Category: Family

Family life is daily. There is no vacation from being in family, yet is a daily practice session for application of how we are to live with others. Enjoy every practice session as you grow together and learn about and grow in God’s incredible grace.

Family, For the Love of Family

Just ask!

You don’t have, because you don’t ask. James 4:3 He frowned and muttered under his breath.  At 6:30 a.m. and a junior in high school, who wouldn’t be a bit unhappy? But being mom, I felt there was something more than the usual morning grumpiness of a teenage boy. “When are we going to do something about my wrist? I am tired of the pain.” My heart broke because I wasn’t sure if we could do anything. Our business was struggling. We had lost our health insurance. Collin had a pre-existing condition. He needed a bone-graft surgery on his wrist. The […]

Family, For the Love of Family, Raw Footage

Life Changing Tragedies, by Collin Tucker, 2010

The following is Collin’s complete essay written after corrective surgery with Shriners Hospitals for Children®. Visit Just Ask blog for more of the story. Tragedies are mostly viewed to have a horrendous affect on one’s life. They can sometimes cause serious health issues,which in turn cause financial difficulty for the family trying to pay for treatment, and many times families can be split over the stress of it all. Can any good come from such harsh tragedies such as lifelong disease and cancers? At first glance upon such a situation, no good can be seen. But in my recent experience, […]

Family, For the Love of Family

5 Intentional Practices for a Great School Year

Across the United States children and parents are gathering school supplies and buying new clothes in anticipation of a new school year. It feels like a new start, a time of renewal – like the first day of a new year. Children and parents alike face the school year with great hope; hope for new friends, learning new things and good grades. And as the parent and guardian of these sweet children, you have an important role to play. There are many influencers and factors that affect a child’s successful (or doing well) school year. The following suggestions will make a […]

Family, Finances, For the Love of Family

Debt: One Millennial’s View

I am often amazed at the workings of God. He teaches us in the most unordinary and beautiful ways. Each member, created in His image, offers a unique view of our God. From a parent’s perspective, this is holy ground. Holy because I have been taught how He uses each of us to fulfill His will and purpose on earth. Our conversation about being debt-free is only one small piece of the picture. Our next few blogs will be jointly written with our oldest son Keaton. He offers a different perspective on the journey to becoming debt-free. In large sweeping […]

Family, Finances, For the Love of Family

Almost Debt-Free College – is it worth it?

A few weeks ago we celebrated our son Collin’s college graduation  At both the senior dinner and the graduation ceremony, graduates were encouraged to practice generosity – not forgetting the private institution from which they were graduating. Within six months over 70% of American graduates will begin their student loan payments. In 2014, Wall Street Journal reported that the average student debt for that year’s class would be $33,000. And with an upward trend of over 70% of college students choosing to borrow money, coming out of college debt-free is really a minority position. In order to do so, students […]

Family, For the Love of Family

When Silence Isn’t Golden

As he pulled out of the church parking lot, Ken engaged in thought. The lesson was inspiring, and he was looking forward to discussing with friends over lunch.  Yet, it was silent in the car; what had he done now? Did he say something wrong causing embarrassment?  or was she too, pondering the sermon?  That uncomfortable feeling set in: the fear of saying something when he shouldn’t, and the fear of keeping quiet when he shouldn’t.  Two more blocks and if the car was still silent, he would muster the courage to say something.  Here goes: “so what’s wrong with you?” […]