Susan speaks at conferences, group meetings, and retreats. Contact her at susan@practicalinspirations.com to book a speaking engagement. Developing a Standard with No Compromise* Raising a family can be like the Israelites wandering in the desert: you need a banner to follow or you may wander for forty years. Learn how to develop a Biblical standard that fits
“You don’t know how lucky you are.” Once again I had my three children lined up on the couch after another bout of sibling mayhem. “I would have given anything to have had a brother or sister. I don’t understand how you can be mean to each other. Your siblings are a gift.” The looks
Last night we were at a neighborhood bar-b-que and the children were running around enjoying being outdoors without adult intervention. As we were watching the joy of these children, maybe even wishing we could join in, a woman pointed and said, “Look at those boys. They’re are throwing dirt in the air. Why do boys
This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure statement for more details. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of a true education.” Character does not consist of a single statement or a random act, it is those qualities and dispositions that we practice consistently—both good and bad.
This post contains some affiliate links. Please see my disclosure statementPlease see my disclosure statement. “Are you ready for Christmas?” “I’m usually have everything ready around January 19.” Yes, I’ve often answered this way. There was a time that I didn’t really feel ready for Christmas. Maybe my idea of being prepared for the holiday
He blasted out the door with the force of a rocket leaving the bounds of earth. Rocks flew as he hit the gas pedal to speed out of the driveway. The screen door now had the bottom broken out and hung by one hinge. The front door knob had left a hole in the wall when
When the discussion of goals, projects, and to-do lists comes up, so does the topic of organization. Even though I don’t have long to-do lists or year-long goals. I do need to organize. During the recent cold spell in Texas, I hauled my laptop to the living room where it is warmer. Because I didn’t
Holidays are stressful enough. When a loved one suffers with a mental illness, it can be overwhelming for both of you. We all have visions of perfect meals with the smiling family all around. We also try to hard to make it easy for our loved one, who may only want everything to follow the
“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens.” I Thess 5:16-18 (MSG) What? I’m supposed to go around with a happy face pasted on? Days when our loved ones’ mental illness is causing great distress for everyone, it is hard to even think about cheerful. Hallucinations, violent outburst, or
I consider myself prepared for most anything; whether it’s a flat tire (tow service) or a natural disaster (back-up power). But as I’ve thought about these preparations this month, I wondered if there are some things you just can’t prepare for. I’ve come to the conclusion: Yes. Let me give you just a couple of