One of my favorite parenting tools is role playing. Role playing is my way of helping my children, but yet not robbing them of an opportunity to grow and gain confidence.

We started a new Christmas tradition last year that helps us remember to keep Christ in Christmas.

OK. The best thing I ever did was marry my wonderful husband. (He helped me clean up throw-up at 3:30 am yesterday.) And today is our 12th wedding anniversary. But perhaps the second best thing I ever did was…

Do you remember Service Saturdays? You know where my family and I go serve one Saturday a month so that my kids don’t turn into snotty, entitled rich kids. Well, we lost our groove for a few months there over the summer, but we are now back on track. Service Saturdays have been revived.

A neighbor called me yesterday and asked if she could come see my cupboards and how I organize things before I start packing up my house. She had heard from several people that I am organized. (These kind of requests actually embarrass me rather than flatter me.) I reluctantly agreed. I hope she isn’t disappointed because all she is going to see is baskets.

Every once in awhile I impress myself. And last year, when I was putting away my Halloween decorations, was one of those times. But I didn’t realize it then. It wasn’t until this year, when I pulled out my bins, that I was really impressed.