I’m not usually a mall fan. I’m one of those rare females that doesn’t love to shop. However, I do enjoy going to the Mall of America. Mostly because there is so much more than shopping. You never know what you will see or experience when you visit MOA.
Donuts, cookies, chicken, mexican food, cream puffs, ice cream, sushi, steak, burritos, cupcakes, burgers and SO much more. If there’s a food you are craving, MOA will have it!
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5. Have a min-bending experience at Museum of Illusions
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6. People watch
Sit and enjoy watching all the people who visit.
Did you know more people visit Mall of America than Disney World?
Photographs of Fair on 4 in Bloomington, MN. All images by The Restaurant Project Copyright 2022
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9. Have a problem-solving adventure in an Escape room
Mall of America has the BEST Escape rooms around! My 15-year-old tried one for his birthday and absolutely LOVED IT! He did the Gold Rush but can’t wait to go back for the Prison Escape or another challenge.
Join their free rewards program and you will have access to:
Treat Yourself Tuesday ($5.00 Tickets) and FREE small box of popcorn with the purchase of a movie ticket with the opportunity to upgrade to larger sizes for a discounted fee! Subject to any applicable premium upcharges and tax. Blackout dates apply
FREE same day refills on large popcorns and sodas
FREE #1 combo coupon on your birthday and more!
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12. Attend one of the 400 free events every year
Celebrity meet-and-greet, fashion shows, and concerts around the mall.
This is one of our FAVORITE experiences at the mall – whether you are 6 or 60 – you will have so much fun ‘flying over’ the US and experiencing it in an entirely new way! Click here to read our story!
Handing your kids a phone of their own is a big deal. You’re handing access to nearly everything in the world – the best and the worst. A phone can be helpful in many ways, and can be harmful in many other ways.
My recommendation is to hold your children off from getting a phone of their own as LONG as possible. The older and more mature they are before getting a device, the wiser they will be with their words and actions.
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What your child posts online may be more permanent than their permanent record. What they watch online may have a permanent impact.
Parent Cue
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5 questions to discuss before giving a child a phone:
1. What you post is public, even when you may think it’s private. It can be permanent. What are some examples of this?
2. Have you seen people say something online that they would not say to someone’s face? Why do you think that happens?
3. How are in-person relationships affected by devices for good or bad?
Examples for good: Connecting with family or friends who are far away.
Examples for bad: bullying or spending too much time on your phone and less time face-to-face
4. Who do you/would you like to follow online?
5. What rules do you think we need to put in place to keep you safe and monitor your time online?
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Cell phone contract to review and sign together:
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Parents, let your kids know from the beginning that you will be checking their phone periodically. This builds some accountability and may help them ’think twice’ about what they do on their phone. My son’s received texts that I’m so glad I saw. It has led to several teachable moments. .
Also, I’d recommend your child charge their phone anywhere but their bedroom overnight. A middle school teacher told me:
If I could make a rule for all kids with phones, it would be to keep it out of their bedrooms at night. Kids are sleep-deprived because they’re on their phones past midnight on school nights and parents have no idea it’s happening,
Heidi Pitzenberg
What are your thoughts about children and cell phone use? Are there resources you use that help you navigate this new world?
Review: This was a fascinating story and history lesson about the great hunter and explorer, Daniel Boone. It gave interesting insight into what life was like in the 1700s. It made me grateful that I wasn’t born in that time, and also grateful for how hard our forefathers worked to pave an easier road for the rest of us! I recommend this to families taking a road trip. Great for ages 10 and up.
Review: I was at a parent-teacher conference with my son’s reading teacher, and she had a sign posted of her favorite books of all time – and this one was on the list. I’m not sure why I’ve never read this classic book…but I glad I finally did. I was transported back in time 100 years and enjoyed Fitzgerald’s writing.
Review: This is more a journal than a typical book. The goal is to get you thinking and give you ideas about how to connect with and invest in your child. There’s a book for every age and grade level!
