Should You Have Kids If You Can’t Afford Them?

Americans are having less babies. A lot less babies. The U.S. birth rate has fallen dramatically in recent years. In fact birth rates among women between the ages of 25-29 are the lowest they’ve been since 1976. Those women who are having babies are waiting longer than ever to do so. The average age of…

Who Knew Marriage Could Be Lonely?

I’m in the middle of writing a book about loneliness. It doesn’t drop until next year, but I can give you a sneak peak. Chapter 1: God wired us for connection Chapter 2: We’ve gotten a little sidetracked in our understanding of what connection really is. Chapter 3: A bunch of us are really, really…

Ministry

I married my husband, Jason, because he was a youth pastor and I had a burning passion for ministry–and because Jason was so handsome and I had a burning passion for him. I wanted to do BIG things for God’s Kingdom and I had visions of the two of us conquering the world in Jesus…

Meet the Parents

We all watched in horror when Ben Stiller’s desire to impress led to a hilarious dinnertime prayer and awkward bragging about his ability to milk the cat in Meet the Parents. However, the real reason that movie made us laugh so hard is because we can relate. Misery truly does love company. Grafting into a…

Beware the Husband Hater

I had a rare morning out with a friend last week. We sipped yummy coffee and enjoyed quiet conversation. As a mom of two little kids, outings like this are a treat. I couldn’t have done it without my hubby who watched the kids while I was gone (he even managed to do the laundry…

Saying “I Do” to Your Mate’s Stuff

“Do you (insert bride’s name here) take this man along with his 47 t-shirts, his pocket knife collection, and that ugly, ratty football jersey he got from the quarterback of his favorite team?” “Yeah. I think so.” “And do you (insert groom’s name here) take this woman along with her flowery bedspread, gajillion throw pillows…

Diversifying Your Social Network

“Birds of a feather flock together,” is a kitschy way of saying we tend to hang out with people a lot like ourselves. If you’re an engaged couple that likely means you’re used to spending time with folks on a fairly limited spectrum. My guess is that the bulk of your free time is spent…

The Question You Need To Be Asking About Kids

So…when are you going to start having kids?” It’s a question you’d better get used to as most couples find that well-meaning friends, co-workers and distant relatives start asking it almost immediately after hearing the words, “I do.” But before you get to the “when” of having kids, you need to tackle the “if.” And…