When Did It Hit You?

When did you accept that in the glut of all you cannot know or decide, you have a small but meaningful say in how some of it plays out? I wonder if it happened the first night you slept alone in an empty house, double- checking the locks, falling asleep to a soundtrack of ill intent. 

The Moments That Knocked the Wind Out of You

Perhaps it was the moment you looked hard at the face of someone or something you love—your home, your spouse, your church—and realized you had never really known them. Belonging had always been a mirage, only made “real” through the twisted alliance of UV rays and air pollution. Some rainbows, you learned, are only beautiful from a safe distance.

There was also the day, perhaps, when you looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize yourself, which seemed like only months after you paid off your student loans and simultaneously realized you loathed your vocation. You’d squeezed every drop from your God-given superpowers only to realize you’re entirely expendable.

Maybe summer arrived like an exhale but left you bruised. The long-awaited fat tomato season of your dreams spiraled into fermenting blackberries and bad beans. 

You bear the weight, and you bear it, and you bow until you almost snap.

Finding books that go deep in faith, speak honestly to the challenges of parenting, and give your kids something worth holding onto is no small task. Whether you’re planning your homeschool year, or just need something to fill your own cup, this list is for you.

In a world full of constant input, it takes intention to choose what actually shapes the heart of a home. The books we bring into our families do more than fill quiet moments — they help form language, values, and the way we process both faith and everyday life. Over time, those small, repeated touchpoints become part of the foundation our children grow up on.

Many parents are looking for resources that don’t just entertain or pass the time, but that actually invite depth. Something that opens the door to conversation at the dinner table, or gives words to prayers that feel hard to pray on your own. Faith-based books have a unique way of slowing the pace of a household and turning ordinary moments into meaningful ones.

They also remind us that parenting isn’t meant to be done in isolation or perfection. The right books can bring encouragement in seasons of uncertainty, clarity when things feel overwhelming, and practical tools when you’re not sure what to do next.

The One Thing That Makes the Difference

Trauma. It’s a word we hear constantly, in schools, on social media, in parenting circles. But what does it actually mean, and more importantly, what does it mean for your child?

As counselors, we’ve seen firsthand how the word “trauma” has become a catch-all for almost any painful experience. Researchers at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence have noted that many people use the word too casually to describe events that make them uncomfortable or that they perceive as negative. And psychologist George Bonanno observes that, in today’s culture, “anything bad is trauma.”

That matters, because when we overuse the word, we risk underestimating our kids.

What Trauma Actually Is

There’s also an important distinction between Big T traumas, such as violence, disasters, or serious accidents, and Little T traumas, such as emotional neglect, bullying, prolonged conflict, or relocation. Both are real. Both matter. And the best predictor of whether a child not only survives trauma but actually thrives? According to the research, it’s one caring, consistent, compassionate adult in their life.

Just one.

You don’t have to have all the answers.

Get ready to get lost in a good story! These twelve new releases are perfect for tucking into your beach bag for a summer escape. From sweeping historical romance to small-town second chances to pulse-pounding suspense, we’ve got you covered all season long.

Whether you’re stretched out on a beach towel, curled up on the porch with a glass of sweet tea, or sneaking chapters between summer activities, this list has something for every kind of reader. We’re talking Regency ballrooms and Scottish highlands, fake dating and second chances, treasure hunts in national parks, and survival missions in the Cascades.

A debutante is navigating Edwardian society, a ballerina finding her way back home, and a librarian teaming up with her childhood crush to save the children’s section. One story will whisk you to 1939 Georgia, where a small hotel becomes a refuge for Jewish refugee children — and another will have you turning pages so fast you’ll forget what time it is.

These are the kinds of books that make summer feel like summer — the ones with just enough tension to keep you hooked and just enough heart to leave you sighing at the end.

We are born ready to make music a part of our lives, to fill our soundtrack with memories and give our memories a soundtrack. 

Music carries us from cradle to grave, telling our stories, forming around the memories we make and the information we learn.

Yet our current ability to connect and sit with music, to create moments that are built with song, has been replaced with automated playlists and a near complete disconnect with any music that pre-­dates whatever we consider to be the “best era.” Where once we learned to sit and feel the experience that music moves within us, we now add it as another condiment to our already numbed lives.

The Source of All Song

What would happen if we returned to the music that originates from the throne of God, compelling all things to sing with worship and wonder, to rise in honest beauty back to the source of all music?

Music was something our very Lord experienced regularly in His daily life; it’s no wonder the Scriptures tell us to make music. In both sorrow and joy, music is a roadmap to knowing God and being fully human.