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Wit and Wisdom
Rating: 8/10
Review: How weird am I that I read an entire book of quotes? Well, what can I say, I love a good quote. We will call this ‘research’ for future posts. 🙂
Here are just 3…
Wit, by itself, is of little account. It becomes of moment only when grounded on wisdom
Mark Twain
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Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
James M. Barrie
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In matters of style, swim with the current, in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
Review: I was excited to read this book with George. I have a great uncle who was a paratrooper on D-Day, and I wanted to read about what the experience may have been like for him. My only complaint about the book is that the author introduces so many characters that it’s a little hard to keep track of who’s who. Overall though, this book makes you feel like you are storming Normandy beach. The author captures the intensity of the day without being overly graphic. Great book for teens or those interested in D-Day or WW2.
Our family had the sweetest day in Red Wing, Minnesota and I wanted to share it with you in hopes that you would add this adorable town to your Bucket List.
Driving into Red Wing, we felt like we were back in Colorado. This historic town has a large bluff in the background, making it look and feel like a quaint mountain town.
Here are our top 5 favorite parts of the day:
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1. Hanisch Bakery
First, start your day by fueling up at Hanisch Bakery. Hanisch has been voted the best bakery in Minnesota. Their food and pastries are made from scratch and absolutely divine. We purchased a loaf of cinnamon bread for $4 and my boys LOVED it! I was so happy with their coffee selection. They had about 10 to choose from – including my favorite flavor of all time – Highlander Grog!
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2. Hike Barn Bluff
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After fueling up, we hiked Barn Bluff. There are different trails with varying difficulty. We took the moderate path and it was just the right amount of exercise for four boys and their mom and dad.
It was a beautiful hike and you are rewarded with a beautiful view of the Mississippi River when you reach the top.
Fast fact: Poet and writer Henry David Thoreau hiked this bluff on his travels through Minnesota.
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3. Downtown Shopping: Red Wing Shoes
World’s Largest BootMuseum inside Red Wing Shoes
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After hiking, we explored a few shops in downtown Red Wing.
First the Duluth Trading company, then Red Wing Shoes.
A stop at Red Wing Shoes is a MUST when you first visit Red Wing. The store is half museum, half shoe store.
Fun Fact: There are painted boots around town. Make spotting boots a part of your adventure!
The Saint James Hotel is a great spot to explore, stay the night, and/or eat. We walked around to see the historic artifacts and visit the Ski Jump Museum.
Fun Fact: Red Wing was the Ski Jump Capital of the US
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5. Eat good food!
Bayside Great burgers
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We tried to eat at The Staghead – it had good ratings and was walking distance from the shops were were exploring, but they were understaffed and canceled our reservation. We jumped in the car and drove a mile down the road to Bayside Grill. My boys LOVED IT and said they served some of the best burgers they’d ever had!
This was the text I received on a Friday afternoon from my sister, Krista, about her 4-year-old daughter.
After receiving that horrific text, I immediately called my sister. She did not answer. Her husband Nate did not answer. They were camping in Michigan and I didn’t know who else to call to find out what had happened and if my niece was alive.
I tried not to panic as I said a prayer for God to heal little Lily.
I asked for a miracle.
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Krista finally called me back and said Lily was alive and they were in an ambulance, headed to the hospital. Lily wanted to talk to my son Luke.
I tearfully and happily handed the phone Luke.
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Here is Lily’s story in Krista’s words:
It was a great day in South Haven. We had breakfast and enjoyed the morning together. Later, I had a bad headache so I laid down to try to sleep it off. While falling asleep, I dreamed of Lily being hit by a car (not normal for me to imagine anything traumatic). I prayed about it and fell asleep. I woke up and went for a run.
I came back to the kids playing and Lily chalk-coloring next to our camper.
I went inside to change clothes, leaving the door open. I looked out just in time to see a truck drive right over Lily. The front and back tires of an extended cab hauling truck drove over my daughter. The truck laid Lily flat – TWICE. It rolled over her head and back.
