Welcome to Thorn & Vine blog and a special dual post about what we learned from our college tours this summer. If you missed the first article, find it HERE all about key Do’s and Don’ts to prepare you for the tours. This week, we’re focusing on things that really took my breath away or pleasantly surprised me on the trips we took. One crazy thing, you’ll NEVER believe – or maybe you will? I sure didn’t…is below. What surprised me the most? How important SATs are for admission and also for scholarship consideration. I knew they were considered, of…
My Top Dos and Don’ts for College Tours
My Top Dos and Don’ts for College Tours With the school year starting and some families having older sons and daughters reaching for college hopes and dreams, it’s time to get ready to have a smooth transition. After visiting several colleges, and receiving great advice from friends who’ve already walked this path, I’m sharing tips for college visits you won’t want to miss. Why am I posting this? My favorite thing, besides good books and pretty places or jewelry, is to find resources and help families. With all we’ve survived and persevered through as wildfire survivors it has created a…
Trusting The Master’s Plan with Author Edie Melson
I first got to know Edie Melson like many writers do, through her terrific website The Write Conversation, a top site for writers to learn the craft. Then I heard her story of amazing resilience while her son served in the military, and saw her encourage other families. I interviewed her for a special project benefiting wildfire victims HERE. Most recently, I’ve watched Edie’s dreams of writing fiction come to life and found such encouragement in her writing path, and how she’s always used each experience to the fullest. She is a champion for writers, but also for those who…
Trust In The Shattered Moments with Author Lindsay Franklin
I first met author Lindsay Franklin through some friends who love great fantasy and science fiction, and love writing it too. Lindsay is so funny and witty on line, and when I heard her story as a teen mom and stresses from raising a special needs child that would have shattered many people, I wanted to know more. To go deep. I’m so excited to introduce you to her today as part of the #LetResilienceArise series and I hope her story will encourage you too. And I’m waiting slightly impatiently for her two books coming out soon! By Lindsay Franklin…
Through The Looking Glass of Loss and Miscarriage with Author Pam Vredevelt
I met Pam Vredevelt while filming a television segment on overcoming tragedies (HERE), and was so touched by her work with young mothers who’ve suffered a loss. After a couple of friends recently lost children, I kept thinking how difficult this Mother’s Day would be for them. Even if you have other children, sometimes the whispers of what would have been tug at your heartstrings uncontrollably. I know they did for me when we lost our baby, and it was hard to find people who could understand. But then many women started sending me emails of sympathy, sharing their own…
Author Loretta Eidson’s Journey from Depression to Deep Healing
When I met author Loretta Eidson at an ACFW conference a few years ago, I discovered we both had completed Jerry Jenkins’ writing courses. I knew she was special and her sweet southern drawl and joyful smile immediately drew me in. And she was so funny, too! But it wasn’t until much later, when our writing friendship deepened over time, that I knew of the dark moments she’d endured as a mother of a son who’d made bad decisions that cost him years in prison. I asked Loretta to share her story of faith and decision to persevere through depression…
Guest Blog Posts and Amazing April Plans
Announcements! We have an amazing array of authors covering historical, young adult, middle grade, fantasy, nonfiction, and more all participating in the #LetResilienceArise series starting next month. Get ready for some amazing moments with authors you love! April will feature Middle Grade and Young Adult Author and Lauren Brandenburg, Actress Amanda McDonough, and Author Loretta Eidson! Stay tuned for more very soon… Last week’s blog about helping friends who are hurting got a lot of attention on social media—if you’re wondering to help someone you care about, check it out HERE and share with a friend in need or group…
Let Resilience Arise Guest Blog Posts Series
Thorn & Vine Guest Blog Posts Thorn & Vine blog encourages teens, tweens, and adults in life. Designed for those who’ve encountered a serious bump in the road, the blog posts are on two separate pages and tailored for each audience. In the Let Resilience Arise series (#letresiliencearise), guest blog posts will feature authors and people with uplifting stories. Although it is an opportunity to showcase your writing and work, it’s also a special corner, and a safe place for those who hope to thrive after a difficult season. Would your story or a specific event you’ve endured help another…
Resources for Bullying and Healthy Friendships
People often ask me what resources we used to teach our kids about friendship and healthy boundaries. In honor of National Anti-Bullying Month, I’ve listed my top three favorites below. What do you use? I’d love to hear it too. Recognize their strengths and plan to enhance them In addition to protecting your child, find ways to encourage their unique traits. One of my favorite books, Five Love Languages for Children, by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, (there’s also one for teens) helps you diagnose what your child’s way of feeling loved is and what actions or words will help…
A Frenemy or Bullying? Helping Kids Understand The Difference
Helping Your Child Understand Bullying vs. Friendship For Young Ones Especially “Mommy, so friends are nice one minute, and then mean the next one? Is that how it works?” My young four-year-old son asked me, watery eyes intensely looking for answers. I was so caught off-guard by his question, several years back, but his look is seared in my memory. It took months to understand that the mean child had formed a little “gang” of sorts, taunting him about everything from his sandwiches to his fun new light-up shoes. He stopped eating well and had dark circles under his eyes….
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