First Things First

I have heard SO many good things about this movie....

2009-11-25T20:35:59.629-05:00

I have heard SO many good things about this movie. I can't wait to see it. Happy Thanksgiving!

My husband had received notice he was going to be ...

2009-10-29T22:41:31.825-04:00

My husband had received notice he was going to be laid off from an aerospace job. The layoff was to take place a few days after our 25th wedding anniversary. While several of our friends were taking their cruises, we spent our 25th wedding anniversary sitting in the car on a hill in Rockwall, Texas praying. We gave thanks to the Lord for our 25 years of wonderful memories, thanked Him for whatever He had in store as our next adventure, and ate our McDonald's hamburgers.

Congratulations Jay and Julie. You guys are awesom...

2009-10-27T21:40:37.039-04:00

Congratulations Jay and Julie. You guys are awesome. Your belief in and dedication to marriage is obvious in the work that you are doing at First Things First. Keep up the good work. -Todd Crawford

We had to discuss how long my daughter had to know...

2009-10-07T17:28:12.012-04:00

We had to discuss how long my daughter had to know someone before she dated them.

She moved from a school she had attended all her life to a brand new school this year and was immediately bombarded with attention and we had to put our foot down on the dating any boys right off the bat.

I actually think that if people could get that lov...

2009-09-28T23:17:47.848-04:00

I actually think that if people could get that love and respect are not interchangeable life together could be simplified. I get that men and women see and react differently, but we need to understand that it's not what others are doing as much as how we are reacting. Sensitivity is a two way street. I think if a couple is educated on how the other sex perceives certain actions and words, they have more of a chance for success, but only in making the effort to apply the knowledge.

Awesome video, Julie! You take the cake once aga...

2009-09-28T20:21:34.564-04:00

Awesome video, Julie!
You take the cake once again! Congratulations on a great event where you continue to set the bar high for marriage ministry! One marriage at a time you ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

Ask my 6th grade school-teacher-husband how he see...

2009-09-19T07:40:01.269-04:00

Ask my 6th grade school-teacher-husband how he sees the staggering trend of disrespect going. It is absolutely frightening. Raising good kids with good character qualities doesn't just happen, it takes intentional effort that stands against the norm, but it is worth it!

Wow Julie - Great article. I love how you've conde...

2009-09-01T22:37:23.114-04:00

Wow Julie - Great article. I love how you've condensed this complicated issue down into a few short paragraphs that are easy to grasp. I'll be doing a modified version of this and posting it to my blog and to the local paper.

I also have been impacted by this book! A great f...

2009-08-16T11:25:21.552-04:00

I also have been impacted by this book! A great fast read that leads to transformational contemplation!

Sounds like some good points, as with a good marri...

2009-08-11T10:25:56.070-04:00

Sounds like some good points, as with a good marriage, communication seems to be the key!

Awesome, Julie! Thanks for continuing to make a s...

2009-07-22T20:14:39.713-04:00

Awesome, Julie! Thanks for continuing to make a statement, so clear and clean, for healthy marriages and families!

Love Movies in the Park, Thank You!

2009-07-20T22:30:00.465-04:00

Love Movies in the Park, Thank You!

I'm glad you got some good qualiy time in with you...

2009-07-16T23:54:27.396-04:00

I'm glad you got some good qualiy time in with your daughter. Even if it was in the car!

Great ideas....our daughter thought that the 4th w...

2009-07-03T16:13:39.878-04:00

Great ideas....our daughter thought that the 4th was just about fireworks!

..."Stand up for what you believe in-even if it me...

2009-05-01T20:49:00.000-04:00

..."Stand up for what you believe in-even if it means standing alone."

~DREAM BIG~

My husband is glad I'm only nine and has requested...

2009-03-14T13:19:00.000-04:00

My husband is glad I'm only nine and has requested I never grow up! In fact, I think it was a prerequisite for marriage. We saw the FTF Mystery Date tip, and he is making mystery plans for Sunday. Can't wait to see where we are going and what we'll be doing! Love your column.

You are married to a man who loves life! And, anyo...

2009-03-10T19:05:00.000-04:00

You are married to a man who loves life! And, anyone around him can't help but love the moment of life they are in with him! And it's pretty cool to see how much he loves his wife, too! You two are blessed!

