DIY Toddler Toys from Everyday Objects

Toddlers have an abundance of curiosity, a short attention span (when compared to adults), and an innate ability to uninhibitedly express themselves whenever the need strikes. One might say that toddlers excel at living in the moment. The good news is that this means you can make some DIY toddler toys out of everyday household objects that will attract and amuse your toddler. Obviously, parents will need to monitor their toddlers as they play with these “DIY” toys (just as they would if the toddler was playing with regular toys). Many parents have noticed this little “quirk” that toddlers have. … Continue reading

What Can You Do If You Are Married to a Non Believer?

I am conscious after last week when Mick was sick and had to stay home from church, how hard is for those whose marriage partners are not believers. If your spouse is not a believer and you are, what can you do? These ideas are based on an article I read last year in Footprints magazine contributed by someone who is married to a non believer and some of my own ideas. Pray The first and best thing you can do is pray. You may not be able to change your spouse and convince them to believe but God can. … Continue reading

New to Marriage Blog but Not to Marriage

I’m popping in to say, ‘Hi’ and feeling excited to be joining Courtney on the marriage blog. My husband and I have been married for over 40 years, so hopefully I’ve learned something about marriage in that time to share with you all. Since May 2007 I have been writing in the Christian area and popping in for the occasional guest movie review. A number of my blogs in Christian have covered marriage. You can check some of them out below. Much of my life involves writing. I’m fortunate to have a husband who fully supports me. He thinks I … Continue reading

Meet a Families.com Blogger – Dale Harcombe!

Today we are joined by the incomparable Dale Harcombe, who shares her taste in movies with me. Dale, thanks for chatting with me today. How long have you blogged for Families.com? Since mid-May 2007. I started just after coming back from Alpha 2 Omega, a Christian writers’ convention in Brisbane, Queensland. What topics do you blog about? At this stage Christian, though it seems to encompass different areas of life, since being a Christian affects all of living. What is your favorite thing about blogging for Families.com? I like the feeling of commmunity and interaction. Also when people let me … Continue reading

Keeping the happily ever after.

Valentine’s Day is the day for letting the one you love, know how you feel about them. But it shouldn’t just be on Valentine’s Day. My husband and I have been married for more than two thirds of our lives. Yes, we married young – both under 21. In all that time there has not been a day when he has not told me he loved me and I have not told him I loved him. Sure, we show it by our actions and the things we do, but it’s always nice to hear the words. That’s one way of … Continue reading

Meet Marriage Blogger Courtney Mroch

Greetings! Some of you may know my work from the blogs I write over in the Pets section or from guest blogs I’ve written in Marriage or a few other sections. I’ll still be contributing to Pets as well, but today I officially join Heather Long and Karri Weathers as a Marriage Blogger. Wooohooo! I’m very excited about keeping company with you all. You, however, might be wondering, “Who is this Courtney Mroch and why is she qualified to write about love, marriage, and relationships?” Well, let’s see if I can answer that… 21 Years and Counting I am married. … Continue reading

Ask a Baby Blogger: Feeding on Demand, Twins and Your Sanity

Question: Did you keep your twins on the same schedule? I’m trying to breastfeed on demand but I am going crazy–I need more sleep! As a mother of twins, I can tell you that EVERYONE who has twins goes through this sleep deprivation and it is hard. I can’t tell you how many mothers I’ve talked to who say, “If there were one baby I could do this. . .but two?” My first piece of advice is do whatever you have to do to get some help. Plenty of mothers of singletons have help for the first month or so. … Continue reading

The Pros and Cons of Co-Parenting

There are times when the “happily ever after” ends in divorce. When this happens, couples who are parents must sort out custody and visitation rights. Co-parenting is an option that may work out well for couples that can get along with each other post-divorce. There are also situations where co-parenting just isn’t going to work smoothly. Positive Aspects of Co-Parenting There is a celebrity example of what co-parenting looks like when it works well. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony split up in 2011. In 2015, they posted on Instagram a family photo from the birthday party of their 7-year-old twins. … Continue reading

Free Christmas Apps for Android

An easy way to get into the holiday spirit is by playing around with a Christmas themed app. Every year, there are some interesting, and free, Christmas apps for Android. They are great for keeping small children happily occupied while you are waiting in line by the registers. Christmas Games is a free app for Android. It has five Christmas themed games for children (and adults) to play. There is a jigsaw puzzle and a shape puzzle. It has connect the dot, a memory game, and a scratch game. The connect the dot game fills in a detailed cartoon image … Continue reading

Tips for Creating a Happy Marriage

A happy marriage – isn’t that what all of us want? What can you do to increase your chances of a happy marriage? Here are some suggestions. You can often tell when a marriage is happy or when it is not. It shows in the faces of the couple as they look at each other and relate to others. It shows in the way they talk about their spouse. They don’t criticize and draw attention to his or her faults. Rather they draw attention to their loved one’s good points. They certainly don’t talk negatively about their spouse when they … Continue reading