by Shannon Popkin | Jan 21, 2015 | Christian Growth, Faith, Father, Hardship, Humility
We don’t have a snow-blower. My husband says, “Why would we have a snow-blower, when we have three healthy kids who need to learn to work?” So while other kids are inside sipping hot chocolate to get out of the cold, my husband is sending our kids...
by Shannon Popkin | Dec 30, 2014 | Faith, Fear, God
When we lived in Lake Orion, our house backed up to a wooded state park. So Ken would get up very early and go running on the trails in the woods. To me, this seemed very scary. From our back deck, those woods seemed so thick and ominous. And on winter mornings, it...
by Shannon Popkin | Apr 18, 2014 | Faith, Holidays
When we moved, a few years ago, one of our kids was especially distraught. He said, “But I prayed that God would bring a friend to live on our street, and he did! So I think that means we’re supposed to stay on our street.”Basically, his theology...
by Shannon Popkin | Feb 24, 2014 | Beauty, Faith, Speaking
A few years ago, I spoke at a moms group on the topic of ‘beauty’. While I planned to speak mostly about inner beauty, I didn’t want to seem completely disqualified to present the topic! So, in front of my mirror that morning, I tried to muster all the beauty I...
by Shannon Popkin | Jan 17, 2014 | Faith, Fear, Gifts, Humility, Kids' Perspective, Pain, Parenting, seasons, Teens
As a mom, one of the most painful things in life is to see my kids struggle through something that is humiliating. I alternate between wanting to fix my child and eradicate the struggle, and wanting to pummel anyone who would dare to snicker or poke fun at...
by Shannon Popkin | Nov 25, 2013 | Control Girl, Faith, Fear, Humility, Parenting
My friend, Amy, struggles with fear. Especially fear of something happening to her kids. She used to be convinced that if something life-threatening ever endangered one of her kids, she would go into a fetal position in the corner and never come out.But when I talked...