by Shannon Popkin | Sep 20, 2012 | Marriage, Parenting, Sin, Speaking
During our first year of marriage, I asked this question dozens of times. My new husband would hurt my feelings or make me angry, and I would fling myself on the bed, wailing and punching pillows. But it never made me feel better. I’d emerge feeling horrible and...
by Shannon Popkin | Sep 17, 2012 | Compassion, Food, Funny, Kids' Perspective
Here’s a conversation I had one summer morning, with my nine-year-old son: Me: Honey, did you open the side door in the garage this morning? Him: Yeah, I went outside this morning while you guys were still sleeping. Me: What??! What were you doing outside? Him:...
by Shannon Popkin | Sep 12, 2012 | Faith, Parenting
TRADITION: Each year, Ken and I choose a verse-of-the-year for each of our kids. We think through the individual challenges or struggles he/she is facing and try to find a fitting verse. Doing so reminds us to periodically evaluate where our kids are in their walk of...
by Shannon Popkin | Sep 6, 2012 | Communication, Funny, Kids' Perspective, Parenting
To help my kids tell me about their day at school, I made up “Funny, Mad/Sad, New & Review’. They have to tell me something from each category.So, for instance, here are the things I learned about today:Funny: In Cole’s math class, a kid walked...
by Shannon Popkin | Aug 30, 2012 | Parenting, seasons
It’s Yellow Ball Thursday (just ’cause I don’t have another Monday left in summer), and Michelle Loveless has the ball:I’ve loved the pace of this summer. Basically we check the weather in the morning and I say, “what are you in the mood...
by Shannon Popkin | Aug 24, 2012 | Disagreement, Family, Fear, Goals, Mistakes, Parenting
Once when Cole was about three, we had him in a church service with us. He had to go to the bathroom, so Daddy (Ken) took him out. From my seat near the front, I watched as they re-entered the sanctuary a few minutes later. Ken started walking down the side aisle, and...