Author Archives: Ann Kirsten

The Easter Story Cookies
Ladies, this recipe has been around for more than thirty years. It is a beautiful way to share the resurrection story with your little ones in a unique and hands-on way. Here's what you'll need: 1 cup...
Ann Kirsten Feb 20, 2024 GettyImages | Vadim Zakirov

If Only I Had Known That I Could Laugh About Such Things
Raising teens can be a challenging and emotionally draining time. They often will challenge you on every established rule you've had in place for years. The constant battles and hormonal outbursts can...
Ann Kirsten Feb 12, 2024 GettyImages | Charday Penn

Reclaiming Valentine's Day
Do you remember how exciting and wonderful Valentine's Day was when you were young? It was such a simple little holiday and yet so special. At school you had cupcakes and juice and you delivered your ...
Ann Kirsten Feb 06, 2024

Introducing a Valentine's Day Sweet Sensation: Cherry Kiss Cookies!
It's February! I love February. As a child, Valentine's Day was one of my favorite holidays. I loved coming home from school with a paper bag full of little cards from my classmates. And the class par...
Ann Kirsten Feb 05, 2024

Groundhog Day Cupcakes
I love holidays, the more obscure the better. National Chocolate Day? Teddy Bear Day? Paperclip Day? Sign me up! Especially now that we are suffering through countless gray and rainy days, we need mor...
Ann Kirsten Jan 22, 2024

I Will Never Be a World Traveler
I will never be a world traveler. In fact, I'm not much of a traveler at all. For most of my life, I tried to hide this part of myself. I was ashamed that I wasn't like "other people". I would try and...
Ann Kirsten Jan 17, 2024

A Blanket of Snow
We’ve had such perfect snowfalls this season. Each one of them dropped just enough snow to cover my yard. There’s always a peace that seems to fall along with the snow and I find mys...
Ann Kirsten Jan 15, 2024

Beat the January Blues
I don't know about you, but after the holidays are over I tend to fall into a funk. In comparison to the bright fun of Christmas, January seems dark and boring. After years of fighting the blues, I've...
Ann Kirsten Jan 08, 2024 photo credit: iStock/Albina Gavrilovic

Leaning Into Peace for 2024
My friend (a counselor) has noticed time and time again that her clients go through the same things at the same time even though they don't know each other. If one is feeling tired and overwhelmed, he...
Ann Kirsten Jan 03, 2024 GettyImages | Oatawa

Messy Christmas Pageants, OshKosh B'gosh, and Hissing
My son's history with Christmas pageants has not been exactly merry. It all started when he was only six months old. A church in Seattle asked if they could "borrow" him to represent the baby Jesus in...
Ann Kirsten Dec 22, 2023 GettyImages | Mark Murphy




