Andrea Portilla
8 Rules for Shopping with Teenagers
"Shopping was fun today, mom. Much better than times before."
I could have done a jig when she said those words! Before was bad. Before had us both in tears. Before, angry words were spewed....
Rebuilding Your Faith: It’s OK to Doubt on Easter
When I was 16 my family broke away from the church I grew up in. This was the church that had taught me everything I believed. The church where Sunday School taught me the...
Galentine’s Day: 5 Ways to Find and Grow Friendships
February 13th: Galentine's Day. Another cultural phenomenon that will take over our social feeds and targeted ads. Another day that will come and go and possibly make a lot of us feel like outsiders.
Outside...
Don’t Miss Out: Treasuring Today
I open up my calendar. A new year. A new month. New days.
I am continuing to make time for rest. I have put aside any ideas for "resolutions" and am simply trying to keep...
All Moms want for Christmas You Can Find in a Hallmark Movie
I rampaged my house looking for our Christmas Elf yesterday. I was in tears when I couldn't find it. My youngest just turned 10. I don't think she truly believes in Santa anymore, but...
Don’t just Pay It Forward, but Press Forward in Kindness
World Kindness Day is Saturday, November 13. This day is set aside to promote kindness in the world and in individual relationships.
I walked into the waiting room, 8 months pregnant, with a 2.5 year...
Breast Cancer: The Fight for Awareness Saves Lives
Mom Calling read my phone. It was an early afternoon, and I was on my way home from the grocery store with dinner. We were at the beginning of summer, temps were rising and...
5 Ways to Celebrate the Grandparents in Your Life
A few weeks ago, my family came down with Covid. It was debilitating, exhausting and hard. We were so grateful for our community that rallied around us; mostly, we were thankful for our parents....
Take a Journey to Find Real Rest
I am on a journey to seek rest
As the summer winds down and a new school year begins I find myself a little hesitant about the whole first days of school, running around like...
Summer Jobs Your Teens Can Thrive in and You Can Celebrate
The summer of '98:: no, not a Bryan Adams song, but the year I turned 16 and got my first job. That first taste of independence, self sufficiency, and retail discounts. Sure, I had...