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Marriage

Investing in parenting means investing in our marriage or relationship. I hope the following resources offer some hope and encouragement to you as you seek to strengthen this important bond in your family set-up.

25 STAY-AT-HOME DATE NIGHT IDEAS

March 29, 2020 7 Comments

25 stay-at-home date night ideas for couples. Includes mainly free or cheap date night ideas at home which are also creative, fun and romantic!

No prizes for guessing what's inspired this post. But there are maybe a few more reasons to need stay-at-home date night ideas than the obvious one. Yes, we're stuck in at home right now with no external social activities or entertainment. So it figures that having a stash of stay-at-home … [Read more...] about 25 STAY-AT-HOME DATE NIGHT IDEAS

Marriage

MINISTRY-PROOFING YOUR MARRIAGE: PREVENTING PASTORS’ MARRIAGE PROBLEMS

February 3, 2020 4 Comments

Pastors' marriage problems are sadly all too common: the demands the full-time ministry can put on a couple are immense. Read the story of how a ministry marriage heading towards divorce was reconciled and made joyful once again.

As a vicar's wife, I'm all too aware of the demands that full-time ministry can put on a marriage. I'm saddened, but not surprised, when I read about pastors' marriage problems - the challenges of maintaining a healthy family life when you're also pastorally involved in lots of other people's lives … [Read more...] about MINISTRY-PROOFING YOUR MARRIAGE: PREVENTING PASTORS’ MARRIAGE PROBLEMS

Books and resources· Discipleship for parents· Faith· Marriage

WHAT TO GET YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE FOR CHRISTMAS: A FOOLPROOF CHRISTMAS GIFT!

December 5, 2019 8 Comments

What should I get my husband or wife for Christmas? This thoughtful Christmas gift will solve your dilemma of what to get your husband or wife. And it will strengthen your marriage too!

Do you struggle when it comes to buying gifts for your other half? I'd love to hear from you if you don't! I always find it difficult, and I suspect I'm not alone. We can find it hard for all sorts of reasons, not least because our money and possessions are shared, so it sometimes feels like … [Read more...] about WHAT TO GET YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE FOR CHRISTMAS: A FOOLPROOF CHRISTMAS GIFT!

Christmas & Advent· Marriage

4 THINGS WE CAN LEARN ABOUT MARRIAGE FROM THE CROWN

November 11, 2019 4 Comments

Is The Crown historically accurate? We'll never know the exact relationship dynamics - but the way Elizabeth and Philip's marriage is portrayed gives us lots of marriage tips and marriage advice to consider in our own relationships.

I don't know about you, but I'm a huge fan of The Crown. I came to it very late, just a few months ago actually, when we took a one-month Netflix trial - and ended up on a paid Netflix plan, just so that we could finish watching this fabulous, edge-of-your-seat drama. Of course we know that … [Read more...] about 4 THINGS WE CAN LEARN ABOUT MARRIAGE FROM THE CROWN

Faith· Marriage

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BALANCE FINANCES, MENTAL HEALTH AND RAISING A FAMILY?

March 6, 2019 3 Comments

Balancing finances, mental health and raising a family - is it possible to do it?!

Now I'm no agony aunt, but every now and again I get a question from a reader which I think is really pertinent, so I've decided to expand these into blog posts every so often. Don't expect a solution, but I hope that my thoughts about these topics will set you off on your own thinking and … [Read more...] about IS IT POSSIBLE TO BALANCE FINANCES, MENTAL HEALTH AND RAISING A FAMILY?

Family Life· Home· Marriage· Parenting

HOW NOT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR IN-LAWS

December 20, 2018 Leave a Comment

What kind of relationship should we have with our in-laws?

A couple of weeks ago I was having a text conversation with my sister-in-law about some of the family arrangements for Christmas. At one point, I was about to type a reply saying, "Your family is ridiculous!" Allow me to back-track and give some context. I get on really well with my in-laws, and … [Read more...] about HOW NOT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR IN-LAWS

Christmas & Advent· Faith· Family Life· Marriage

CAN I BE A FEMINIST AND A STAY-AT-HOME MUM?

January 17, 2018 9 Comments

Can I be a feminist and a stay-at-home mom?

I'll be honest: feminism didn't really play a major part in my life until recently. I've been pretty fortunate not to have known any gender-related obstacles at work or at home. I haven't suffered abuse or harassment at the hands of men, nor have I been prevented from doing anything I wanted to do … [Read more...] about CAN I BE A FEMINIST AND A STAY-AT-HOME MUM?

Family Life· Home· Marriage· Parenting

THE SILENT ANNIVERSARY: CELEBRATING MARRIAGE IN A CULTURE OF RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN

August 21, 2017 10 Comments

Is it right to celebrate a wedding anniversary when all around are breaking up?

Last month, we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. Most of the time I feel our life just plods on, so the slightly startling fact that we'd been plodding on longer than Facebook, Netflix and (most people's access to) digital photography seemed worth celebrating. We had a lovely couple of days … [Read more...] about THE SILENT ANNIVERSARY: CELEBRATING MARRIAGE IN A CULTURE OF RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN

Faith· Marriage

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BREADMAKER! (OUR MARRIAGE IS 13 TODAY)

July 13, 2015 5 Comments

Reflections on a 13th wedding anniversary.

This is our breadmaker, and it is 13 years old today. Through four different homes, it has consistently produced beautiful, fresh loaves, as well as pizza dough, ciabatta, focaccia and numerous other variants. To me, it has always been a total miracle of a machine: the fact you can tip in seven … [Read more...] about HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BREADMAKER! (OUR MARRIAGE IS 13 TODAY)

Family Life· Marriage

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The Hope-Filled Family - UK Christian parenting and adoption blog by Lucy Rycroft
Should you send your child to a school in special measures? What if the local school is failing? What do you do? Read our story here.
This article explains why adopted children are more susceptible to pre-birth factors which might affect their development, such as domestic violence, drinking alcohol and substance abuse. It counters the argument that just because a child is taken into care at birth they will be 'fine'.
For those days (or weeks, or months, or years) when you feel like you're failing at parenting, here is your hope, your encouragement and some practical ideas.
How to have great family bible time for kids when it’s noisy and chaotic. The best family devotionals often happen in the chaos, and this post tells you why.
Looking round prospective schools with your adopted or fostered child? Here are the questions you need to ask.
The four attachment styles are explained in this clear, no-fuss blog. What they are, how to spot them, and how to parent your child with this knowledge.
How adoption/fostering might affect toddlers' behaviour.
Is church just an extra curricular activity? Is it important for my family to attend church? What happens if we skip church?
Are you a lonely parent? You're not alone - literally. Many of us struggle with social isolation when we become parents. Here are some ways to combat it.
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