I screamed and was in shock. I couldn’t move. Nate (my husband, Lily’s dad) went running towards the kids. Nate did not know what happened until after he picked Lily up. She was spraying urine through her clothes.
I had to tell myself to keep it together, to think, to breathe, to be strong for Lily and my other kids. Lily asked me to sing the “Jesus” song.
I’m on the worship team at church and she attends practice with me. She has her own little microphone and hopes to play drums one day. The “Jesus” song is called Tremble, and is our favorite song. All she wanted was for me to sing that song.
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Kate (Lily’s 11-year-old sister) laid hands on her and prayed. So simple, so powerful, our only hope.
It was hard keeping Lily awake through the ambulance ride to the children’s hospital (a 45-minute ride). We FaceTimed the people she wanted to see: Papa, grandma, Luke (her cousin), and eventually she asked to stop talking and just sing.
We arrived to a level 1 trauma children’s hospital. There were 20 people of all of different pediatric specialties in the room moving around quickly. A social worker was on me like honey in a hive. Once the social worker assessed Nate and I, she let the other kids in the ER room. She helped care for the kids, getting them snacks and settled. Jack (9-year-old brother) said she was the nicest lady he’d ever met. The social worker was so good with Lily, getting her excited about a blanket she would get to keep, that she would have breakfast in bed, and get special jammies.
Krista and Lily
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While wheeling Lily to her room, Lily said “all the doctors are so nice.” There were lots of concerns over her, one being her bladder and bowels since she wet herself when the truck rolled over her. There was blood all over her vulva . She refused to use the bed pan or the portable potty . She was put on bed rest until morning when the pediatric orthopedic surgeon looked at her x-rays and injuries.
The next day, the pediatric orthopedic surgeon came in.
He said to Lily, “Where do you hurt?” She said so sweetly “I don’t really hurt anywhere”.
He said “Well, aren’t you super woman.” She giggled. Nate and I said,
‘She’s a miracle.”
He agreed.
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They found one broken pelvic bone that would heal on its own. They gave her a walker and released us. The only medicine they gave her was a dose of Tylenol.
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I had a burden to go back to camp as a family to hopefully close the door to fear and find the woman who ran over her and let her know Lily would be ok. I would never want to be in her shoes and I would personally have a hard time living with myself never knowing the end of the story.
Going back was hard, and healing. Seeing Lily’s chalk art drawings, the smashed chalk, reliving the horrible memories.
Thankfulness and gratitude gets me through. I don’t try and push them away, I let it come in waves. Knowing I get to hold her makes the healing salve of gratitude cover the horror and pain of memories and thoughts of what she endured.
That night, Lily slept great. She woke up and played monopoly with all of us (a game we started the day the truck drove over her).
She said, “I have no pain. I don’t even feel like I have a broken bone”.
I can’t tell you what a miracle this feels like when I saw the accident and see her bruises, tire marks across her shirt, road rash, and bruised swelling all through her back and spine.
When we got back to Indiana, Lily’s dance pictures were waiting for us in the mail. I reminded her she would be back dancing in no time! She fell asleep watching Dancing with the Stars with me and Kate.
Nate and I were taught in counseling to ask God where He was in traumatic times or wounding memories. Nate and I both prayed and we both had pictures and answers. I saw and heard God say:
“I was holding her head in the palm of my hands.”
Nate felt like God said:
“I was moving her out of the way.”
Lily is all smiles and says she has no pain, even though her body tells a different story.
Today when I asked her if she felt anything when the truck rolled over her. She looked at me and pointed to her head and said:
“I felt God here. It felt like feathers.”
I was in tears when she spoke these words. I pray Psalm 91 over my children.
Psalm 91 tells us..
“He will cover you with his feathers, under his wings you will take refuge.”
I’m grateful to God, the One who not only holds the world in His hands and moves mountains, but holds my daughters head and moves her little body.
