By Ashley McIlwain As I made the bed up with the fresh sheets I had just washed, I found frustration bubbling up inside of me. After all, I do all of the cleaning including washing the sheets and making the bed by myself all of the time. Why is that the one time I’m actually
By Ashley McIlwain Recently I got to go home to Pennsylvania to spend some much needed time with my parents. On Sunday we were sitting in the church I spent many Sundays growing up in, and the pastor, Rev. James Stork, was speaking on “Humanity in Community.” He discussed how God intended the church to
By Loryn Purvis I just love my in-laws. Every year I look forward to the month of July because I know I will get to spend some really great quality time with them when they come to visit Southern California. My in-laws are the best! They are encouraging, supportive, and all around fun to be
By Steve McIlwain Hubs here. Depending on your style of thinking, your brain has between 12,000 - 50,000 thoughts per day. That’s 8-34 per minute; more than one different thought every two seconds!! Men have different ways of expressing these thoughts. Some are loud and outspoken. Some are quiet and muted. Some are entirely unfiltered.
By Ashley McIlwain Here I was watching this man struggle to pull in whatever it was he had snagged on the end of his fishing line. Back and forth. Tugs and pulls. Focused and poised. It was shocking how much effort went into reeling in this watery creature. I mean, there wasn’t even any guarantee
By Ashley McIlwain I was watching my niece fight her nap. Her eyelids looked like they were packing luggage for a family of five, and yet, she would rather tote around that heavy load than to just close her eyes and let it slip away. She wanted to stay awake even though she desperately needed
By Ricinda Perry Have you ever found yourself fussing over some of the silliest details racing back and forth, frantically staring at a speeding clock before some kind of event? Do you follow your child all day picking up after their messes to keep things in order? Do you see misplaced things lying around and
By Ashley McIlwain Growing up I always got along better with guys. Unlike most of the girls in my class, my closest friends were guys. Girls just didn’t seem to like me too much, and I wasn’t a fan of the drama that often came with girlfriends. Instead, I found guys to be straightforward, simple,
By Loryn Purvis I love summertime! Long, warm days, beach bonfires and beautiful sunsets are just a few of the many reasons why. Summer is also the perfect time to reconnect with your spouse. Those long days are the perfect backdrop to freshen up your relationship with a nice picnic, a hike, outdoor dinners at
By Rob Thorpe What is the secret for enjoying a thriving marriage even after the kids come along? After raising three sons, being married for over 36 years, and having counseled countless couples over the years, I am excited to share the “secret” with each of you. The secret to enjoying a fulfilling, thrilling marriage
