SUBSCRIBE There is a developmental stage that no one talks about. The transition from childhood to adulthood can be a challenge for even the most seasoned mamas. How do we successfully interact with our adult children? And what if our best attempt at parenting wasn't good enough?

What can we do with all the regrets we replay in our minds? Are you guilty too?

How do we stay in the moment when there is so much internal and external chaos?

Is there hope for us if we have weeds in the garden of our souls? Well . . . there are weeds in every garden, but when we open our hearts to Christ we begin to see fruit and flowers he cultivates in the wildness of our souls.

Here is a new video about the moments God provides for our sanity, salvation and peace!

Family prayer can be such a blessed time. How can we teach our children to "taste and see that the Lord is good" without forcing it down their throats?

When we are instructed to teach our children all the time, we need to remember it's not about memorizing a list of facts. Life is a perpetual pop quiz and our intentional, but not obvious, interactions with our children can help them pass life's daily tests.

Here is part two of my perspective on race matters. Again, this is my own perspective, but it's important that we keep communicating and trying to understand one another.

The fear of homeschooling or the fear that the virtual school stress we experienced this past spring is what we'd be sentencing ourselves to if we homeschool this fall. Let's talk about the difference between survival schooling and homeschooling. If schools remain closed this fall, is it possible to thrive and not just survive?

Annalisa's personal perspective on racial injustice. What is an Orthodox Christian to do?

Why would someone baptize an infant? What about their right to choose Christ for themselves?

Sorry I'm a day or two late, but it's not too late to benefit from this AMAZING Lenten resource! Find out how this book/audio book/ebook can be a helpful companion on your family's Lenten journey!

We are almost to the end of the MOPs Q&A series. Just one more left after this and then we will explore more mama moments. In this episode I talk about to work or not to work outside the home and feeling like a failure as a parent.

Here I am again answering a couple more questions from the MOPs Mommy panel I got to be part of a few months ago. Today we discuss life seasons and sibling rivalry.

Continuing answering the panel discussion questions from MOPs. What did you do to spend 1:1 time with your children?

I had the great honor to participate in a MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) panel with other "seasoned" moms. We couldn't get to all the questions that day, so I thought I'd address them here in a 5 part series.

In my life I tend to focus on jumping from point A to point B without wanting to deal with the moment I'm in. Point B means the struggle, challenge, difficulty or trauma is over. That's good, right?

It is possible to find joy in the mundane . . . even at 12:30 a.m.

Do your children ask what's wrong if they catch you smiling at them? If so, you're not alone. In this episode we will discuss the importance of showing the joy of Christ to our children.

Whether it's a separate building somewhere on your property or a place on your living room sofa, having a place to pray can make a big difference in our spiritual lives. This is the story of our sacred space.

After a very long summer, and crazy start to this school year, I'm back and ready to go. So much has happened and I have so much to share!

It can be exhausting raising a "hard" child. Here are three things to remember as we struggle through this thing called parenting.

There are a growing number of families raising children with significant behavioral needs. What can we do as a church community to support and encourage these precious members of the body of Christ?

Are children, or adults, with special needs a burden to the church community? Doe they have something to offer for the salvation of our souls? You decide.

Phew I made it! Time to kick off National Parenting Month. First is a book review of Parenting Toward the Kingdom and the outline of topics that will be discussed this month. Happy Parenting!

With the capacity to love comes the possibility of loss. Is loving worth the risk?

With the capacity to love comes the possibility of loss. Is loving worth the risk?

Love can have many meanings, and often the world tells us to "follow our hearts." In the scholarly words of Boston, love is "more than a feeling"!

We all do it. Almost every single New Years Day we declare that we're going to live differently. We're going to get in shape. We're going to climb Mount Everest. Unfortunately most resolutions fizzle out and die within a few days, weeks or months. How can we keep our resolutions?

Join me as I review a few Orthodox toy items to consider for the children in your life this holiday season. AND since the last giveaway was so fun, I just have to do another. Make sure you watch to the end!

Advent begins in just seven days! What are some books that would be great to read during the fast or to give as gifts? PLUS, a sweet little give away!

Is it possible to give our children presents AND keep Christmas centered on Christ?

We may be good at correcting and training our children, but what about catching them doing God's work?

There is news of terrorism coming in from all over the world. Many are sick and dying. It seems fatal accidents are on the rise. What is our relationship with death supposed to be?

What do we do when we have developed a pattern of anger? How can we help our kids who seem to be angry about everything?

Black lives matter. All lives matter. What should our response be as Christians?

Have you ever felt pressured to be the perfect wife, mom, and Christian? We don't have to be Martha Stewart, but we can give God what we have.

Summer is here and most of us are already hearing two dreadful words from our children—"I'm bored." How do we handle the change in our homes this season and encourage our children to have fun without losing our minds?

I am asked all the time about the process of becoming foster or adoptive parents. Before you get started on the journey to foster/adopt, there are a few hard questions you should ask yourself

What do we do when bright week seems dim?

Great Lent is behind us but Holy Week brings its own set of challenges. This is where we become wholly weak and rely even more on the strength of Christ to get us through.

In honor or St. Mary of Egypt, let me introduce you to my brother Homeless Mark.

Let's talk about the Sundays of Great Lent and how they help us on the journey.

Here are two quick new book reviews. Think of them as tools for your Lenten tool box. :)

Now that Lent is in full swing, how can we help our kids stay the course?

How can we receive the peace of Christ during Great Lent and throughout our lives?

What do we do when Lent gets off to a lousy start? That's right; we keep working out our salvation one mommy moment at a time!

Forgiveness is not symbolic but an act of faith. How do we have a heart of forgiveness at home and in the congregation?

Annalisa in now an “official” Ancient Faith podcaster! Here she introduces her video podcast to her new audience.