by Shannon Popkin | Dec 5, 2012 | Holidays, Jesus, Kids' Perspective, Wisdom
After my student played “Away in a Manger” for me on the piano, she asked, “What’s a manger?”I said, “Oh! It’s a feeding trough for animals. Remember how Mary and Joseph had to stay in a stable with animals, the night Jesus...
by Shannon Popkin | Dec 1, 2012 | Hospitality
I can’t remember what I used as a centerpiece for my table last Christmas. Nor can I remember what I put on the coffee table. I looked through my boxes of Christmas decorations and nothing jogged my memory.This would ordinarily be where I ran to Pinterest for an...
by Shannon Popkin | Nov 27, 2012 | Anxiety, Christian Growth, Holidays, Kids' Perspective, Mistakes
I decided to have my boys help me with the Christmas decorating this year. But maybe I should have started with something like the stockings or the tree skirt. Clearly, setting up my village was more than they… or I… could handle.After giving some light...
by Shannon Popkin | Nov 14, 2012 | Anxiety, Holidays, Problems, Wisdom
Thanks to Beyond Bathtime Blog, for publishing my story:“Mom, I need you to pray for me.” The serious look on Older’s face caused me to lean in with concern.“OK,” I said. “What is it?” Older took a deep breath and said, “Well, tomorrow is Younger’s birthday, and on my...
by Shannon Popkin | Nov 13, 2012 | Communication, Hospitality, Leadership, Mistakes
One Sunday afternoon, I was shuffling through the stack of papers that had accumulated on my kitchen counter.One paper–obviously a letter–caught my eye. I glanced to see who it was from, but the ink at the bottom of the page had faded into oblivion. This...
by Shannon Popkin | Nov 8, 2012 | Humility, Parenting, Problems, Wisdom
a retelling from October, 2010As I walked downstairs one Saturday morning, I saw Cade sitting at the breakfast bar. I told him that before he got busy playing, he needed to take a bath. As always, he tried to beg his way out of it, but I shook my head. “You stink,...