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Read MoreAre your parenting batteries depleted?
Could you use some encouragement and inspiration to help you on the parenting journey? Would you like some tips and ideas for ways to have fun and to make memories with your child? Then you’re at the right place and we’re glad you’ve joined us! Eighteen years sounds like a long time—but you really have just 18 summers . . . and we want to help you make the most of them.
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Read MoreSo how did the Just 18 Summers® brand come about?
My pastor, Rev. Ralph Sexton, dedicated a baby at church one Sunday. As the parents walked off the platform, he said, “Don’t forget, you have just 18 summers. Take time to make some memories.” Whew, the poignancy of that slammed into me and I knew at that moment that God wanted me to do something with that thought.
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Read MoreWe want Just 18 Summers® to be about YOU.
We’d love to hear from you with your thoughts, ideas, and ways we can help you on the parenting journey.
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Read MorePlease help us spread the word about Just 18 Summers®!
Post about us on Facebook and Twitter. Tell your friends and family. Tell your pastors, family ministry leaders, and organizations about Just 18 Summers. Let’s encourage and strengthen families across our nation and the world!
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Recent From A Happy Home
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Most Recent Articles
Who Will Be the Greatest?
Helmets on. Shields down. Laser swords up. Sabers held high throb with light while Darth Vader breathes his insanely evil inhale and exhale. The battle begins. My six-year-old and three-year-old grandsons have never even seen Star Wars, but the way they go at it, you’d never know. They grunt and shout in victory and defeat. It is a run-for-your-life war to the finish. Apparently, it only takes a few years of life to figure out someone gets to be the greatest. One of them will reign king of his little mountain. “Who will be the greatest?” It was a contentious question between Jesus’ disciples in the Gospel of Mark: 9:33-36. The immaturity of Christ’s followers was revealed in an embarrassing argument while they walked toward home. Can you picture it? They walked together through Galilee as Jesus explained clearly his coming death and resurrection. The disciples really didn’t get it, and as the group of twelve split off into clusters, discussions went awry. They began to squabble on their own who would be the greatest in the kingdom, something like kids contending for top dog. Arguments have a way of being obvious. They thought Jesus didn’t know about their disagreement. In fact, they didn’t want him to. So, when they arrived at the house...
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Making Memories with the Family is a Breeze in the Month of March
…He brings forth the wind from His treasuries. Psalm 135:7 (NASB) Another month just blew onto the calendar. March sometimes enters the scene as a lion, roaring with wind from God’s treasuries. And the saying goes, it will leave as a lamb. The reverse is also true, according to many farmers’ almanacs. If March begins with gentle breezes, then the month will end with ferocious ones. Celebrate windy days and calm ones, too, with the family throughout the month of March. To add other festivities to the calendar, plan to celebrate the silly holidays below and create a few unique family ones, also. Crochet Week – What hobbies do you practice in your family? Does someone crochet or knit? Do you have a stamp collector? Coin collector? Encourage each family member’s hobbies and take an active interest is what family members are passionate about. And consider starting a family hobby such as completing puzzles as a family or honing photography skills by taking a class together. Or learning to play disc golf. Create an even stronger bond with a family hobby that everyone enjoys doing together. National Bubble Week – Celebrate the timeless treasure of bubbles with several afternoons of bubble play. Besides the typical bubble wand, use other utensils found around the house....
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Indiana Jones and the Lost Scrolls
It all began with a goat and a stone. It was early 1947 (or possibly late 1946) when a Bedouin shepherd boy named Muhammed the Wolf went out searching for his lost goat among the limestone hills in Qumran, not far from the Dead Sea in what is Israel today. As he hunted among the cliffs, the boy stopped to hurl a rock into the open mouth of a cave. He heard the crack of breaking pottery. That’s strange,...
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Real-life Conversations
“How do we know God is real, Mama?” My seven-year-old’s question reined in the distracted thoughts running through my mind. Our nightly routine faded into the background as eternity stepped into that moment. I prayed for wisdom and considered how to answer. I know He’s real based on my years of history with Him. I’ve experienced His provision, witnessed His miracles, and felt His presence more times than I could count. Yet I’ve also asked that same question many...
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Loving Family Bonds
The one area where we should always be extravagant is in expressing and showing love to our family members. A month when we celebrate love is also a great time to strengthen our family relationships. Try these ideas: Involve everyone in some decision making. Hold a family pray-and-plan or bring up one decision at dinner every few weeks. This helps members feel accepted and valued. That gives them a sense of belonging. Plan some family theme nights such as...
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Real Praise for Your Children
Have you had the challenge of working in an environment of negative motivation—a place where praise is rare, but complaints flourish? I had the fate of working in such a place. Sadly, I don’t believe the management even knew their folly, because they fell into the trap of thinking their comments were balanced. The supervisor would start by giving general, non-specific words of praise, “You’re doing well,” then with a “but” they would continue with a lengthy list of...
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Covid Fear is Also Affecting Our Children
We sat outside with our drive-through ice-creams and jabbered, like teen-agers out on a night away from the confines of mom, dad and home. Ten ladies, escaping pandemic restrictions for a few hours on an afternoon, properly distanced and cautious. We talked about work, people, general gab. I stepped away from the patio circle, left behind the voices and gaiety to answer my phone. It was a Facetime call. I held it up and saw some of the cutest...
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