by Shannon Popkin | Dec 19, 2014 | Compassion, Family, Gifts, Holidays, Hospitality, Kids' Perspective
Each year, our friends, the Gebhards, put up a ‘Jesus Stocking’ at their house in December. All month, they collect money, and then use the funds to buy a gift for someone in need. All month, they thumb through the Samaritan’s purse catalog, hoping to be able purchase...
by Shannon Popkin | Nov 24, 2014 | Communication, Family, Holidays, Kids' Perspective, Parenting
During one particular sports season, my son Cole complained that his coach screamed more at him than anyone else on the team. And from what I was hearing on the sidelines, I decided he might be right! I constantly heard my son’s name being screamed across the...
by Shannon Popkin | Oct 19, 2014 | Conflict Resolution, Marriage, Submission
The day Ken and I got home from our honeymoon, we went grocery shopping together. When we got to the checkout, the bagger asked, “Paper or plastic?” (Back then, they used to ask you this.) We responded simultaneously.”Paper,” I...
by Shannon Popkin | Oct 3, 2014 | Compassion, Humility, Jesus, Parenting, Roles, Serving
Dedicated to my friends at Thornapple MOPS. :)I’ll never forget the Hazens. We knew their family when we had preschoolers and babies. They had big, burly boys, who absolutely loved my kids–especially our new baby, Cade. They would ask to hold him, and...
by Shannon Popkin | Sep 19, 2014 | Kids' Perspective
repost from 2012 “Do you want to go to the football game on Friday?” I asked my third-grade son. “It’s the Homecoming game.” “Homecoming? Oh, yeah… Is that when they announce the football players’ girlfriends?”...
by Shannon Popkin | Sep 13, 2014 | Control Girl, Leadership, Marriage, Submission
Trying to hide my surprise from the waitress, I glanced up at her and said, “Thank you.”But when she walked away, I looked across the table at my husband and let my astonishment seep into my expression.There, on the white linen table cloth, was the black...