July 19
Getting Lily Ready for Baptism Took Longer Than the Interview
What we actually did to get our eight-year-old ready for baptism, from the promises on an envelope to a clothespin in the bathtub.
By Melissa Whitakerwith love, Melissa
Autumn · October
Every essay, every home note.
The complete archive of Melissa Whitaker's essays and reflections on LDS Family Life, organized around family discipleship, honest motherhood, marriage, faith at home, and the home rhythms that shape a family over time. Showing older posts, page 10.
Family discipleship
Practical essays on prayer, scripture study, Sabbath patterns, and building a faithful home culture in ordinary life.
Motherhood & marriage
First-person reflections on parenting, emotional honesty, family fatigue, closeness, and raising children without performance.
Home rhythms
Home notes on homemaking, hospitality, steadiness, and the spiritual texture of ordinary family routines.
Essays
July 18
How I Feed Six of Us on About $150 a Week
Six pounds of chicken thighs, a pot of pinto beans and one night the freezer does the cooking. Here's the actual cart and the week it feeds.
By Melissa Whitakerwith love, Melissa
July 17
When Your Husband Comes Home With a New Calling
The first Saturday after David was called as elders quorum president, the phone rang four times before Emma finished her pancake. Here's what we did about it.
By Melissa Whitakerwith love, Melissa
July 16
Dinner on the Back Step When We Couldn't Get a Sitter
Our last real date was in March. Here's the ninety-minute back step version that rescued a hard week, plus what I think about sitter trades.
By Melissa Whitakerwith love, Melissa
July 15
Caleb Asked If Missions Have a Roster Cap
A record 88,500 missionaries, a girl from our porch swing days with a new call, and an eleven-year-old who thinks missions work like rec league.
By Melissa Whitakerwith love, Melissa
July 14
Lily Couldn't Say the Closing Prayer, So We Started Smaller
Two days after her baptism Lily froze when it was her turn to pray out loud. Here's what we tried in the car, in the dark and on an index card.
By Melissa Whitakerwith love, Melissa
July 13
What I've Actually Tried With Three Kids Home All Summer
By mid-July the novelty is gone and everyone is sick of each other. Here's what I've tried with my three at home, what flopped, and what I haven't solved.
By Melissa Whitakerwith love, Melissa
July 12
The Sacred Sigh: Finding Spiritual Resilience in the Mid-Season Slump
Melissa Whitaker on finding grace in the exhaustion of motherhood when the finish line feels far away.
By Melissa Whitakerwith love, Melissa
July 12
The Gentle Transition: Managing the Emotional Shift to Sabbath Stillness
Melissa Whitaker on helping your family move from Saturday energy to Sunday peace with small, intentional rhythms.
By Melissa Whitakerwith love, Melissa
July 12
The Quiet Hospitality of the Open Door: Moving from Performance to Welcome
Melissa Whitaker on letting go of performance-based hosting and embracing heart-ready hospitality.
By Melissa Whitakerwith love, Melissa