family Archives

Snowflakes in April

You may remember the name Hannah Strege, a delightful girl who has appeared on Focus on the Family radio several times. Her mom and dad, Marlene and John, have the distinction of being the first couple in the world to have given birth to a baby through embryo adoption.

Hannah, thus, is forever known as “Snowflake #1.”

Why a “snowflake”?

After Mr. and Mrs. Strege approached the Nightlight Christian Adoption Agency (for info on embryo adoption with them, click here.) to facilitate the complicated embryo adoption process, the pioneering couple was at a loss as to how to describe what they were doing.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, family April 28, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Little Child Shall Lead Them

As I noted in Friday’s post, for baseball fans, the long wait is over. But one of the more endearing aspects of sports in general is that in the grand scheme of life, it’s all just a game. Play provides an escape, a chance to renew ourselves and spend leisure time with people we enjoy.

Sports can also serve up powerfully teachable moments. The other night someone forwarded me “one of those emails” – you know, the kind that is sweet and tender, but that you wonder if it’s true.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids April 4, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Golden Rules of Living

We’ve all heard of the “Golden Rule” – that ethic of reciprocity which instructs us to treat others as we might want to be treated. Someone recently sent me a list inspired by Jesus’ words in the Book of Matthew. The logic is simple and refreshingly blunt. You might tack this up on your refrigerator. It applies to young or old. Isn’t it true that very often the best advice is the most basic, too?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family March 31, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Duggar House Rules

In yesterday’s post, I shared some behind-the-scenes video from the Duggar family’s recent visit to our campus. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have 19 children and star in a hit reality television show, 19 Kids and Counting. In case you missed the video, please click here.

So how do the Duggars maintain their balance given such a busy lifestyle? They strive to manage their home and raise their children with biblical principles. There is so much more to say, but the following list, which is attached to their (very large) refrigerator door, will give you a hint of the climate they aim for in their home.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family March 25, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Find a Great Summer Job

Do you have vivid memories of your first job?

When I was nine and living in Long Beach, California, a friend and I wandered into the local Goodyear Tire store. I approached the manager and boldly asked if he had any jobs for nine year olds. To our delight, he did! We were hired on the spot. My buddy and I were given flyers to distribute around the neighborhood.

A few years later, I was hired to wash windows at the nearby Dairy Queen.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids March 22, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Last Survivor of World War I

When Army Corporal Frank Buckles returned from World War I in 1920, he was just another face in the crowd. Nobody stopped him to talk. He gave no interviews. He wasn’t invited to ride in any parades. He received no honors nor fanfare. In the icy cold of the January morning he simply stepped off the transport ship and slipped back into the quiet of civilian life.

What a difference 91 years can make.

Frank Buckles was laid to rest with full military honors yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery, the last surviving veteran of the “War to end all Wars.”

He was 110.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, policy March 16, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Great Advice

What’s the best parenting advice you’ve ever given – or received?

When Theodore Roosevelt was a young boy he asked his father for counsel on charting a career. Here is how he remembered the incident:

He gave me a piece of advice that I have always remembered, namely, that, if I was not going to earn (much) money, I must even things up by not spending it. As he expressed it, I had to keep the fraction constant, and if I was not able to increase the numerator, then I must reduce the denominator.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith, family March 11, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Ideal Age to Marry

I first met Jean Stephens in the summer of 1985 at a wedding in California. People often say that weddings are great places to meet people (for good reason!), but at the time I wasn’t interested in finding a girlfriend. It would be nine months before our first date, but we were married in August of 1986.

I was 25 years old.

According to the social science research, is that a good age to marry? It was for me – but how about the population at-large?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, marriage March 1, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Look to the Stonemason

Do you pay attention to detail – even detail that nobody but God can see?

Back when United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts was a lawyer preparing for oral arguments, he would spend countless hours with a pen and legal pad. During that time he would speculate on the hundreds of possible questions he might be asked. As part of the exercise, he’d write down both questions and answers in long hand. He would eventually transfer those Q&A’s from the yellow legal pad to index cards and memorize them in random order.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, husband February 9, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Cheap Jerk

Do you use coupons?

According to a recent study, Atlanta shoppers use them more than anywhere else in the country. How does your city stack up?

Before I reveal the twenty most frugal cities, I need to tell you a story and ask a question.

There’s a gentleman who’s been working on the team here at Focus for nearly 20 years. He’s married with three girls. If you ever meet him, you’d love him. Bright, chipper, just a real nice guy.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, finances, pop culture February 1, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura