Here’s a detailed look at how, in the first two weeks of breastfeeding, I begin gently prioritizing sleep… so that our whole family (parents, older siblings, and baby included) achieves sanity, sleep, and contentment ASAP. This is the way we’ve done it with all 8 of our babies. Video outline: 1:00- What method we follow… […]
scandal – Jess Connell
Well, so here it is. After Josh Duggar molested a number of girls and got caught a number of times, he went on TV, got himself a wife, and sold purity and courtship and not kissing until marriage. We all watched as his dad gave him a purity talk, which we now know, he did solely for the camera, because he…
authority – Jess Connell
Pandora is something I use almost every day. I’ve got a variety of playlists there, for when we’re feeling silly, worshipful, mellow, dancy, quiet, or happy. I love the control it gives me, to set the tone and go on with the day. I’ve got a question for you: If your life was a Pandora playlist, who’s the one… […]
praying for our kids – Jess Connell
Years ago, when I had 3- and 1-year-old little boys, and was pregnant with our little girl, I wrote out a list of 10 goals we had brainstormed for our children. Even though more than 10 years have passed, and we’ve now got 8 children, it’s still a list I refer to– for direction in decisions we…
Unity About Modesty Among Differences in Opinion (Biblical Modesty, Pt. 3) – Jess Connell
{This is the 3rd of 4 articles in a series about Christian modesty. How can a local Body of Christ, with its own individual “culture” (country, part of the country, religious norms/background, temperature, seasons, etc.), come together in unity about this topic of modesty, when opinions about what is appropriate can be so different? Particularly because– […]
My First Book: ONE THING: Top Tip From a Mom of Six – Jess Connell
Oh, y’all, I am SO excited to share with you something I’ve been working on for a long time. My new book, ONE THING: Top Tip From a Mom of 6, is the most important piece of motherhood advice I’ve got. It’s just as relevant for the seasoned mom as it is for the newly […]
5 Questions About Your Spiritual Growth – Jess Connell
We have a bush, a beautiful bush that used to grow in our yard. (It was a Japanese Barberry— love them!!) But that was exactly the problem. It grew in the yard-– it had been planted in the middle of the grass. For two years, I mowed AROUND the bush, week in, week out. So earlier this […]
“He Makes Me Lie Down” – Jess Connell
Psalm 23 has come up in various places in my life lately… you know how God does that? Sometimes He brings something to your face in various ways all at roughly the same time. Quick story: Last week, we thought we’d found a potential house for our family. It was an old church that had […]
3 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started Blogging – Jess Connell
Today I’m starting a new video series, where I’ll share “3 Things I Wish I’d Known” about various topics and life experiences. Many will be about life as a wife and mother, but this first one is “3 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started Blogging.” I’ve been blogging since the summer of 2006, and started blogging here (at jessconnell.com) […]
Grow as a Woman – Jess Connell – Page 4
Sometimes we can feel like it’s wrong to ask, “why, God?” When hard times come, it’s often a natural question of our hearts… but I don’t think it’s a wrong question. The only concern I have is that I think we don’t ask it soon enough. I want to encourage you to ask it now…. […]
thinking – Jess Connell
Analogies can be a way for us to understand ideas or experiences better. Here are 3 good analogies I’ve heard used to describe sex, and why I find them helpful: #1- SEX IS LIKE A BLAZING FIRE. The weekend-getaway we do with our 12-year-olds is called “Passport2Purity.” That is the first place I remember hearing… […]
Grow as a Woman – Jess Connell
Two springs ago, we were in Georgia on a road trip, and our van needed attention. Doug and Mae went into town with the van, and I spent the day with 7 of our sons on the approach trail to the Appalachian Trail. We had hiked a steep two miles uphill to see Amicalola Falls… […]
toddlers – Jess Connell
Hiking with toddlers and preschoolers is quite different from hiking with older children. Especially if you’ve been an avid hiker with only adult-sized people, you are going to have to dramatically change your expectations. Nonetheless, hiking with 3-6 year olds really *IS* possible, and you can even ENJOY your hike together. We hike often with… […]
How Your Words Can Build a Go-the-Distance Marriage – Jess Connell
It’s an oft-spoken observation about marriage and family: it is easy for us to act the most hurtful toward the people we claim to love most. Can I challenge you today to be purposeful about the words you speak to your husband? #1- STOP USING WORDS THAT BITE & DEVOUR HIM Galatians 5:13-16 challenges us all: “through love serve one another. For the […]