As we approach Father’s Day, our hearts turn toward the men who stand as the pillars of our homes. We know that being a Christian father in today’s world isn’t just a role—it’s a calling that requires immense spiritual fortitude, a “battle plan” for the family, and a daily reliance on the Holy Spirit. This year, give the fathers, husbands, and grandfathers in your life something that strengthens their hands and encourages their souls. We’ve curated a selection of resources designed to help the men we love lead with honor, pray with power, and walk firmly in their God-given identity.

Fatherhood carries both great responsibility and great influence. The words, prayers, and example of a godly man can shape the atmosphere of an entire home for generations to come. In a culture filled with noise, distraction, and confusion, many men are longing to lead their families well while remaining grounded in truth, wisdom, and humility. Encouragement matters. Support matters. Prayer matters.

Whether it’s through a meaningful devotional, a Bible-centered book, practical tools for spiritual growth, or simple reminders of God’s faithfulness, thoughtful gifts can help strengthen a man’s walk with the Lord in everyday life. More than ever, fathers need reminders that they are not alone in the weight they carry.

Motivation to Change

Everyone experiences symptoms of anxiety at some point in life. Your foot might tap as you sit in a lobby, waiting to interview for a job. Or perhaps you check your phone several times a day, waiting for important medical test results. All of these are normal symptoms in normal parts of life. This is stress. I also call this situational anxiety.

Situational anxiety is defined as normal levels of anxiety that come ­from stressful things happening in life. It arrives when life around us becomes overwhelming and is often referred to as stress. Situational anxiety is ­helpful anxiety because it motivates us to do things about our problems. 

Situational anxiety is normal. It makes sense. It’s the kind of anxiety in which most people would feel the same way. This happens when a person’s anxiety is caused by things outside their control. Situational anxiety fades when the problem goes away.

As a counselor, situational anxiety can be difficult to work with because I cannot change a client’s situation. Regardless, it’s important to know that situational anxiety—­stress—­is a normal, necessary part of life. It keeps us alert and motivates us to make changes.

As they walk across the stage, our graduates stand at a beautiful yet daunting crossroads. For our sons, daughters, and grandchildren, graduation isn’t just a ceremony. It is a “sending out” into a world that often challenges the very foundations we’ve worked so hard to build.

There is a quiet ache and a deep hope woven into this moment. We celebrate all they’ve accomplished, while knowing they are stepping into unfamiliar spaces where their faith will be tested, stretched, and ultimately strengthened. The routines that once surrounded them will shift, and the voices shaping their thoughts may grow louder and more persuasive. It is here, in this in-between, that what has been planted begins to take root in a more personal and enduring way.

As mothers and mentors, we know that the transition to “adulting” requires more than just a degree; it requires a spiritual compass and a heart rooted in God. This year, move beyond the temporary and gift the graduates in your life the tools they need to navigate their new independence with Kingdom wisdom, mental fortitude, and a deep-seated confidence in their identity as children of God.

Because long after the celebrations fade and the diplomas are framed, what will carry them forward is not what they achieved, but who they know they are—and the truth they choose to hold onto when everything else feels uncertain.

I personally have a bent toward quitting. I defined so much of my life around staying at the expense of my own peace that learning to quit felt like a reclamation of power.

And yet, quitting never really erases the weight of what was left undone. I’ve quit plenty of things, and I’ve learned that quitting comes with its own regrets. The relief of letting something go is often followed by the ache of wondering what might have been if I’d just held on a little longer.

Are You Exhausted?

We are tired of life knocking us down and having well-­meaning Scripture quoted over us. Let’s be honest: Being told to “just trust God and keep going” when we’re at our breaking point feels more like condemnation than encouragement. We don’t want to be inspired; we want to be understood.

While we are worn out from getting up again and again and again, we can’t afford to stay down. When I look back, I can’t help but see clearly that the very challenges that felt overwhelming in the moment were what built my ability to rise, even when it felt like doing so was punishment.

This Mother’s Day, we’re turning our hearts toward the books and journals that help us stay fearless and faithful. This list features everything from keepsake journals that capture a mother’s unique legacy to practical guides for finding self-compassion and rhythm in the daily grind.

In a season of life that often feels full, fast, and sometimes overwhelming, these pages offer a gentle invitation to slow down and reconnect with what matters most. They create space for quiet mornings with the Lord, for honest reflection, and for remembering that faithfulness is often found in the small, unseen moments.

Each selection is meant to encourage, uplift, and remind mothers that they are not alone in their calling. Through written prayers, thoughtful prompts, and truth-filled encouragement, these resources help anchor the heart in God’s promises. They serve not only as tools for growth, but as companions in the everyday journey of motherhood—pointing back, again and again, to grace, purpose, and the steady presence of Christ.

We’ve curated a list of our Mother’s Day favorites perfect for the mom who wants to deepen her prayer life, find self-compassion, and create a life rooted in Christ. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or another mom in your life, these resources are a beautiful way to celebrate a life lived for the Glory of God.