If you're looking for a way to scale back on expenses, why not commit to a credit-free Christmas this year? Resist the temptation to spend money you don't have on material things that ultimately have very little meaning, and provide very little satisfaction. The Christmas season isn't about "things," it's about relationships…. with your family, your friends, your Creator. So, cut up the cards, lock them away in...

Give your kids a quiz. Make it fun and award a prize to the one who gets the most answers right. You can use questions like: "Where was the Declaration of Independence signed? Who sewed the first American flag? And, who was the king of England during the Revolutionary War?" Do you know the answers? Well, to get them, and to find more questions for your own 4th of July quiz, go here. It's a great way to teach your...

This week we are featuring the 5 most popular Family Minutes from 2010. Today is Number 4...You're juggling the needs of your kids—their homework, their sports, their friends. You're busy preparing for a big presentation at work. You've got a bunch of emails to reply to…and, oh yeah, you have some Facebook posts to make. You're schedule is absolutely full. You're doing some great things, but what about your...

On December 17th, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright changed the world by making the first controlled flight in a powered aircraft. But success came only after years of experimentation, failure, learning from their mistakes, and trying again. The Wrights persevered because they believed in their dream. They were also encouraged by their loving and supportive family. A monument in their honor reads: "In commemoration...

When kids talk about the best things about growing up, they usually mention three things: vacations, birthdays and holidays. Next week is Thanksgiving, a time for most families to gather together, play football, watch the parades, and share an extravagant meal. In all the hustle and bustle of preparations and travel, sometimes we forget what we're celebrating. Why not put the "thanks" back into Thanksgiving? ...

We've powered up our laptops, phones and video games. We've powered down family meals, drive-time conversations and date nights with our spouse. We've increased tech and decreased touch. What can we do about it? Just remember these four R's. First, Recognize that you can control technology. Second, Remember that your children will learn more from your online actions than your offline words. Third, Require...

The list of "I wants" can go on and on. For kids it's, "I want that video game." "I want that scooter." For us, it's, "I want that car." "I want that couch." No matter what we have, there's always more. Henry David Thoreau said, "We make ourselves rich by making our wants few." Most of us already have what we need… it's just a matter of controlling what we want. So, the next time someone in your family wants to...