The Hello Mornings Blog

This post is by Joanne Wu.

If there’s one thing this ongoing pandemic has reminded me of, it is that truly, my life is “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14 ESV)

More than once a day, I find myself asking a mix of all the following questions. What is the point of everything? What is the point of working overtime to feed my family, if I can’t spend actual time with my family?  What is the point of having a family if I want to be at work so I can avoid being around...

This post is by Jen Shultz.

Life is hard right now and not just for me, but for the entire world. I feel like I have begun my last several posts with this sentiment. Write what you know, right? This world feels hard and chaotic right now. We are a year and a half into a pandemic, political and civil issues causing major division in our country, and the deaths of 13 Americans and 170+ Afghans all while trying to exit a decades long war. Evil feels very tangible today. It’s oppressive and constan...

This post is by Danielle Smith.

It’d be hard to overstate the difference that 3 Minute Mornings have made in my life. It’s been years since I first came across Kat Lee’s revolutionary plan for getting out of bed and getting on with your day, and I’d be lying if I said my practice has been consistent the whole time. Between an expanding family, a couple of cross-country relocations, and a sprinkling of global pandemic, it certainly hasn’t. But glory to God, isn’t that one of the most beautifu...

This post is by Cindy Chen.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12, NIV

There are seasons that call for less planning. When we first bring home a baby. When our world is upended by illness or grief. When we're at home indefinitely because of stay-at-home orders. 

Having no concrete schedule does not mean we’re better off making zero plans. We are still entrusted with our days, even if they seem to be redundant or purposeless. 

That beautiful planner...

This post is by Kem Roper.

I admire people who are planners. You know, the type who tote their journals like Bibles, spend hours scripting their life in calligraphy, then decorate it with washi tape?

But how do they get anything done? I wonder as I grab my daughter’s spiral notebook to jot something down. This notebook has become my “to do” list, my calculator, my phone book, and my doodle pad--not because I chose it--and definitely not because it’s cute--but because it was there! And because ...

This post is by Jen Shultz.

I don’t know about you, but the last few years have left me feeling like I had very little power over the course my life has taken. 

If you have been a fan of the Hello Mornings’ Blog, you may remember me discussing a cancer journey, trying to live and love through a pandemic and major social issues, and the fact that even before all of that chaos I was chronically ill. Each time I feel like I am making actual strides toward better health or a more organized hous...

This post is by Shaina Weisgerber. 

If I could thank all the people that have helped me along the way I would, of course, thank my husband, family, my girls, friends and colleagues, but I want to thank The Academy today. 

See, a few years ago I was at a very pivotal point in my life. I could continue down the road of ministry fatigue, stress, and general life craziness alone or I could reach out. I began counseling and the Lord brought me to Hello Mornings. I read the book and began to foll...

This post is by Tami Rodriguez.

I was an athlete as a kid. Movement always had a purpose...to win!! We trained to be faster, stronger and more flexible so we could excel against other teams and WIN. Do you remember the dread of running “suicides” in the gym? I do. 

This mindset of, “Push yourself harder! Don’t rest! Don’t quit!” has a time and place, but I’ve learned an interesting thing as a Mom, this type of mindset and intense training can also exhaust us!  

I have consistently exercise...

This post is by Dana Sitton.

Purchasing a home is an exciting event marked with anticipation and emotion. The process involves many facets, from researching specific areas and school districts, to contemplating paint colors and where furniture will best fit. Many dreams and plans are shared and made throughout the home buying process. 

When we purchased our first home, we knew that we wanted to live in a suburb with good schools, mature oak trees, and friendly neighbors. We searched with a lis...

This post is by Kelli LaFram.

What have I done, he thought to himself. I have spent it all and now I have nothing. I am living in filth. No one will help me. This is not the life I thought I’d have. But back at my father’s house, his servants have plenty. I will repent. I will turn back and beg for forgiveness. I will beg to be allowed to work for my father, no longer a son but a servant. (Luke 15:13-19, paraphrased)

In the parable of the lost son, the younger son goes to his father and demand...

This post is by Tami Rodriguez.

Helping our kids create a morning God Time habit can sometimes feel like an overwhelming challenge. As a mom of five kids ranging in ages from 11 to 23, the oldest now married, I’ve had many years to flesh this out. What I’ve discovered is true to life with children always: there is not a one size fits all answer. Children are always changing! Right when we think we have it figured out they move on to the next stage of growing up. 

All throughout my children’s l...

This post is by Cheryl Gilbert.

Most of us love a good manicure or facial, some retail therapy, or the occasional girlfriends’ weekend away. We hit the jackpot if we can manage to combine the three! Sometimes we just feel the need to “tune out” - whether it takes the form of scrolling social media, binge-watching a favorite show, or finding a quiet corner to flip through a magazine and sip a glass of wine. The good news is that none of these common “self-care” techniques are inherently wrong; b...