Category: Family

Enjoying the Journey

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Then they said to him, ‘Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful.’  The priest answered them, ‘Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD’s approval.’” (Judges 18:5–6)

Some of my best childhood memories were made on the summer road trips my family took to Nevada to visit my dad’s family. My parents went out of their way to take us to see the wonders of the West: the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, Yellowstone National Park, the Redwood Forest, and many others. Of course, a trip through California wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm. One particular memory of a Cabbage Patch Kids store in Los Angeles still stands out. Continue reading “Enjoying the Journey” →

Lilly’s Summer of Fun

Posted on by Staci Mauney

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. (Gen. 1:24)

Hi, friends! Lilly Doggins here to tell you about my fun summer hanging out with my mom! I’m happy to say that not much has changed since last summer when we were in quarantine. Mom is still home most of the time, and that makes me one happy dog! When she leaves to go buy groceries or get dinner at a drive-through, I give her my saddest puppy dog eyes to try to get her to stay—or take me with her. So far, it hasn’t worked, but she doesn’t stay gone long, thank goodness. Continue reading “Lilly’s Summer of Fun” →

Honoring Our Elders

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” (1 Pt. 5:5)

I’ve always had a soft spot for older people. Maybe that’s because both my mom and my dad were the youngest of a handful of children, and all my grandparents were older by the time I was born. I spent countless hours with my grandparents during my childhood. In addition, my mom started working at the local senior center when I was just sixteen, and she still works there today. Continue reading “Honoring Our Elders” →

A Father’s Example

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Cor 3:2-3)

From praying before meals when I was a child to demonstrating a strong work ethic, my dad is a man of conviction who leads by example and supports and encourages his family.

When I was growing up, I learned the value of a good education by watching my dad earn multiple degrees and become a teacher. He didn’t need all those degrees to teach, but he enjoyed the process of learning, and he taught me to enjoy it as well. When he attended summer school in Stillwater, he took my brother and me to class with him a few times. It’s an experience I still remember to this day. Continue reading “A Father’s Example” →

A Mother’s Day Tribute

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” (Prov. 31:31)

During my growing up years, my parents were very hands on. My mom baked and decorated my birthday cakes for many years. Four in particular stand out after all this time—Strawberry Shortcake, a Care Bear, a Cabbage Patch Kid, and Barbie. I remember how she worked for hours to get the icing just right. It looked perfect, and it tasted divine.

I loved watching my mom cook. She made almost everything from scratch. In fact, I didn’t know brownies or casseroles came from a box until I was an adult. Except for Jiffy brownies, which I thought were an exception made just for kids like me whose grandmas kept boxes on hand for them to stir together. Continue reading “A Mother’s Day Tribute” →