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Here’s our favorite song, Tremble:
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Today Lily is seven years old. It’s been exactly 3 years since her accident. She dances, runs, smiles constantly, and brings joy to all who know her!
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Lily and Kate7 year old LilyDancing Queen
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I share this story to reinforce a few things:
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1. Pray scripture over your children.
Psalm 91 is a collection of verses that our family has prayed for generations. It specifically says, “He (God) will cover you with his feathers, under His wings you find protection.” God answers our prayers! It’s especially powerful to pray Scripture.
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2. Sing songs of faith.
Find songs to sing with your family that will build your faith.
Below is a song called ‘Lily’s song’ – it was one of her favorites because it had her name. She would sing along to these words:
I will not die, I will live. I will tell of the works of the Lord and sing of his wonders.’
The Bible tells us that our days are appointed. We don’t have to live in fear of the future. God has a plan for your life and the lives of each of your children and His plan is GOOD.
“Your eyes saw my body even before it was formed. You (God) planned how many days I would live.”
Psalm 139:16
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
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Cousins
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Thank you for the miracle you performed for Lily and for the ones you perform in my life (and the lives of my children). Help me to trust you and not fear the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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Psalm 91 – Insert your name and pray this for yourself and your family members. I challenge you to memorize it.
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
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Thank you for reading this beautiful, miraculous story! I hope it encouraged you. Please share.
My son Clark LOVES Scavenger hunts. But let’s be honest…who DOESN’T enjoy a fun hunt?
One year, my husband buried a treasure box in a forest, then created a treasure map for the boys to follow, find and DIG UP! (Best day ever! Best DAD ever!)
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Another year, just as George was learning to spell, he created a scavenger hunt for his brother. He left kind and encouraging words for him to find around the house. (Best brother ever!)
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For Clark’s 13th birthday, we gave him two hunts. One indoors (by himself) to find his birthday present, and one OUTSIDE with his friends. Both were a HIT so I wanted to share this idea with you!
Scavenger hunts work not only for a birthday, but also for Christmas, for a family night, or on any day you’re looking for something fun to do with your family. You could even have your kids create scavenger hunts for each other.
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Here was Clark’s INDOOR birthday hunt:
(Thank you Pinterest and Google for helping me with these riddles)
Here is our OUTDOOR Hunt:
(Feel free to copy and paste to a word document, or print this and play!)
Good for kids 12 and up. Make sure each team has a phone/camera.
Scavenger hunt
Take a selfie of your entire team on the play set.
Take a picture of two people swinging.
Find the sidewalk chalk. Write an encouraging message on the sidewalk. (Ideas: You Matter. -or- You Got this! -or- Choose Joy) You will find the sidewalk chalk:
Find the secret message and write down what you see. Secret message is found:
Take a selfie with a dog or person out for a walk.
Trade a penny for something more valuable.
What is the mystery word written on our neighbor’s front door?
Find the little library and write down the name of one book.
Take a picture next to a fire hydrant.
Find leaves from 3 different trees and bring them back.
Take a picture of something red.
Take a photo of two of your team mates jumping in the air at the same time.
Take a picture of someone sitting on the park bench.
Take a picture of a house or mailbox with the number 2 on it.
Return home
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Here are some ideas from my son’s 13th birthday:
Scrambled word = teenager
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The boys loved the scavenger hunts!
What would you add or change? Leave me a comment.
Thanks for reading and please consider subscribing!
Review: This book is fantastic and once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The author tells her story of growing up in foster care. Though Tori had a really tough life, there’s a thread of hope and redemption written through the pages. I highly recommend this book to anyone who works with children, or to a person who just loves a good memoir. I’ll share my copy with you if you’d like to read it.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from her book.
I’ve written this book not so you can see what God did through me, but so that you will believe what God can do through you, no matter the odds.
The worst things that happen to us can open our eyes to how much God loves us.
