Articles written by Gina Lawton - Page 4

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About me - Gina Lawton

Hey there!

I'm a wife and mom of four. I home school, and former coffee slinger at a local establishment. I have a degree in journalism, and love writing, reading, exploring and discovering the world. I tend to lean toward the future, but do respect where

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Relationships & Family > Tips for Marital Happiness The ebb and flow of a good marriage: 4 of 12
Growing up, I remember a song by artist Terry Jack: "We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun..." . Then, each chorus took a turn toward the dark side as the singer looked back from his death bed on the good, the bad, and the ugly of his life. Marriage, too, is a collection of everything bright and everything dark.... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Doctrine & Issues How should the Christian church be run: 1 of 3
Asking "How should the Christian Church be Run?" is a misnomer from the beginning. While we have reduced "the church" to a building, a structure rift with programs and organization, the truth of the matter is "the church," the way it was structured in the New Testament, is the "body of Christ." This living, breathing organiza... More..
Arts & Humanities > Arts & Humanities (Other) Book reviews: Brisingr, by Christopher Paolini: 1 of 3
Brisingr, the third book in the Inheritance Cycle by Michael Paolini, continues the saga of the young dragon rider, Eragon "Shadeslayer" and his dragon, Sapphira. By far the best written, tightest plot and most philosophical of Paolini's trilogy, Brisingr offers the reader a ring side seat as Eragon delves deeper into the wor... More..
Food & Drink > Breads, Grains, Pasta & Rice How to spice up boxed macaroni and cheese: 7 of 19
Macaroni and cheese is a staple around our home. When the kids were little, we occasionally gave into the pleading for the "fancy" kind, but as I quickly found out, a cheaper box - and a little ingenuity - brought rave reviews at a third of the cost of the well-publicized "blue" box. So, what were some of our family favorites... More..
Education > Homeschooling Homeschool support groups and cooperatives: 2 of 5
About fourteen years ago, when my now-senior was four years old, I met with a group of friends and we talked about the possibilities of starting a home school co-op to provide some art, gym, and music opportunities for our kids. We were a little overwhelmed by the task: What do we teach? How do we organize? Do we invite other... More..
Politics, News & Issues > International News Invisible Children: Hope for Uganda: 2 of 5
It is a chilly April night. As I look around me, the crowd has started to gather. Some munch on snacks they've brought; others gather around a man with a guitar. Some attempt to find company and solace under a picnic shelter.I look around me, and three of my four children are busy finding things to do. The two "big ones" quie... More..
Relationships & Family > Family Life The healing power of family reunions: 2 of 5
The gentle waves of the lake added to the gentle rhythm of the day. Sitting down, watching my children acquaint themselves with their cousins they never had met, I couldn't help smiling. All around me, people were making unlikely connections. My nephew, agnostic and living with his girlfriend, laughing with my very fundamenta... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Meditation & Prayer Relaxation: Releasing stress: 13 of 32
Stress had become a part of American life. It's funny, because stress has even become a merit badge in some circles,and the relief of it trivialized and put into terms of humor. But stress is no laughing matter (even though laughing can relieve it!).There are many ways to deal with the stress of every day life. Dealing with i... More..
Education > Youth Mentoring What makes an effective youth mentor?: 3 of 7
Children today are bombarded by a barrage of stresses and pressures that, a generation ago, didn't even exist. Traditionally, the family provided a solid support system for kids to process through these challenges. But, in so many cases, the foundation of the family has crumbled, leavings children to figure out things on thei... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Leaders (Other) Should we judge presidents by their words or by their deeds?: 3 of 7
I am a firm believer that history is the only true judge of anyone's actions or words. Whether a politician is laying out a plan, or attempted to explain a past action, what they do and what they say walk hand-in-hand in reflecting their accomplishments and agendas.Like anyone, a president is a human being first. Although we ... More..