I have a lot of conversations with people in my job as an office administrator for my church. Most of the time, these conversations

Growing up, I had a tendency to act like a spoiled brat whenever I didn’t get my way. Many people have done this, I

“It’s not about the cards you’ve been dealt, but how you play the hand.” -Randy Pausch Hello. My name is Amber. I love God, my family,

It started with one word: shutdown. At first, it wasn’t really noticeable. I went about my days as best I could, navigating the “new normal,”

There’s an old adage that says, “Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow, for babies grow up, we’ve learned to our sorrow. So quiet

“When you’re a parent, you’ll understand.” How many of us heard these words from our mothers on one or more occasions growing up? If you’re

All my life, I wanted to be a mother. It’s just something I knew, deep down, I was meant to be. I also knew

Life has a funny way of working out sometimes. Have you ever heard the song, “Unanswered Prayers,” by Garth Brooks? It’s about a man who

I love Hallmark Christmas movies. It drives my family crazy, but each year on the last weekend of October, my television is tuned to

If I had to pick a favorite week of the year, hands down it would be the last week of October. It’s the week

When I was working one of my first “real” jobs in my early 20s, my brother invited me to his 21st birthday party. I

When I first lost my mom, I had so many well-meaning friends, and relatives offer help, advice, and words of encouragement. The outpouring of

My daughter’s middle school recently held a parent meeting for students interested in its biennial trip to Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas. This excited

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more." —Melody Beattie Since my mom’s passing in 2015, I have

“Grace, then, is grace—that is to say, it is sovereign, it is free, it is sure, it is unconditional, and it is everlasting.” –

If you are a mother, chances are you’ve had to deal with your fair share of homework battles. Some instances have probably been minor,

“I always say that kindness is the greatest beauty that you can have.” –Actress, Andie MacDowell I will be the first to tell anyone that

October is my birthday month, and at nearly (cough) 39, I recently discovered that it’s OK to start over in my professional career. For the past

When I first became a stay-at-home mom, my children were younger and fairly easy to please. At the time, I had an infant, a

At the end of July, I will become the mom of a teenager. I am having a difficult time swallowing that thought: mom of

Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) is an extremely rare autoimmune disease. In fact, it is so rare that no one knows what causes it,

Let’s just get this out in the open: vacationing with children is a daunting affair to think about. There’s planning and packing and food