When God is part of the story, chances aren’t the dictator anymore, miracles are.
Foster kids don’t have to fall into the tragedy the world destined for them. None of us do. God has the final say.
I don’t have to be afraid of my past because I am free from its power over me. I am free from what has been done to me and from what I have done. I’m free from my past symptoms and coping mechanisms. I am a new because of a madman of love first loved me.
Review: I didn’t know much about Eugene Peterson before reading this book except that he wrote The Message Bible and that he mentored my friend Daniel Grothe. This book is engagingly written, full of Peterson’s own words from letters and journals. However, I found it a little boring. Eugene himself was surprised someone would want to write a biography about him. He didn’t think there was much about his life that would be interesting enough for a book. He had a pretty normal childhood, and was a pastor at the same church for 30 years. In my opinion, the book was too long and told unnecessary stories and information. However, here are a few of my favorite parts.
Eugene Peterson was friends with the Jackson family (as in Phil Jackson, coach of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls). Phil Jackson wanted to play basketball but his ultra-conservative parents weren’t sure it was a good idea. However, when Phil’s parents saw that Eugene could play basketball, and still maintain his character, they allowed Phil to play. Phil became an NBA player, and then one of the best coaches of all time.
I loved reading about Eugene’s desire to translate the entire Bible in an “easy-to-read and understand” contemporary format. The Message was a book that Zondervan turned down. They thought the market was too saturated and it would be a failure. A little known company (at the time) called NavPress decided to take a chance on this book. The Message has sold more than 20 million copies.
I really enjoyed reading about Eugene Peterson’s relationship with Bono, the leader of the group U2. Here’s a short video about their relationship: https://youtu.be/-l40S5e90KY
Finally, it was fun that the author mentioned my friend Daniel Grothe in the book, especially since Daniel wrote an entire book about their relationship called Chasing Wisdom. Chasing Wisdom is a phenomenal book – I recommend it ten times over Burning in my Bones.
Review: A short but beautiful book on God’s great love for humanity. This is a book I will come back to again and again. I loved how Brennan shared how healing happens when we pass on to another person what we have received from Jesus.
Here are some of my favorite summer moments and products.
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My Morning Routine
Ted put two new Adirondack chairs together, and they were my favorite summertime morning spot. I sat out there almost every morning to read, pray, soak in the morning sun, drink coffee, and play with the dog. Slowly, one-by-one, the kids would join me out here to read, talk or cuddle.
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Re-reading Romans
Maybe because I was on the porch and the sunshine was in my face, maybe because this book applies 100% to what’s happening in our world right now – but re-reading the book of Romans THRILLED me this summer. This book is filled with hope, inspiration, and clarity. I snapped the picture above of Romans 15:13 from The Passion Translation.
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Ryan Trahan’s Youtube adventure
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This summer, my boys were jumping on YouTube everyday to watch a YouTuber named Ryan Trahan travel across America with just ONE penny. I sat to watch with them one day and saw why they were so entertained by this (twenty-something) “kid.” Ryan’s adventure was so fun and we were all impressed with how he made enough money each day to keep moving forward. While crossing America, he also raised over a million dollars for Feeding America. If you are a parent looking for an entertaining YouTube video to watch with your kids, I recommend this one.
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Feelin’ Fourteen!
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Who knew roller skating could make you feel like a kid again?
A friend invited us to go roller skating with her and her son. I went for my kids, but didn’t know I’d have more fun than anyone else in the building.
Well, Luke says that he and I BOTH had the BEST time, and I’m glad we got to experience that together. There are not many things that a 40+ year old WOMAN, and an 8-Year-old BOY find the same level of enjoyment in – but we found something this summer on the roller rink. Luke and I skated until they turned the music off and asked us to leave.
I’m absolutely loving this 40-day devotional by Levi Lusko. The author shares so many fascinating historical and science-based stories, and connects those to powerful truths from the Bible. I think you’ll love this book too! Great for ages 15 and up.
