When a friend recently shared her hurts… exposed her weak places… whispered of her doubts and her questions, in the midst of suffering, here is some of what I wrote to her. I offer it to you, too, if you are in a wounded, hurting place: Sounds like God has you in the crucible. It is […]
Sex: Blazing Fire, Mighty River, Walled Garden – 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 […]
Q&A: What if I Don’t Feel “In the Mood?” – Jess Connell
Q: I would like to see practical tips for how to make it a priority and how to feel ‘in the mood’ when I am so tired… A: Well, since you asked a straight question, I’m going to give you a straight answer. 🙂 I think waiting and hoping to feel “in the mood” may be […]
watch your children – Jess Connell
I was recently at an event where I was, for days, in a stationary vantage point of watching a wide swath of parents interact with their children amidst stressful circumstances. One mother stands out to me. Unfortunately, not for good reasons. She stood by watching as two of her young children destroyed part of the building. She feigned… […]
December 2016 Round-Up: Podcasts & Posts – Jess Connell
Well, I had my baby on the last day of November, so this December has been a very postpartum-y month. As you might expect, that definitely influenced what (and how) I shared. Look below for the posts, and podcasts, from December 2016– POSTS PODCASTS I love these two episodes with Shelley; she shares wonderful practical […]
Say It OUT LOUD (this is changing my life) – Jess Connell
Yesterday, I bought five cabinets that I didn’t exactly “need.” I did that because they were on Facebook Marketplace for a mere $5 each, and I thought they would work in our shed. See, our shed has been, for 7 months, basically a big mess that we all kept trying to organize and reorganize– but […]
judgment – Jess Connell
It happens in the grocery store aisle, when someone else’s children are behaving better or worse than your own. Or in the church nursery, when your child bites another mom’s toddler, or vice versa. Or at the park, when, after being called, your child (or hers) runs in the opposite direction. But where it’s really…
mommy makeovers – Jess Connell
My blood began boiling over this issue a few years ago, when the (supposedly) “safe for the whole family” Christian radio station in my area began advertising “Mommy Makeovers” throughout the day, every day. The ad went something like this: “Sick of your post-baby flabby midsection? Ready to treat yourself and your body to some…
clothes – Jess Connell
{This is the 4th article in a series about modesty. We started with what the word/idea of “modesty” even means. Then we talked through 8 questions we should consider to discern our heart. Next we talked about deference as an act of submission to the Brothers and Sisters in our local Body of Christ.} But… […]
So You Want to Have a Large Family? – Jess Connell
So you want to have a large family? Or you’re on the fence and thinking about having more kids? Maybe your husband wants more, and you’re not sure? Or vice-versa? Before we got married, we both wanted a “lot of kids.” But back then we would have said that number was something like 3-5 kids. NOW? […]
Beware the Mom Idol of Affirmation – Jess Connell
“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her…” In the human heart there is a desire to be blessed, to be loved, and to feel special… As moms, we long for what we do to really MATTER and be NOTICED. Especially in this modern age, moms are desperate for notice. […]
routine – Jess Connell
Q: Can you give a snapshot of what a typical day looks like? From getting up to going to bed. Also include ages of your children. A: Kids ages, currently: 13, 11, 9 (our lone daughter), 8, 5, 3, 1 Here’s my typical day: 6:15/6:30- Get up, drink coffee, then go walk/jog for about 45…
self-care – Jess Connell
Exciting news! Baby #8 is on the way. 🙂 (Which you already know if you read last Monday’s post about Doug’s tremors. By the way- he ended up hospitalized and it became obvious it was his narcolepsy medicines causing his tremors. Thankfully, now that he’s off the meds, it’s all but stopped.) We are all… […]
What Can I Do About My Problems? – Jess Connell
“Many of the difficulties we experience as Christians can be traced to a lack of Bible study and reading. We should not be content to skim through a chapter merely to satisfy our conscience. Hide the Word of God in your heart! A little portion well digested is of greater value to the soul than […]