About Debi Chapman

A sterile hospital room transforms into a sanctuary of life the moment a bundle of strength and tenderness is handed to his mom for the first time. Labor ceases and the high calling of mothering sets in motion destiny.

The look in a newborn’s eyes when he beholds his mother is one of life’s most heavenly moments. Studying her face with an adoring glare, he revels in the sound of her voice. Delivered from creation into earthly arms, a newborn baby captures a mother’s heart, by design. They study us, these little ones do. Watching our every move, memorizing our lives.

“It is no small thing, when they, who are so fresh from God, love us.” Charles Dickens

Our little ones are enthralled by us and this dynamic requires around the clock relating. For a young mom, being followed by a talkative toddler and interrogated by a preschooler with more questions than one has answers, is a daily routine. No wonder we grow to relish the sound of silence and find naptime divine!

But somewhere between non-stop talking and following us everywhere our children change in how they relate to us. We busy ourselves with life’s duties without realizing they are no longer talking to us, staring at us, following us everywhere. Is something wrong? [Read more...]

Valentine’s Day is a big deal in our culture. The world upholds this holiday as a litmus test for true love.

What’s a couple on a budget with a house full of children to do?

We tried a Valentine’s dinner at home and asked our kids to help. Their eager responses surprised us. Years later, what started as a whim has now become – tradition.

If you are like us and want a romantic Valentine’s dinner but do not want to fight the crowds and pay a babysitter – here are five tips on how to bring the romance home on this holiday when everyone else goes out. [Read more...]

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Christmas decorations are packed away and a new calendar is hung with care.  Now, I’m free to release the reservoir of thoughts I have for the coming year. Welcoming abstract ideals into my concrete world brings a fresh approach to daily living – especially this time of year.

New beginnings are coming for our family in small ways and large. Fresh starts and new mercies await us in the year ahead.

Redemption’s Call

My part is to extract what is most precious from the busy work of life’s demands. My motive? To redeem our home and family life from unwelcome chaos and debris that has attached itself to our culture through the months. I delight in restoring our home to a place of unity in purpose and heart.

To silence the clamor and make room for delicacies is what makes family life an art form. [Read more...]

As a young couple, we dreamed of what
our family could be. My husband and I are both planners. We think
it’s fun to make lists and brainstorm about the future. And that’s
just what we did regarding holidays and traditions.

Merging traditions and forging our own
way took purpose and perseverance. The thought of adding holiday
traditions on top of our full lives seemed idealistic. But ideals
were what we strived for. And all these years later, we still do.

I had a dream. If I built places into
our home where our children could thrive – they would come.

So I found a large basket, filled it
with holiday books from the library and thrift stores and placed it
on the hearth. My husband’s a mountain man at heart and we never
lack for firewood – so I kept a fire burning when Texas weather
permitted. I now have images forever etched into my mind of our
children gathered around the fire reading, year after year, old and
young. I never had to announce the purpose of the book basket or the
fire. They got it. This became a tradition and a safe place to rest
our souls during the holiday season.

In our king-sized family, unity is
something we have to work at. So we give a family Christmas gift to
our kids, something we can enjoy together. Our gift, as their
parents, is hearing our kids play – together. We have memories of
half-grown men unpacking a punching bag and carrying it off to the
guy’s room like a prized catch. Smiles, joking and strategizing how
and where to hang it – while still in their Christmas pajamas –
the man cave would never be the same.

One year we unveiled a basketball goal,
rolled it into the cul-de-sac and the thumping sound began! A
ping-pong table and trampoline made the list through the years. Of
course each person receives personal gifts – but the family gift is
for the sole purpose of helping us build memories together, on
purpose. Before long – these gifted activities have become part of
the fabric of our home life.

Unity takes effort. If we build
opportunities to work and play together

into our holiday plans – the kids
will come.

Two years ago we decided to get legit
lights for our house. The discount Christmas lights had run their
course and our teens asked for a redo. Lights were not in the budget
so we made our own rolling purchase plan. The first year we got the
basics, the next year we added the eaves and this year we’re
topping off the roof at it’s height. This was a family project –
the kids asked for it. So when the time comes to clip every little
piece onto the roof and screw each bulb in place – they’re all
in. Dad oversees the project and we strategize which lights we’ll
purchase next year. Standing in the front yard and beholding the
finished product ignites the season of giving for our clan.

I’ve never had the privilege of
building my own home – but I do have the honor of being the
co-architect of our home life. This takes planning, dreaming and
trial and error, because we’re not only building a home life –
we’re building people – and this is the greatest privilege of all.

As we unpack our Christmas treasures
and scroll through Pinterest to find just the right look – may we
all use the creativity the Lord has granted each of us to frame the
greatest holiday of all for our own families. And may the Lord find
us faithful in building for the future. Merry Christmas!

“Work
at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for
those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14