April 12th, 2009 forced a change in my life. I remember making my way across the darkened parking lot and slipping in behind the wheel of my car in silence. Rain slipped down the windshield and I opened the window ever so slightly, hoping that the chilled air would remind me to breathe.  For 10 days I had sat... >Read More

Tags: adult children, better parenting, challenges & conflicts, change, character development, communication, death, divorce, family issues, hardship & suffering, healthy marriage, improving your marriage, job los, Joyce Simmons, new career, out of your control, parenting essentials, priorities, protecting your marriage, relationships, resolving conflict, Self, teens, values

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Recently, several bloggers tackled a highly sensitive and debated topic— the need for women to attend to their beauty and appearance. I published a post, extracted from my  Girls Gone Wise book, which examined some Scriptural directives for women on what and what not to wear. I came under fire for focusing on such mundane matters rather than...... >Read More

Tags: appearance, beautiful, beauty, Culture, female beauty, mary kassian, Self, Women, World

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One clear September morning my son packed up his car and headed off to college.   Oh, I knew in my head that he was ready for the next stage of his journey.   Such a clear demonstration of maturity and wisdom is evident in almost any eighteen year old – what could possibly go wrong?!   I repeated like a mantra,... >Read More

Tags: adult children, better parenting, college, depending on God, faith, fear and anxiety, parenting essentials, Self, spiritual growth, teenagers, teens, trust, values

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Listening is complex. In its simplest form its something my dog can do. Effectual listening, however, requires more than your physical presence, because it requires you to engage your heart and mind to understand not only my words but the part of myself I am communicating to you. To me, being heard, with this type of care, is essential. Take...... >Read More

Tags: authenticity, campus, communication, hear, listening, My Story, Self

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The bonding of sex is not only physical, but also spiritual, emotional and mental which includes the chemical and hormonal bonding that happens. Although we’d like to believe that breaking up and moving on severs that bond, in truth, only God can sever the ‘one flesh’ bond He’s created through sex. 1.  Ask God to bring to mind everyone...... >Read More

Tags: challenges & conflicts, healing, hope, intimacy, rape, romance, Romance & Sex, Self, sex, sex and love, sex resources, sexual abuse, sexual healing, sexual intimacy, sexual past, sexual problems, trauma, Women

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This past week I have been, quite literally, voiceless. A bad case of tonsillitis left me with little more than a whisper.  It’s been a very quiet week.  Today I still don’t have my voice back but I’m feeling just a bit better and I started to notice the changes in my behavior.  I realized  I’ve been stepping back. I... >Read More

Tags: character development, communication, declaration of values, faith & spirituality, friend, help, hope, Life Issues, listening, relationships, Self, self-esteem, speaking, stress, trust, values

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As "Dr. Muriel" I have received many letters from teens and twenties who are addicted to cutting or self-harm. This epidemic has stunned me! Through research I learned that 13, 000 to 30, 000 girls and women use this as a way of coping. Even Princess Diana of England turned to cutting as a way to cope. When I started... >Read More

Tags: addiction, attitude problems, challenges & conflict, cutting, Dr. Muriel Larson, emotions, family issues, feelings, hardship & suffering, Life Issues, pain, parenting essentials, relief, resolving conflict, Self, self-harm, sexual problems, teenagers, teens

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