Hey Julie...Just an idea about prom dresses from a...

2009-02-25T20:28:00.000-05:00

Hey Julie...Just an idea about prom dresses from a gal who used to be willing to spend too much money for the perfect dress for any event! I should be ashamed to admit this fact but the truth has been setting me free in every other arena so getting set free from spending silly amounts of money on clothing has been first cleansing, then second cleansing, then third kinda fun! Although shopping for teens can have it's own set of hoops and hurdles to jump over and through including the typical questions they get from the other girls like, "where'd ya get your dress?", teens are beginning to enjoy a good bargan as much as us. I was pleasantly surprised when I suggested consignment store shopping to my stepdaughter shortly after purchasing a pair of Paper Denim jeans for $13. Just 2 years earlier I'd purchased the same pair of jeans at Bergdorf's in New York for $198. To my stepdaughters credit, not only did she check out the store but she purchased several pieces at a fraction of the their cost. You may wince at the thought of shopping at consignment/vintage stores for such an important event, but, girls, I'm excited to tell you that I had bought my wedding dress for a fraction of the cost at an antique/consignment shop 4,000 miles from home. Not only was it the exact dress I imagined and thought I would have to have made, but, it happened to be one of the only brand new dresses in the shop, tags on and all...Since your asking the question about prom dresses so early, I would encourage you to consider googling consignment/vintage/antique shops in the places you may be travelling to away from home over spring break or a long weekend. For example, Dallas has some of the best consignment shops I've every been in, as does Washington DC, Palo Alto Ca. and Connecticut just to name of few... To add to the fun of it all when your gal is asked where she got her dress, she might be able to say she got it in a shop where you vacationed over spring break.. Have fun and please...do tell if you find any great consignment/vintage/antique shops to recommend!!!

Much love and joy as you have fun staying connected to the Spirit of God who is more than able to lead and guide us through every single situation no matter how insignificant it may appear.
I thank God for every resource He's given you and I and I ask Him, in the strong name of Jesus, to help us be good stewards and make wise choices with it all,
Kate

At a recent retreat women shared about their faith...

2009-02-04T20:30:00.000-05:00

At a recent retreat women shared about their faith journeys, and a common thread was the absence, presence, or issues caused through the father/daughter relationship. So thankful for FTF and all you do, Julie! Blessings, Susan

Hello-- I found your blog on a search for "helicop...

2009-01-24T09:06:00.000-05:00

Hello-- I found your blog on a search for "helicopter parent" and I would say you have done a superb job not being one! Your concluding paragraph says it all- how fortunate for your daughter that her parents have left her flounder a bit (within reason) so that she has learned not to fall apart when plans change. This is the heart of resilience, and something you can really only learn in practice. May your story be an inspiration to other parents to let their children get in there and learn!
All best,
Tamar Chansky
www.freeingyourchild.com

your post reminded me of a father/son video I saw ...

2009-01-19T21:27:00.000-05:00

your post reminded me of a father/son video I saw on youtube: Dad I'm Watching You

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MMEwl9dCt8

If these hard economic times bring couples and fam...

2009-01-09T17:19:00.000-05:00

If these hard economic times bring couples and families closer and create an environment where friends and even strangers learn that we can depend on each other then that would be a really good thing.

Kudos! This past holiday season appeared to be more about family, faith, and friends than about gifts then years past. I believe we are getting some things right in these tough times.

Thanks for the post Julie!

for 8 years now. The boys play outside, we play g...

2009-01-06T23:34:00.000-05:00

for 8 years now. The boys play outside, we play games, we READ, we enjoy each others company instead of being zoned out.

We are MUCH more informed about local and national news, as we have to research it, instead of being spoon-fed some tv host's opinion.

Just do it! You'll be happier, and your family will be happier you did!

I avoided Black Friday like the plague, but was su...

2008-12-03T12:54:00.000-05:00

I avoided Black Friday like the plague, but was sucked in by Cyber Monday!! So my house will be a regular FedEx stop for the few days.

:)

@marcpayan

I know I'm impressed. I'm so glad you took time to...

2008-11-25T16:58:00.000-05:00

I know I'm impressed. I'm so glad you took time to take care of yourself. Good for you.