Blog - Preserving the Family

The Farmhouse Journal: The Dinner Bell

by Cheryl | Mar 22, 2021 | Farmhouse Devotions, Farmhouse Journal

We all have expectations when that dinner bell rings. Ask a room full of parents if they would like daily dinnertime to be more significant and many hands will go up. Most parents would like for their family mealtime to be more than it is. With four young boys at the...

Table Training for Deliberative Democracy

by Stan | Jan 11, 2021 | Training, truth

During the 1960s, I was blessed to be part of family gatherings around the large Victorian dinner table on my grandparents’ dairy farm, documented by one of my cousins with the latest, greatest Polaroid camera. At the time, I did not realize I was being schooled in...

Getting Back to Normal? 10 Things to Remember

by Stan | Nov 3, 2020 | Confidence in God, Faith, God's Word

We may hope and even believe that after the 2020 election or the distribution of a vaccine for Covid-19, we can get back to normal life in America. In many ways, we will. Eventually, God-willing, schools and churches will be fully open. We visualize sporting events...

Our Cultural Moment–Escape or Engage?

by Cheryl | Oct 17, 2020 | Culture, Evangelism, truth

Like many people of faith, you may feel disillusioned with government and politics and the tone of the rhetoric in election campaigns. In addition, the fear, pain, and disruption of Covid-19 to our entire world has made 2020 a year to remember or one you may prefer to...

One Who Waters Will Himself Be Watered

by Stan | Aug 29, 2020 | Community, Family Mission, Family vision

"Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." Proverbs 11:25 Here is something most don't know about me--I grow bougainvilleas in our back yard. Oklahoma is far from Hawaii where Cheryl and I marvel at the massive plants...

Marriage Is Not Just About Us

by Stan | Aug 12, 2020 | Family Mission, Heritage, Marriage

On this day forty-eight years ago, Cheryl and I stood in front of family and friends and spoke marriage vows to one another. These vows included the words, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, and for richer or poorer. The negative components seemed...

Choose Joy

by Stan | Jul 19, 2020 | Confidence in God, Prayer

Philippians 4:4-9 (ESV) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your...

No Small Storm

by Stan | Jul 15, 2020 | Confidence in God, Faith, God's promises

“No small storm was assailing us.” --Acts 27:20 Here we are in the middle of 2020 with "no small storm assailing us." In fact, we recognize multiple storms assailing us along with the fear and anxiety they bring. The entire March issue of Tabletalk magazine, an...

Understanding Your Child’s Sense of Loss

by Cheryl | Apr 15, 2020 | Parenting, validation

When you think your children are giving you a hard time, they may be having a hard time! Stan and I recently participated in a discussion panel for parents of school-aged children. The panel addressed what is foremost on everyone's mind right now--managing all of the...

Religious Freedom Day January 16, 2020

by Stan | Jan 16, 2020 | Religion

"The liberty enjoyed by the people of these States, of worshipping Almighty God agreeably to their consciences, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights." --George Washington Welcome to Religious Freedom Day, 2020! The...

Looking Forward to the Future by Reflecting on the Past

by Stan | Jan 3, 2020 | Faith

Looking back in our post archives, I came across one from January 5, 2016 with encouraging words from Charles Spurgeon. Four years ago, these words came to us at a time we needed to be reminded of them and they are certainly applicable today. We have all been greeted...

Fostering Emotional Safety in Our Homes

by Cheryl | Nov 5, 2019 | Culture, Family Mission, Family vision, Parenting

"Papa, do you think Christianity will be outlawed in our country?" Our grandson looked at Stan, waiting for an answer. His question took our breath away. If we think children are just "being kids" and not feeling the stress of growing up in the twenty-first century,...