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Bike Rides with my Boys
George, Luke and I all got new (to us) bikes and we’ve been on lots of bike rides this summer. Once again, this has me feeling like a kid again. Like roller skating, it is a GREAT workout! If you don’t have a bike, I recommend you look for one on Facebook marketplace and get riding.
I’d love to hear what you loved about summer. Would you leave a comment and tell me a highlight or two? (Click on the little ‘text’ box by the title to leave a comment.)
On September 11, 2001, I was a fourth grade teacher in Jenks, Oklahoma. I was preparing for my day when another teacher ran into my classroom and told me I needed to come to the office to see something. I walked in and saw several staff members encircling a small TV. We all stared at the screen in disbelief. What was happening? Did a commercial jet just hit the World Trade Center? And then a second one?
Why would this happen? What did it mean? Who would do this?
I was confused as I walked back to my classroom. My students began pouring in, so I took a deep breath, put a smile on my face, and tried my best to stay upbeat throughout the day, while so many thoughts raced through my head:
What was happening outside?
Were we we safe inside?
What would this mean for our future?
I’m getting married in two months, would that still happen?
Will people even GET married after this?
Is the world ending?
A parent walked into our class to take her child home. She quietly told me she didn’t know what was happening and just wanted her family to be together.
I did not share with my class what I had seen on the news that morning. I wanted them to hear about it from their parents, in the safety of their home. I felt that parents would know how much, or how little, to share with their children. To my class, it was just another day. To me, it was a day I will never forget.
After class was dismissed and all the kids were gone, I tried to find out what in the world was happening. I did not own a TV, a computer, or a smart phone yet. I had to find out what was happening through phone calls and conversations.
One of the first people I talked to was my dad. He is a pilot and used to fly for American Airlines. He didn’t have answers. No one had answers for days, weeks, and months.
Slowly, stories were shared, miracles were told, and heroes emerged.
Heroes like Todd Beamer, who refused to let the hijackers hit another building. Instead, he and a few others, fought back. I highly recommend the book “Let’s Roll” by Lisa Beamer. It shares Todd Beamer’s story.
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Another hero, Welles Crowther, also known as The Man in the Red Bandana, gave his life getting others out of the Twin Towers. Here’s his fascinating story:
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If you (or your children) are too young to remember 9/11, here is a short overview:
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Another fantastic book is The Only Plane in the Sky. It gathers the stories of many survivors and writes them in chronological order. It was hard to put down! I read the hard copy, then listened to the audiobook. Both were excellent and I highly recommend them to anyone age 15 and up.
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An excellent book for teens is Ground Zero by Alan Gratz. I read this book with my 14-year-old and we both loved it. This novel tells the story of a boy who goes to work with his dad at the World Trade Center on 9/11. You will experience what it may have felt like to take a journey through the World Trade Center and find an escape. It was a powerful book to read!
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I’d love to hear what you remember about 9/11. Please share your reflections and memories in the comment section by clicking on the little icon by the title of this post.
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Though we were all impacted from 9/11, I’m grateful that life continued to move forward. I DID get married two months later, and flights reopened so that we could honeymoon in Mexico.
American did not collapse, but grew stronger. I’m grateful for how our country came together to support and care for each other. It’s a day we will never forget, filled with miracles and heroes worth remembering!
Review: I loved “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” by Kingsolver and wanted to read another one of her books. This novel is about a family who moves to Africa to be missionaries. You see each of their struggles as they navigate this new world – and discover how it impacts them over the course of their lives. It was a really well-written, interesting story.
Review: This book will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it. You will laugh, cry, be filled with joy by people’s kindnesses, and be astonished at people’s cruelty. Most of all I think it will give you hope. It caused me to examine to my faith, gain perspective on a refugee family’s experiences, and learn about the Persian culture. It gave me new ways to pray for refugees in the world today. I recommend it to anyone 14 or older. This book is a gift to anyone who reads it!
