience they had as a family. Enjoy

A fun Christmas season activity is watching children perform Christmas plays. When Maggie was five and Jack was three, they had the opportunity to be in a play depicting the First Christmas. All the actors were under eleven, and many were under five years old. Maggie has severe cerebral palsy, which posed challenges; fortunately for her, Cindie Walker, her best friend, was the director. Maggie needed to be placed in a stander to participate in an upright position, without her wheelchair. Cindy had spent a great deal of time with Maggie and wasn't put off by what was required to work with her. In fact, the beauty of this director was that she wasn't put off by working with any of the children, no matter how young. She had a vision that I loved. It wasn't about the outcome, but about how everyone would feel when it was over.

How can this be managed in the chaos of working with children? Join me as I share this wonderful, long-ago experience and how we managed it. Merry Christmas.

The article I had prepared to post on November 30, 2025, had been published in 2017. My Excel sheet wasn't as in order as it needed to be. Instead of getting another article ready at the last minute, I wrote a note to my readers and sent it out via the Sunday newsletter. It made an impact, and I got emails. I realized that I had written an article with an important message without even knowing it. So, I'm posting it on the website and recording it. If it helped last Sunday, then it may be of help in the future.

Join me as I share what went wrong and my strategy for remaining sane and in control. : )

Join me as I share the things that I am most grateful for this year. You will find yourself included. : ) It may help you ponder what you are grateful for and bring joy to your heart for Thanksgiving Day.

Several years ago, I wrote an article about the importance of gratitude. I'm posting it again because this is the season when we think about expressing gratitude. However, I hope it helps you take some daily actions that move you to think about what you are grateful for every day.

Join me as I share the story of the Turbo Pickle and other ways that gratitude changed my life. My story may change yours.

In an article I wrote in September 2024, titled The Five-Year Lesson, I detailed how I transitioned from not nurturing relationships to consistently engaging in them. In the latter half of 2025, I've experienced the wisdom of that five-year lesson. I'm glad I listened to God and myself and took some challenging steps, even though it seemed like just another thing on my very full plate.

Join me as I share what has happened and how even though things can't be perfect, they can be wonderful!

This week, I had an experience that brought to mind the importance of letting our kids know, daily, that we see them and that they matter. It brought back many memories of families I have worked with, parents I have mentored, and the huge impact I've seen when moms and dads learn to 'see' their kids during the mundane moments of every day.

A universal human need is to matter, especially to those we love. We can all satisfy this need for others, especially in our families, in simple ways. When our children or others we cross paths with feel seen, it builds confidence and strengthens a sense of self-worth. It brings moments of joy. But what does it mean to see someone? I experienced this kind of 'seeing' this week.

Join me as I share what happened and how you can share it with your family.

Today, let's look at the fifth Principle of Power. I love all five principles; they all matter, but this seems to be the most challenging to implement. Many of us fly by the seat of our pants. Don and I did that in our marriage and family life for many years, and we paid a price; our family paid a price. Things go better, even if they don't go exactly as we envisioned, when we have a plan. This is true in our goals, family discipline, maintaining loving relationships, having workable family systems, engaging in family activities, managing school, meals, chores, and so forth.

Join me as I share how this principle can help you have greater success in your family. Then I will wrap all five principles in a family sandwich, which you can then digest and learn to use.