Search Results for: blog keeping the lines open

Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

We live in a world of technology. We are constantly bombarded with the latest and greatest of everything. They even make cell phones for toddlers to call mom and dad now. With the constant growth in technology it is important to educate your children about staying safe online. Children who are educated about internet safety are much more likely to take precautions to stay safe than those who aren’t. The dangers of the online world are rampant. There are predators lurking around every corner, waiting for them to make a mistake. Talk to your children about the importance of staying … Continue reading →

Keeping Kids Safe Online

When you are a single parent your child may spend more time unsupervised than you would like, it’s important to teach them basic safety. One of the big areas that you need to be concerned with is the internet. While there are many good things online, education things, there are other things that can be harmful if your child ventures in unsupervised. Everyone has heard stories of online predators and bullies, so how do we protect our kids? I think the most important thing you can do it talk with your children. Before they go online the first time it … Continue reading →

Keeping Quiet

When you’re used to talking about things it’s hard to not talk. Lately I have been finding it difficult, as Mick has been reading my newest novel Streets on a Map. I found it hard to sit next to him, wondering what he was thinking as he was turning the pages, wondering how he was responding to what I’d written. I know other writers and their husbands and loved ones are their first readers while the manuscript is still in draft stage. I can’t work like that. Mick might get to see short pieces I’ve written and when I was … Continue reading →

Keeping the Lines Open

Silence is not always a bad thing. Sometimes you can spend time with someone you love, completely comfortable in their company without any words being spoken at all. But silence is not always good. In marriage it is important to keep the lines of communication open. How often have you seen a movie and the couple who are obviously long married are sitting in silence across from each other? How often have you also seen it in real life? The assumption is people who have been married a long time have nothing left to talk about. This morning Mick and … Continue reading →

Keeping God at a Distance.

Are you ever guilty of trying to keep God at a distance? Let’s look and learn from the Israelites. Exodus 20:18-26 1. The Israelites saw the lightning and the mountain in smoke. They saw evidence of the power of God before them and heard the thunder and the trumpet. It made them afraid for their lives. They sought to keep God at a distance, frightened of a closer relationship. They did not want God to speak directly to them but wanted Moses to act as intermediary. Do you ever want to keep God at a distance? Are you content to … Continue reading →

Assessing Travel Amenities

Learning how to stretch your dollar is especially beneficial as the busy summer travel season kicks off.  Fortunately, there are a number of airlines and hotels looking to help you get the most bang for your buck this season, including: United Airlines:  The popular commercial carrier is catering to pet lovers.  United recently opened a new kennel at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.  Now when you opt for the airline’s PetSafe service your fur baby will enjoy modern, ventilated and temperature-controlled units.  The new kennel is located inside United’s cargo facility and can accommodate 28 pets.  The facility also has temperature-controlled … Continue reading →

Make Peace with Packing

We all love to travel, but unless you are Martha Stewart-organized, packing for vacation can be a real pain. Whether you are jetting off to grandma’s house in Omaha or planning to watch history being made in London during the Summer Olympics, you will likely need more than just a toothbrush and underwear to get through a week-long trip. Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce stress when packing for a summer getaway. For starters, if you are flying on a commercial airline that charges an arm and a leg for excess baggage, consider wearing your heaviest shoes and clothes … Continue reading →

Summer Reading Series: Penny and Her Song

You won’t be seeing my daughter on American Idol any time soon. Make that, ever. My 7-year-old possesses a litany of incredible talents; however, singing is not one of them. I know. I know. How dare I make such a stinging comment about my own flesh and blood. Calm down. It’s called reality. And it doesn’t mean that I don’t allow her to exercise her vocal chords. Nor does it mean that I cringe whenever she feels the urge to make like Miley Cyrus or the kids on Curious George. Rather, I am simply not a parent who is disillusioned … Continue reading →

Playing the Airfare Game

Timing is everything when you are trying to land an amazing deal on airfare. This is especially true if you are booking online. Whereas there are dozens of travel websites out there, convenience and accessibility doesn’t make snagging a rock bottom deal less complicated. For example, many travelers scoop up airline seats thinking they’ve scored a super deal, only to discover that two days later prices plummeted by 30 percent or more. So how do you win at the high-stakes game of airfare poker? According to travel experts, there are two main strategies that come into play when searching for … Continue reading →

Managing Smart Dogs

Smart is often a selling point for dogs. There are certain breeds, especially those known for herding, that are generally considered the cream of the clever canine crop. Thus if you want an intelligent dog it might not be too hard to seek one out, but there are some things you need to know before adopting a brainy companion. Pet site ZooToo has some tips. The most important thing to consider first is that smart doesn’t necessarily mean easy. We think that it will; we think how nice it will be to have a dog that can fetch slippers and … Continue reading →